Maltacom shares opened trading at Lm1.50 on Monday and gained 10c to close the week's trading yesterday at Lm1.60. Trading during the week ranged between Lm1.60 and Lm1.50, with total turnover amounting to 61,200. These shares changed hands over 35 deals. Following the close of business yesterday, best unsatisfied bids for 1,000 shares at Lm1.55 stood against best unsatisfied offers of 15,362 shares at Lm1.60.

Bank of Valletta shares increased a total of 22c (4.89 per cent) over the week, opening Monday's session at Lm4.50 and closing that of yesterday at Lm4.72. During the week the price ranged between Lm4.73 and Lm4.50. Turnover amounted to 60,008 shares changing hands over 79 deals. Following yesterday's trading session 500 shares at Lm4.599 and 1,500 shares at Lm4.719 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.

Meanwhile, HSBC shares witnessed an increase of 6c4 during the week after Wednesday's trading session opened at Lm7.935, while yesterday's session closed at Lm7.999. During the week the price ranged between Lm7.999 and Lm7.935. Total turnover for the week amounted to 9,527 shares changing hands over 29 deals. At the close of the business yesterday, best bids for 125 shares at Lm7.94 and best offers for 270 shares at Lm7.999 remained outstanding.

The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place: 511 Lombard Bank shares at Lm4.15; 11,113 Plaza Centre shares between Lm0.65 and Lm0.63; 7,335 Malta International Airport shares at Lm1.13; 1,000 Global Financial Services shares at Lm1.298 and 12,400 Datatrak shares between Lm0.225 and Lm0.20.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm3,038,600 being traded in 70 deals over 23 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm626,251.

The Malta Stock Exchange share index increased by 82.70 points or 2.70 per cent over the week and now stands at 3,146.159.