BoV up 23c1

Bank of Valletta shares opened the week's trading at Lm2.44 and went straight up to close Friday's session at Lm2.651, up by 23c1 on the previous week's reading. During the week 71,053 shares changed hands over 54 deals.

Following the close of business on Friday, best bids for 978 shares at Lm2.65 were outstanding, while best offers of 985 shares at Lm2.66 remained unsatisfied.

In a company announcement on Friday the board of directors of Bank of Valletta plc stated that it is scheduled to meet on Friday, October 31, to consider and approve the group's and the bank's audited financial statements for the financial year ended September 30, recommend the proposed dividend and approve the preliminary profit statement.

HSBC shares opened Monday's session at Lm5.10, traded during the week between Lm5.06 and Lm5.15, before closing on Friday at Lm5.11, up 6c on the previous week's closing price.

Sixteen deals were struck over the week, over which 17,401 shares changed hands. Best bids for 300 shares at Lm5.12 and best offers of 550 shares at Lm5.15 remained outstanding at the close of trading on Friday.

On the other hand, Maltacom shares opened the week on Monday at Lm1.08 and subsequently closed on Friday at Lm1.05, down 3c5 on the previous closing price. Weekly turnover amounted to 8,339 shares, being traded over nine deals.

Four hundred shares at Lm1.045 and 3,640 shares at Lm1.05 were the best outstanding bids and offers at the end of Friday's session.

Simonds Farsons Cisk announced on Thursday that it has entered into a preliminary agreement with Guido Vella for the acquisition of Guido Vella Cash & Carry Business. This transaction will involve the transfer of Mr Vella's business as a going concern, but will be managed as a separate entity from the other group subsidiary companies.

Meanwhile, Simonds Farsons Cisk shares saw the week's trading close at Lm0.82, after 5,027 shares changed hands in six deals on Monday and Wednesday.

At the close of business on Friday a thousand shares at Lm0.82 and 2,133 shares at Lm0.895 were the best outstanding bids and offers, respectively.

In a company announcement on Tuesday Lombard Bank Malta plc said it will forward an extraordinary resolution in the upcoming general meeting to create a new class of shares. The current ordinary shares will be reclassified as 'A' shares, with the new shares being classified as 'B' ordinary shares, to be offered for acquisition by employees, subject to restrictions.

The other equities which traded during the week (with the trading range in brackets) weree: 3,945 Malta International Airport shares (Lm0.63-Lm0.631); 8,900 International Hotels Investments shares (Lm0.82); 5,000 Lombard Bank shares (Lm3.69-Lm3.71); 5,000 FIMBank plc shares (US$1.17); 14,241 GloBAl Financial Services Group plc shares (Lm1.12); and 14,042 Datatrak Holdings plc shares (Lm0.28-Lm0.30).

Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm312,000, being traded in 41 deals over 19 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm66,672.

The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index was up 37.523 points or 1.81% over the week and now stands at 2,116.015.