Middlesea Insurance shares increased a total of 20c (5.263 per cent) over the week, opening Monday's session at Lm3.80 and closing that of yesterday at Lm4. In the interim, the price of the equity reached a weekly high of Lm4.06. Turnover amounted to 7,610 shares spread over 13 deals. Following yesterday's trading session, 395 shares at Lm4 and 1,000 shares at Lm4.10 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.
Trading in Bank of Valletta shares opened at Lm7.27c1 on Monday and peaked at Lm7.48 yesterday before edging down to close that day's trading at Lm7.42. This represented a gain of 2.049 per cent on the week, and 17c on last Friday's closing price of Lm7.25. During the week 226 deals were struck over which 90,940 shares changed hands. Best bids for 900 shares at Lm7.40 and best offers of 559 shares at Lm7.44 were the best outstanding positions after yesterday's session.
In a company announcement issued on Monday, BoV announced that it had received approval by the MFSA for the listing of the bonus shares. These would be allocated to shareholders on the register at the close of business on Wednesday. Instead of on January 25 as originally planned, the bonus shares would be available for trading on Thursday.
Meanwhile, HSBC shares opened the week at Lm7.80, went up to Lm8.10 during the week before going down to end yesterday's trading session at Lm8.00c5. Total volume transacted amounted to 26,927 shares changing hands in 77 deals. Following the close of business yesterday, 250 shares at Lm8 were the best outstanding bids while 100 shares at Lm8.06 were the offers still unsatisfied.
An increase of 7c was registered over the week in Maltacom's share price, as trading in the equity opened at Lm1.84 on Monday and closed at Lm1.91 yesterday. During the week, the price of the equity ranged between Lm1.83 and Lm1.93. A total of 217,555 shares changed hands during the week, spread over 96 deals. Following the close of business yesterday, best bids for 1,000 shares at Lm1.90 stood against best offers of 1,485 shares at Lm1.91.
On Wednesday, Datatrak holdings plc announced that Kerridge Computer Company Ltd, a leading supplier in the UK of advanced software solutions, computer services and business communications technology, and Datatrak Solutions Ltd have reached a non-exclusive agreement to form a strategic partnership. The agreement is intended to regulate and promote the sharing of technologies proprietary to both parties. Meanwhile, in another company announcement, Paul Borg Costanzi has been appointed with immediate effect as the chief operations officer of the Datatrak Group.
On Thursday, Suncrest Hotels plc announced that the board of directors is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to approve the company's financial statements for the year which ended on October 31 as well as the preliminary profit statements for the same period.
The other equities which traded during the week, followed by the range in which trading took place, are: 3,957 Lombard Bank shares between Lm8.20 and Lm8.70; 3,403 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares between 81c and 86c6; 5,869 International Hotels Investment shares between €0.86 and €0.89; 208,100 Plaza Centres shares between 70c and 71c; 35,854 FIMBank shares between US$2.01 and US$2.06; 381,748 Malta International Airport shares between Lm1.55 and Lm1.56, 5,000 Global Financial Services shares between Lm1.30 and Lm1.31 and 1,500 Datatrak shares at 31c.
Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm343,400 being traded in 55 deals over 16 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm68,627.
The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index increased by 108.743 points or 2.23 per cent over the week and now stands at 4,992.812.
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.