The share index extended its positive trend with a further 0.7 per cent uplift during this morning’s session to reach a new 1-year high of 3,532.422 points as various equities continued to advance with most reaching new highs.
Amongst the large cap equities, Malta International Airport jumped by a further 3.3 per cent to a fresh all-time high of €3.15 across nine deals totalling 91,389 shares. The equity will trade with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of 12c31 per share until April 16.
Simonds Farsons Cisk shares also closed at a fresh all-time high as the equity advanced by 1.5 per cent to the €3.25 level on shallow volumes of 1,667 shares.
Similarly, in the property segment, the equity of Malita Investments climbed by 3.5 per cent also to a fresh all-time high of 90c albeit on just a single deal of 5,000 shares. Midi shares inched 2.2 per cent higher to regain the 23c level on a trade of 2,200 shares.
GO also performed positively with a further rise of 0.7 per cent to yet another seven-year high of €2.81 across strong volumes of 105,352 shares. The quad-play telecoms operator is scheduled to publish its 2014 full-year results on Tuesday.
The top performer today was Medserv with a seven per cent gain to a new 19-month high of €1.52 across three deals totalling 27,000 shares. Medserv is scheduled to publish its 2014 full-year results on March 23.
The share price of Bank of Valletta also edged 0.5 per cent higher to reach the €2.16 level for the first time since late April 2014 albeit on shallow volumes of 7,400 shares.
Likewise, HSBC edged a further 0.4 per cent higher to recapture the €1.93,5 level across 15 deals totalling 37,161 shares. The equity will trade with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of 2c6 per share until March 18.
Also in the financial sector, Middlesea Insurance moved 2.8 per cent higher to regain the €1.05 level for the first time since May 2011 on low volumes of 9,241 shares. Middlesea will be publishing its 2014 financial statements on March 11.
On the other hand, the share price of Lombard Bank Malta slipped one per cent lower back to the €1.93 level on just 740 shares ahead of the bank’s full-year results on Monday.
Similarly, FIMBank retreated by a further 1.1 per cent back to the 47cUS level across 9,560 shares. The trade finance specialist is expected to reveal its 2014 figures next March 10.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.2 per cent higher to yet another all-time high of 1,136.902 points as Eurozone yields slipped back to the 0.34 per cent level after the European Central Bank yesterday revealed the details of its €60 billion a month asset purchase programme which will commence on Monday.
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