The US market continued its upward swing as oil prices eased and investors mulled over the Commerce Department's latest economic report. Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.58 percent or 69.90 points to 12,138.40, and NASDAQ Composite gained 1.23 percent or 33.75 points to 2,771.65. The Standard and Poor's 500 added 0.91 percent or 11.83 points to 1,317.93.
Amid positive market waves, several companies declared their annual and quarterly dividends. Some notable dividends are discussed here.
Cato Corporation (NYSE: CATO) declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.185 per share, payable on March 21, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 7, 2011. Cato gained 0.83 percent or $0.20 to $24.26.
AMB Property Corp. (NYSE: AMB) added 1.69 percent or $0.59 to $35.41 as the company declared a dividend of $0.40625 per share, payable on April 15, 2011 to shareholders of record on April 5, 2011.
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) gained 0.71 percent or $0.16 to $22.65 as it increased its quarterly dividend to 45 cents per share, from 40 cents.
Goldcorp Inc. (NYSE: GG) said it will pay a monthly dividend of 3.33 cents. Shares of Goldcorp were up 2.88 percent or $1.30 to $46.49 during the day's trading.
BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BLK) added 1.10 percent or $2.22 to $203.42 as the company raised its annual dividend by 37.5 percent to $1.50 per share.
Climarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC) raised its quarterly dividend by 25 percent to 10 cents per share. Climarex added 0.50 percent or $0.57 to $115.20 after the news.
Chubb Corporation (NYSE: CB) gained 0.44 percent or $0.27 to $59.86 as it declared a regular quarterly dividend of 39 cents per share, payable on April 5, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 18, 2011.
Kohl's Corporation (NYSE: KSS) lost 0.17 percent or $0.09 to $53.71 despite declaring a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share.
Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG) jumped 7.92 percent or $0.92 to $12.54 after declaring 45 percent increase in its Q4 earnings. The company declared a quarterly dividend of 6 cents per share.
Chemed Corporation (NYSE: CHE) declared a quarterly cash dividend of 14 cents per share, payable on March 21, 2011 to shareholders of record on February 28, 2011. Shares of Chemed were up 0.20 percent or $0.13 to $64.52.
Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings SA (NYSE: FSR) announced a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per common share, payable on March 15, 2011 to shareholders of record on March 1, 2011. However, Flagstone was down 0.70 percent or $0.08 to $11.31.