shares of wilmar international ltd rose after the company posted a 55 rise in firsthalf profit the stock gained as much as 39 in early friday trade in singapore and was recently 34 higher at s427 heading toward its largest oneday increase since may the singaporebased agribusiness company said late thursday that it recorded us116 billion net profit for the first six months of the year up from us7509 million in the yearearlier period supported by a 22 revenue growth it also proposed an interim dividend of 6 singapore cents a share the highest such payout since its listing wilmar went public in singapore in june 2000 wilmar said its revenue expansion during the period was in line with higher commodity prices and further supported by stronger sales in its foodproducts feed and industrialproducts segments chief executive kuok khoon hong also said that recent corrections in commodity prices will hopefully restore some of the demand destroyed by high prices and improve margins in the downstream business adding that he is optimistic about wilmars performance for the rest of the year the benchmark straits times index was last 03 higher at 328091