In a company announcement issued on Tuesday, the board of directors of Lombard Bank Malta plc gave details of the proposed payment of an interim dividend. This will be of six cents gross of tax per share payable to all those members on the register as at close of business on Tuesday, September 30. Again, the board is recommending that shareholders be given the option of receiving the interim dividend either in cash or by the issue of new shares.
On Wednesday, the board of directors of International Hotel Investments plc published the interim financial statements for the six months ended June 30. These show a revenue figure of Lm6,917,661 (six months ended June 30, 2002: Lm6,776,122); loss for the period of Lm2,833,518 (six months ended June 30, 2002: profit of Lm1,257,155) and a loss per share of 5c9 (six months ended June 30, 2002: earnings per share of 2c7).
Datatrak Holdings plc also published its financial statements for the period of January 1 to June 30. These show a turnover of Lm502,205 (six months ended June 30, 2002: Lm478,419); loss for the period attributable to shareholders of Lm180,426 (six months ended June 30, 2002: loss of Lm261,375) and loss per share of 1c1 (six months ended June 30, 2002: loss per share of 1c6).
Another company to publish its interim financial statements for the half year to June 30 was Middlesea Insurance plc. These show the total income from insurance activities at Lm889,432 (six months ended June 30, 2002: Lm553,137); profit of Lm696,614 (six months ended June 30, 2002: Lm586,980) and earnings per share of 5c6 (six months ended June 30, 2002: 4c7).
Maltacom shares opened the week's trading on Monday at Lm1.08, ranged between Lm1.065 and Lm1.089 during the week, before coming to a close at Lm1.08 again yesterday. Total turnover amounted to 39,480 shares changing hands over 31 deals. Following the close of business yesterday, best bids for 1,275 shares at Lm1.08 stood against best offers of 2,863 shares at Lm1.089.
An increase of 3c2 was registered over the week in Bank of Valletta's share price, as trading in the equity opened at Lm2.338 on Tuesday and closed at Lm2.37 yesterday. Thursday saw one deal being struck at Lm2.378 before the price settled back to its closing position yesterday. A total of 13,253 shares changed hands during the week, spread over 15 deals. At the close of business, yesterday 854 shares at Lm2.37 were the best bids outstanding while best offers of 800 shares at Lm2.379 remained unsatisfied.
Trading on Thursday and yesterday only, HSBC shares opened the week at Lm4.86 and went straight up to close at Lm4.90, up by five cents on the previous week's reading. These two sessions saw nine deals being struck, in which 5,620 shares were traded. As yesterday's session drew to a close, 1,500 shares at Lm4.90 and 1,250 shares at Lm4.95 were the best outstanding bids and offers respectively.
The other equities which traded during the week, followed by the range in which trading took place were: 1,000 Malta International Airport shares at Lm0.68; 5,500 International Hotels Investments shares at Lm0.819 and Lm0.82; 3,729 Middlesea Insurance plc shares at Lm2.40; 500 Suncrest Hotels shares at Lm0.52; 76 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares at Lm0.80; 11,250 FIMBank shares at $1.18 and 5,924 Datatrak Holdings shares at Lm0.29 and Lm0.291.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm453,600 being traded in 63 deals over 21 different stocks. Of these, a nominal value of Lm169,500 changed hands in the 6.6 per cent MGS 2019. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm140,432.
The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index increased by 9.674 points or 0.473 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,052.78.