The share index erased some of yesterday’s drop as it rebounded by a minimal 0.05% to 4,758.277 points.

Trading activity was spread across 12 equities: four registered gains, another four moved lower while the other active equities closed the day unchanged.

The most actively traded equity today was Malta International Airport which slipped by 1.2% back to the €4.15 level on volumes totalling 15,432 shares.This afternoon, MIA issued its February traffic results revealing a 25.2% increase in passenger movements over the same period last year and the fourth consecutive monthly double-digit growth reflecting the expanded winter schedule. On the other hand, the seat load factor drop by 2.6 percentage points to 76.8%. Today’s announcement also revealed that Malta’s airport has been classified in third place from among 84 other European airports in the Airport Service Quality Awards 2016.

This afternoon, MIA issued its February traffic results revealing a 25.2% increase in passenger movements over the same period last year and the fourth consecutive monthly double-digit growth reflecting the expanded winter schedule.On the other hand, the seat load factor drop by 2.6 percentage points to 76.8%. Today’s announcement also revealed that Malta’s airport has been classified in third place from among 84 other European airports in the Airport Service Quality Awards 2016.

On the other hand, the seat load factor drop by 2.6 percentage points to 76.8%. Today’s announcement also revealed that Malta’s airport has been classified in third place from among 84 other European airports in the Airport Service Quality Awards 2016.

Among the large companies, GO also finished the day 0.8% lower at the €3.54 level after only partially recovering from an intra-day low of €3.50 (-1.9%).A total of 12,300 shares changed hands. Shareholders as at 29 March 2017 will be eligible to receive a net dividend of €0.11 per share subject to shareholders’ approval during an Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 3 May 2017.

A total of 12,300 shares changed hands. Shareholders as at 29 March 2017 will be eligible to receive a net dividend of 11c per share subject to shareholders’ approval during an annual general meeting scheduled to be held on May 3.

The other negative performing equities today were Malta Properties Company (13,651 shares) and Tigne’ Mall (9,300 shares) as they slid back to the 54c (-1.6%) and €1.10 (-2.6%) levels respectively. Malta Properties Company is due to reveal its 2016 financial results on March 21 whilst Tigne’ Mall will follow on April 6.

In contrast, MIDI held on to its seven-week high of 34c8 albeit on trivial volumes.

Low trading activity also took place in the equity of GlobalCapital which maintained the 39c5 level across 10,000 shares.

Simonds Farsons Cisk also held on to the €7.20 level across 3,779 shares while 11 deals totalling 27,468 shares left the equity of HSBC unchanged at the €2.08 level.Shareholders of HSBC as at 10 March 2017 will be eligible to receive a final net dividend of €0.027 per share subject to shareholders’ approval during an Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 13 April 2017.

Shareholders of HSBC as at March 10 will be eligible to receive a final net dividend of 2c7 per share subject to shareholders’ approval during an annual general meeting scheduled to be held on April 13.

On the other hand, Bank of Valletta recaptured the €2.20 level (+0.5%) on reduced volumes totalling 7,706 shares.

RS2 Software extended yesterday’s gains with a further 1.1% increase to the €1.66,9 level across 9,970 shares.

A single deal of just 4,300 shares lifted the equity of Medserv 1.2% higher to the €1.64,9 level. Last week, the oil and gas logistics specialist announced that it was awarded its largest contract ever. Medserv also revealed that it was not successful in its first tender to offer its services in Trinidad.

International Hotel Investments gained 1% to the 63c6 level on shallow volumes totalling 1,646 shares.

On the bond market, the RF MGS Index moved lower for the fifth consecutive day today as it fell by a further 0.27% to 1,121.879 points.Euro zone sovereign yields remained close to their recent highs despite disappointing economic data showing that German factory orders tumbled 7.4% in January – the sharpest decline in eight years and much worse than an expected drop of 2.5%. Meanwhile, GDP in the euro area grew by 0.4% during the fourth quarter of 2016 when compared with the previous quarter. Year-on-year, GDP rose by a seasonally adjusted 1.7%.

Euro zone sovereign yields remained close to their recent highs despite disappointing economic data showing that German factory orders tumbled 7.4% in January – the sharpest decline in eight years and much worse than an expected drop of 2.5%.

Meanwhile, GDP in the euro area grew by 0.4% during the fourth quarter of 2016 when compared with the previous quarter. Year-on-year, GDP rose by a seasonally adjusted 1.7%.

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