The share prices of HSBC Bank Malta plc and Malta International Airport plc both eased 1c lower sending the MSE Share Index down by 0.1 per cent to 3,114.674 points.

HSBC's equity slipped 0.4 per cent6 today to €2.65 across seven trades totalling 8,000 shares.

Shortly after the close of this morning's trading session, the bank published its interim directors' statement covering the period from July 1 to date.

During this period, HSBC Malta Group reported an improved performance over the previous year's comparable period mainly due to the favourable movements in the investment markets.

The announcement also revealed a softening in demand for loans with only a slight increase in impairments.

Meanwhile, institutional deposits increased and retail deposits remained broadly in line with the figures of the previous comparable period. The directors also explained that the bank continues to maintain strong liquidity and capital ratios which are above regulatory requirements and sufficient to meet the challenges ahead.

MIA's share price retreated by 0.6 per cent to €1.75 on volumes of 3,600 shares. The airport operator has yet to publish its interim directors' statement.

Elsewhere in the local equity market, all other active equities ended today's session unchanged.

Bank of Valletta plc recovered from an intra-day low of €2.45 to close unchanged at the €2.47 level on the penultimate day of trading with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of 13c per share. Fifteen trades totalling 32,936 shares were executed.

Very low volumes were traded in Lombard Bank Malta plc and GO plc. Lombard's equity held on to its multi-year low of €1.80 across 500 shares whilst GO maintained the €1 level on a single deal of 250 shares.

This afternoon, 6pm Holdings plc also published its interim directors' statement revealing 12 consecutive months of profits and the possibility of a dividend if the operational targets continue to be met.

The announcement also explained that a number of solutions have been launched this year and the group expects to continue evaluating new opportunities on the basis of four core business objectives: profitability, stability, growth and business model.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged higher for the fifth consecutive session with another 0.1 per cent increase to 999.958 points as Eurozone yields dipped further lower to 1.32 per cent.

German Bunds remained in demand as the International Monetary Fund is calling on eurozone members to take a cut on their loans to Greece in order to make the latter's debt sustainable.

However, Germany is opposing this proposal and considers it illegal. Moreover, Germany claims that the 2020 deadline for Greece to reduce its debt to GDP ratio to 120 per cent is too ambitious. In fact, Eurozone finance ministers are requesting a two-year extension on this deadline.

www.rizzofarrugia.com

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