The MSE Share Index maintained its recent positive trend with a third successive increase as the local equity benchmark edged a further 0.1 per cent higher during this morning’s session to yet another two-year high of 3,384.790 points.

Today’s upturn was mainly due to the 1.1 per cent increase in the share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc which regained the €2.69 level on low volumes of 1,500 shares.

Shallow activity was evident also in the other positive performing equities with Malita Investments plc edging minimally higher to close at 51c1 on a single deal of 4,000 shares. Similarly, the equity of Island Hotels Group Holdings plc moved 2.9 per cent higher to recover from its all-time low of 52c and recapture the 53c5 level across 1,000 shares.

On the other hand, Bank of Valetta plc eased marginally lower to €2.25 across 10,719 shares and Lombard Bank Malta plc retreated by 2.9 per cent to end this morning’s session at the €1.70 level on higher volumes of 26,500 shares.

GO plc’s share price also closed in negative territory with a 1.9 per cent drop back to the €1.52 level on volumes of 8,200 shares.

The only other active equity today, namely 6pm Holdings plc, ended the session unchanged at the 60p level on a single trade of 2,900 shares.

Shortly after the close of today’s session, Malta International Airport plc announced a 9.8 per cent increase in passenger movements for the month of May.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index moved marginally higher to 1,019.387 points as Eurozone yields slipped back below the 1.5 per cent level ahead of the monetary policy meetings of the European Central Bank tomorrow and the US Federal Reserve today week.

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