Bank of Valletta plc advanced by another 2% to regain the €2.295 level ahead of tomorrow’s interim results publication but volumes were weak with only 6,874 shares changing hands during this morning’s session.
Similarly, HSBC Bank Malta plc’s share price trended higher as it traded for the first time since turning ex-bonus. The Bank’s share price inched 0.2% higher to €1.84 compared to the previous post-bonus adjusted closing price of €1.836 on shallow volumes of 9,556 shares.
On the other hand, the share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc tumbled 4.6% back to the €1.85 level also on low volumes of 7,240 shares.
Elsewhere on the local equity market, Malta International Airport plc edged up by 0.9% to regain the €3.45 level albeit on a single trade of 1,000 shares.
Similarly, GO plc’s equity edged 0.7% higher to €2.84 on volumes of 3,079 shares. The quad-play telecoms operator is scheduled to hold its Annual General Meeting next Tuesday 5 May.
RS2 Software plc also performed positively with a further 0.3% increase to yet another all-time high of €3.10 across five deals totalling 14,000 shares. The equity will continue to trade with the entitlement to the final net dividend of €0.044 per share until next Wednesday 6 May.
In the property segment, MIDI plc recouped some of yesterday’s 6.9% decline with a 3.7% uplift during this morning’s session to €0.28 across 56,600 shares. Similarly, Malita Investments plc shares regained the €0.94 level on volumes of 21,000 shares.
On the other hand, the share price of Medserv plc eased from its all-time high of €2.05 as it retreated by 1% back to the €2.03 level on volumes of 4,625 shares.
Meanwhile, the equity of International Hotel Investments plc held on to the €0.685 level across three deals totalling 10,247 shares. Tigné Mall plc also held on to its all-time high of €0.80 on volumes of 4,600 shares.
Shortly after the close of today’s trading session, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc published its January 2015 financial statements showing a 20% increase in pre-tax profits to €8.2 million. The Directors recommended the payment of a final net dividend of €0.0666 per share representing a 33.2% increase over last year’s final dividend. This dividend is payable to all shareholders as at close of trading on 25 May.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index moved 0.1% lower to a new 4-week low of 1,169.824 points as the benchmark 10-year European yield shot up above the 0.2% level for the first time since 17 March. The correction in the benchmark German Bund yield was registered on the back of an expected positive inflation rate in Germany, increase lending across the Eurozone for the first time in 3 years as well as some relief over Greece as the country will be presenting a new list of reforms.
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