In a company announcement issued on Thursday, the board of directors of Lombard Bank Malta plc published the financial statements for the nine months ended June 30, 2003. These show an operating income figure of Lm2,835,000 (nine months to June 30, 2002: Lm2,834,000), profit attributable to shareholders of Lm818,000 (nine months to June 30, 2002: Lm810,000) and earnings per share of 20c5 (nine months to June 30, 2002: 20c6).
The above figures are being quoted for nine month periods in view that Lombard Bank's financial year-end is being changed to December 31 with effect from the current year. In connection with this, the board of directors has approved the payment of an interim dividend of 6c per share.
9,547 shares changed hands in Bank of Valletta plc shares during the week, spread over 14 deals. Trading opened on Tuesday at Lm2.341 and closed the week yesterday at Lm2.339. In the interim the equity reached a weekly low of Lm2.32. 2,932 shares at Lm2.311 and 492 shares at Lm2.339 were the best outstanding bids and offers respectively after yesterday's trading session.
HSBC Bank Malta plc shares opened the week's trading at Lm4.82 on Monday and went up to close yesterday's session at Lm4.85, up by 3c on the previous reading. Sixteen deals changed hands during the week, over which 19,600 shares changed hands. Following the close of business yesterday, best bids for 1,000 shares at Lm4.85 stood against best offers of 1,250 shares at Lm4.86.
A relatively uneventful week for Maltacom plc saw the equity open Monday's session at Lm1.089 and close the week on Thursday at Lm1.09, down by 0c9 on last week's closing price. Weekly turnover amounted to 10,300 shares changing hands over six deals. As yesterday's session drew to a close, 2,075 shares at Lm1.065 were the best bids outstanding while 400 shares at Lm1.085 were the best remaining offers.
In a company announcement issued yesterday, the board of directors of FIMBank Malta plc stated that following the receipt of acceptances by FIMBank (UK) plc relating to more than 90 per cent of the London Forfaiting Company plc shares, FIMBank (UK) intends to exercise its rights to compulsorily acquire the remaining LFC shares to which the offer relates.
Another company announcement, issued by International Hotel Investments plc, stated that the board of directors of the company is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to approve the financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2003.
Similarly the board of directors of Datatrak Holdings plc announced on Wednesday that they are scheduled to meet on Thursday to approve the interim financial statements for the period January 1, 2003 to June 30, 2003.
The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place: 13,000 Malta International Airport shares between Lm0.675 and Lm0.68; 1,000 International Hotels Investments shares at Lm0.82; 4,370 Middlesea Insurance plc shares between Lm2.38 and Lm2.40; 17,662 Lombard Bank Malta shares between Lm 3.65 and Lm3.71 and 4,000 Global Financial Services Group shares between Lm1.17 and Lm1.219.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm425,700 being traded in 49 deals over 16 different stocks. Of these, a nominal value of Lm273,200 changed hands in the 5.5 per cent MGS 2023. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm111,361.
The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index increased by 3.178 points or 0.156 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,043.106.