The share index moved higher for the first time in the last four trading sessions as it rebounded by a minimal 0.03% to 4,721.355 points.

Trading activity was spread across 13 equities – seven posted gains, three closed flat and another three shares registered declines. Trading volumes in equities improved to a near three-week high of €0.50 million.

The most actively traded equity was International Hotel Investments which recaptured the 64c level (+0.8%) on volumes totalling 435,297 shares – representing 56% of the total value of equities traded today.

Also among the large companies, Bank of Valletta finished the day minimally higher at the €2.20 level across 20,378 shares. Similarly, six deals totalling 18,768 shares lifted the equity of HSBC 0.3% higher to the €2.04,5 level.

Lombard Bank also climbed 2.1% to a fresh 12-month high of €2.40 across 17,500 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on March 24 will be eligible to receive a net dividend of 2c6 per share subject to shareholders’ approval during the upcoming annual general meeting on April 27.

Lombard’s postal subsidiary, MaltaPost, also performed positively today as it gained 1.5% to recapture the €2.03 level on three deals totalling 6,300 shares.

Santumas Shareholdings reached a record high of €1.70 (+0.6%) albeit on insignificant volumes.

Following last Monday’s decline of 3.6%, Tigne’ Mall rebounded by a minimal 0.2% to regain the €1.06,2 level. A total of 9,900 shares changed hands. The company is due to publish its 2016 financial results on April 6.

Meanwhile, MIDI and Plaza Centres held on to the 33c and €1.08 levels respectively on trivial volumes. Last week, Plaza reported record post-tax profits of €1.27 million and its board of directors recommended a final net dividend of 2c94 per share payable on June 6 to shareholders as at close of trading on April 26.

Simonds Farsons Cisk also traded unchanged today as it held on to the €7.20 level on light volumes.

On the other hand, GlobalCapital slumped 11.4% to a seven-month low of 35c across 25,600 shares.

Similarly, Malta International Airport lost 1.8% to the €4.12,5 level on volumes totalling 12,025 shares. Shareholders as at April 6 will be eligible to receive a final net dividend of 7c per share subject to shareholders’ approval during an annual general meeting scheduled to be held on May 10.

A single deal of just 1,270 shares pulled the equity of RS2 Software 0.1% lower to the €1.64,9 level.

This afternoon, FIMBank published its 2016 preliminary results, revealing a net profit attributable to shareholders of $4.92 million in contrast to the losses suffered in the previous three financial years.

The group’s operating income was relatively unchanged at €46.1 million. On the other hand, the group’s performance was boosted by significantly lower expenses and impairments.

Subject to regulators’ and shareholders’ approval, the directors recommended a one for 80 bonus issue to shareholders as at close of trading on April 7. The equity remained inactive today.

On the bond market, the RF MGS Index moved higher for the first time this month as it rebounded by 0.38% to 1,111.791 points as euro zone sovereign yields fell (bond prices gained) possibly on renewed political uncertainties in Europe including the outcome of the Dutch general elections being held today.

Furthermore, on the economic front, fresh data showed that employment in the single currency area rose by a less than expected 1.1% year-on-year in the last quarter of 2016.

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