The equity of Bank of Valletta was today adjusted for the upcoming one-for-11 bonus share issue.
The bonus shares will be allocated to the entitled shareholders tomorrow and trading in these new shares is expected to commence on Monday.
BOV’s share price closed in positive territory for the third consecutive session with a 0.5 per cent increase to €2.10 compared to yesterday’s post-bonus adjusted price of €2.09. A total of 30,672 shares changed hands today across 12 deals.
The only other positive performing equity was Tigné Mall which touched a fresh all-time high of 62c before easing to a closing price of 61c6 which still represents a 2.7 per cent increase over the previous closing price on volumes of 52,000 shares.
On the other hand, the share price of RS2 Software eased 0.3 per cent lower to the €2.90 level on a single trade of 3,500 shares.
Meanwhile, no changes were registered in the share prices of the five other active equities. HSBC held on to the €1.95,6 level across two small deals totalling 1,623 shares. Similarly, Lombard Bank Malta maintained the €1.80 level on volumes of 10,000 shares.
Marginal volumes were traded in Malta International Airport as only 1,370 shares changed hands at the equity’s all-time high of €2.40 representing no change from the previous closing price.
Likewise, the equity of Simonds Farsons Cisk also continued to trade at its respective all-time high with a single trade of 1,400 shares being executed at the €3.07 level.
The only other active equity was GO which ended this morning’s session unchanged at the €2.59,5 level after recovering from an intra-day low of €2.58 on low volumes of 2,000 shares.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index extended its uplift with a further 0.11 per cent increase to yet another all-time high of 1,111.356 points as Eurozone yields tested new all-time lows of just above the 0.4 per cent level.
Both equity and bond markets were this morning shocked by the unexpected decision of the Swiss National Bank (the country’s national bank) to remove its currency ceiling against the euro, at the CHF/€1.20 level, whilst also reducing its interest rate by 50 basis points to -0.75 per cent.
The immediate reaction was for the Swiss Franc to strengthen by 30 per cent and 25 per cent against the euro and US Dollar respectively to record highs.
Although the Swiss Franc has cut back on some of its gains, this morning’s events led to significant volatility in financial markets.
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