Bolsas Mercados Espanoles (BME), the holding company for the Spanish stock exchanges, confirmed its plans to list on the Spanish market as net profit for 2004 was EUR69.2 million, an increase of 18% on 2003. First quarter profits in 2005 reached EUR24.5 million, equal to that posted by Borsa Italiana for the whole of 2004.
The company will pay an ordinary dividend of EUR37.8 million and an extraordinary dividend of EUR50 million in 2005.
2004 was the second full year of trading for BME since all of the securities markets and financial systems in Spain were integrated under one umbrella, with results for the year making BME one of the most profitable stock market operators in the world, ahead of Nasdaq, NYSE, Borsa Italiana and OM.
Antonio Zoido, Chairman of BME, commented: “2004 has been a very positive year for BME. The strong performance of the financial markets along with the development of new products and services have allowed the exchange to consolidate its position as one of the world’s leading financial markets, posting significant growth in all of its markets.”