Index up 21 points

The Malta Stock Exchange index increased by 20.993 points or 0.829 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,552.963. The equities which experienced an increase during this week's trading were Bank of Valletta (1.471 per cent), HSBC (0.138 per cent), Lombard Bank (1.22 per cent), Middlesea Insurance (1.143 per cent), Simonds Farsons Cisk (2.679 per cent), Maltacom (0.079 per cent), Plaza Centres (1.471 per cent) and Malta International Airport (0.357 per cent).

Bank of Valletta witnessed an increase of 5c during the week after Monday's trading session opened at Lm3.40, while yesterday's session closed at Lm3.45. A total of 22,225 shares changed hands over the week in 18 deals. As yesterday's session drew to a close 102 shares at Lm3.421 and 13,220 shares at Lm3.50 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.

Meanwhile, HSBC shares opened the week at Lm6.54 and went on to close the week's trading at the price of Lm6.549. During the week the price ranged between Lm6.55 and Lm6.53. Total turnover for the week amounted to 10,477 shares changing hands over 17 deals. At the close of business yesterday, best bids for 1,300 shares at Lm6.421 and best offers for 750 shares at Lm6.549 remained outstanding.

Maltacom shares opened at Lm1.26 on Monday and closed the week's trading at Lm1.261 yesterday. 21,795 shares changed hands in total, over 17 deals. As yesterday's session drew to a close 500 shares at Lm1.25 and 350 shares at Lm1.26 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; 57,882 Lombard Bank shares between Lm4.15 and Lm4.05; 24,631 Middlesea Insurance shares between Lm2.13 and Lm2.10; 4,643 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares between Lm1.15 and Lm1.12; 26,642 International Hotels Investment shares at €0.79; 7,200 Plaza Centres shares between Lm0.69 and Lm0.68; 14,700 Malta International Airport shares between Lm0.843 and Lm0.84.

In a company announcement Datatrak Holdings p.l.c. stated that their annual general meeting will be held on Monday, August 2.

After holding their annual general meeting, International Hotels Investments plc announced that the board of directors is now comprised of Mr Alfred Pisani, Mr Louis E. Galea, Mr Joseph Fenech, Dr Joseph J. Vella, Mr Lawrence Zammit, and Mr Frank Xerri de Caro.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm724,400 being traded in 63 deals over 19 different stocks. Of these, Lm426, 000 were transacted in 16 deals in the recently listed five per cent MGS 2021 between Lm101.15 and Lm101. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm79,636.