Equities were in Christmas doldrums, with average turnover, and heading towards no particular direction. HSBC Bank Malta, Malta International Airport and Global Financial Services were slightly up with increases of 0.49%, 0.545% and 2.5%, respectively.
Bank of Valletta and Maltacom were slightly down by 1.57% and 1.31%, respectively, over the week. All the other listed equities ended the week with no change on their opening positions.
BoV shares fell 7c. Trading opened on Monday at Lm4.47 and closed at Lm4.40 on Thursday. Trading ranged between Lm4.484 and Lm4.35. A total of 28,138 shares changed hands in 39 deals.
At the end of Thursday's session, bids for 447 shares at Lm4.37 and offers of 2,920 shares at Lm4.45 made up the best unsatisfied closing positions.
On Monday BoV announced that all resolutions, including the special business forwarded at the recently held annual general meeting, had been approved. Furthermore, the newly elected directors of the company include Joseph Borg, Franco Masini, Marlene Mizzi, George Portanier, Norman Rossignaud and Franco Xuereb.
Mr Xuereb was elected a director of the company with effect from December 17, BoV announced on Tuesday. He has been working with the bank since 1983 and has occupied various managerial positions. He is currently the general manager of BoV Stockbrokers Limited.
Trading in HSBC shares opened at Lm7.96 on Monday and gained 3c9 during the week to end Thursday's session at Lm7.999. Trading consisted of 22,563 shares changing hands over 22 deals.
At the close of business on Thursday, best bids for 1,000 shares at Lm7.50 and best offers for 750 shares at Lm7.997 remained outstanding.
Maltacom shares lost 1c9 during the week to end Thursday's session at Lm1.431 after opening at Lm1.45 on Monday. Trading ranged between Lm1.45 and Lm1.43, with total turnover amounting to 33,061 shares. These shares changed hands over 27 deals.
Following the close of business on Friday, best unsatisfied bids for 50 shares at Lm1.431 stood against best unsatisfied offers of 948 shares at Lm1.44.
On Thursday, Middlesea Insurance announced that Roderick Chalmers has been appointed as a director of the company with effect from last Thursday.
The other equities traded last week, with the trading range in brackets, were: 1,350 Middlesea Insurance shares (Lm2.50); 13,316 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares (Lm1.15-Lm1.12); 16,500 International Hotels Investment shares (€0.751-€0.75); 10,043 FimBank shares (US$0.989); 14,894 Malta International Airport shares (Lm1.109-Lm1.091); 4,000 Global Financial Services shares (Lm1.23-Lm1.20); 1,489 Lombard Bank shares (Lm4.25-Lm4.251).
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm891,000, being traded in 41 deals over 18 different stocks.
Of these, a nominal value of Lm500,000 changed hands in one deal in the 6.6% MGS 2019. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm54,368.
The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index fell 29.15 points or 0.956% over the week and now stands at 3,019.01.
We wish our readers a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Azzopardi Stockbrokers Limited, tel: 2131-3100, fax 2131-8897; www.azzopardi.com