During the last trading session this year, the MSE Share Index eased minimally below its seven-week high closing the year up 3.8 per cent at 3,211.906 points. Six equities traded during the final trading session of the year with the 0.2 per cent decline in the share price of Bank of Valletta plc offsetting the 0.9 per cent gain in the equity of GO plc.

Bank of Valletta plc touched an intra-day low of €2.40 before recovering to end the day at €2.41,5. The equity eased by 0.2 per cen from yesterday’s close on volumes of 16,300 shares. BOV closed the year with an increase of 8.7 per cent. The cut-off date for the one for nine bonus issue is January 14.

GO plc edged a further 0.9 per cent higher to end the year at €1.19 – only marginally below its 2012 high of €1.20. GO ranks as the second best performer during the month of December with an increase of 11.7 per cent. Throughout 2012, GO ranked as the fourth best performing equity with gains of 21.4 per cent.

Also in the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc and FIMBank plc closed the day unchanged. HSBC Bank Malta plc traded again at the €2.70 level resulting in a year-to-date appreciation of 4.7 per cent.

HSBC announced that its 2012 full-year financial statements will be published on March 4. The US dollar dominated equity of FIMBank was active at the $0.80 level.

During the past 12 months, FIMBank’s equity edged 8.1 per cent higher mainly in the first half of the year following the March announcement of the interest shown by Burgan Bank to purchase the stake of the largest shareholder and assume majority control. An extraordinary general meeting for this purpose is being convened on January 31.

Meanwhile, another equity which was active during the last session of 2012 was 6pm Holdings plc. This Sterling denominated equity closed unchanged at £0.31 and registered a marginal increase over the year.

6pm recently concluded a significant contract in the UK and in a letter to all shareholders, the company revealed that given 6pm’s profitable position throughout 2012, the board of directors will be recommending the payment of a final dividend and the distribution of more bonus shares once the full-year results are approved in 2013.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index surged during the final session of 2012 to close at a fresh 25-month high of 1,005.379 points.

Today’s increase in the index reflects the new record prices for most of the longer-dated Malta Government Stocks. During 2012, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index climbed by 1.7 per cent reflecting the sharp decline in eurozone benchmark yields.

The Malta Stock Exchange will reopen for business on Thursday.

www.rizzofarrugia.com

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