Twenty-three deals were struck in HSBC shares this week, over which 191,750 shares changed hands. One deal for 176,500 shares, struck at Lm5.439, accounted for 92 per cent of this turnover. Trading took place between the opening price of Lm5.45 and the closing price of Lm5.411, which represented a drop of 3c9 on the previous week's reading. After yesterday's trading session came to a close, 400 shares at Lm5.411 and 3,800 shares at Lm5.44 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.
Bank of Valletta shares opened trading at Lm2.61 on Monday, following which trading was conducted between Lm2.529 and Lm2.65 before coming to a close at Lm2.58 yesterday. Weekly turnover amounted to 36,668 shares changing hands over 19 deals. Following the end of yesterday's session, 906 shares at Lm2.55 and 3,492 shares at Lm2.59 were the best outstanding bids and offers respectively.
Meanwhile, in a company announcement issued on Tuesday, the board of directors of Bank of Valletta plc published the ordinary resolutions that are being presented for consideration at the 30th annual general meeting to be held on December 18, 2003. These include the approval of the profit and loss account and balance sheet for the year ended September 30, 2003, the approval and payment of a gross dividend of 11 cents per share, the appointment of directors and the re-appointment of the auditors.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc was the only equity to end the week on a positive note after it gained 2c on the previous closing price when it closed the week at Lm0.90. A total of 3,024 shares changed hands during the week, spread over four deals. At the close of trading yesterday 949 shares at Lm0.90 and 100 shares at Lm0.93 were the best outstanding bids and offers respectively.
Maltacom shares traded between Lm1.01 and Lm1.02 this week, having opened at Lm1.016 on Monday and closed at Lm1.011 yesterday. During the week 31 deals were struck, over which 40,353 shares changed hands. Best bids for 1,977 shares at Lm1.011 and best offers of 9,050 shares at Lm1.02 remained unsatisfied following the close of business yesterday.
The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place: 5,625 International Hotels Investments shares between Lm0.825 and Lm0.87; 21,870 Malta International Airport shares at Lm0.699 and Lm0.70 and 4,000 FIMBank shares between USD1.00 and USD1.05.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm723,600 being traded in 59 deals over 18 different stocks. This week saw the commencement of trading in the newly issued 4.8 per cent MGS 2016 (II), which closed the week at Lm100.61. Trading over the week in Corporate Bonds was made up of a total value of Lm214,999.
The Malta Stock Exchange share index decreased by 19.12 points or 0.89 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,123.579.