The share index advanced up by just 0.03 per cent to 4,468.719 points as the positive performance of three equities slightly outweighed the declines in another three shares.

In particular, MIA topped yesterday’s record price as it reached another all-time high today. Trading volumes surged to €1.16 million largely on a single deal in Pefaco International worth nearly €0.9 million. Week-on-week, the share index edged minimally lower by 0.08 per cent.

Malta International Airport closed at its highest level ever at €4.50 (+1.1 per cent) across 1,680 shares. Early this afternoon, the company announced an increase of 13.2 per cent in passenger movements during January when compared to the corresponding period last year, mainly due to a nine per cent increase in seat capacity.

The announcement further noted that during the last five years, passenger numbers during the month of January have grown by 40 per cent, reflecting Malta’s strategy to stimulate traffic during the shoulder months.

On January 19, MIA had announced that during 2016 it is expecting a further 2.4 per cent growth in passenger numbers to yet another record of at least 4.73 million passenger movements. MIA will be publishing its 2015 financial results on February 24. The board of directors will also be considering the payment of a final dividend.

GO recovered some of yesterday’s losses as it edged up 0.6 per cent to the €3.17 level across 6,200 shares. The company’s board of directors is scheduled to meet on February 11 to consider and approve the 2015 financial results as well as the payment of a final dividend.

RS2 Software also traded in positive territory. The equity touched an intra-day high of €3.33 but closed at the €3.30 level (+0.3 per cent) across 25,295 shares.

On the other hand, Medserv shed 2.7 per cent to the €1.60 level across 5,626 shares. The company’s new shares, together with the EUR and USD bonds, were admitted to the official list today. Trading in these new securities is expected as from Monday.

MaltaPost extended yesterday’s drop by a further 0.5 per cent to the €1.84 level across 4,689 shares.

Bank of Valletta moved back to the €2.23 level (-0.4 per cent) across healthy volumes totalling 37,576 shares.

Also in the banking sector, HSBC (29,931 shares) closed unchanged at its 11-month low of €1.70 for the third consecutive time. The bank will publish its 2015 full year results on February 22.

The directors will also be considering the payment of a final dividend for approval at the upcoming annual general meeting scheduled for April 15.

In the property sector, Malta Properties Company (5,000 shares) and MIDI (2,250 shares) retained the 57c and 36c levels respectively.

Low volumes left GlobalCapital unchanged at the 50c level.

On the bond market, the RF MGS Index retreated by 0.07 per cent to 1,141.741 points as the Central Bank of Malta’s bid prices continued to reflect changes in the yields of peripheral countries (namely Italy and Spain).

Meanwhile, the 10-year benchmark German Bund yield remained under pressure as it slipped from the 0.30% level of yesterday to 0.28 per cent today. Week-on-week, the RF MGS Index closed down by 0.48 per cent - its largest weekly drop since early December.

www.rizzofarrugia.com

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