DOW JONES NEWSWIRES Boston Properties Inc. (BXP) raised its quarterly dividend 10%, joining a growing list of companies looking to increase value for shareholders. The increased payout to 55 cents from 50 will cost the real-estate investment trust approximately an additional $29.5 million a year. Office landlords have seen their results improve over the past year as higher occupancy and rents boost their bottom lines. REITs with properties in major cities have been doing particularly well as urban commercial real-estate markets rebound the fastest. Boston Properties' assets are concentrated in Boston, Midtown Manhattan and Washington. In October, Boston Properties reported its third-quarter earnings jumped a stronger-than-expected 22% as a key measure of profitability improved. Shares closed at $93.65 Wednesday and were unchanged after hours. The stock is up 13% over the past 12 months. -By Nathalie Tadena, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-3287; nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com
