The MSE Share Index declined marginally to 3,349.286 points as the only mover of the day was the share price of Malta International Airport plc which eased by 0.4% to €2.34 across 2 trades for a total of 6,250 shares. Earlier this week, the airport operator published its September 2014 traffic results, which revealed a 2.4% increase in passenger movements when compared to the same month last year. The increase in September was due to a 1.1% growth in seat capacity and a 0.9% increase in aircraft movements.

Meanwhile, no changes were registered in the share prices of BOV, FIMBank and Malita Investments. Bank of Valletta plc closed at the €2.26 level on volumes of 30,892 shares. The bank will shortly be announcing the date when the September 2014 full-year financial statements will be published. A single trade took place in FIMBank plc of 6,000 shares at the USD0.66 level.

Similarly, Malita Investments plc held on to its all-time high of €0.56 as a further 28,500 shares changed hands at this level.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index reached another all-time high of 1,091.522 points. Benchmark Bund yields dropped below the 0.90% level again on expectations that the ECB will ramp up monetary stimulus in the short term, after weak German economic data released earlier on today showed that exports of the largest Eurozone economy fell 5.8% in August, worse than the 4% drop expected by analysts.

Two new bond issues were launched yesterday. Hal Mann Vella Group plc published a formal notice in connection with the issue of €30 million 5.0% Secured Bonds 2024 and United Finance plc announced the issue of €8.5 million 5.3% Unsecured Bonds 2023. Further information available from www.rizzofarrugia.com

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