Following two consecutive sessions of decline, the MSE share index moved back into positive territory today with a 0.8 per cent increase to 3,496.419 points largely due to the rebound in the share price of International Hotel Investments plc.
The equity of IHI climbed 5.7 per cnet to regain the 83c level across six deals totalling 35,340 shares.
This follows this morning’s announcement relating to the declaration of a net interim dividend of 3c per share (to all shareholders as at the close of trading on April 28).
The announcement also revealed that IHI (through its 50 per cent owned subsidiary NLI Holdings Ltd) managed to sell 11 out of the 12 London apartments for an undisclosed consideration.
The share prices of Crimsonwing plc and Plaza Centres plc also performed positively.
A single trade of 9,000 Crimsonwing shares were transacted at a new all-time high of 87c representing a 7.5 per cent jump from the previous closing price.
Similarly, the equity of Plaza Centres edged 4.2 per cent higher to reach a new 2014 high of 62c5 on healthy volumes of 80,000 shares.
The net dividend of 2c38 per share is payable to those shareholders as at close of trading on April 15.
On the other hand, the share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc eased by 0.2 per cent back to the €2.38 level across 32,226 shares. The bank is scheduled to hold its annual general meeting on Wednesday.
Similarly, the equity of Medserv plc retreated by 2.3 per cent back to the €1.30 level on volumes of 65,700 shares as the equity traded ex-dividend.
Meanwhile, no change was registered in the share price of Bank of Valletta plc at the €2.30 level after failing to hold on to an intra-day high of €2.32 across 12 deals totalling 25,900 shares.
This afternoon, BOV announced that its board of directors is scheduled to meet on April 25 to consider and approve the interim results covering the six months ended March 31.
The equity of Malta International Airport plc also ended the session unchanged at the €2.32 level after failing to hold on to a new all-time of high of €2.35 across 15,150 shares.
Likewise, GO plc maintained the €1.96 level on low volumes of 2,366 shares.
In the property segment, MIDI plc held on to the 24c level on a single trade of 20,000 shares and Tigné Mall plc maintained the 52c5 level on volumes of 50,500 shares.
The only other active equity was Middlesea Insurance plc with 3,586 shares changing hands at the 91c level, unchanged from the previous closing price.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged marginally higher to 1,030.331 points for the first since data was collected in 2009.
This reflects the further decline in Eurozone yields to near two-week lows of 1.534 per cent on increasing speculation that the European Central Bank will launch further stimulus measures in the near term.
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