In a company announcement issued on Tuesday, the board of directors of FIMBank plc published the accounts for the six-month period ending June 30. These show a net interest income of $1,048,952 (six months ending June 30, 2002: $1,335,051), profit for the period of $889,165 (six months ending June 30, 2002: $391,615) and earnings per share of 1c93 (six months ending June 30, 2002: 0c85). The board decided not to pay an interim dividend.
Bank of Valletta shares saw trading open on Monday at Lm2.36 and closed that session on the week's high of Lm2.40. Subsequently trading only on Wednesday and yesterday, the equity closed the week at Lm2.301, down by 5c9 from the previous week's closing price. Turnover amounted to 25,172 shares changing hands over 27 deals. Following the close of business yesterday, the best outstanding bids and offers amounted to 10,932 shares at Lm2.301 and 1,500 shares at Lm2.399 respectively.
An increase of five cents was registered over the week in the closing price of HSBC shares. Monday's session saw the equity open at Lm4.765 with the closing price reaching a high of Lm4.82 yesterday. Twenty-four deals were struck during the week, over which 20,715 shares changed hands. At the end of yesterday's session, best bids for 1,000 shares at Lm4.80 and best offers of 1,910 shares at Lm4.82 remained unsatisfied.
Trading in Maltacom shares opened at Lm1.095 on Monday, ranged between Lm1.08 and Lm1.10 during the week before coming to a close at Lm1.099 yesterday. This was down by 0c1 from the previous week's closing price. 35,716 shares changed hands over the week, spread over 26 deals. 975 shares at Lm1.08 and 10,830 shares at Lm1.10 were the best outstanding bids and offers after yesterday's trading session drew to a close.
In a company announcement issued on Wednesday, the board of directors of Malta International Airport plc stated that in view of the recent controversy of the skincare and cosmetics retail outlet contention, a public call for tenders for the coveted space in its departures area will be issued.
Datatrak Holdings plc announced yesterday that Siemens Datatrak Location and Information Systems Limited has transferred 1,288,920 shares in Datatrak Holdings plc to Siemens VDO Trading Limited, its parent company. There has been no change in the ultimate beneficial ownership of the said shares by virtue of the said transfer. Apart from the mentioned transfer, 11,176 shares changed hands during the week in four deals between Lm0.30 and Lm0.311.
In a company announcement issued yesterday, the board of directors of Lombard Bank Malta plc stated that they will be meeting on Thursday, September 18, to consider and approve the announcement of profits in respect of the period ended June 30 for publication.
Following are the other equities which traded during the week, followed by the range in which trading took place: 27,190 International Hotels Investments shares between Lm0.82 and Lm0.84; 500 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares at Lm0.785; 21,700 FIMBank shares between $1.17 and $1.18 and 4,320 Global Financial Services Group shares between Lm0.998 and Lm1.174.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm277,900 being traded in 54 deals over 17 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm64,421.
The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index decreased by 1.036 points or 0.05 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,034.725.