The Malta Stock Exchange Index finished 2015 at 4430, up 33 per cent, making it one of the world’s best performing stock indices.

Three companies, Mapfre Middle Sea, RS2 and Simonds Farsons doubled in price, with many other companies finishing the year up over 30 per cent. Trading activity improved considerably with equity and corporate bond trading volumes up 61 per cent and 38 per cent respectively.

These increases were also reflected in the total market capitalisation value which ended the year at €11.4 billion, an increase of over €1 billion when compared to the previous year’s value.

Joseph Portelli, chairman of the Malta Stock Exchange, said: “The MSE’s index outperformance is a testimonial to the Maltese economy being one of Europe’s best performers, to improved corporate profits and an economy awash in liquidity. Consumer confidence is also quite strong, which along with other positive economic fundamentals should bode well for the Maltese equity market.”

The Malta Stock Exchange will soon be reporting full year earnings and is expected to announce record profits.

During 2015, the Exchange focused on consolidating its core business streams and implementing new projects, primarily participating in T2S in June 2015 which will bolster the Exchange’s bid to attract international business.

Indeed, in 2016, the Exchange’s board will endeavour to focus on two core strategies. One will be to aggressively build a business development culture within the Exchange, the other to become more efficient.

The business development strategy will centre on attracting overseas companies from China, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Eastern Europe and the Middle East to take advantage of Malta’s cost-effective listing solutions. The Exchange will also soon introduce Prospects, an SME Exchange which will cater to small companies looking to attract up to €5 million in capital.

The Exchange will also soon introduce an MSE Sharia Compliant Index, which is in line with its strategy to explore opportunities within Islamic Finance.

The MSE will also embark on an exercise to examine how operations within the Exchange and Central Securities Depository (CSD) can be made more efficient and productive and benefit from participation in T2S.