The MSE Share Index retreated by 0.08 per cent to 4,531.231 points as the declines in the equities of BOV and Malita Investments marginally outweighed gains registered in seven other shares.
Volumes across the equity market remained on the low side as just over €210,000 worth of shares changed hands.
With their interim results covering the six months ended 31 March 2016 to be published this coming Friday, Bank of Valletta plc lost 1.4 per cent to a two-month low of €2.218 across 24,947 shares.
A single deal totalling 10,000 shares pulled the equity of Malita Investments plc 1.1 per cent lower to the €0.92 level. The Company will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) today, during which shareholders will be asked to approve a net dividend of €0.0143 per share. The dividend will be paid on Friday 29 April.
Within the same segment, Plaza Centres plc moved 1.0 per cent higher to the €1.04 level on trivial volumes. Shareholders as at close of trading tomorrow will be eligible to receive the recently declared net dividend of €0.0286 per share (payable on 3 June).
FIMBank plc continued to inch higher as it advanced 1.1 per cent to the USD0.768 level – its highest since early February 2014 – across 26,000 shares. The trade finance specialist is due to hold its AGM on 10 May.
International Hotel Investments plc regained the €0.64 level (+1.4per cent) across 9,104 shares. Last Friday, IHI published its 2015 financial results showing a marginal pre-tax loss of €0.35 million compared to a pre-tax loss of €29.8 million in 2014. Looking ahead, the Directors noted that they are following the developments in Libya with cautious optimism. In the meantime, IHI is awaiting the necessary planning approvals and is seeking funding for the St. George’s Bay redevelopment project. Furthermore, the Group is pursuing other business opportunities for the development and management of new luxury Corinthia Hotels in Dubai, Rome, Brussels and Abuja.
Also among the large companies, HSBC Bank Malta plc (23,000 shares) and GO plc (6,830 shares) registered gains. HSBC opened at an intra-day high of €1.62 but closed at the €1.603 level – representing an uplift of just 0.2per cent. Meanwhile, GO edged 0.1per cent higher to the €3.479 level. The quad-play telecoms operator will be holding its AGM on 11 May.
Medserv plc advanced by 0.4per cent to close at the €1.799 level across 13,000 shares.
6pm Holdings plc came closer to its all-time high of GBP0.88 as it gained 0.5per cent today to the GBP0.879 level across 5,000 shares.
Meanwhile, three equities traded unchanged. For the second consecutive trading session, Malta Properties Company plc recovered from an intra-day low of €0.57 to close flat at the €0.58 level. A total of 38,680 shares changed hands today.
Malta International Airport plc held on to the €4.34 level across 2,190 shares. MIA is due to hold its AGM on 4 May.
Mapfre Middlesea plc maintained the €2.30 level across insignificant volumes. Shareholders as at close of trading tomorrow will be eligible to receive the recently declared net dividend of €0.03826 per share (payable 22 May).
On the bond market, the RF MGS Index extended its negative streak (the seventh consecutive decline) by a further 0.18per cent to 1,144.668 points as euro bond yields continued to gain ground. In fact, the 10-year benchmark German Bund yield advanced from 0.23per cent yesterday to a six-week high of 0.29per cent today. Tensions between members of Germany's Social Democrats, a partner in the ruling coalition, and the European Central Bank (ECB) intensified further. Some politicians are arguing that the ECB's ultra-loose monetary policy is eroding the savings of Germans and putting their vast banking system at risk due to eroding bank margins.