HSBC past Lm5

HSBC's solid performance continued this week, with no break being registered in the shares's price increase. Opening at Lm4.95 on Tuesday, trading in the equity went up by 10c during the week to close yesterday's session at Lm5.05. Trading in these price levels was last witnessed during August, 2001. Turnover for the four sessions amounted to 28 deals over which 13,475 shares changed hands. Best bids for 940 shares at Lm5.011 and best offers of 500 shares at Lm5.10 remained unsatisfied following yesterday's session.

Bank of Valletta shares opened this week's trading at Lm2.35 on Monday, following which trading went up to close yesterday's session at Lm2.42. This marked an increase of five cents on the previous week's closing price, equal to 2.1 per cent. Weekly turnover amounted to 51,913 shares changing hands over 50 deals. At the close of business yesterday, best bids for 1,580 shares at Lm2.42 and best offers of 10,900 shares at Lm2.45 remained outstanding.

Trading in Maltacom shares was conducted mainly around Lm1.09 during the week, having opened on Monday at Lm1.089 and registered a weekly high of Lm1.095 on Tuesday. However, yesterday's trading session saw the equity go down to close the week at Lm1.085. Turnover amounted to 32,015 shares spread over 20 deals. As yesterday's session drew to a close, 1,500 shares at Lm1.05 and 6,450 shares at Lm1.09 were the best outstanding bids and offers respectively.

In a company announcement issued on Wednesday, the board of directors of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc published the company's financial statements for the six-month period ending July 31. These showed a turnover figure of Lm12,773,000 (six months ended July 31, 2002: Lm12,358,000), profit attributable to shareholders of Lm762,000 (six months ended July 31, 2002: Lm618,000) and earnings per share of three cents (six months ended July 31, 2002: 2c2). Total net dividends of Lm460,000, equivalent to 1c8 per share, have been paid to shareholders in June.

Further to previous company announcements, Lombard Bank Malta announced on Tuesday that the attribution price at which new shares will be issued in lieu of the interim dividend will be Lm3.688. This price has been established on the trade weighted average price of the bank's shares for the three months up to and including September 18, 2003.

The other equities which traded during the week, followed by the range in which trading took place were: 3,450 Malta International Airport shares between Lm0.67 and Lm0.65; 6,400 International Hotels Investments shares at Lm0.82; 4,500 Middlesea Insurance plc shares at Lm2.399 and Lm2.40.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm1,402,500 being traded in 63 deals over 18 different stocks. Of these, a nominal value of Lm1,112,500 changed hands in the 7.8 per cent MGS 2018. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm58,737.

The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index increased by 25.712 points or 1.25 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,078.492.