The MSE index experienced its third best session this year yesterday, jumping an impressive 2.5 per cent to close at an all-new record high of 4,209 points.
After the market closed on Friday's results, Bank of Valletta reported a Lm26.6 million profit before tax and declared a 15c gross final dividend. Furthermore, a bonus share on the basis of 1:1 will be given to all holders as on January 18, 2006.
After the ample weekend press coverage, Bank of Valletta opened the session with an astounding 6.5 per cent leap as a dominant bid side gobbled up 22,751 shares on offer at an all-new record high of Lm6.33c6.
The positive sentiment spread over to HSBC Bank Malta which gained 13c or two per cent to close at the Lm6.50 level.
Maltacom increased by the slimmest of margins as 1,050 shares were exchanged across three transactions, while Simonds Farsons Cisks recouped 0c5 as a single investor purchased 2,500 shares at the 75c5 level.
A similar monetary gain was registered in Datatrak Holdings which reclaimed the 0.45c level on purchases totalling 5,220 shares. Global Financial Services Group declined slightly to close the day at Lm1.28c9.
Elsewhere in the market, trading in Lombard Bank, Malta International Airport and Plaza Centres did not affect their previous closing levels of Lm7.05, Lm1.40 and 62c respectively.
Upbeat earnings forecasts lift Tokyo stocks
European equity markets were sharply higher yesterday following strong gains on Wall Street in the previous session and after Telefonica's bid for 02 fuelled gains in the telecoms sector. In early trade, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 1.2 per cent to 1,188.38 while Frankfurt's Xetra Dax added 1.5 per cent to 4,897.6. In Paris, the CAC 40 gained 1.4 per cent to 4,388.62.
Wall Street continued to give itself whiplash this week as a pattern of sharp rallies and sell-offs continued.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was one per cent ahead for the week by late morning on Friday as the S&P 500 index advanced 0.8 per cent. The Nasdaq Composite, however, retreated 0.2 per cent from last Friday's close.
London's equities had a strong start to the week following a rally on Wall Street on Friday after stronger-than-expected third-quarter GDP data, and as news of a bid for O2 filtered through the UK markets.
Japanese stocks leapt upwards, boosted by strong corporate results and forecasts and by continued optimism about the prospects of domestically focused sectors. The Nikkei 225 rose 1.2 per cent to 13,512.25.
The Topix gained 1.3 per cent to reach 1,438.65. Matsushita Electric, one of the world's largest consumer electronics makers, using the Panasonic brand, jumped 5.9 per cent to €2,055 after reporting higher than expected quarterly profit.