HSBC pushes past Lm8

Trading in HSBC opened the week at Lm7.99c9 on Monday and gained 6c3 during the week to end yesterday's session at Lm8.06c2. Trading for the week consisted of 14,960 shares changing hands over 22 deals. During the week, trading ranged between Lm8.07 and Lm7.99c8. As yesterday's session drew to a close, best bids for 200 shares at Lm8.06c2 stood against best offers of 1,918 shares at Lm8.20.

Bank of Valletta shares witnessed a decrease of 3c9 during the week when trading opened at Lm4.71c9 on Monday and went down to close Friday's session at Lm4.68. During the week, trading ranged between Lm4.71c9 and Lm4.66. A total of 50,841 shares changed hands in 57 deals. At the end of yesterday's session, bids for 500 shares at Lm4.65 and offers for 265 shares at Lm4.68 made up the best unsatisfied closing positions.

Meanwhile, Maltacom shares opened at Lm1.59c9 on Monday and went up to close the week at Lm1.60. 36,198 shares changed hands during the week, spread over 40 deals. At the close of business yesterday, 750 shares at Lm1.58 were the best outstanding bids while 7,317 shares at Lm1.60 were the best offers still unsatisfied.

In a company announcement issued on Wednesday, the Board of Directors of Suncrest Hotels plc published the financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2004. These show a turnover figure of Lm2,612,000 (October 2003: Lm2.2 million), profit on ordinary activities after taxation for the period amounting to Lm75,000 (October 2003: a loss after tax of Lm361,000) and earnings per share of 8m (October 2003: loss per share of 3c6). The directors of the company are not proposing the payment of a dividend.

The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place; 1,111 Lombard Bank shares between Lm4.25c1 and Lm4.10; 2,611 Middlesea Insurance shares at Lm2.50; 27,777 Simonds Farsons Cisk at Lm1.12; 2,000 International Hotels Investment shares at €0.76; 236,376 FimBank shares between US$1.05 and US$1; 14,303 Malta International Airport shares between Lm1.15c1 and Lm1.13; 1,000 Global Financial Services shares at Lm1.20c8; 19,165 San Tumas Shareholdings plc shares between 76c and 75c and 1,600 Datatrak shares at 20c.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm3,041,200 being traded in 71 deals over 21 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm57,523.

The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index decreased by 2.404 points or 0.08 per cent over the week and now stands at 3,143.755.

Report by Azzopardi Investment Management Limited, tel. 2131 3100, fax. 2131 8897