The latter part of this holiday-shortened week saw Bank of Valletta shares ease back on gains made in the previous days as the equity closed Thursday's session at Lm4.90; this also being the previous week's closing. Trading this week ranged between Lm4.89,9 and Lm4.99. One hundred and thiry nine deals were struck during the week over which 59,594 shares changed hands.
Following the close of business on Thursday, best unsatisfied bids for 850 shares at Lm4.86 stood against best unsatisfied offers of 1,354 shares at Lm4.90.
HSBC shares also eased back on gains made in previous days after trading opened at Lm11.61 on Monday and closed the week's trading at Lm11.40 representing a drop of 21c (1.809 per cent). During the week the price of the equity ranged between Lm11.38 and Lm11.80,1. Four hundred deals were stuck during the week, over which 115,176 shares were traded. Best bids for 1,675 shares at Lm11.35 and best offers of 2,930 shares at Lm11.40 remained unsatisfied as Thursday's session drew to a close.
In the meantime, Maltacom shares opened the week at Lm2.22 on Monday, peaked at Lm2.25 during Tuesday's and Wednesday's trading sessions before edging down to close the week's last trading session at Lm2.20. A total of 100,013 shares changed hands during the week, spread over 115 deals. As Thursday's session drew to a close, best unsatisfied bids for 500 shares at Lm2.18 stood against best unsatisfied offers of 4,000 shares at Lm2.229.
In a company announcement issued on Tuesday, Maltacom plc stated that its board of directors is scheduled to meet next Thursday, to consider and approve the company's final audited accounts for the financial year ended December 31, 2005 and to consider the declaration of a final dividend to be recommended to the company's annual general meeting.
In a company announcement issued on Monday, the board of directors of International Hotel Investments plc announced that €12,500,000 6.5 per cent bonds 2012-2014 have been admitted to the official list of the Malta Stock Exchange on Monday. The bonds had been placed initially with intermediaries who had entered into subscription agreements with the issuer for the subscription of the bonds with effect from the issue date.
On Wednesday, Datatrak Holdings plc announced that the board of directors of the company is scheduled to meet on Thursday, April 13 to discuss and approve the financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2005.
In a company announcement issued on Wednesday, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc announced that the board of directors of the company will meet on Wednesday, April 26 to consider and declare the distribution of an interim dividend on all ordinary shares held by shareholders on the register as on Monday, May 8.
In another company announcement issued on Wednesday, the board of directors of Suncrest Hotels plc stated that during the annual general meeting which was held that day, the shareholders approved all the ordinary resolutions on the agenda. Furthermore, the following were elected to sit on the noard: Angelo Xuereb (chairman), Philip A. Ransley, Dennis P. Roberts, Michael Warrington and Claire Xuereb.
The other equities which traded during the week, followed by the range in which trading took place, are: 2,279 Lombard Bank shares between Lm11.50 and Lm11.75; 5,415 Middlesea Insurance shares between Lm5.20,5 and Lm5.35; 742 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares at Lm0.85; 10,662 International Hotels Investment shares between €0.85 and €0.851; 28,300 Plaza Centres shares at Lm0.68; 52,176 FIMBank shares between US$2.08 and US$2.15; 62,235 Malta International Airport shares between Lm1.54 and Lm1.56; 31,050 Global Financial Services shares between Lm1.92 and Lm2.06,5; 13,347 Datatrak shares between 27c9 and 29c8 and 1,100 San Tumas Shareholdings plc shares at Lm1.08.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm191,100 being traded in 46 deals over 18 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm32,305.
The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index decreased by 43.916 points or 0.67 per cent over the week and now stands at 6,508.656.
Azzopardi Investment Management Limited is licensed by the MFSA to provide investment services, including stockbroking. The directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients, are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned. This article is only meant to provide information and is not intended to give investment advice. The value of securities, and the currencies in which they are denominated, may go down as well as up.