The equity of GO plc approached a fresh 4-year high today on fresh demand for these shares. GO’s share price advanced by a further 1.5% to €1.98 across six trades totalling 17,300 shares with further bids unsatisfied at the closing price and lowest offers now at the €2.00 level.

Bank of Valletta plc also performed positively with a 0.4% increase to €2.46 on volumes of 13,444 shares. Similarly, Island Hotels Group Holdings plc jumped 5.9% to regain the €0.90 level albeit on a small deal of 2,000 shares. Low volumes were also transacted in RS2 Software plc with the equity edging 0.2% higher to regain the €2.335 level on just 430 shares.

Meanwhile, no changes were recorded in the share prices of HSBC Bank Malta plc and Lombard Bank Malta plc. HSBC failed to hold on to an intra-day high of €2.63 as the equity closed the day unchanged at the €2.60 level across six trades totalling 13,640 shares. The full-year results are due to be published on 24 February. Likewise, Lombard Bank held on to the €1.90 level on high volumes of 98,946 shares.

The equity of Malta International Airport plc also ended the session unchanged at the €2.19 level on volumes of 4,500 shares. The only other active equity, MaltaPost plc held on to the €1.10 level on just 2,000 shares. The postal operator is expected to publish its Interim Directors’ Statement shortly to update the market on its performance since the start of the current financial year on 1 October 2013.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index slipped 0.1% lower to 1,026.238 points as Eurozone yields rebounded to the 1.68% following yesterday’s decision by the European Central Bank (ECB) to postpone any further action to March at which time the updated forecast for the Eurozone will be published. Moreover, the President of the ECB Mario Draghi sought to ease concerns that the region is facing deflationary risks.

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