Maltacom down 4.3 per cent over week

In a company announcement issued yesterday, the board of directors of Maltacom plc stated that it is scheduled to meet on Monday, August 26, in order to consider and approve, if deemed proper, the company's financial statements for the period ending June 30, 2002.

Trading in Maltacom shares had a slow start this week, when on Monday one deal for 700 shares was struck at Lm1.16, unchanged from the previous closing price.

Tuesday saw the closing price lose 1c, as four deals for 6,250 shares were struck in the session, which closed at Lm1.15. The situation changed on Wednesday, when substantial trading was witnessed in these shares: 31 deals were struck in which 41,771 shares changed hands between Lm1.15 and the closing price of Lm1.10.

Yesterday's session opened at Lm1.099, but managed to gain lost ground as 11 deals for 9,179 shares brought the closing price to Lm1.11.

Over the week, Maltacom shares lost 4.31 per cent on their price. 1,150 shares at Lm1.11 and 3,700 shares at Lm1.14 were best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively as at the end of the week.

Bank of Valletta shares first saw trading this week on Tuesday when 2,174 shares changed hands over two deals. These were struck at Lm2.74, down by 1c from the previous closing price.

The shares next traded yesterday, in which eight deals were struck between the opening price of Lm2.72 and the closing price of Lm2.745, were up by 0c5 on the previous closing price. 7,849 shares changed hands during the session, bringing the total weekly turnover up to 10,023.

At the end of yesterday's trading session, 80 shares at Lm2.72 were left as best outstanding bids, while 3,000 shares at Lm2.75 were the best unsatisfied offers.

On Thursday, the board of directors of HSBC Bank Malta plc met and approved the group and bank interim accounts for the six month period ended June 30, 2002. The profit and loss account showed: profit for the period of Lm7,023,000 (six-months to 30/06/01: Lm 5,307,000) and earnings per share of 19.3c (six-months to 30/06/01: 14.5c).

Furthermore, the board of directors approved the payment of a gross dividend of eight cents per share.

Meanwhile, trading in the relevant equity this week consisted of 10,030 shares changing hands over 14 deals. Monday saw three deals being struck between Lm3.69 and Lm3.70, comprising a volume of 2,810 shares. No change was registered in the closing price at the end of the session.

A drop of 10c in the closing price was witnessed following Wednesday's trading session, when 2,220 shares changed hands over five deals between the opening price of Lm3.69 and the closing price of Lm3.60.

Yesterday saw part of this loss being recouped after the session ended at Lm3.68. Six deals were struck that day, over which 5,000 shares changed hands. Following the close of business yesterday, best bids for 1,200 shares at Lm3.71 stood against best offers of 250 shares at Lm3.77.

The other equities to trade during the week were GloBAl Financial Services Group plc, which saw a total of four deals being struck at Lm0.21, over which 6,000 shares changed hands, and Datatrak Holdings plc, which saw three deals being struck between Lm0.48 and Lm0.49, over which 5,900 shares changed hands.

Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of the following:

- Six deals struck in the 6.15 per cent Bank of Valletta 2010, in which a nominal value of Lm19,000 changed hands at Lm103.

- Six deals struck in the eight per cent Bank of Valletta 2010 (USD), in which a nominal value of USD 55,000 changed hands between USD 109.69 and USD 110.

- Four deals struck in the 6.5 per cent Corinthia Finance 2010 (EUR), in which a nominal value of EUR 25,000 changed hands at EUR 100.

- Two deals struck in the 6.5 per cent Gasan Finance 2006/9, in which a nominal value of Lm1,400 changed hands at Lm 100.

- Ten deals struck in the 6.7 per cent Mizzi Finance 2009/12, in which a nominal value of Lm25,800 changed hands between Lm101.01 and Lm103.

- One deal struck in the eight per cent Bay Street Finance 2012, in which a nominal value of Lm21,000 changed hands at Lm100.25.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover over the week amounted to a nominal value of Lm410,900, struck in 33 deals over 13 different stocks.

The MSE Share Index dropped by 21.929 points over the week, equivalent to 1.15 per cent, and now stands at 1,890.448.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the Malta Stock Exchange notified the public that trading was not possible that day due to a technical problem.