HSBC, Maltacom down

Monday's trading session saw HSBC shares lose 15c on the previous closing price after four deals were struck between the opening price of Lm3.70 and Lm3.60, the closing price. 5,370 shares were traded during the session. Tuesday saw the equity open trading at Lm3.59 before edging up to close the session unchanged at Lm3.60. Four deals were struck over which 1,025 shares changed hands. A deal was also struck in the put-through market, when 100,000 shares changed hands at Lm3.60. The last deal in the bank's shares was struck on Wednesday, when 250 shares changed hands again at Lm3.60. As Friday's session drew to a close, there were no bids left, while best offers of 1,130 shares at Lm3.59 were still unsatisfied.

Five deals were struck in Maltacom shares on Monday, over which 7,034 shares changed hands. Trading opened at Lm1.05 and closed at Lm1.02, down by 5c8 on the previous reading. One deal was struck during the following session on Tuesday, which saw 1,000 shares change hands at Lm1.01, down by 1c. Wednesday's trading session saw Maltacom's share price stabilise, when trading closed at Lm1.014, up by 0c4 on the previous closing price. Sixteen deals were struck over which 15,000 shares changed hands. At the next trading on Friday, the equity witnessed five deals being struck, between the opening price of Lm1.014 and Lm1.029, the closing price. This was an increase of 1c5 on the previous closing price. 4,470 shares changed hands during the session, over five deals. 450 shares at Lm1.014 and 2,000 shares at Lm1.029 were the best bids and offers respectively at the close of business on Friday.

Trading in Bank of Valletta shares opened on Tuesday this week, when six deals were struck in the equity. Turnover amounted to 1,980 on the day, with trading being struck between Lm2.378 and the closing price of Lm2.38, unchanged from the previous close. Wednesday's session saw trading open at Lm2.379, go up to Lm2.38 before finally going down again to close at Lm2.379, down by 0c1 on the previous reading. Five deals were struck, with 2,840 shares changing hands. Just one deal for 100 shares was struck on Thursday, again at Lm2.379, thus leaving the closing price unchanged. This was also the last deal of the week for Bank of Valletta shares. The outstanding positions after the close of Friday's session were: best bids for 2,600 shares at Lm2.30 and best offers of 198 shares at Lm2.379.

The other equities which traded during the week are shown here, followed by the price range in which trading was struck; 3,000 shares in Global Financial Services Group plc struck between Lm0.135 and Lm0.13; 3,612 shares in International Hotel Investments plc struck at Lm0.82, and 6,640 shares in Datatrak Holdings plc struck between Lm0.479 and Lm0.47.

Application lists for the Simonds Farsons Cisk plc bond issues closed a mere hour and a half after they opened on Thursday. The bonds, one for 6.25 per cent maturing 2006/8 and one for 6.6 per cent maturing 2010/12, received overwhelming response from the public. The company exercised its over-allotment option, adding an extra Lm500,000 to the 6.25 per cent bonds 2006/8, and an extra Lm1,000,000 to the 6.6 per cent bonds 2010/12. As for individual allocations, Simonds Farsons Cisk will in the coming days issue a statement regarding what policy to adopt.

On Monday, October 28, subscription lists will open for the 6.5 per cent CareMalta Finance plc Bonds 2008/11 issued at par. The issue will be for a total nominal value of Lm3,800,000. The bonds are guaranteed by CareMalta Group Limited and underwritten by Bank of Valletta plc.

Trading over the week in Corporate Bonds was made up of the following:

¤ One deal struck in the 6.15 per cent Bank of Valletta 2010, in which a nominal value of Lm2,000 changed hands at Lm101.00.

¤ Ten deals struck in the 8 per cent Bank of Valletta 2010 (USD), in which a nominal value of USD 202,500 changed hands between USD 109.98 and USD 110.10.

¤ Four deals struck in the 6.5 per cent Corinthia Finance 2010 (EUR), in which a nominal value of EUR 40,000 changed hands at Lm 100.00.

¤ Two deals struck in the 6.75 per cent Corinthia Finance 2012, in which a nominal value of Lm 6,800 changed hands at Lm 100.00 and Lm 102.40.

¤ Three deals struck in the 6.5 per cent Gasan Financef 2006/9, in which a nominal value of Lm 3,800 changed hands at Lm100.00.

¤ Four deals struck in the 7.25 per cent HSBC 2005, in which a nominal value of Lm 2,700 changed hands at Lm105.00.

¤ Four deals struck in the 6.7 per cent Mizzi Organisation Finance 2009/12, in which a nominal value of Lm21,500 changed hands between Lm102.01 and Lm102.50.

¤ Seven deals struck in the 6.7 per cent Tumas Investments 2010/12, in which a nominal value of Lm14,700 changed hands at Lm99.50 and Lm99.90.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover over the week amounted to a nominal value of Lm291,500 being struck in 33 deals over 14 different stocks. Of these, a nominal value of Lm200,000 was struck in the 7.8 per cent MGS 2018 alone.

The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index decreased by 39.149 points over the week, equal to 2.19 per cent, and now stands at 1,763.226.