Maltacom most active

Maltacom shares once more registered the highest turnover on the equity market this week, with 87.6 per cent of the total equity volume. Sixty-five deals were struck, over which 193,629 shares changed hands. Monday saw trading open at Lm0.90, level with the previous closing price. By yesterday's close the share price lost 2c9 and stood at Lm0.871, down by 3.222 per cent on the week. At this point, 20,000 shares at Lm0.871 were the best bids outstanding, while best offers of 550 shares at Lm0.90 remained unsatisfied.

Nine deals were struck in Bank of Valletta shares during the week, with total turnover amounting to 6,790 shares. Trading opened at Lm2.34 and went down to close at Lm2.31, a decrease of 1.282 per cent. Following the close of trading yesterday, best bids for 272 shares at Lm2.31 stood against best offers of 1,280 shares at Lm2.339.

HSBC was the highest climber this week, when trading in the equity opened at Lm4.18 on Monday and went up to close at Lm4.30 yesterday. This price level was last registered in November 2001. 9,240 shares changed hands during the week, over 12 deals. 2,887 shares at Lm4.18 and 135 shares at Lm4.30 were the best outstanding bids and offers respectively after yesterday's session.

In a company announcement issued yesterday, Datatrak Holdings plc published the Preliminary Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2002. These show a turnover figure of Lm1,026,944 (October 23, 2000 to December 31, 2001: Lm729,783), loss for the period of Lm373,112 (October 23, 2000 to December 31, 2001: loss of Lm562,412), and loss per share of 2c3 (October 23, 2000 to December 31, 2001: loss per share of 3c6).

The Board of Directors of International Hotel Investments plc issued a company announcement yeserday, in which they set a meeting on Tuesday to approve the financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2002.

Similarly, First International Merchant Bank plc issued a company announcement on Thursday in which it was stated that the Board of Directors will meet on September 1 to approve the bank's interim financial statements for the period which will end on June 30.

Meanwhile, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc issued a notice to shareholders announcing the 56th Annual General Meeting, which is going to be held on the June 26. Another notice was published simultaneously whereby it was announced that an Extraordinary General Meeting is to be held just before the Annual General Meeting, with the purpose of increasing the aggregate emoluments payable annually to all directors to Lm150,000.

The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place: 600 International Hotel Investments at Lm0.94; 9,738 Lombard Bank shares between Lm3.72 and Lm3.725 and 1,000 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares at Lm0.76.

Trading over the week in Corporate Bonds was made up of a total value of Lm41,945, while total Malta Government Stock turnover over the week amounted to a nominal value of Lm589,000 being traded in 41 deals over 13 different stocks. Of these a nominal value of Lm120,000 was traded in the 7.35 per cent MGS 2007 over one deal, while a nominal value of Lm257,000 was traded in the 5.9 per cent MGS 2015 (II) over three deals.

The Malta Stock Exchange share index decreased by 6.23 points or 0.33 per cent over the week and now stands at 1,907.445.