Stock Exchange: BOV declines for third consecutive session

The share price of Bank of Valletta plc closed in negative territory for the third successive session despite the equity is still trading with the entitlement to the gross interim dividend of €0.075 per share.

BOV closed today's session 1.5% lower at €3.35 on volumes of 14,028 shares. BOV's share price had initially reacted positively to the strong interim results published last Friday afternoon but the losses of the past three sessions have eliminated these gains.

Tomorrow is the last day for gaining entitlement to the interim dividend which will then be paid on 28 May.

Meanwhile MaltaPost plc edged 1.2% higher to close at yet another fresh 2010 high of €0.86. 16,522 shares were traded today with lowest offers now placed at €0.869. The postal operator is due to report its interim results next week.

The share price of Malta International Airport plc closed the day 1.6% higher at €3.25 - shortly below its 2010 high of €3.26. Although the equity opened at €3.14, fresh demand towards the end of the session helped the share price climb to €3.25.

Crimsonwing plc also had a volatile session this morning. As trade ranges in this equity were lifted, a deal of 30,000 shares was initially transacted at the €0.40 level, 11.1% below the previous close. However a further 5,000 shares were later traded at €0.45 to help the share price closed the day unchanged.

GO plc also closed unchanged at €2.12 on volumes of 5,000 shares while HSBC Bank Malta plc failed to trade after dropping to a new 2010 low of €3.00 during yesterday's session. Highest bids are placed at €3.025 with lowest offers at €3.08.

www.rizzofarrugia.com