HSBC shares witnessed an increase of 40c during the week after Monday's trading session opened at Lm5.95, while yesterday's session closed at Lm6.35. 29,855 shares changed hands in total, over 46 deals. 2,535 shares at Lm6.35 and 200 shares at Lm6.70 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively after yesterday's session came to a close.
In a company announcement issued yesterday, the Board of Directors of HSBC Bank Malta plc published the preliminary profit statement for the year ended December 31. These show a net interest income of Lm34,700,000 (year ended December 31, 2002: Lm33,327,000), profit attributable to shareholders of Lm16,781,000 (year ended December 31, 2002: Lm15,364,000) and earnings per share of 46c (year ended December 31, 2002: 42c1). A final gross dividend of 24c6 per share was recommended and will be paid to shareholders registered on the company's register of members on Wednesday.
Bank of Valletta shares opened the week at Lm2.75, went up to Lm3 on Thursday before ending the week's trading at Lm2.90 yesterday. A total of 35,721 shares changed hands over the week, spread over 53 deals. Following yesterday's session, best bids of 2,200 shares at Lm2.85 and best offers of 620 shares at Lm2.93 remained outstanding.
Sixty deals were struck in Maltacom shares, over which 140,098 shares changed hands. Trading took place between Lm1.240 and the closing price of Lm1.25 yesterday. After the trading session came to a close, 1,500 shares at Lm1.247 and 1,720 shares at Lm1.25 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.
In a company announcement issued yesterday, the Board of Directors of Maltacom plc stated that all shareholders entitled to elect a director, are advised that nominations of candidates for the election of directors during the forthcoming annual general meeting of the company, scheduled for May, opened yesterday.
In another company announcement issued on Thursday, the board of directors of First International Merchant Bank plc announced that the board of directors shall be meeting on March 15 to approve the annual accounts and consider the payment of a dividend, and not on February 28 as stated previously.
The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place; 25,859 Malta International Airport shares between Lm0.75 and Lm0.74; 2,308 Middlesea Insurance shares between Lm2.201 and Lm2.200; 676 Lombard Bank shares between Lm3.74 and Lm3.73; 184,564 International Hotels Investments shares between Lm0.81 and Lm0.785 and 35,000 Plaza Centres plc shares at Lm0.59.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm105,600 being traded in 22 deals over 14 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm88,738.66.
The Malta Stock Exchange share index increased by 89.558 points or 3.91 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,378.801.