The MSE Share Index extended recent gains, edging up for the thirteenth consecutive session as trading activity remains strong with €0.43 million worth of shares changing hands during this morning’s trading sessions The local equity benchmark gained 0.7% to reach a 13-month high of 3,668.466 points as most active equities trended higher.
For the seventh consecutive session, the share price Bank of Valletta plc trended in positive territory with a further 1.1% increase to regain the €2.30 level for the first time since early February 2008 on volumes of just over 70,000 shares.
Similarly, the equity of HSBC Bank Malta plc moved a further 0.5% higher to recapture the €1.98 level across fourteen deals totalling 46,866 shares. The Bank’s equity turns ex-dividend from Friday 20 March.
Also in the financial sector, the share price of Middlesea Insurance plc rose 1.1% to €1.061 across a single deal of 3,816 shares.
Elsewhere on the local equity market, Malta International Airport plc touched a new all-time high of €3.225 before easing marginally to the €3.22 level which still represents a 0.3% increase from the previous closing price on just 4,050 shares.
New bids also lifted the share price of Medserv plc by 3.1% to an almost 4-year high of €1.65 across four deals totalling 33,588 shares. The Medserv Group is expected to announce 2014 financial results next Monday 23 March.
Similarly, the equity of MIDI plc rebounded by 4.4% this morning to recapture the €0.24 level. The company issued an announcement late last Friday indicating that it is in negotiations with a number of strategic partners in connection with the Manoel Island project and it intends to reach an agreement with one of these interested parties. A total of 30,500 shares changed hands today with further offers unsatisfied at the closing price. Best bids are pitched at the €0.22 level.
RS2 Software plc shares also trended higher today with a 0.7 increase to regain the €2.96 level across four deals totalling 25,000 shares.
Positive movements also in the share price of International Hotel Investments plc, which, although failed to hold on to an intra-day high of €0.73, still ended the day 1.4% higher at the €0.72 level across four deals totalling 16,176 shares.
No change was recorded in the share price of GO plc, which closed at €2.91 after the equity managed to recover from an intra-day low of €2.87 on shallow volumes of 4,305 shares.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased minimally lower to 1,142.812 points as Eurozone benchmark yields rebounded today, reaching an intra-day high of 0.294%, as the markets are expecting European Central Bank (ECB) to slowdown its purchases this week after a strong first week with policymaker Benoit Coeure confirming that the central bank had made €10 billion worth of purchases during the first three days. More details will be revealed today in the weekly upd