The Malta Stock Exchange index closed the last trading week for 2010 at 3,781.237 points, a rise of 3.82 per cent for the week and a level not reached since mid-February. This was the fourth consecutive positive week for the index, having closed with a positive year-to-date performance of 9.27 per cent, as this week turned out to be another all-positive week. On a monthly comparison, the index gained just over nine per cent, after starting the month of December at the 3,400 level.
The week was characterised by high gains in most equities. In fact, eight out of the 13 traded equities registered a positive performance during the week, as two closed unchanged and three other equities lowered in value. Turnover in the equity market reached 367,986 shares over 146 deals, with HSBC Bank Malta plc shares registering the highest traded volume.
In the Corporate Bonds market turnover amounted to a value of €288,972 traded over 45 deals. Meanwhile, in the Government Stock market value traded amounted to €716,687 across 56 transactions, as trading was concentrated in the 5.25% MGS 2030 (I) issue. A single trade was registered in the Treasury Bill market for a value of €2.09 million.
The highest gainer this week was International Hotel Investments plc, having gained just below 7.4 per cent. The equity’s closing share price was €0.945, a monthly rise of 25.17 per cent. IHI was active from Monday to Wednesday, registering gains which ranged from 2.22 per cent to 2.72 per cent, as shares traded amounted to 35,115 over nine deals.
HSBC Bank Malta plc shares registered an appreciation of five per cent this week, having registered 46 trades of 188,990 shares, to close at €3.255, thus ending the year with a rise of just 0.77 per cent, having spent most of the year in negative year-to-date territory. This notwithstanding, the equity’s monthly performance resulted in an increase of approximately 12.6 per cent.
Similarly, Bank of Valletta plc shares continued the positive rally seen in recent weeks, gaining a further 4.27 per cent both on the week and on the month, to end the year at €3.858. BOV registered its highest rise on Monday, with a gain of 2.73 per cent, having also edged higher on the other trading sessions. A total of 60,843 shares were executed over 59 deals.
Meanwhile, Island Hotels Group Holdings plc recovered some of the recent losses, as this week its share price edged 5.56 per cent higher to close at €0.95, as 7,800 shares changed hands across five transactions, after trading unchanged at €0.90 on Monday and Tuesday.
On the other hand, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc shares lost 1.16 per cent on Tuesday, or €0.02, having closed the week at €1.70. The equity had 10,000 shares changing hands on two trades, registering no price movements on the month.
After last week’s loss, Lombard Bank plc closed the week unchanged at €2.80 on Tuesday, having registered two deals of 3,000 shares. Notwithstanding this, the equity registered an 8.95 per cent rise from the beginning of the month.
Similarly, Loqus Holdings plc also remained flat at €0.20, as a single deal of just 700 shares was executed. The equity was one of the best performers this month, with an appreciation of 11.1 per cent.
A negative performance was registered in Medserv plc and Santumas Shareholdings plc shares. The former registered a decline of 0.47 per cent, while the latter closed minimally lower by 0.12 per cent. For both equities, these declines also represented their monthly performance. Medserv traded at €4.25 with 14,500 shares across four deals, while Santumas closed the week at €2.567 on two transactions of 2,350 shares.
A total of three deals were registered in Maltapost plc shares, as 4,448 shares were exchanged. The equity registered a healthy 5.26 per cent rise on Wednesday, to close the week at its yearly high of €1.00. During the month, Maltapost registered an increase of 7.53 per cent.
Middlesea Insurance plc gained some ground this week, edging 1.4 per cent higher, and thus closing at €1.015, with a mere 500 shares being traded on a single trade on Monday. However, the equity closed the month with a loss of approximately 3.3 per cent.
Malta International Airport plc shares closed at €1.66, €0.01 higher than last week, having registered three deals, consisting of 21,800 shares.
Finally, Go plc registered a rise of 0.26 per cent on Wednesday, to close the year at €1.935, as shares traded totalled 17,940 over nine deals. As regards to monthly performances, both MIA and Go plc closed in positive territory, precisely at 0.73 per cent and 1.84 per cent respectively.
We wish our readers a prosperous New Year.
This article, which was compiled by Atlas JMFS Investment Services Limited, does not intend to give investment advice and the contents therein should not be construed as such. Atlas JMFS is licensed to conduct investment services by the MFSA and is a member firm of the Malta Stock Exchange.
The directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned in this article.
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