BOV's share price again in negative territory

Following yesterday's 0.8 per cent decline to a two-year low of €2.43, the share price of Bank of Valletta plc lost a further 0.6 per cent today to close at €2.41,5 after touching an intra-day low of €2.40.

Volumes increased to over 52,000 shares with the market now awaiting next Friday's publication of the preliminary full-year results covering the financial year ended September 30.

Meanwhile HSBC Bank Malta plc reversed yesterday's decline as its share price was lifted 1.1 per cent higher to regain the €2.66 level across four trades totalling just over 6,800 shares.

The bank generally publishes its interim directors' statement by mid-November updating the market on its performance since the half-year end of June 30.

MIDI plc shares were active for the first time in almost a month as 3,000 shares changed hands at the equity's all-time low of 39c representing a six per cent drop from the previous closing price.

Elsewhere in the local equity market, minimal increases were registered in the share prices of International Hotel Investments plc and GO plc 81c and €1.00,5, respectively.

Following the high volumes of 42,000 shares that changed hands yesterday, almost 18,000 shares traded this morning all at €1.00,5.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index shed 0.2 per cent to 982.107 points as Eurozone yields regained the 2.14 per cent ahead of the EU summit being held tomorrow.

During this meeting, EU leaders are expected to agree upon a solution on the region's sovereign debt crisis which will probably include a significant haircut on Greek debt and a recapitalisation programme for European banks.

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