Maltacom rebounds

Maltacom shares made a very good start to the week on Monday, when trading opened at Lm1.03 and closed at Lm1.085, an increase of 5c5 from the previous closing price. Twenty-four deals were struck in all, over which 29,746 shares changed hands.

The shares next traded on Wednesday, when five deals were struck between the opening price of Lm1.085 and the closing price of Lm1.095, up by 1c on the previous reading. 3,604 shares changed hands during the session. Two deals struck on Thursday saw the closing price fall by 0c5, after 1,896 shares changed hands at Lm1.09. Yesterday's session saw only Maltacom shares trade on the official list. Trading opened at Lm1.08 and went down to Lm1.075 before going up again to end the session at Lm1.09. Five deals in all were struck for a total turnover of 4,200 shares. Best bids for 4,000 shares at Lm1.021 and best offers of 4,304 shares at Lm1.09 were outstanding as at the close of business yesterday.

HSBC Bank shares saw a total of 10 deals being struck on the equity market this week. Five of these were executed on Monday, when trading took place between Lm3.78 and Lm3.75, the closing price, with turnover amounting to 4,550. Tuesday saw two deals for 550 shares being struck at Lm3.70, down by 5c on the previous reading. This decrease was reversed on Thursday, when the equity next traded. Three deals were struck between the opening price of Lm3.73 and the closing price of Lm3.75, for a total turnover of 2,600. No trading in the equity was carried out yesterday. 1,070 shares at Lm3.70 and 3,150 shares at Lm3.75 were the best outstanding positions after Friday's trading session closed.

Bank of Valletta shares closed the first trading session of the week unchanged when 6,551 shares changed hands over seven deals on Monday. Trading opened at Lm2.44, ranged between Lm2.40 and Lm2.459 before finally closing at Lm2.45. Two deals were struck during the following session, one at Lm2.42 and the other at the closing price of Lm2.44, down by 1c on the previous reading. Turnover amounted to 625 shares. The equity next traded on Thursday, during which session four deals were struck between the opening price of Lm2.40 and the closing price of Lm2.44, with 4,700 shares changing hands. No trades in Bank of Valletta shares were executed yesterday. Following yesterday's trading session, there were no bids left while 5,500 shares at Lm2.40 were the best unsatisfied offers.

Simonds Farsons Cisk plc held an Extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on September 30, during which shareholders approved a resolution to increase the company's authorised share capital. Following the meeting, the board of directors approved the issue of 1,714,286 ordinary shares of 12c5 each at the price of 60 cents each share and under the terms and conditions specified in the rights issue document which was published that day.

In a company announcement issued on Wednesday, the board of directors of Lombard Bank Malta plc stated they would be meeting on Wednesday, November 6, to consider and approve the announcement of profits in respect of the year ended September 30, for publication.

The other equities which traded during the week are here, followed by the price range in which trading was struck; 241,500 shares in Global Financial Services Group plc struck between Lm0.14 and Lm0.149; 2,800 shares in International Hotel Investments plc struck between Lm0.835 and Lm0.84; 1,000 shares in Middlesea Insurance plc struck at Lm2.045; 1,796 shares in Simonds Farsons Cisk plc struck between Lm0.65 and Lm0.67; and 16,884 shares in Datatrak Holdings plc struck between Lm0.382 and Lm0.438.

Trading over the week in Corporate Bonds was made up of the following:

- One deal struck in the 6.15 per cent Bank of Valletta 2010, in which a nominal value of Lm2,000 changed hands at Lm102.00.

- Seventeen deals struck in the eight per cent Bank of Valletta 2010 (USD), in which a nominal value of $71,000 changed hands between $109.99 and $110.00.

- Five deals struck in the 6.5 per cent Corinthia Finance 2010 (EUR), in which a nominal value of €153,700 changed hands between €100.00 and €100.45.

- One deal struck in the 6.7 per cent Corinthia Finance 2009, in which a nominal value of Lm1,000 changed hands at Lm100.20.

- One deal struck in the 6.75 per cent Corinthia Finance 2012, in which a nominal value of Lm5,000 changed hands at Lm102.45.

- Three deals struck in the 6.7 per cent Eden Finance 2010, in which a nominal value of Lm2,000 changed hands between Lm99.39 and Lm99.44.

- Two deals struck in the 6.15 per cent Gasan Finance 2003/4, in which a nominal value of Lm1,200 changed hands between Lm100.15 and Lm101.20.

- One deal struck in the 6.5 per cent Gasan Finance 2006/9, in which a nominal value of Lm2,500 changed hands at Lm101.40.

- One deal struck in the 7.25 per cent HSBC 2005, in which a nominal value of Lm1,500 changed hands at Lm105.00.

- One deal struck in the five per cent International Hotel Investments Conv. Bond 2010, in which a nominal value of Lm40,000 changed hands at Lm100.00.

- Four deals struck in the 6.7 per cent Mizzi Organisation Finance 2009/12, in which a nominal value of Lm84,500 changed hands between Lm101.00 and Lm103.25.

- Three deals struck in the 6.7 per cent Tumas Investments 2010/12, in which a nominal value of Lm8,100 changed hands between Lm99.90 and Lm99.99.

- Two deals struck in the 6.75 per cent United Finance 2008, in which a nominal value of Lm5,000 changed hands at Lm102.70 and Lm102.85.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover over the week amounted to a nominal value of Lm774,000 being struck in 20 deals over 11 different stocks. Notice was given by the Malta Stock Exchange Council that the Lm15,250,000 5.6 per cent MGS 2007 (III) - Fungibility Issue and the Lm21,000,000 5.7 per cent MGS 2012 (III) issue have been admitted to the official list with effect from yesterday, and dealing in them is expected to start on Monday.

The Malta Stock Exchange Share Index increased by 17.155 points over the week, equal to 0.95 per cent, and now stands at 1,819.772.