HSBC shares register hefty gains

The first trading week after the festive season kicked off on a high note as gains were registered across all five sessions, with the Malta Stock Exchange index edging 5.56 per cent higher on last year's closing level. Yesterday the index closed at 3,653.053 points, a level last reached since October 2008.

Investors concentrated their attention on equities rather than safer alternatives, like government stocks, within which activity was low during all sessions.

In the equity market, activity increased across all trading sessions, with the exception of Thursday. However, a weekly high was reached yesterday as transactions amounted to 93. Out of the 20 companies listed on the local stock exchange, 15 were active this week as 12 initiated the year on a positive note, two closed unchanged, while a single equity lost ground.

Total transactions for the week amounted to 483 deals with a turnover of just under €17 million. In the equity market 325 deals were executed for a total value of over €1.1 million while in the corporate bonds market 122 transactions were registered for a value of €946,489.

On the other hand 31 transactions in the government bond market totalling €335,421 were executed across 11 securities. In the Treasury bills market, five transactions were traded amounting to €14.4 million.

HSBC Bank Malta plc closed the week in the limelight after registering gains of €0.20c on both Thursday and Friday. The equity registered minimal gains on Monday and Tuesday, while higher gains amounting to €0.05 or 1.54 per cent were registered during the mid-week session, as trading volume increased. An overwhelming gain of 6.06 per cent was registered on Thursday and was reiterated yesterday as over 31,000 shares were traded across 27 transactions. The equity's price now stands at €3.70, edging 14.55 per cent up on last year's closing price.

Out of the financial equities listed on the MSE, Middlesea Insurance plc headed the list of gainers, as the equity closed all five sessions in positive territory. The equity was the most active equity, as 145,571 shares were traded across 60 deals. Throughout the week the insurance company gained a hefty 16.92 per cent as the price soared from a low of €0.804 to a weekly high €0.989 reached yesterday but ended the week at €0.94.

Meanwhile Bank of Valletta plc had the highest number of transactions this week as 93 deals totalling 92,387 shares were executed. The equity started the year on a positive note, however, some of Monday's gains were reversed on Tuesday as the equity was the only loser of the day shedding 0.05 per cent. However, the equity regained ground in the remaining sessions, closing the week at €3.96, up by 2.33 per cent on the week.

Global Capital plc also closed the week on a positive note as two deals of 2,500 shares lifted the price by 6.96 per cent to reach €1.444. A similar gain of 6.02 per cent was recorded by Lombard Bank plc which registered gains on Tuesday and yesterday, while closed unchanged on Thursday. A total of 12 deals were executed for a total volume of 13,175 shares as the price now stands at €3.17. FIMBank plc, although on lower activity, closed the week up, as three transactions of 1,900 shares executed on Thursday lifted the share price by 1.82 per cent to reach $1.12.

Both Malta International Airport plc and Simonds Farsons Cisk plc were active on two trading sessions. MIA traded on Thursday and yesterday as the equity registered gains of €0.05 during both sessions, hence closing at €2.50 on the week across three transactions of 4,450 shares. On the other hand, Simonds Farsons Cisk maintained last year's closing price of €1.70 as 11,497 shares were traded on five deals.

Meanwhile Go plc started the year on a somewhat quiet tone as the first three trading sessions saw the equity closing unchanged at €2.10. However, liquidity soared on Thursday to 41,376 shares, as the equity gained 0.48 per cent. Yesterday's session saw the equity gaining a further 1.42 per cent to reach €2.14 or 1.9 per cent higher on the week.

Similarly Maltapost plc closed the first two sessions unchanged, while gains were only recorded during the last two trading sessions. In fact, the postal service operator closed the week at €0.72, up by 2.86 per cent on the week.

Likewise Crimsonwing plc gained 2.56 per cent as 40,000 shares were traded in a single transaction on Monday, closing at €0.40.

The only equity to close the week in the red was International Hotel Investments plc, having closed 5.63 per cent down at €0.755. On Monday the equity closed unchanged however lost €0.045 during Thursday's session. Throughout the week, five transactions of 25,109 shares were executed.

Island Hotels Group Holdings plc gained 0.89 per cent as 500 shares were traded, with the price closing at €1.019.

Both Datatrak Holdings plc and Plaza Centres plc traded during one session as the former registered a gain of €0.083 to reach €0.155, while the latter closed unchanged at €1.63.

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.