The share index closed in positive territory for the fifth consecutive session with a further 0.8 per cent increase during this morning’s session to yet another 10-month high of 3,501.597 points. Once again, the majority of the day’s active equities closed the session higher including the three retail banking equities.
Bank of Valletta edged 1.4 per cent higher to regain the €2.15 level across 10 deals totalling 20,408 shares. Similarly, the share price of HSBC continued to recover and added a further 1.1 per cent to recapture the €1.91 level on high volumes of 174,700 shares.
The equity will trade with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of 2c6 per share until March 18. Meanwhile, insignificant volumes were traded in Lombard as the equity edged 1.6 per cent higher to regain the €1.95 level on just 250 shares ahead of the publication of the 2014 results scheduled for next Monday 9 March.
The equity of GO also trended higher in anticipation of the full-year results publication on Tuesday. The share price of the quad-play telecoms operator advanced by 1.3 per cent to reach the €2.76,5 level for the first time since late May 2008 on high volumes of 56,415 shares.
Malita Investments was the top performer today with an increase of 11.7 per cent to a new all-time high of 86c albeit on a single trade of 2,495 shares. The equity will trade with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of 2c1 per share until March 18.
The only other positive performing equity was RS2 Software as the equity closed 0.3 per cent higher at the €2.96 level after recovering from an intra-day low of €2.92 on low volumes of 3,350 shares.
Meanwhile, Malta International Airport held on to its all-time high of €3.05 across four deals totalling 4,298 shares. The equity will trade with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of 12c31 per share until April 16.
Likewise, International Hotel Investments traded unchanged during this morning’s session at the 65c level on total volumes of 12,139 shares.
Similarly, Grand Harbour Marina held on to the €1.76 level on low volumes of 4,270 shares.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased lower for the first time in eight sessions with a marginal 0.1 per cent decline back to 1,133.405 points reflecting the rebound in Eurozone yields to the 0.371 per cent level over the past few days possibly in view of some concerns over Greece and ahead of the publication of key economic data.
Nonetheless, benchmark yields in Europe are still close to their all-time lows as the European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to publish further details on its €60 billion a month stimulus package following tomorrow’s monetary policy meeting.
Yesterday evening, the Treasury issued the allotment policy for the recent Malta Government Stock issue.
The 44 applications for a nominal value of just over €6 million in the two per cent MGS 2020 (V) FI will be accepted in full.
Meanwhile, in the case of the applications for the three per cent MGS 2040 (I), the first €10,000 will be satisfied in full and 12 per cent of any remaining balance.
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