The share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc dropped 3.8% to a new multi-year low of €1.501 on the stock exchange today. Trading activity was weak with only 5,302 shares changing hands.

Elsewhere in the banking sector, Bank of Valletta plc held on to yesterday’s gains with the share price closing the day at the €2.15 level on high volumes of over 75,000 shares. Meanwhile, HSBC Bank Malta plc edged 0.5% above its 2014 low with the equity closing the day at the €2.11 level on volumes of 6,445 shares.

Despite the decline in the share price of Lombard, the MSE Share Index advanced by 0.2% to 3,426.907 points as a result of the gains in HSBC as well as MIA and RS2.

Malta International Airport plc rose by 1.3% to regain the €2.30 level across 4 trades totalling 6,000 shares. Likewise, RS2 Software plc edged minimally higher to regain the €2.40 level also on low volumes of 3,886 shares.

The only other active equity today was GO plc which closed unchanged at the €1.969 level after dropping to a low of €1.911.

In the coming days, most companies will be updating the market on their performance since the start of their financial year through the publication of an Interim Directors Statement.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased minimally lower to 1,037.511 points as most MGS prices declined. On the primary market, there are currently three new bonds, namely €35 million 6.0% Island Hotels Group Holdings plc 2024; €15 million 5.5% Pendergardens Developments plc 2020 and €27 million 6.0% Pendergardens Developments plc 2022.