Maltacom rebounds

Maltacom shares opened trading at Lm0.89 this week, up by 1c on the previous closing price. They went on to register an increase of 3.371 per cent in the price to close the week at Lm0.92. Total turnover amounted to 29,455 shares changing hands over 21 deals. Following yesterday's trading session, 1,000 shares at Lm0.89 stood against 4,390 shares at Lm0.949 as the best outstanding bids and offers respectively.

Heavy turnover was registered this week in Bank of Valletta shares, with 49,853 shares changing hands over 13 deals. The bulk of this turnover was witnessed during Thursday's trading session, when 45,011 shares changed hands over seven deals.

With regards to the equity's price, trading on Monday opened at Lm2.33, down by 1c from the previous close, and went on to close the week at Lm2.30.

Following the close of business yesterday, 2,840 shares at Lm2.25 were the best unsatisfied bids, while 85 shares at Lm2.30 were the best offers outstanding.

Four deals were struck in HSBC shares during the week. Two deals were struck on Monday, when 1,440 shares changed hands at Lm4.10. The other two deals were struck on Tuesday in which 1,800 shares were traded at Lm4.

At the end of yesterday's session, best bids for 1,000 shares at Lm3.95 remained outstanding, while 60 shares at Lm4.13 were the best outstanding offers.

In a company announcement issued on Tuesday, the board of directors of HSBC Bank Malta plc stated that its annual general meeting is to be held on Wednesday, March 26. Resolutions to be forwarded include the approval of the accounts for the year ended December 31 and the declaration of a final gross dividend of 13.2 cents per share among others.

Middlesea Insurance plc issued two company announcements on Monday. The first set the date for a board meeting on April 11, during which the profits or losses for the year ended December 31 are to be approved for publication and at which the recommendation of a dividend is to be decided. The second set June 11 as the date for the holding of the general meeting.

The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place: 24,307 International Hotels Investments shares between Lm0.905 and Lm0.92; 15,074 Lombard Bank shares between Lm3.54 and Lm3.60; 3,550 Malta International Airport shares at Lm0.698 and 885 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares at Lm0.675 and Lm0.652.

Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm279,755, while total Malta Government stock turnover over the week amounted to a nominal value of Lm497,000 being struck in 40 deals over 15 different stocks. Of these, a nominal value of Lm346,800 changed hands in 10 deals in the 5.9 per cent MGS 2015 (II) - Fungibile.

The Malta Stock Exchange share index decreased by 6.51 points or 0.35 per cent over the week and now stands at 1,863.549.