The share price of RS2 Software plc traded two per cent higher to reach a fresh all-time high of €1.04 across two deals totalling 18,700 shares.
The increase in the share price materialised notwithstanding the equity started trading today without the entitlement to the dividend and the bonus shares.
The net dividend of 2c5 per share will now be paid on June 13 subject to shareholders’ approval at the upcoming annual general meeting scheduled to be held on June 12.
During the meeting, shareholders will also be asked to approve a one for 16 bonus issue.
Meanwhile, the IT company is expected to publish its interim directors’ statement by next week providing the market with an update on its performance since the start of the current financial year.
The equity of MaltaPost plc reached a new two-year high of €1.05,5 across three trades totalling 25,000 shares on fresh demand which emerged shortly after the publication of the interim financial statements.
The half-year results published by MaltaPost covering the six months ended March 31 revealed a 30.9 per cent increase in net profits to €0.66 million largely reflecting the continued growth in e-commerce business and the higher postal tariffs on certain services which came into effect on November 1.
Looking ahead, MaltaPost is expected to register further improvements in its financials during the second half of the year following the introduction of new postal tariffs on local letter mail as from April 1.
Moreover, the postal operator is in the process of expanding its offering through enhanced e-commerce services, back office processing and insurance.
Bank of Valletta plc shares also ended this morning’s session in positive territory. The equity partly recovered from yesterday’s six per cent drop and advanced by 2.4 per cent to €2.15,1 on low volumes of 2,659 shares. Various new bids entered the market at €2.10 and higher which remained unfilled today.
The only other equity in positive territory was GO plc with a 0.6 per cent increase to the €1.58 level across seven deals totalling 21,552 shares.
During the annual general meeting last Tuesday, shareholders approved all the items on the agenda including the 10c net dividend per share which will now be paid tomorrow.
On the other hand, Malta International Airport plc failed to hold on to its new all-time high of €1.95 reached during yesterday’s session with a 1.3 per cent drop back to the €1.92,5 level across 3,300 shares.
HSBC Bank Malta plc also shed 0.7 per cent to drop back to the €2.69 level on two small deals totalling 800 shares.
Meanwhile, Island Hotels Group Holdings plc held on to the 60c level on volumes of 2,900 shares.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.1 per cent higher to 1,023.013 points as Eurozone yields tumbled back below the 1.25 per cent level.
The latest downturn in yields was the result of fresh speculation that the European Central Bank (ECB) will take further monetary action on the back of surveys published by the ECB which showed lower expectations of growth and inflation.
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