Yesterday's trading activity in equities was spread across seven companies during the mid-week session at the Malta Stock Exchange.
Bank of Valletta was the day's most liquid and actively traded equity with 20,131 shares, carrying a market consideration of Lm72,613, changing hands across 14 transactions. Initially, the equity gained a penny but later succumbed to selling pressure, closing the session 2c or 0.55 per cent lower at Lm3.60.
A similar monetary amount, which represents a decline of 1.41 per cent, was suffered by Maltacom which gave up all of its previous session's gains. The equity seems to have been immune to the signing of the SmartCity Malta deal between the government and Tecom Investments, which are also the ultimate majority shareholders of Maltacom.
On the contrary, HSBC Bank Malta closed the day in positive territory gaining 1c or 0.52 per cent to Lm1.92. Activity picked up slightly with 12,412 shares changing hands across 10 transactions. At the end of the session, a further 13,438 shares remained outstanding on the offer side at the Lm1.92 level, whilst supply was for just 997 shares at Lm1.91.
Simonds Farsons Cisk was the day's top gainer as continued buying activity propelled the equity to a new multi-year high. The session's activity consisted of the purchase of 11,432 shares which were traded across four deals, pushing the price higher by 2c or almost two per cent to close the day at Lm1.05.
Trading activity in International Hotel Investments, Lombard Bank and Malta International Airport did not affect their previous closing prices of €1.10, Lm4.80 and Lm1.35, respectively.
In the fixed interest sector of the market, activity was spread across six corporate bonds and a similar amount of government stocks. Activity was mainly driven by the retail sector of the market, with the largest single transaction being executed in the 5.4 per cent MGS 2010 which gained 29 ticks as 40,000 nominal was exchanged at the Lm101.92.
The MSE Index closed the day 0.05 per cent lower at 4,894 points.
The financial news was compiled by Valletta Fund Management (tel. 8007 2344) and Bank of Valletta plc (Tel 2131 2020). BOV and VFM are licensed by the MFSA to conduct investment services business.