The 4.2 per cent drop in the share price of Bank of Valletta back to the €2.20,3 level offset the positive performances of six other equities to drag the share index back into negative territory with a 0.7 per cent decline to 3,738.569 points.

A total of 30,272 shares of BOV changed hands today ahead of the bank’s interim results publication by the end of the month.

On the other hand, the share price of Malta International Airport closed 0.6 per cent higher at a fresh all-time high of €3.52 across five deals totalling 5,000 shares.

The equity had also briefly traded at a new intra-day high of €3.53,5. The equity will trade with the entitlement to the net final dividend of 8c per share until close of trading tomorrow.

Likewise, a further three equities reached new all-time highs including RS2 Software which advanced by a further 0.7 per cent to a fresh high of €3.02 across two deals totalling 29,316 shares. The 2014 financial statements will be published on Tuesday.

MaltaPost also reached a new all-time high of €1.44, representing a 1.1 per cent increase over the previous closing price on activity totalling 21,000 shares. The postal operator is scheduled to publish its interim results (covering the six months ended March 31) on May 8.

Plaza Centres climbed by a further three per cent to a new all-time high of 98c across four deals totalling 29,000 shares.

Similarly, the large cap equities of International Hotel Investments and GO also trended in positive territory. IHI’s share price edged 1.4 per cent higher to regain the 71c level on high volumes of 205,825 shares. GO’s equity moved minimally higher to close this morning’s session at the €2.87 level on volumes of just over 17,000 shares ahead of the annual general meeting scheduled to be held on May 5.

Meanwhile, HSBC held on to the €2.04 level across three deals totalling 7,332 shares ahead of the annual general meeting scheduled to be held next Wednesday.

Also in the banking sector, Lombard Bank maintained the €1.95 level on volumes of 16,000 shares. The bank is also scheduled to hold its annual general meeting next Wednesday 22 April.

Middlesea Insurance also closed unchanged at the €1.20 level on low volumes of 4,398 shares and Malita Investments held on to the 97c level on a single trade of 5,960 shares.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased a further 0.1 per cent lower to 1,172.168 points despite continued downward pressure in the benchmark 10-year Eurozone yield which this morning touched yet another fresh all-time low of 0.124 per cent.

Yesterday, International Hotel Investments published a prospectus dated April 10 in connection with a new €45 million 5.75 per cent bond issue redeemable in 2025.

Last Friday, IHI announced it will be redeeming its outstanding €35 million 6.25 per cent bonds at the first early redemption date of July 11. As such, IHI will be granting preference to the holders of the maturing bonds as at April 8, to subscribe for the new bonds by surrendering their existing holding.

www.rizzofarrugia.com

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