Cenkos Securities profit down but weathers financial gloom

* 2008 pretax profit 5.1 mln stg vs 23.8 mln stg

* Cuts final div to 5p/shr

* Says has capacity and will be able to expand franchise

* Shares up almost 30 pct

March 26 (Reuters) - British Boutique advisory company Cenkos Securities Plc (CNKS.L) on Thursday reported a fall in its full-year pretax profit, but said it weathered the current financial crisis better than its competitors and attracted new clients, sending its shares up almost 30 percent.

The company also cut its final dividend for the year to 5 pence a share from 12 pence to retain profits and to fund its existing business. While, its competitor W.H. Ireland Group (WHI.L) on Wednesday scrapped its final dividend for the year.

The company also said it continues to raise funds for clients in difficult markets, citing 130 million pounds raised for Omega Insurance (OIH.L) early this year.

Cenkos, which failed a takeover bid for investment bank Close Brothers Group (CBRO.L) last year, said it was well positioned to take advantage of the fallout resulting due to the global economic gloom.

The company posted a 79 percent fall in pretax profit of 5.1 million pounds ($7.44 million) for the year to Dec. 31, compared with a pretax profit of 23.8 million pounds a year ago.

Revenue fell to 28.3 million pounds from 53.8 million pounds.

At 0935 GMT, Cenkos shares were up 29 percent at 94.44 pence on the London Stock Exchange.

($1=.6854 Pound) (Reporting by Srikanth Srinivasa in Bangalore; Editing by Kavita Chandran)