In a company announcement issued on Monday, the board of directors of Malta International Airport plc published the interim unaudited financial statements for the six months which ended September 30.
These show an operating income figure of Lm10,272,439 (September 2004: Lm10 million); profit for the period of Lm2,734,759 ( Lm2.8 million) and earnings per share of 4c04 (4c14). The company is also proposing a net interim dividend per share of 2c5 to shareholders on the register of members as at November 30.
Meanwhile, MIA shares, opened the week's trading on Monday at Lm1.51, ranged between Lm1.50 and Lm1.51c5 during the week, before coming to a close at Lm1.51 again yesterday. Total turnover amounted to 940,690 shares changing hands over 46 deals. This volume includes 18 put-throughs amounting to 900,000 shares. Following the close of business yesterday, best bids for 650 shares at Lm1.51 stood against best offers of 425 shares at Lm1.52.
Bank of Valletta's shares, eased back on gains made in previous weeks after trading in the equity, opened at Lm6.90 on Monday (unchanged from the previous week's closing price). They went down to Lm6.84 during the week before going up again to end the week's trading at Lm6.86, representing a 4c drop. 107 deals were struck during the week, over which 84,440 shares were traded. This volume includes three put-throughs amounting to 20,800 shares. Following the close of business yesterday, best unsatisfied bids for 2,420 shares at Lm6.80 stood against best unsatisfied offers of 571 shares at Lm6.86.
Healthy demand increased the price of HSBC by 11c during yesterday's session to end the week's trading at Lm7.01. In all, the price gained 11c1 (1.609 per cent) during the week. HSBC shares opened on Monday at Lm6.89c9. Trading for the week consisted of 54,654 shares changing hands over 57 deals. Best bids for 145 shares at Lm6.90c1 and best offers of 3,700 shares at Lm6.99 remained unsatisfied as yesterday's session drew to a close.
Maltacom shares saw trading open at Lm1.68 on Monday, range between Lm1.67 and Lm1.70c5 during the week, before coming to a close at Lm1.70 yesterday. This marked an increase of 2c (1.19 per cent) during the current trading week.
Weekly turnover amounted to 67,710 shares changing hands over 37 deals.
After yesterday's trading session drew to a close, best bids for 2,500 at Lm1.69 and best offers of 2,500 shares at Lm1.70 remained unsatisfied.
In a company announcement issued on Tuesday, Datatrak Holdings plc said that its subsidiary Datatrak Solutions Limited, reached an agreement with O2, a leading provider of mobile communications services in Europe, to form a long-term, non-exclusive strategic partnership whereby customers of O2 shall be offered the opportunity to acquire DispatchIT, an innovative application providing solutions for dispatch and fleet management developed by Datatrak Solutions Limited.
In another announcement on Thursday, Datatrak said that its subsidiary Datatrak MENA, successfully concluded an In-Country Survey in parts of Nigeria. In addition, a marketing and business plan for Datatrak Nigeria Ltd. has been finalised. This is part of a continuous process of negotiation with Nigerian investors towards the establishment of a datatrak network in Abuja, Lagos and the Niger Delta Area.
The other equities which traded during the week, followed by the range in which trading took place, are; 16,257 Lombard Bank shares between Lm7.01 and Lm7.10; 70 Middlesea Insurance shares at Lm3.40; 1,224 Simonds Farsons Cisk p.l.c. shares between 83c and 83c1; 66,874 International Hotel Investments shares between €0.76 and €0.80; 17,768 Plaza Centres shares between 62c and 63c1; 109,450 FIMBank shares between US$1.85 and US$1.895; 1,000 Global Financial Services shares at Lm1.25; 19,904 Datatrak shares between 39c9 and 41c9 and 1,434 San Tumas Shareholdings plc shares at Lm1.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm313,600 being traded in 48 deals over 19 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm78,725.
The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index increased by 30.69 points or 0.69 per cent over the week and now stands at 4,489.326.
Azzopardi Investment Management Limited is licensed by the MFSA to provide investment services, including stockbroking. The directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients, are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned. This article is only meant to provide information and is not intended to give investment advice. The value of securities, and the currencies in which they are denominated, may go down as well as up.
Report by Azzopardi Investment Management Limited, tel. 21 313100, fax. 21 318897 www.azzopardi.com