Index up one per cent

The Malta Stock Exchange share index increased by 19.101 points or 1.01 per cent over the week and now stands at 1,907.741.

Yet another positive week for HSBC Bank Malta shares. Trading opened at Lm4.195 on Tuesday and went up to close at Lm 4.23 yesterday. 16,640 shares changed hands over the week, spanning 18 deals. As yesterday's session drew to a close, best bids for 2,000 shares at Lm4.16 stood against best offers of 80 shares at Lm4.23.

Trading in Bank of Valletta shares consisted of 11 deals being struck, over which 4,587 shares changed hands. Opening at Lm2.32 on Tuesday, the equity's price went down to Lm2.315 before going up to close the week at Lm2.35. 3,375 shares at Lm2.33 and 62 shares at Lm2.35 were the best outstanding bids and offers at the close of business yesterday.

Maltacom shares opened the week's trading at Lm0.90 went down to Lm0.89 before going up again to end yesterday's session at Lm0.92. Total turnover for the week amounted to 89,900 shares changing hands over 20 deals. Following yesterday's trading session, best bids for 2,000 shares at Lm0.891 remained outstanding while best offers of 700 shares at Lm0.92 remained unsatisfied.

In a company announcement issued on Tuesday, the board of directors of Maltacom plc stated that the fifth annual general meeting is to be held on May 16, with shareholders on the register at the close of business on April 21 being eligible to vote therein.

In a company announcement issued on Tuesday by Global Financial Services Group showed extracts of the company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2002. These show a turnover figure of Lm788,260 (year ended December 31, 2001: Lm1,341,335), loss for the year of Lm204,114 (year ended December 31, 2001: Lm23,051) and loss per share of 0c6 (year ended December 31, 2001: 0c1).

Simonds Farsons Cisk too published the record date upon which shareholders on the company's register shall receive notice of and will be entitled to vote at the forthcoming annual general meeting, and will also be paid the dividend as approved by the AGM. This has been set for June 4, as detailed in a company announcement issued yesterday. It was also stated that the AGM shall be held on June 26.

In a company announcement issued yesterday, FIMBank plc stated that it held the annual general meeting on that same day. The members approved, among others, the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2002, and not to pay any dividend in respect of the year under review.

The other equities to trade during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place: 15,273 International Hotels Investments shares between Lm0.85 and Lm0.93; 2,187 Middle Sea Insurance shares between Lm2.30 and Lm2.35; 20,000 Plaza Centres shares between Lm0.72 and Lm0.75; 27,971 Global Financial Services Group shares between Lm0.15 and Lm0.171 and 2,000 Datatrak Holdings shares at Lm0.429.

Trading over the week in Corporate Bonds was made up of a total value of Lm181,346, while total Malta Government Stock turnover over the week amounted to a nominal value of Lm300,500 being struck in 30 deals over 15 different stocks for a total value of Lm317,593.