The share index trended in negative territory for the third consecutive session with a further 0.1 per cent drop during this morning’s trading session to 3,757.011 points.

Today’s decline was due to the 0.8 per cent drop in the share price of Bank of Valletta, the sole negative performer, back to the €2.35 level across 13 deals totalling 45,216 shares.

On the other hand, the share price of HSBC edged 0.2 per cent higher to close the session at the €2.05 level on shallow volumes of 5,000 shares.

Similarly, the equity of Malta International Airport inched marginally higher to regain the €3.46 level on volumes of 24,670 shares. The equity will continue to trade with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of 12c31 per share until April 16.

Malita Investments increased minimally to 93c across 10,875 shares. The equity had touched an all-time high of 95c.

Medserv’s share price broke new highs as a single trade of 2,900 shares was transacted at a fresh all-time high of €1.80 with further bids unsatisfied at the last closing price.

Earlier this week Medserv published its 2014 financial statements showing pre-tax profits of €3 million which exceeded the forecasts of €2.2 million. The directors recommended the payment of a net final dividend of 5c6 per share (2013: 2c4 per share) to all shareholders as at close of trading on May 26.

Meanwhile, GO held on to the €2.85 level across two deals totalling 4,500 shares. Likewise, Lombard ended this morning’s session unchanged at the €1.91 level across two trades totalling 6,500 shares.

The only other active equity was Tigné Mall as 6,000 shares changed hands at the equity’s all-time high of 75c across a single trade. Tigne Mall will be publishing its 2014 financial statements on April 9.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged a further 0.6 per cent higher to yet another all-time high of 1,156.604 points as the Central Bank of Malta significantly raised its indicative bid prices for the longer-term maturities thereby partly reflecting the uplift in Malta Government Stock prices on the secondary market amid the increased demand for sovereign paper.

The recently issued three per cent MGS 2040 dropped by 149 basis points to 116.01 per cent on continued heightened activity totalling €1.6 million nominal.

www.rizzofarrugia.com

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