The MSE Share Index this morning advanced for the third consecutive session with a rise of a further 0.4% to 3,464.59 points as the equities of the two large banks gained. The share price of Bank of Valletta plc closed 1.9% higher to regain the €2.241 level on volumes of 14,862 shares. Today marked the last day for investors to gain entitlement to the interim gross dividend of €0.0425 per share. As such, the equity turns ex-dividend as from tomorrow.
Similarly, new bids helped the equity of HSBC Bank Malta plc inch minimally higher to €2.142 across 16,714 shares.
Malta International Airport plc also performed positively with a 0.8% increase to recapture the €2.26 level on volumes of 10,150 shares. This afternoon, the airport operator published the April 2014 traffic statistics revealing a 13.7% increase in passenger movements to 376,935 compared to the same month last year reflecting the drive by MIA, the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) and all other relevant stakeholders in promoting Malta as an all-year round destination. The growth largely reflects the 11.7% increase in seat capacity but it is also noteworthy to highlight the shift of the Easter holiday period into mid-April from end of March in the previous year.
The only other positive performing equity today was Medserv plc as its share price moved 2.3% higher to regain its 2014 high of €1.33 on low volumes of 1,000 shares.
On the other hand, the equity of Lombard Bank Malta plc eased 1.8% lower back to the €1.60 level on a small deal of 524 shares. Similarly, the share price of Middlesea Insurance plc slipped 4.3% back to €0.90 on just 518 shares.
Meanwhile, the equity of RS2 Software plc held on to the €2.42 level on low volumes of 2,132 shares. Simonds Farsons Cisk plc shares also traded unchanged at the €3.00 level on shallow volumes of 550 shares. Farsons’ equity is still trading with the entitlement to the final net dividend of €0.05 per share payable to all shareholders as at close of trading on 14 May.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.1% higher to a new high of 1,037.432 points as Eurozone yields continued to slip lower to 1.442% amid escalating tensions in Ukraine.
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