Index down 17 points

The Malta Stock Exchange share index decreased by 17.531 points or 0.81 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,142.699.

Bank of Valletta shares opened trading at Lm2.632 on Monday and went on to close the week's trading yesterday at Lm2.61. Trading during the week ranged between Lm2.64 and Lm2.60, with turnover amounting to 47,411 shares changing hands over 25 deals. Following the close of business yesterday best bids for 9,500 shares at Lm2.55 and best offers of 125 shares at Lm2.61 remained outstanding.

Meanwhile HSBC shares opened trading at Lm5.45 and managed to close at this level yesterday, having previously traded between Lm5.44 and Lm5.46. 8,635 shares changed hands over the week, spread over seven deals. As yesterday's session drew to a close 2,000 shares at Lm5.441 and 435 shares at Lm5.46 remained as the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.

Trading in Maltacom shares opened at Lm1.058, the highest level for the week, before going down to close the week at Lm1.02. This was equal to a drop of 4c from the previous week's reading. Weekly turnover consisted of 26 deals being struck over which 197,975 shares changed hands. 2,000 shares at Lm1.016 and 2,250 shares at Lm1.03 were the best outstanding bids and offers respectively after yesterday's session.

The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place: 12,644 Lombard Bank (Malta) shares between Lm3.70 and Lm3.71; 22,956 International Hotels Investments shares between Lm0.84 and Lm0.85; 1,490 Middlesea Insurance shares at Lm2.399 and 248 Plaza Centres shares at Lm0.60.

The Treasury published the allocation details this week for the 4.8 per cent Malta Government Stocks 2016 (II) issue, whereby all applications by private individuals at par were given full allotment.

Meanwhile, total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm1,214,000 being traded in 57 deals over 18 different stocks. Of these a nominal value of Lm750,000 changed hands in the 7.8 per cent MGS 2018.