The equities of the two large banks had kicked-off the New Year in positive territory. However, both share prices started to decline during the latter part of last week and this trend continued during this morning’s session of the stock exchange.
In fact, the share price of Bank of Valletta plc slid 1.1% back to the €2.215 level across seventeen deals totalling 47,057 shares. The equity of BOV will continue to trade with the entitlement to the 1 for 11 bonus share issue until Wednesday 14 January. Meanwhile, lower volumes were transacted in HSBC Bank Malta plc as the Bank’s equity eased by 0.3% to the €1.995 level on just 2,000 shares.
In the IT sector the share price of Crimsonwing plc retreated minimally to the €0.859 level on high volumes of 55,949 shares. Shareholders of Crimsonwing have been offered €0.8327 per share by KPMG Investments Malta Limited as it aims to acquire the entire company. The voluntary bid by KPMG closes on 20 January.
Similarly, the share price of RS2 Software plc ended today’s session in negative territory as it only partially recovered from an intra-day low of €2.85 to close this morning’s session at the €2.91 level representing a 0.3% drop from the previous closing price. A total of 3,600 shares changed hand across four deals.
On the other hand, the share price of Plaza Centres plc climbed by 3.1% to regain the €0.67 level for the first time since June 2012 on a single trade of 15,000 shares.
Lombard Bank Malta plc also ended this morning’s session in positive territory with a 1.1% rise to recapture the €1.77 level across a trade of 2,000 shares.
On the Alternative Companies List, Loqus Holdings plc inched minimally higher to close at the €0.141 level on insignificant volumes of 996 shares.
Meanwhile, GO plc held on to the €2.595 level across two deals totalling 25,000 shares and International Hotel Investments plc maintained the €0.57 level on just 4,000 shares.
In the property segment, a further 2,000 shares of Tigné Mall plc were transacted at the equity’s all-time high of €0.60 across a single deal. Marginal volumes were again transacted in Santumas Shareholdings plc with 26 shares changing hands at the €2.00 level.
Overall, the MSE Share Index eased 0.3% lower to 3,330.332 points.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.1% higher to 1,107.501 points as Eurozone yields dipped back below the 0.5% level as the latest polls in Greece confirmed that the anti-bailout party, Syriza, is still in the lead.
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