The MSE Share Index retreated by 0.6 per cent to 3,299.918 points as Bank of Valletta plc dropped by 2.4 per cent to €2.07 on increased activity totalling 53,186 shares.
On the other hand, Go plc inched minimally higher to €2.22 on volumes of 8,650 shares.
Meanwhile, HSBC Bank Malta plc shares traded unchanged at €2.01, with 13,784 shares changing hands across six trades. HSBC will be publishing its June interim financial statements on August 4.
Medserv plc held on to its recent gains as a further 11,500 shares traded at the €1.30 level.
Malta International Airport plc and RS2 Software plc also traded unchanged at €2.30 (4,130 shares) and €2.50 (8,873 shares), respectively.
Shallow volumes were traded in the shares of Middlesea Insurance plc and Simonds Farsons Cisk plc. Both equities also closed unchanged at 87c (144 shares) and €2.95 (500 shares), respectively.
Tomorrow the interim reporting season will commence with the publication of results by Middlesea Insurance plc. Crimsonwing plc will also be publishing its financial statements tomorrow for the year ended March 31.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged marginally higher to reach yet another new all-time high of 1,058.951 points despite a slight increase in Eurozone yields to the 1.2 per cent level.
Today’s uplift is largely due to the better-than-expected growth figures from China which reported a 7.5 per cent (consensus estimate of 7.4 per cent) increase in GDP in the second quarter of 2014. This data restored some confidence across financial markets.
Yesterday, the Treasury announced the issue of two new Malta Government Stocks for a total aggregate amount of €180 million. They are the two per cent MGS 2020 (V) and the 4.1 per cent MGS 2034 (I).
Prices will be determined on July 24. Subscriptions open on July 28 and close on July 30 for the public (applications of up to €100,000) while tenders in the form of sealed bids (for amounts in excess of €100,000) will be accepted until noon on August 4.
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