MSE index hits 3,300 mark

The Malta Stock Exchange index surpassed the 3,300 mark for the first time in 2009, reaching a new high of 3,315.857 points, registering a rise of 2.26 per cent, continuing to improve the index's year-to-date performance.

The only loss registered this week was of 0.132 per cent on Thursday, having registered the highest rise of the week yesterday of 1.331 per cent.

Twelve equities were traded this week, with nine closing in positive territory, two remaining unchanged, and one closing in negative territory.

A total of 266 deals were registered over the week with a turnover of over €12.29 million. In the equity market 145 deals were executed for a total value of €503,855, while in the corporate bond market 79 transactions were registered for a value traded of €628,466.

A total of 30 deals were registered in the government bond market for a value of €505,972. In the treasury bills market, a total of eight transactions were registered for a total value of over €10.63 million.

HSBC Bank Malta plc was the best performing equity from the banking sector, as all banking equities registered gains this week. HSBC registered a rise of 4.91 per cent, having registered 24 transactions of 29,660 shares. The closing share price for the week was €2.99, a rise of €0.14. HSBC registered gains of 2.11 per cent and 3.1 per cent on Wednesday and yesterday respectively, while decreasing on Monday by 0.35 per cent. Year-to-date, the equity is now at a positive 10.74 per cent. Yesterday, HSBC issued the interim directors' statement in which they outlined the performance of the bank in the third quarter.

Lombard Bank plc registered gains of €0.10, closing the week at €2.75. The equity registered six deals of 5,774 shares, as a result edging 3.77 per cent higher on the week. Lombard traded only during the first two days of the week, both ending in positive territory, lessening further the year-to-date loss, which stands at 8.33 per cent.

Bank of Valletta plc, for a second consecutive week registered the highest number of trades, as 68,483 shares changed hands across 69 deals, for a total value of €259,675.

Throughout the week the equity traded at a low of €3.76 and a high of €3.80. BOV decreased on Wednesday and Thursday, while having increased on the first and last sessions of the week.

The share price of FIMBank plc registered a rise of 0.44 per cent, as 32,985 shares were traded over ten transactions. The closing share price for the week stands at $1.145, a mere gain of $0.005.

For the third week in a row Go plc closed the week on a positive note as yesterday the equity reached a high for the week of €1.72. Four positive trading sessions were registered during the week, while in the mid-week session the price did not change.

The equity recorded a volume of 36,304 shares over fifteen transactions, therefore edging 3.61 per cent higher on the week. Go's year-to-date loss is now just under 1.85 per cent.

Middlesea Insurance plc traded only on Monday when 500 shares changed hands across two deals. The price was left unchanged when compared to the previous week at €1.25.

Simonds Farsons Cisk plc saw a rise of 3.12 per cent in its share price, having closed the week at €1.65, as 6,250 shares traded on a single deal.

Likewise, Crimsonwing only traded once on Tuesday as 7,000 shares changed hands. The equity was the best performer this week as the price went up by 6.9 per cent, and closed the week at €0.31.

Meanwhile, International Hotel Investments plc closed the week at the €0.85 mark, as 6,945 shares were traded over five deals. The equity traded only on Wednesday and yesterday, as the price was left unchanged.

Plaza Centres plc closed the week in decline as only 200 shares changed hands across two transactions, for the price of €1.60.

Medserv plc registered a slight increase of 0.05 per cent as the price reached a high of €4. The equity traded only during the opening and closing sessions of the week, as 8,260 shares were transacted over six deals.

Maltapost plc saw a rise in its share price, having closed the week at €0.602, an increase of 0.33 per cent over the previous week. A total 5,206 shares changed hands across four deals.

This article, which was compiled by Jesmond Mizzi, managing director of Jesmond Mizzi Financial Services Limited (JMFS), does not intend to give investment advice and the contents therein should not be construed as such. JMFS is licensed to conduct investment services by the MFSA. The directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned in this article. For further information contact JMFS at 67/3, South Street, Valletta or on Tel: 2122 4410 or e-mail jmizzi@jmfs.net.