HSBC Bank Malta shares continued their positive performance after trading opened at Lm11.149 on Monday and went up to close at Lm11.60 on Friday, equal to a gain of 55c on the previous week's closing position of Lm11.05.
On Thursday, HSBC's price temporarily reached a weekly high of Lm11.76 - the highest price ever recorded by the bank.
Total turnover amounted to 134,019 shares, changing hands over 519 deals for a total market value of Lm1,553,606. This represented 51 per cent of the total value of shares transacted during the week.
Following the close of business on Friday, best unsatisfied bids for 432 shares at Lm11.56 stood against best unsatisfied offers of 1,222 shares at Lm11.60.
On Wednesday, HSBC announced that Martin Wilkins is retiring from the bank and will be relinquishing his posts of director and chief operating officer with effect from next Friday. Mr Wilkins will be replaced in these executive posts by Sally Robson. Since 1983, Mrs Robson has held a number of key managerial positions within the HSBC Group in the UK.
Bank of Valletta shares opened the week at Lm4.85 on Monday, peaked at Lm5.03 during Wednesday's trading session before edging down to close at Lm4.90 on Friday, representing an overall 5c increase during the current trading week. A total of 165,168 shares changed hands over the week, spread over 302 deals.
As Friday's session drew to a close, 310 shares at Lm4.90 and 916 shares at Lm4.93 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers, respectively.
Maltacom shares saw trading open at Lm2.18 on Monday and during the week ranged between Lm2.10 and the closing price of Lm2.22. This marked a 3c2 increase on the previous week's closing. Weekly turnover amounted to 133,373 shares, changing hands over 113 deals. After Friday's trading session, best bids for 8,804 shares at Lm2.20 and best offers of 3,484 shares at Lm2.22 remained unsatisfied.
On Tuesday, the board of directors of Plaza Centres plc published the company's results for the year ended December 31, 2005. These show a turnover figure of Lm637,554 (December 2004: Lm618,000); profit for the year after tax amounting to Lm270,545 (Lm265,000); and earnings per share of 2c87 (2c81).
The company also announced that the board of directors proposed the payment of a net dividend of 2c71 per share. The final dividend will be paid on April 28 to shareholders who will be on the company's register as at March 27.
In a company announcement on Tuesday, FIMBank plc said that during its annual general meeting to be held on Thursday, April 6, the bank is presenting these resolutions for consideration: to receive and approve the audited accounts for the year ended December 31, 2005; to declare a net dividend of US$0.0114 per share; to reappoint the auditors; to approve the annual emoluments of the directors; and to elect directors.
In addition to the ordinary resolution, there will be a special business ordinary resolution on the bonus issue, together with four extraordinary resolutions: the amendment to the company's Memorandum of Association; the director's authority to issue equity securities and their authority to restrict or withdraw statutory pre-emption rights; and the acquisition of the company's own shares.
In a company announcement on Friday, the board of directors of the Global Financial Services Group published the company's results for the year ended December 31, 2005. These showed a turnover figure of Lm3,086,959 (December 2004: Lm2.5 million); profit for the year after tax of Lm1,613,794 (Lm1.1 million) and earnings per share of 12c2 (8c).
The company also announced that the board of directors proposed the payment of a final ordinary dividend of 1c5 gross per share and a special dividend of 3c gross per share, giving a total final dividend of 4c5 gross per share. The company will pay the final dividend June 2 to those shareholders who are on the company's shareholders register as at April 24.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm1,523,200, being traded in 65 deals over 22 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm25,745.
The other equities which traded last week, with the trading range in brackets, were: 1,697 Lombard Bank shares (Lm11.74-Lm11.75); 6,764 Middlesea Insurance shares (Lm5.05-Lm5.25); 10,540 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares (84c); 76,587 International Hotels Investment shares (€0.80-€0.86); 9,500 Plaza Centre shares (72c-68c); 237,594 FIMBank shares (US$2-$2.08); 25,530 Malta International Airport shares (Lm1.54-Lm1.55); 30,181 Global Financial Services shares (Lm1.78-Lm1.99); and 1,641 Santumas Shareholdings plc shares (Lm1.10).
The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index rose 195.737 points or 3.08% over the week and now stands at 6,552.572.
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.