Michael Eboh
Portland Paints Plc  has announced a dividend of N0.12 per share for its shareholders, in its 2009 financial statement.
According to its year end, December 31, 2009 result, presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Monday, the company recorded a 15.59 per cent growth in its turnover to N2.269 billion from N1.963 billion recorded in 2008, its profit before tax and extraordinary items stood at N205.99 million, rising by 9.71 per cent from N187.76 million recorded in 2008, while it posted a profit after tax of N183.1 million, dropping by 2.48 per cent from N187.76 million in 2008.

The dip in its profit after tax was as a result of an exceptional item of N22.89 million recorded in the period under review.

Also, Prestige Assurance Plc declared and Transnationwide Express Plc both announced a dividend of N0.10 per share and N0.05 per share respectively for their shareholders for their 2009 financial year.

Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange resumed, Monday, on a bullish note, as the value of listed equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) appreciated by N31.60 billion.

Equities’ value represented by the market capitalisation rose by 0.51 per cent to close at N6.150 trillion to close at N6.118 trillion at which it opened.

Another market indicator, the All share index garnered 0.51 per cent, soared by 129.92 bases point to close at 25,284.18 point from 25,154.26 point.

The improvement on the market indices was brought about by gains on the prices of blue chip companies, led by Flour Mills Nigeria l Plc, with a gain of N3.30 to close at N69.40 per share, Oando Oil Plc followed with a gain of N2.00 to close at N75.00 per share and Cadbury Nigerian Plc garnered N1.30 to close at N27.35 per share.

Other share price gainers include: Unilever Nigeria Plc N0.64, First Bank of Nigeria Plc N0.51, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc N0.50, Nestle Nigeria Plc N0.50, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc N0.47, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc N0.40, First City Monument Bank N0.38, among others.

On the contrary, Benue Cement Company Plc recorded the most share price loss dropping by N1.95 to close at N60.00 per share, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc followed with a loss of N0.79 to close at N17.00 per share and Zenith Bank Plc dipped by N0.35 to close at N13.70 per share.

Other share price losers include: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc N0.0.32, Berger Paints Plc N0.30, Eterna Oil Plc N0.28, Union Bank Nigeria Plc N0.24, RT Briscoe Plc N0.22, Presco Plc N0.20, Ashaka Cement Plc N0.19, among others.

Equities trading appreciated by 11.14 per cent, in particular, a turnover of 227.84 million shares valued at N2.28 billion was recorded in 5,697 deals, in contrast to Friday’s turnover of 205.04 million shares valued at N1.96 billion in deals.

The Banking sub-sector recorded the most patronage on the sectorial analysis accounting for 60.96 per cent of the market turnover with 138.90 million shares valued at N1.03 billion in 2,990 deals.  Fidelity Bank Plc was the most active in the sub-sector trading 26.00 million shares valued at  N67.68 million in 126 deals, First Bank of Nigeria Plc followed with the exchange of 23.34 million shares valued at N323.42 million in 664 deals and Union Bank Nigeria Plc recorded 12.25 million shares valued at N59.84 million in 197 deals.

The Insurance sub-sector followed on the sectorial analysis accounting for 6.44 per cent of the market turnover with 14.67 million shares valued at N13.15 million in 359 deals.  AIICO Insurance Plc recorded the highest transaction in the sub-sector trading 3.04 million shares valued at N3.54 million in 146 deals, International Energy Insurance Plc followed with the exchange of 2.99 million shares valued at N1.55 million in 38 deals and Intercontinental Wapic Insurance Plc recorded 2.46 million shares valued at N1.74 million in 18 deals.