The only equity to register an increase in this week's closing price was HSBC Bank Malta plc. Opening at Lm3.82 on Monday, the price went up to close the week at Lm3.87, up by 1.84 per cent. Turnover amounted to 12,200 shares being traded over 10 deals. Following yesterday's trading session, 1,125 shares at Lm3.85 were the best bids outstanding, while 1,820 shares at Lm3.92 were the best unsatisfied offers.
Bank of Valletta plc this week saw 38 deals being struck over which 14,229 shares changed hands. By Monday's close, the equity's price had already gone down six cents off last week's reading to Lm2.28.
Throughout the week, the price continued to go down, with yesterday's session opening at Lm2.24, but closing at Lm2.25. This was down by 3.85 per cent from last week's closing price of Lm2.34. At the close of business yesterday, 200 shares at Lm2.10 and 1,982 shares at Lm2.25 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.
Relatively high trading was witnessed in Maltacom shares, during which 83,627 shares changed hands over 48 deals. Trading opened at Lm0.951 on Monday, and went down by 7c1, or 7.47 per cent, to close at Lm0.88 following yesterday's session. At this point best bids for 4,710 shares at Lm0.87 stood against best offers of 3,000 shares at Lm0.89.
Malta International Airport plc again ended the week at Lm0.73, after witnessing trading in only two sessions. Wednesday saw one deal being struck at Lm0.729, while yesterday trading opened at Lm0.72 and went up to close at Lm0.73. Weekly turnover amounted to 30,419 shares spread over 12 deals. Best bids for 8,200 shares at Lm0.60 stood against best offers of 533 shares at Lm0.73 at the close of yesterday's session.
Thursday's session saw FIMBank shares trade for the first time this year. The bank's shares last traded on November 28, 2002. Two deals were struck on Thursday, over which 3,600 shares changed hands at $1.17.
In a company announcement issued on Monday, the board of directors of Suncrest Hotels plc said they are scheduled to meet on Monday to approve the annual accounts and recommend the proposed dividend.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc has announced that it has expanded its operations in Italy, where it has set up a new company, Vita Sana srl, which is expected to start operating at the beginning of March this year. The company has also announced the acquisition of 30 per cent shareholding in Eco-Pure Premium Water Ltd from ALPS, making it a fully owned subsidiary within the Farsons Group.
The other equities to trade during the week were: 3,200 International Hotels Investments shares, trading between Lm0.90 and Lm0.894; 368 Lombard Bank shares at Lm3.49; 9,500 Middle Sea Insurance at Lm2.10; 26,200 GloBAl Financial Services Group shares between Lm0.20 and Lm0.19 and 1,924 Datatrak Holdings shares at Lm0.47 and Lm0.45.
Trading in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm93,709, while total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm242,500 being struck in 31 deals over 13 different stocks.
The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index decreased by 42.736 points over the week, equal to 2.3 per cent, now standing at 1,815.683.