Merchants Trust PLC - London-based investment trust - Net asset value amounts to 579.70 pence at January 31, up 0.2% from 578.70 pence on the same date a year earlier. NAV total return is 7.9% for financial , outperforming the FTSE All-Share index of 5.2%. Pretax profit rises to GBP40.6 million from GBP33.4 million the year before. Says the year has been challenging, but notes "positive returns for shareholders". Proposes a final dividend of 7.0 pence per share, up from 27.3p a year prior. This takes the total dividend to 27.6p per share, up from 27.3p. Looking ahead, Merchants notes the Ukraine war, inflation and cost of living crisis for its outlook, but says its task to find "an effective way to navigate this backdrop".

Current stock price: 568.00 pence each, down 0.4% on Wednesday morning in London

12-month change: down 1.7%

By Xindi Wei, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.