Despite the publication of the 2011 results last Friday and the recommendation of a final gross dividend of 7c2 per share, there was mild trading activity in the shares of HSBC Bank Malta plc during the last five trading sessions amounting to just 24,642 shares.

However, the share price edged 0.4% higher to regain the €2.60 level.

The 2011 financial statements showed a 6% increase in pre-tax profits but after excluding a number of one-off items including the sale of the card acquiring business and the one-time charges related to the voluntary retirement scheme, the overall performance was in line with the previous year. The final dividend is payable to those shareholders as at close of trading on March 13.

Likewise just a single trade of 500 shares was transacted in Middlesea Insurance plc this week after the publication of the 2011 financial results on Tuesday.

The financial statements showed a 51.6% drop in pre-tax profits to €3.1 million as the improvement registered in the technical results was offset by lower investment income.

After an absence of three years, the directors recommended a final gross dividend of 1c per share to all shareholders as at close of trading on April 18. The share price of Middlesea jumped 4.4% to the 71c level.

On the other hand, Bank of Valletta plc took the lion's share of trading volumes this week with more than 122,300 shares changing hands in the past five sessions. The Bank's share price eased 0.5% lower this week to the €2.17 level.

High volumes were also transacted across RS2 Software plc amounting to 160,000 shares with the IT Company's share price holding on to the 55c level. RS2 generally publishes its full-year results in late April.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index ended the week marginally higher at 988.167 points reflecting this week's decline in the benchmark Eurozone yields as economic growth concerns and the uncertainty in the eurozone impacted market sentiment.

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