HSBC hits Lm7

HSBC shares witnessed an increase of 20c (2.941 per cent) during the week with Monday's trading opening at Lm6.80, and yesterday's session closing at Lm7.00. A total of 45,589 shares changed hands over 65 deals. After yesterday's session, 151 shares at Lm6.50 and 805 shares at Lm7.00 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.

Maltacom shares opened trading at Lm1.73 on Monday and went on to close the week's trading at Lm1.68. Trading during the week ranged between Lm1.75 and Lm1.68, with total turnover amounting to 91,491 shares, representing 18 per cent of the total turnover in equities during the week. These shares changed hands over 74 deals. Following the close of business yesterday best bids for 2,000 at Lm1.67 and best offers of 900 at Lm1.68 remained outstanding.

In a company announcement issued on Tuesday, the board of directors of Maltacom plc published the Group's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003. These showed a turnover figure of Lm55,165,000 (year ended December 31, 2002: Lm54,580,000); Group net profit amounting to Lm13,076,000 (year ended December 31, 2002: Lm9,633,000); and earnings per share of 12c9 (year ended December 31, 2002: 9c5).

The board is proposing the approval of a net dividend of Lm0.037 per share to all shareholders registered at the close of business on April 21. The company also announced that the board of directors will be recommending the payment of an interim dividend of 1c2 per share to all shareholders registered as at the close of business next Thursday.

In another company announcement issued by Plaza Centres plc, the board of directors published the company's results for the year ended December 31, 2003. These show a turnover figure of Lm580,765 (year ended December 31, 2002: Lm608,823); profit for the year after tax amounting to Lm220,093 (year ended December 31, 2002: Lm224,777); and earnings per share of 2c3 per share (year ended December 31, 2002: 2c4). The company also announced that the board of directors proposed the payment of a net dividend of Lm0.0234 per share.

Meanwhile, Bank of Valletta shares opened the week at Lm3.40 on Monday and closed the week at Lm3.376. A total of 44,038 shares changed hands over the week, spread over 57 deals. Following yesterday's session, 537 shares at Lm3.375 and 2,996 shares at Lm3.38 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.

The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place; 10,361 Lombard Bank plc shares between Lm4.295 and Lm4.160; 8,415 Middlesea Insurance shares between Lm2.282 and Lm2.25; 2,000 Simonds Farsons Cisk plc shares between Lm0.97 and Lm0.95; 4,000 Suncrest Hotels shares at Lm0.25; 19,941 International Hotels Investments shares at €0.80; 4,600 Plaza Centres plc ordinary shares between Lm0.745 and Lm0.74; 220,000 First International Merchant Bank plc ordinary shares between $1.100 and $1.085; 37,738 Malta International Airport shares between Lm0.92 and Lm0.89; 7,950 GloBAl Financial Services shares between Lm0.899 and Lm0.88; and 12,229 Datatrak Holdings plc shares between Lm0.26 and Lm0.25.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm361,400 being traded in 26 deals over 10 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm208,659.

The Malta Stock Exchange share index decreased by 6.42 points or 0.23 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,737.157.