Total equity turnover during the week amounted to Lm1,204,397, thus exceeding total bond turnover which amounts to Lm622,374.
HSBC shares witnessed an increase of 37c5 during the week with Monday's trading opening at Lm6.425, and yesterday's session closing at Lm6.80.
A total of 52,510 shares changed hands over 51 deals. After yesterday's session, 2,500 shares at Lm6.752 and 400 shares at Lm6.80 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.
In a company announcement, the board of directors of HSBC Bank Malta plc stated that all the resolutions presented at the annual general meeting held on March 24 have been approved. Furthermore, the following were appointed or elected to sit on the Board: Mr Albert Mizzi (chairman), Mr Chris Hothersall, Mr Martin J Wilkins, Mr Dyfrig John, Mr Clive Shaun O'Neil Wallis, Mr James Bonello, Mr Louis A. Farrugia, Mr Victor Scicluna, Mr Peter Paul Testaferrata Moroni Viani.
One hundred and fifty-two deals were struck in Maltacom shares this week, over which 189,719 shares changed hands. Trading took place between Lm1.66 and the closing price of Lm1.74 yesterday. As yesterday's session drew to a close, best bids for 3,500 shares at Lm1.71 and best offers of 3,680 shares at Lm1.74 remained outstanding.
In a company announcement issued on Wednesday, the board of directors of Maltacom plc stated that it will be meeting on Tuesday, March 30, to consider and propose for approval the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2003. The board will also consider the payment of a dividend to shareholders.
Bank of Valletta shares opened the week at Lm3.425 on Monday and closed the week slightly down at Lm3.40 yesterday. A total of 81,256 shares changed hands over the week, spread over 70 deals. Following yesterday's session 3,055 shares at Lm3.37 and 5,890 shares at Lm3.40 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively. In another company announcement issued yesterday, the board of directors of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc stated that, at the meeting held on March 26, it resolved to distribute, out of tax exempt profits, an interim dividend of 0c35 per share to all ordinary shareholders on the company's register as on Wednesday, April 7.
FIMBank plc announced that it has agreed the terms of acquisition of a 38.5 per cent shareholding in Global Trade Finance Private Limited ("GTF") for a cash consideration of $4,571,875. GTF is a joint venture company with head office in Mumbai India.
The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place; 97 Middlesea Insurance shares at Lm2.27; 4,551 Simonds Farsons Cisk p.l.c. shares between Lm0.95 and Lm0.901; 900 Suncrest Hotels shares at Lm0.299; 37,993 International Hotels Investments shares between €0.83 and €0.80; 38,281 Plaza Centres plc ordinary shares between Lm0.75 and Lm0.735; 412,000 First International Merchant Bank plc ordinary shares between Lm1.074 and Lm0.90; 78,180 Malta International Airport shares between Lm0.95 and Lm0.88; 5,110 GloBAl Financial Services shares between Lm0.85 and Lm0.83; and 2,671 Datatrak Holdings plc shares between Lm0.251 and Lm0.25.
Total Malta government stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm262,600 being traded in 71 deals over 20 different stocks. Trading over the week in Corporate Bonds was made up of a total value of Lm327,928 including Lm26,000 traded in the 3.8 per cent European Investment Bank 2009 Bonds listed this week.
The Malta Stock Exchange share index increased by 97.16 points or 3.67 per cent over the week and now stands at 2,743.574.