The share index trended higher for the second consecutive session with a further 0.4 per cent uplift to 4,467.283 points largely due to the gains in HSBC and IHI.
Mapfre Middlesea and Malta Properties also trended higher whilst BOV, GO, MIA and Tigné Mall edged lower. Trading values dipped from yesterday’s session as just over €0.18 million worth of shares changed hands today.
The share price of HSBC closed 1.9 per cent higher to regain the €1.59 level across five deals totalling 22,285 shares.
Similarly, the share price of International Hotel Investments advanced by 3.2 per cent to recapture the 64c level albeit on a single trade of 8,000 shares. IHI is scheduled to publish its full-year results next Tuesday.
Positive movements were also recorded in the share price of Malta Properties Company as it trended 4.7 per cent higher to the 56c level across 10,000 shares. Yesterday, the company published its 2016 interim results revealing a 67.6 per cent drop in net profit to €0.55 million reflecting the increase in administrative expenses as well as the impact of a tax expense as opposed to a one-off tax credit in the first half of 2015.
The only other positive performing equity was Mapfre Middlesea with a 1.9 per cent increase to regain the €2.10 level on a deal of 1,000 shares.
On the other hand, the equity of Bank of Valletta reversed yesterday’s rebound as it slipped by 0.9 per cent back to the €2.23 level across 10 deals totalling 22,171 shares.
GO also released some of the recent gains with a 1.3 per cent dip back to the €3.05 level on shallow volumes of 5,000 shares.
Similarly, Malta International Airport eased 0.2 per cent lower back to the €4.24 level across 2,300 shares.
In the property segment, Tigné Mall also trended lower on shallow volumes with just 2,000 shares changing hands at the €1.02 level representing a 1.9 per cent drop from the previous close.
Meanwhile, RS2 Software maintained the €1.85 level across an insignificant deal of 40 shares.
Similarly, Malita Investments held on to the 87c level across 65,000 shares.
On the bond market, the RF MGS Index was once again practically unchanged at 1,167.915 points as yields in Germany, Spain and Italy traded within tight ranges ahead of a speech by US Federal Reserve Chairperson Janet Yellen during a meeting of central bankers being held today.
Once again, high trading activity continued to dominate the 2.4 per cent MGS 2041 (I) r as a further €2.36 million (nominal) changed hands across 61 trades with the price edging marginally higher to 105.99 per cent.
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