The Malta Stock Exchange index marginally recouped last week’s 1.2 per cent loss with a 0.22 per cent gain, to close at 4,426.111 points.

Turnover amounted to €836,684 and was spread across 16 equities of which six fell, seven advanced and three closed unchanged.

International Hotel Investments plc shares headed the list of gainers having appreciated by €0.046 or 7.6 per cent on a sole transaction of 1,000 shares, closing at €0.65.

FIMBank plc shares were the worst performers having declined by 3.6 per cent as 12 deals of 133,995 shares were struck, to close at $0.98. On Wednesday, the trade finance bank announced its interim financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The group reported a profit before tax of $2.15 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, compared to a $7.73 million loss registered in the comparable period of 2015. Earnings per share stood at $0.38. The board of directors did not recommend the payment of an interim dividend.

Bank of Valletta plc shares eased 0.9 per cent lower as 69,168 shares changed ownership over 37 deals, closing at €2.20.

Similarly, HSBC Bank Malta plc shares declined by 2.4 per cent as 74,971 shares were negotiated across 18 trades, to close at €1.561. The equity turned ex-dividend on Thursday, but has not traded since.

Meanwhile, Lombard Bank Malta plc shares closed unchanged at €2.249 as two deals of 888 shares were executed on Monday.

Mapfre Middlesea plc shares gained a minimal 0.4 per cent across seven transactions of 12,973 shares, closing at €2.05.

MIDI plc shares slipped by 1.1 per cent over one trade of 5,277 shares, to close at €0.375.

In the IT sector, RS2 Software plc shares stumbled by €0.05 or 2.6 per cent during yesterday’s session, as 73,978 shares changed ownership across 20 deals, closing at €1.85. After close of trading on Thursday, RS2 announced its interim financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2016. The Group recorded a profit before tax of €3.4 million, a decline of 47.9 per cent when compared to the first six months of 2015. The board of directors did not declare an interim dividend.

After close of trading yesterday, 6pm Holdings plc released its interim financial statements for the six months ending June 30, 2016. The group reported a profit before tax of £488,994 compared to £413,199 at June 30, 2015 representing an increase of 18 per cent. The directors are recommending that no interim dividend is to be paid.

Loqus Holdings plc shares traded flat at €0.135 as two trades of 2,694 shares were executed while Malta International Airport plc shares advanced by a significant €0.10 over 16 deals of 16,740 shares, to close 2.4 per cent higher at €4.22.

GO plc shares strengthened by €0.10 or 3.6 per cent across seven transactions of 16,728 shares, closing at €2.92. The company announced its interim results for the six month period ended June 30, 2016 showing an increase of 31.3 per cent in profit before tax, at €17.1 million when compared to the €13 million registered in the first six months of 2015. Revenue for the period amounted to €76.7 million – up by 26.3 per cent over 2015. Earnings per share stood at €0.141. The significant increase in profit over the comparable period in 2015 was primarily the result of a gain arising from the acquisition of a subsidiary, amounting to €6.1 million. The interim results for 2016 reflect the consolidation of the results of Cablenet and Kinetix, which had an overall positive effect on Group results.

The board of directors did not declare any dividends.

The equity locked a weekly gain of 3.6 per cent, to close at its 12-week high of €2.92, following seven deals of 16,728 shares.

Malta Properties Company plc shares added on to the previous week’s gains having increased by 3.4 per cent across six trades of 96,185 shares, closing at €0.525.

The share price of Medserv plc declined by 1.8 per cent, to close at €1.77. The equity was active on four deals of 32,900 shares.

Simonds Farsons Cisk plc shares rose by 1.6 per cent as 7,184 shares changed ownership across three trades, closing €0.10 higher at €6.35.

Plaza Centres plc shares registered a 1.9 per cent gain on a single deal of 200 shares executed at €1.07.

Malita Investments plc shares closed the week unchanged at €0.851. The equity was active across two transactions of 4,500 shares.

Last week, Tigne Mall plc published its interim financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The company registered a profit before tax of €1.4 million, compared to €1.2 million registered in 2015. Revenue for the period under review amounted to €2.8 million, a rise of 8.1 per cent from 2015. Earnings per share increased to €0.014. Moreover, the directors declared an interim net dividend payment of €0.0125 per nominal €0.50 share, which will be paid on September 16, 2016 to shareholders on the company’s register as at August 22, 2016.

In the corporate bond market, 29 issues were active of which 11 increased, eight fell and 10 closed unchanged while in the sovereign debt market, turnover totalled €8m spread across 21 issues of which four decreased in value, 16 rose and one closed unchanged.

On Thursday, the Treasury announced the allocation policy for the recent Malta Government Stock issues. Applications for the 1.5 per cent MGS 2022 (IV) F.I. have been accepted in full. Applications for the 2.4 per cent MGS 2041 (I) up to €50,000 will be satisfied in full, while applications above €50,000 shall receive a minimum of €50,000 nominal per applicant plus an additional 15 per cent of the remaining unallocated balance per applicant rounded up to the nearest €100.

This article, compiled by Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited, does not intend to give investment advice and the contents therein should not be construed as such.

The company is licensed to conduct investment services by the MFSA and is a member of the MSE and a member of the Atlas Group.

The directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned in this article.

For further information contact Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited at 67, Level 3, South Street, Valletta, or on Tel: 2122 4410, or e-mail info@jesmondmizzi.com.