Intel had plenty of good news for its shareholders this week. The world's largest computer chip maker declared a 54 per cent increase in after-tax profits of $2 billion (€1.84 million) in the first quarter of 1999, the second best quarter result in its history.

Days earlier shareholders also received additional shares as part of a stock split. The group's transfer agent, The Harris Trust and Savings Bank, issued the shares as part of its latest two-for-one stock split to shareholders on Intel's share register on March 23rd last. The board of directors also approved an increase in the quarterly cash dividend to be paid after the stock split. On a post-split basis the dividend will be increased from $0.02 per share to $0.03 per share and will be paid on June 1st. After the stock split the shares started trading on Monday at $62.19.