The share prices of both Bank of Valletta and HSBC traded higher today ahead of a key announcement to be published in the coming weeks.
BOV’s share price edged 0.5 per cent higher to regain the €2.26,2 level across eight trades totalling almost 19,200 shares ahead of the bank’s interim directors’ statement which should be published by the end of next week.
Similarly, HSBC’s equity edged 0.4 per cent higher to close at the €2.73,5 level on volumes of 19,280 in anticipation of the group’s 2012 full-year results scheduled to be published on March 4.
Further bids for GO plc’s shares helped the equity advance by a further 0.4 per cent to a new 18-month high of €1.38 level on volumes of just over than 13,000 shares.
On the other hand, Plaza Centres plc traded for the first time this week and slipped 3.3 per cent back to the 58c level on high volumes of 266,000 shares representing 0.9 per cent of the company’s issued share capital.
Similarly, the share price of Malta International Airport plc eased 0.1 per cent lower back to the €1.78,9 level across six trades totalling 9,450 shares.
Meanwhile, the two other active equities today ended unchanged. International Hotel Investments plc held on to the 74c level across 6,200 shares with shareholders still awaiting developments with respect to the sale of the 12 luxury apartments adjacent to the London Hotel.
A single deal of 3,100 Grand Harbour Marina plc shares was executed this morning at the €1.82 level representing no change from the previous close. The marina operator is expected to publish its 2012 financial results by the end of April. The 2012 figures should be boosted by the sale of a super-yacht berth for a consideration of €3.1 million.
The MSE Share Index eased 0.1 per cent lower this week to 3,243.242 points mainly due to the declines in BOV and MIA which offset the 0.6 per cent increase in HSBC and the extended gains in GO and MaltaPost plc. Volumes across local equities picked up with a 2013 weekly high of €1.55 million.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.1 per cent higher to 1,008.647 points as benchmark Eurozone yields slid back to the 1.6 per cent level following yesterday’s comments by Mario Draghi, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB).
Mr Draghi hinted at further intervention, including lowering the bank’s interest rate, if the recent appreciation of the euro derails the economic recovery across the region.
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