The share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc slumped 1.4 per cent during this morning’s session to an eight-month low of €2.79 on volumes of 20,000 shares. Lombard’s equity is currently showing a 5.4 per cent decline this year. The bank is scheduled to publish its 2010 interim results on August 24.

High volumes amounting to 35,000 shares traded in Malta International Airport plc on the last day for investors to gain entitlement to the net interim dividend of €0.03 per share.

MIA’s share price closed unchanged at the €1.62 level after recovering from an intra-day low of €1.59,9. MIA’s equity will trade ex-dividend as from tomorrow and the interim dividend will be paid on September 15. Yesterday, MIA announced record passenger numbers for July (+15.8).

While Lombard’s equity declined, the share prices of the other two local banks had a positive day. HSBC Bank Malta plc gained 1.3 per cent to €3.06 with Bank of Valletta plc edging 0.2 per cent higher to close at the €3.34,5 level on volumes of 12,435 shares. Tomorrow is the the last day for investors to be entitled to HSBC’s net interim dividend of €0.05,1 per share announced last week.

Plaza Centres plc shares active for the first time since its interim results were published a week ago. The equity surged 7.5 per cent this morning to regain the €1.63 level on a single trade of 1,837 shares. The half-year results showed a 2.3 per cent increase in turnover to €1 million with post-tax profits of €416,539 (+0.4 per cent).

On the bond market, subscriptions at the fixed price for the new Malta government stock issues close today. Applications in the form of sealed bids must be submitted by noon on Friday.

http://rizzofarrugia.com/news-events/2010/july-traffic-results-2/

http://rizzofarrugia.com/news-events/2010/interim-results-pzc05/

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