Charting the Banking Sector of the Ghana Stock Exchange

This is the second part of my previous post, 'Focusing on the Banking sector of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) (Part I)'. After looking at the current standings of the two banks, HFC Bank and Ghana Commercial Bank on the GSE, let's now focus on Ecobank Ghana (EBG) and Standard Chartered Bank (SCB). 

I would like us to go strictly by charts of the various price movements on the exchange and some key statistics from January 2012 to date.

Fri.18.05.12: Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) Market Update.

Friday, GSE Market Update;

CAL Brokers: 

Courtesy: CAL Brokers

In the market today, the major indices, the GSE-Composite Index and the GSE-Financial Stock Index, gained some ground following price appreciation in two equities.

The GSE-Composite Index closed at 1,046.94 points from 1,041.30 points and the financial stock benchmark closed 6.99 points higher at 910.75 points. The year-to-date return on the market rose to 8.04%. 

Dividend Payments released for some companies on the Ghana Stock Exchange

The time has come again when shareholders look up to their various companies hoping dividends would be paid. Dividend investors are also looking for dividend stocks on the Ghana Stock Exchange whiles other type of investors hope the profits would be plough back for the growth of the companies.  This is the time where preference shareholders get paid first before the ordinary shareholders.

Some companies on the exchange are planning for their Annual General Meetings (AGM) and hoping to pay dividend for the financial year. Let’s take a closer look at what directors of those companies have decided to pay.

Companies	Dividend per share(GH cedis)	Payment Date
Standard Chartered Bank (SCB)	3.05	May 31, 2012
Ecobank Ghana (EBG)	0.24	May 18, 2012
Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP)	0.0690	June 29, 2012
SG-SSB	0.04	April 30, 2012
HFC Bank (HFC)	0.022	May 14, 2012
Trust Bank Limited (The Gambia) (TBL)	20 butus	April 12, 2012
PBC Ltd (PBC)	0.0173	April 30, 2012
SCB-PREF	0.0324	March 30, 2012

For most of these stocks, the qualifying dates for their dividend payment are in March and April 2012. This simply means every potential investor who wants to enjoy the above dividend payments must buy the shares of those companies and be registered in their books before March or April. SCB, EBG and HFC for instance, have their qualifying dates on April 20^th, 19^th and 18^th, 2012 respectively, therefore investors must note these else would have to wait for another financial year to enjoy dividend payments.

AGMs

Ecobank Ghana ltd, HFC Bank Gh ltd and Ayton Drugs Manufacturing Company ltd planned to go for their Annual General meetings on April 27^th, 26^th and 5^th respectively. SG-SSB limited to have theirs on March 30^th whiles Benso Oil Palm Plantation Ltd planned for May 3rd, 2012.

Shareholders must do well to attend these meetings in order to get a better knowledge of the company and its plans for the future.

Keep investing, especially in the Ghanaian financial market.