New MGS at 4.8 per cent

The Government of Malta will be issuing Lm30 million in bonds to the general public. The bonds will have an interest rate of 4.8 per cent and will mature on November 26, 2016. Applications open next Wednesday and close at noon on Friday or earlier at the discretion of the Accountant General.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm545,000 being traded in 85 deals over 20 different stocks. Trading over the week in Corporate Bonds was made up of a total value of Lm301,465.

Bank of Valletta share opened this week's trading at Lm2.62 and ranged between Lm2.605 and the closing price of Lm2.65. This amounted to a decrease of 1c on the previous week's reading. Weekly turnover amounted to 44,224 shares changing hands over 51 deals. 1,000 shares at Lm2.58 and 226 shares at Lm2.65 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively at the close of business yesterday.

Thirty-three deals were executed in HSBC shares during the week, over which 23,500 shares changed hands. More gains were registered in the equity this week as trading opened at Lm5.30, ranged between Lm5.27 and Lm5.45, before settling down to close at Lm5.42 yesterday. Following the end of yesterday's session, best bids for 885 shares at Lm5.42 and best offers of 1,500 shares at Lm5.46 remained outstanding.

Trading in Maltacom shares opened at Lm1.08 on Monday and went down to close the week at Lm1.05. 10,970 shares changed hands during the week, spread over eleven deals. At the close of business yesterday, 500 shares at Lm1.045 were the best outstanding bids, while 560 shares at Lm1.06 were the best offers still unsatisfied.

Meanwhile, 35,693 Lombard Bank Malta shares have been admitted to the Malta Stock Exchange Official List on Monday in lieu of dividends re-investments.

The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place: 4,000 Malta International Airport shares at Lm0.67; 3,475 International Hotels Investments shares between Lm0.835 and Lm0.85; 1,300 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares at Lm0.88; 2,300 Plaza Centres shares at Lm0.60 and Lm0.61; 5,000 FIMBank shares between USD 1.05 and USD 1.10 and 19,000 Datatrak shares between Lm0.26 and Lm0.265.

Tuesday saw the listing of the newly issued Lm5 million 6.4 per cent Gasan Finance Company plc Bonds 2008-11, with trading in the bond from Wednesday till yesterday amounting to a nominal value of Lm3,000 changing hands over 14 deals.

The Malta Stock Exchange share index decreased by 2.152 points or 0.1 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,160.398.