BoV, HSBC unabated

Trading in Bank of Valletta shares opened at Lm7.271 on Monday and peaked at Lm7.48 on Friday, before edging down to close that day's trading at Lm7.42. This represented a 2.049 per cent gain on the week, and 17c on last Friday's closing price of Lm7.25.

Last week 226 deals were struck over which 90,940 shares changed hands. Best bids for 900 shares at Lm7.40 and best offers of 559 shares at Lm7.44 were the best outstanding positions after Friday's session.

On Monday, the bank announced that it had received MFSA approval for the listing of the bonus shares. These would be allocated to shareholders on the register at the close of business on Wednesday. These shares start trading on Thursday instead of on January 25 as originally planned.

Meanwhile, HSBC Bank Malta shares opened at Lm7.80, went up to Lm8.10 during the week, before going down to end Friday's trading session at Lm8.005.

Total volume transacted amounted to 26,927 shares, changing hands in 77 deals. Following the close of business on Friday, 250 shares at Lm8 were the best outstanding bids while offers for 100 shares at Lm8.06 were still unsatisfied.

A 7c increase was registered last week in Maltacom's share price, as trading in the equity opened at Lm1.84 on Monday and closed at Lm1.91 on Friday. During the week, the price of the equity ranged between Lm1.83 and Lm1.93.

A total of 217,555 shares changed hands, spread over 96 deals. Following the close of business on Friday, best bids for 1,000 shares at Lm1.90 stood against best offers of 1,485 shares at Lm1.91.

Middlesea Insurance shares rose 20c (5.263 per cent) over the week, opening on Monday at Lm3.80 and closing on Friday at Lm4. In the interim, the price of the equity reached a weekly high of Lm4.06.

Turnover amounted to 7,610 shares spread over 13 deals. Following Friday's trading session, 395 shares at Lm4 and 1,000 shares at Lm4.10 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers, respectively.

On Wednesday, Datatrak Holdings plc announced that Kerridge Computer Company Ltd, a leading supplier in the UK of advanced software solutions, computer services and business communications technology, and Datatrak Solutions Ltd have reached a non-exclusive agreement to form a strategic partnership.

The agreement is intended to regulate and promote the sharing of technologies proprietary to both parties. Meanwhile, Paul Borg Costanzi has been appointed chief operations officer of the Datatrak Group with immediate effect.

On Thursday, Suncrest Hotels plc announced that the board of directors is to meet on Wednesday to approve the company's financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2005, as well as the preliminary profit statements for the same period.

The other equities which traded last week, with the trading range in brackets, were: 3,957 Lombard Bank shares (Lm8.20-Lm8.70); 3,403 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares (81c-866c); 5,869 International Hotels Investments shares (€0.86-€0.89); 208,100 Plaza Centres shares (70c-71c); 35,854 FIMBank shares (US$2.01-$2.06); 381,748 Malta International Airport shares (Lm1.55-Lm1.56); 5,000 Global Financial Services shares (Lm1.30-Lm1.31); and 1,500 Datatrak shares (31c).

Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm343,400, being traded in 55 deals over 16 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm68,627.

The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index rose 108.743 points or 2.23 per cent over the week to 4,992.812.

Azzopardi Investment Management Limited is licensed by the MFSA to provide investment services, including stockbroking. The company is involved in acting as sponsoring and corporate stockbroker for various listed companies. The directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients, are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned.