(March 1 – 10:10 ET) – Rampart Mercantile Inc., parent company of investment dealer Rampart Securities, is reporting lower financial results for fiscal 1999.

Earnings per share dropped to 12¢ in 1999 from 29¢ in 1998. Revenues were up 12.5% year over year thanks to securities trading profit and “other sundry income,” but expenses also increased 15.2% from 1998 due to branch expansion and the firm’s foray into the online business.

Based in Toronto, Rampart now has full branches in Calgary and Fredericton, with an office in Pickering, Ont. It now employs about 80 brokers and is looking to expand to other cities.
-IE Staff