Following the 11.4% rally during the month of August, further demand for Bank of Valletta plc's equity emerged during this morning's trading session of the stock exchange. The bank's share price advanced by another 2.6% to a new 13-month high of €2.35 across twelve trades totalling 56,628 shares.
Meanwhile, GO plc recovered some of 19.1% drop registered last month on fresh demand for the shares of the telecom company following last Friday's interim results revealing a pre-tax profit of €20.4 million. GO's equity gained 5.8% today to regain the €0.899 level on volumes of 21,100 shares. Malta International Airport plc also closed in positive territory today with a 0.3% increase to the €1.745 level across nine trades totalling 50,000 shares. The airport operator is expected to publish its August traffic figures later on this week.
All other equities ended today's session unchanged. Over 6,400 FIMBank plc shares changed hands at the US$0.80 level as investors await further developments on the possible takeover by Burgan Bank. A single trade of 1,050 Simonds Farsons Cisk plc shares was executed at the €2.08 level with support remaining unsatisfied at this level. The Group's half-year results are generally published by the end of September.
The recently listed Malita Investments plc held on to the €0.52 level across two trades totalling 3,230 shares. MaltaPost plc also closed unchanged today as 71,000 shares were traded at the equity's 3-year low of €0.63. The equity of the postal operator currently ranks as the worst performer of the year with a 37% drop. This sharp decline materialised after the Company announced that the downward trend in profitability registered during the first half of its financial year is expected to continue and may worsen in future financial periods until such time as the regulatory framework within which the Company operates is adequately revised.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.1% lower to 996.258 points as Eurozone yields regained the 1.34% level this morning. Benchmark 10-year German Bund yields were marginally unchanged during the day as investors await the publication of the European Central Bank (ECB) bond-buying plans following Thursday's monetary policy meeting.
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