Maltacom shares opened trading at Lm1.682 on Monday and went on to close the week's trading on Thursday at Lm1.68. Trading during the week ranged between Lm1.799 and Lm1.649, with total turnover amounting to 312,545 shares, representing 62.8 per cent of total turnover in equities during the week. These shares changed hands over 262 deals. Following the close of business on Thursday best bids for 725 shares at Lm1.66 and best offers of 5,000 shares at Lm1.698 remained outstanding.
HSBC's solid performance continued this week, with no break being registered in the shares's price increase. HSBC shares opened the week on Monday at Lm6.045. Trading in the equity went up by 38c during the week to close Thursday's session at Lm6.425. Turnover for the four sessions consisted of 41 deals over which 49,101 shares changed hands. Best bids for 800 shares at Lm6.31 and best offers for 682 shares at Lm6.425 remained unsatisfied following Thursday's session.
Bank of Valletta shares witnessed an increase of 8c during the week after Monday's trading session opened at Lm3.27, while Thursday's session closed at Lm3.35. 45,731 shares changed hands in total, over 74 deals. 153 shares at Lm3.35 and 1,200 shares at Lm3.425 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively after Thursday's session came to a close.
In a company announcement issued on Tuesday, the board of directors of First International Merchant Bank plc published the group's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003. These showed an operating income figure of US$9,169,985 (bank's operating income for the year ended December 31, 2002: US$8,113,035), group profit on ordinary activities after tax amounting to US$2,302,347 (bank's loss after tax on ordinary activities for the year ended December 31, 2002: US$6,128,899), while the group's earnings per share of 4.99c (bank's loss per share for the year ended December 31, 2002: 13.32c).
The company also announced that the board of directors will be recommending the payment of a net dividend of US$0.012 per share to all shareholders registered as at the close of business on March 30, 2004.
In another company announcement issued on Thursday, the board of directors of Simonds Farsons Cisk p.l.c. will meet next Friday to consider and declare the distribution of an interim dividend on all ordinary shares held by shareholders on the register as on April 7.
The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place; 4,430 Lombard Bank shares between Lm4.35 and Lm4.00; 3,903 Middlesea Insurance shares between Lm2.25 and Lm2.20; 5,000 Simonds Farsons Cisk plc shares between Lm0.90 and Lm0.899; 25,681 International Hotels Investments shares between €0.825 and €0.805; 16,026 Plaza Centres plc Ordinary Shares between Lm0.716 and Lm0.70; 12,000 First International Merchant Bank plc. Ordinary shares at Lm0.90; 21,720 Malta International Airport shares between Lm0.87 and Lm0.85; and 1,153 Datatrak Holdings plc shares at Lm0.25.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm389,600 being traded in 43 deals over 14 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm299,556.
Meanwhile, the European Investment Bank has announced the allocation policy for its Lm10 million 3.8 per cent bond issue. There was strong demand for the Bonds, with applications to buy the bonds exceeding Lm19 million by noon on the day subscription lists opened.
Applications for bonds in amounts up to and including Lm10,000 will be accepted in full. Applications for Lm10,100 and over will be scaled down depending on the amounts submitted.
The Malta Stock Exchange share index increased by 115.32 points or 4.56 per cent over the week and now stands at Lm2,646.415.