The Malta Stock Exchange index yesterday closed at 3,832.285 points, gaining 0.97 per cent on the week, after last week's loss of 4.88 per cent. This week, 14 equities were negotiated, with five equities closing in positive territory, seven equities closing in negative territory and two equities remaining stable. During the week, MaltaPost plc was the best performer, while GlobalCapital plc lost most ground.
A total of 242 trades were registered on the stock exchange, with a total turnover of over €14.48 million, including a put-through trade of €7,105. In the equity market, 125 deals were executed for a total value of €535,903. In the corporate bond market, 46 deals were carried out, for a value of €413,973, while 52 deals were executed in government bonds for a total value of over €8.16 million. In the Treasury bills market, 18 deals were executed for a total value of over €5.36 million.
In the banking sector, Bank of Valletta plc was the best performer. BOV registered an increase of 3.09 per cent on the week, closing the week at €4.31, an increase of €0.129, with 43,803 shares changing hands over 54 deals. BoV traded at a high of €4.321 and a low of €4.25. On the other hand, Lombard Bank plc lost last week's gains, as it registered a loss of €0.011 on the week. The closing price for the week was €3.049, decreasing by 0.36 per cent on the week, with 9,000 shares being traded over five deals. HSBC Bank Malta plc registered a rise of 1.87 per cent in its share price, therefore recovering some of last week's losses, closing the week at €3.26, a rise of €0.06, as 14,518 shares changed hands on 13 deals. FIMBank plc was the other banking equity to register a decrease in its share price, as it closed the week at $1.898, losing 0.32 per cent or $0.006, with a volume of 104,400 shares changing hands over two deals, for a total value of €134,728.
Crimsonwing plc maintained its share price of €0.50 through the whole week, as 6,749 shares were traded over four deals. Likewise, Middlesea Insurance plc also maintained last week's share price. The closing price was €2.95, with 1,000 shares changing hands on just one deal.
Maltapost plc registered a rise of 3.8 per cent on the week. The closing price was €0.82, rising by €0.03 on the week, with a total of 18,872 shares changing hands on nine deals. International Hotel Investments plc recovered €0.025 from last week's losses, closing the week at €1.04, thus increasing by 2.46 per cent from last week, as 47,532 shares changed hands on eight deals. Grand Harbour Marina plc (GHM plc) was the other equity to register a rise in its share price, as it closed the week at €2.15, a rise of €0.05, or 2.38 per cent, from last week, and therefore recovering last week's losses. GHM traded 1,500 shares over two deals.
GlobalCapital plc registered a loss of 9.98 per cent on the week. The closing price for the week was €2.20, thus decreasing by €0.244 on the week, as only 1,000 shares changed hands over two deals. Simonds Farsons Cisk plc registered a loss of seven per cent on the week, after closing the week at €2.632, decreasing by €0.198 from last week, with 5,000 shares changing hands on six deals. On Wednesday afternoon, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc announced that the board of directors is scheduled to meet on Tuesday in order to consider and approve the company's financial statements for the six-month period which ended on July 31. The board of directors will also consider the distribution of an interim dividend on all Ordinary Shares held by shareholders on the Register as on October 10.
Go plc lost last week's gains, as it experienced a loss in its share price, closing the week at €2.201, a fall of €0.109 on the week, or 4.72 per cent, with 13,637 shares changing hands on 14 deals. RS2 Software plc traded once during the week, registering a loss of €0.008 in its share price. The closing price for the week was €0.821, losing 0.97 per cent on the week, as 9,300 shares changed hands. Malta International Airport plc was the other equity to register a loss in its share price. The equity closed the week at €2.999, €0.001, or 0.03 per cent, lower than last week, having traded 3,850 shares over four deals.
On Wednesday, HSBC Bank Malta plc announced that the bond issue of €25,000,000 5.9 per cent Subordinated Bonds 2018 was over-subscribed.
This announcement reached intermediaries shortly after the issue was open to the public.
This article, which was compiled by Jesmond Mizzi Financial Services Ltd (JMFS), does not intend to give investment advice and the contents therein should not be construed as such. JMFS is licensed to conduct investment services by the MFSA. The directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned in this article. For further information please contact JMFS at 67/3 South Street, Valletta, or on tel. 2122 4410 or e-mail jmizzi@jmfs.net.