Bank of Valletta shares opened the week at Lm 4.999 on Monday and closed the week at Lm 4.95 yesterday. A total of 16,464 shares changed hands over 27 deals. Trading during the week ranged between Lm5.00 and Lm4.89. Following yesterday's session, best unsatisfied bids were made up of 460 shares at Lm4.95 while 1,444 shares at Lm5.00 were the best outstanding offers.
In a company announcement issued on Thursday, the board of directors of Bank of Valletta plc stated that they will be meeting on Thursday, April 28, to approve the group's and the bank's interim financial statements for the half-year ended March 31, 2005 and to consider the declaration of an interim dividend.
Trading in HSBC shares opened the week at Lm4.88 on Monday and closed the week at Lm4.92 on Friday. A total of 63,299 shares changed hands over 88 deals. After yesterday's session, best bids for 800 shares at Lm4.902 stood against best offers of 464 shares at Lm4.92.
In the meantime, Maltacom shares opened the week at Lm1.449 on Monday went down to Lm1.37 during the week before going up again to close the week's trading at Lm1.45. A total of 55,457 shares changed hands during the week, spread over 56 deals. As yesterday's session drew to an end, 1,102 shares at Lm1.45 and 1,100 shares at Lm1.47 were the best outstanding bids and offers respectively.
In a company announcement issued by First International Merchant Bank plc the company announced that its Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday, May 5, 2005. A number of ordinary resolutions together with six extraordinary resolutions will be put forward during the meeting. The extraordinary resolutions include the change of name from First International Merchant Bank plc to FIMBank plc, the increase of authorised share capital, the directors' authority to issue equity securities, the directors' authority to restrict or withdraw statutory pre-emption rights, amendments to the current executive share option scheme rules and new executive share option scheme rules and new scheme for the years 2006-2009.
The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place: 1,648 Lombard Bank shares between Lm4.80 and Lm4.76; 7,648 Middlesea Insurance shares between Lm3.10 and Lm3.06; 2,000 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares at Lm1.189; 3,971 International Hotel Investments shares between €0.755 and €0.751; 1,500 Plaza Centres shares between Lm0.663 and Lm0.64; 4,200 Malta International Airport shares between Lm1.28 and Lm1.25; 26,607 Global Financial Services shares between Lm1.27 and Lm1.151 and 2,135 San Tumas Shareholdings plc shares at Lm0.80.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm1,123,800 being traded in 78 deals over 24 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm269,934.
The Malta Stock Exchange share index increased by 6.807 points or 0.20 per cent over the week and now stands at 3,435.002.
Azzopardi Investment Management Limited and its directors have an interest in the listed companies mentioned and may have an interest in other securities, commodities or currencies mentioned.
Azzopardi Investment Management Limited, tel. 2131 3100, fax. 2131 8897, www.azzopardi.com