The share index advanced by a further 0.2 per cent to 4,312.696 points despite the continued low trading activity across the equity market.
The equity that largely outperformed this morning was FIMBank as it surged by 6.4 per cent to regain the 50cUS level on increased volumes totalling 30,957 shares. FIMBank’s USD denominated equity rallied by 11.1 per cent this week.
Also in the banking sector, HSBC moved 0.5 per cent higher to close the week at €1.84 (-0.3 per cent) albeit on shallow volumes of 11,000 shares.
On the other hand, both Lombard Bank and Bank of Valletta performed negatively . A single trade of 16,979 shares in Lombard pushed the equity 0.5 per cent lower to €2.10.
On the other hand, BOV dropped by 0.4 per cent to €2.31 on low activity of 8,675 shares.
On Wednesday the bank announced that it has lodged an application with the listing authority for a subordinated debt issuance programme of a maximum of €150 million over the next 12 months. Further details will be issued in the prospectus and final terms once approval is granted.
RS2 Software moved up 0.4 per cent to regain its all-time high of €2.52 across 15,000 shares.
Malta International Airport also performed positively as the share price of the airport operator edged 0.3 per cent higher and reclaimed the €3.90 level albeit on low volumes of 4,650 shares.
Meanwhile, Mapfre Middlesea and 6PM Holdings traded unchanged at the €2.25 and 70p levels respectively across insignificant volumes.
Yesterday evening, Medserv announced that on October 12 it will be convening an extraordinary general meeting during which shareholders will be asked to authorise the board of directors to disclose the required information, including unpublished price-sensitive information, for any offeror and its advisers to make, confirm, withdraw or modify any offer made to the company. Despite this announcement, no trades were executed today after the equity traded up to a new all-time high of €3.05 earlier this week.
On the bond market, the RF MGS Index moved 0.5 per cent higher to 1,125.157 points as the benchmark 10-year German Bund yield slumped to the 0.65 per cent level.
Bond prices surged across the eurozone after the announcement late yesterday evening that the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged.
Chairwoman Janet Yellen focused on a recent softening of the inflation outlook which outweighed more positive data from the labour market.
Over the weekend, European investors will also be interested in Greece’s early elections. Opinion polls show that Syriza, the former governing party, and the centre-right New Democracy party have near-equal support.
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