The share index extended last Friday’s gain by a further 0.09 per cent to 4,476.276 points as the positive performance of Malta Properties, GO and BOV outweighed the decline in HSBC.

Three equities traded unchanged. Trading volumes remained weak as only €189,000 worth of shares changed hands.

Malta Properties Company was the best performing equity today with a rise of 1.9 per cent to the 55c level on low volumes totalling 6,834 shares.

Bank of Valletta continued to trade within a tight range as it gained 0.2 per cent to the €2.23,5 level across 19,614 shares.

GO continued to recover and closed at a 12-week high of €3.20 (+0.3 per cent) across 6,166 shares. Recently, the quad-play operator announced the increase of its shareholding interests in both Cablenet Communication Systems Ltd and Kinetix IT Solutions Limited to 51 per cent respectively.

On the other hand, HSBC retreated by 0.1 per cent to the €1.73 level on higher volumes totalling 38,405 shares. The bank will publish its 2015 full year results on February 22.

Meanwhile, three other equities closed flat. Four deals totalling 52,500 shares were traded in the equity of Plaza Centres at the €1 level.

Likewise, Medserv and Malta International Airport closed at the €1.64,5 and €4.33 levels respectively on insignificant volumes. Trading in Medserv’s new bonds and shares is expected to commence on February 8.

Further to last week’s gain of 0.66 per cent, the RF MGS Index edged up by a further 0.06 per cent today to 1,147.908 points. Eurozone yields drifted lower from last Friday’s level on hopes of a further cut in the European Central Bank’s deposit rate at its next monetary policy meeting to be held in March.

The Bank of Japan's unexpected cut in interest rates to below zero on Friday also led a broad rally in bond prices.

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