BOSTON, March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE: JHI) declared its quarterly dividend today as follows:



    Declaration Date:  March 11, 2008
    Ex Date:           March 19, 2008
    Record Date:       March 24, 2008
    Payment Date:      March 31, 2008
    Dividend Amount:   $0.35590

This dividend equates to an annualized yield of 8.46 percent, based on the fund's closing market price as of March 10, 2008.

John Hancock Investors Trust is a diversified, closed-end fund. The Fund's primary investment objective is to generate income for distribution to its shareholders, with capital appreciation as a secondary objective. The preponderance of the Fund's assets are invested in a diversified portfolio of debt securities issued by U.S. and foreign corporations and governments, some of which may carry equity features.

About Manulife Financial and John Hancock

John Hancock Funds, the mutual fund business unit of John Hancock Financial Services, offers a broad array of investment products, including open-end and closed-end funds, privately managed accounts, 529 plans and retirement accounts to retail and institutional investors. As of December 31, 2007, investors entrusted John Hancock Funds with approximately $56.8 billion in assets. Additional information about John Hancock Funds can be found on the website: http://www.jhfunds.com.

John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$396 billion (US$401 billion) as of December 31, 2007. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '0945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance.

SOURCE John Hancock Investors Trust