The share index moved higher for the third consecutive day with a further 0.6 per cent increase to a one-week high of 3,342.651 points as various equities trended in positive territory during this morning’s session.

Most notably, HSBC edged 1.8 per cent higher to regain the €1.96,5 level across five deals totalling 37,111 shares.

Similarly, new bids helped the share price of Middlesea Insurance advance by 14.9 per cent to recapture the €1 level for the first time since mid-March.

Earlier, Middlesea issued its interim directors’ statement providing an update on its performance during the third quarter this year.

During the period, the Middlesea Group maintained the positive sales trends and strong performance registered at the interim stage when total income from the group’s insurance activities grew by 22.4 per cent to just over €6 million and pre-tax profit climbed 20.2 per cent higher to €8.2 million.

Also in the financial sector, Lombard Bank shares recovered from an intra-day low of €1.68 to end this morning’s session marginally higher at the €1.70 level on volumes of almost 40,000 shares.

Malta International Airport also performed positively with a 1.3 per cent jump to regain the €2.35 level across nine trades totalling 30,344 shares.

The only other positive performing equity was Simonds Farsons Cisk with a 2.5 per cent rise to the €2.97,2 level on a single trade of 850 shares.

On the other hand, the share price of Bank of Valletta eased minimally lower to €2.24,9 on volumes of 47,360 shares.

The equity of FIMBank dropped to a fresh all-time low of 60cUS, representing a 7.7 per cent drop from the previous closing price, on low volumes of 2,401 shares.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased 0.2 per cent lower to 1,092.398 points as the benchmark Eurozone yields rebounded from their all-time lows to the 0.85 per cent level as markets calmed down following the significant correction in the past few days.

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