This morning, the MSE Share Index closed marginally lower at 3,392.900 points (-0.043%) as a mix of 37 deals across 9 equity names were traded, with four gaining, four losing and one equity closing unchanged.

The beginning of the four-day week saw Bank of Valletta plc shedding 0.05% to close this morning at the €2.10 level, as a total of 30,687 of the bank’s shares were exchanged across 10 deals. Meanwhile HSBC Bank Malta plc gained 2.63% as 28,127 shares were dealt across 9 trades, causing the share price of the large-cap bank to close at the €1.95 level. HSBC shares will trade ex-dividend as from tomorrow, after the Bank issued its interim results earlier on last week, and announced an interim dividend of €0.045 (net: €0.029) payable by 4 September 2014.

The other bank that was active during the Borza’s session this morning was Lombard Bank plc, which closed unchanged at €1.60 across a total of 2,531 shares. The Bank is expected to publish its interim statements next week.

The market reacted positively after the announcement of 6PM Holdings plc of last week, whereby the company reported increased interim profits. Consequently, the share price edged 0.7% higher to close at the GBP0.735 level, with a total of 40,000 shares being exchanged earlier on today.

Similarly, Plaza Centres plc shares closed 1.69% higher, at €0.60, as 12,000 shares were transacted in one single trade. Santumas Shareholdings plc also closed in positive territory, as 4,467 shares were exchanged in 3 deals, edging the price 0.5% higher to €2.00. The company is expected to issue its financial results for the year ended April 2014 tomorrow 12 August.

Meanwhile, a single trade of 3,000 shares of International Hotel Investments plc caused the equity to close 3.95% lower at a €0.73 level. Likewise, the share price of Crimsonwing plc closed lower at €0.81, as 3 deals for a total of 9,282 shares were transacted earlier on today. The company is expected to hold its Annual General Meeting on 21 August.

The share price of Malta International Airport plc shed off 0.43% and closed at the €2.30 level, as 34,270 shares were exchanged during this morning’s session. The Company has recently issued its interim financial statements, reporting a strong rise in its interim profits, and announced a gross dividend of €0.0462 per share (net €0.03) which will be paid by not later than 12 September 2014. As such the shares of MIA will be trading ex-dividend as from 13 August 2014.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index reached yet another record high of 1,064.914. The Eurozone yields recovered slightly from the record lows registered last week of 1.02% to the 1.06% level, as geopolitical tensions eased as Russia backed off its military operations from Ukrainian borders late Friday.

www.rizzofarrugia.com

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