Shortly after the close of today’s trading session, RS2 Software plc announced that Barclays Bank plc has completed the acquisition of a 10 per cent stake in the company from ITM (Information Technology Management) Holding Ltd – the largest shareholder in RS2.
As a result, Barclays no longer have the option to cancel the £8.5 million licence agreement.
In a separate announcement, the company revealed that the shareholding of chairman Mario Schembri has fallen below the five per cent threshold to 4.13 per cent.
On the secondary market, prior to the release of these announcements, the share price of RS2 eased 0.5 per cent lower to the €1.99 level on a small deal of 1,000 shares.
Four other equities ended this morning’s session in negative territory including Bank of Valletta plc with a 0.2 per cent decline to the €2.47 level on volumes of 20,855 shares.
Similarly, GO plc’s share price retreated by 0.3 per cent to €1.49,5 on just 500 shares. A single deal was also executed in International Hotel Investments plc at the 84c level representing a 2.2 per cent decline from the previous close.
The only other negative performing equity was Middlesea Insurance plc with a 5.9 per cent drop back to the 80c level on a mere 200 shares.
On the other hand, a number of equities closed in positive territory comprising HSBC Bank Malta plc with its share price edging 0.4 per cent higher to €2.63 on volumes of 14,330 shares.
In the IT sector, Crimsonwing plc’s equity advanced by a further 1.9 per cent to yet another all-time high of 79c across three deals totalling 40,000 shares.
Lower volumes were transacted in Malta International Airport plc with the equity rising by 1.5 per cent to regain the €2 level for the first time since mid-August.
Only 7,150 MIA shares changed hands today. Recently, the airport operator revealed yet another record month in terms of traffic numbers with a 10.8 per cent the first nine months of 2013, MIA reported a nine per cent increase in passenger movements to a record 3,157,730 passenger movements mainly reflecting the increased seat capacity.
Similarly, a trade of 5,000 MIDI plc shares was transacted at the 25c level representing a 4.2 per cent increase over the previous close.
Meanwhile, no changes were recorded in the share prices of the other three active equities. Plaza Centres plc held on to the 56c level on a single trade of 86,563 shares.
Similarly, Malita Investments plc maintained the 52c level on a single deal of 3,000 shares and MaltaPost plc maintained the €1.05 level on insignificant volumes of only 110 shares.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index slipped 0.1 per cent lower to 1,018.666 points as Eurozone yields surged towards the 1.85 per cent level on increased hopes that the US will manage to reach an agreement on its budget and debt ceiling.
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