Following the 19 per cent increase in the share price of Middlesea Insurance plc during the first three sessions of the week, the equity eased by 0.7 per cent to €0.88,5 on some profit-taking.

Over 25,000 shares changed hands in today’s session with further shares on offer at the closing price and highest bids in the market at €0.85,5.

The recent recovery in Middlesea’s share price follows Monday morning’s announcement that the Middlesea Group registered a pre-tax profit of €2.8 million during the first quarter of 2009.

After yesterday’s inactive session, Bank of Valletta plc maintained the €3.30 level as 13,718 shares traded with bids of over 5,600 shares remaining unsatisfied at the close of the session.

Meanwhile HSBC Bank Malta plc failed to register any trades following three days of gains. Highest bids are placed at €3.06 with offers of 10,000 shares at €3.07.

Lombard Bank Malta plc traded again at its new 2010 low of €2.85. Just over 2,000 shares were exchanged with few offers remaining unsatisfied at the close.

Results of the amounts raised by the Treasury in the 3 new Malta Government Stocks on offer this week should be announced late tomorrow afternoon following closure of the tendering process at 12 noon.

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