MSE Index resumes rise

Bank of Valletta shares increased a total of 39c9 (8.867 per cent) over the week after opening Monday's session at Lm4.50 and closing that of yesterday at Lm4.899. During the week the price ranged between Lm5.04 and Lm4.50. Turnover amounted to 100,465 shares changing hands over 154 deals. Following yesterday's trading session 62 shares at Lm4.80 and 91 shares at Lm4.899 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.

Trading in HSBC shares opened the week at Lm9.50 on Monday and gained 10c during the week to end yesterday's session at Lm9.60. During the week trading ranged between Lm9.79 and Lm9.48. Trading for the week consisted of 33,887 shares changing hands over 46 deals. Best bids for 208 shares at Lm9.50 and best offers of 55 shares at Lm9.63 remained outstanding when yesterday's session drew to a close.

In the meantime, Maltacom shares opened the week at Lm1.50 and closed the week's trading at the same price yesterday. A total of 116,965 shares changed hands over the week in 70 deals. Trading during the week ranged between Lm1.61 and Lm1.50. As yesterday's session drew to a close, bids for 900 shares at Lm1.496 and 1,000 shares at Lm1.62 were the best unsatisfied bids and offers respectively.

In a company announcement issued yesterday, the board of directors of the Global Group published the company's results for the year ended December 31, 2004. These showed a turnover figure of Lm2,466,452 (December 2003: Lm1.4 million); profit for the year after tax of Lm904,373 (December 2003: Lm0.24 million) and earnings per share of 6c8 (December 2003: 1c8). The company also announced that the board of directors proposed the payment of a net dividend of Lm0.0195 per share. The company will pay the final dividend by not later than May 27, 2005 to those shareholders who are in the company's shareholders register as at April 14, 2005.

The other equities which traded during the week appear below, followed by the range in which trading took place: 818 Lombard Bank shares between Lm4.80 and Lm4.75; 3,298 Middlesea Insurance shares between Lm3 and Lm2.89; 1,460 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares between Lm1.20 and Lm1.18; 6,202 International Hotels Investments shares at €0.76; 5,000 Plaza Centres shares at Lm0.617; 17,355 Malta International Airport shares between Lm1.30 and Lm1.295; 5,296 Global Financial Services shares between Lm1.15 and Lm1.10 and 4,675 San Tumas Shareholdings plc between Lm0.78 and Lm0.76.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm1,337,900 being traded in 65 deals over 22 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm92,350.

The Malta Stock Exchange share index increased by 99.202 points or three per cent over the week and now stands at 3,400.611

Report by Azzopardi Investment Management Limited, tel. 2131 3100, fax. 2131 8897