The MSE Equity Total Return Index partially recovered last week’s loss as the index closed 1.18 per cent higher at 8,470.845 points. A total of 17 equities were active during this four-day week, of which gainers amounted to eight and fallers totalled five.

In the equities market, a total of 144 deals generated a turnover of €910,608, which is slightly lower than the previous week.

Bank of Valletta plc was the most liquid equity as 88,347 shares were exchanged across 37 deals. The result was an increase in value to €1.73.

The only other active banking equity was HSBC Bank Malta plc, which also traded heavily as traded volumes amounted to 62,139 shares over 13 transactions. The share price was up 0.58 per cent, closing at parity with its peer at €1.73.

On Monday, Lombard Bank Malta plc announced that Virtu Holdings Limited have increased their total shareholding in the company from 4.42 per cent to approximately 9.41 per cent, following the acquisition of just over 2.2 million ordinary shares, through an off-exchange transaction. No trades were recorded during the week.

Telecommunications company, GO plc also posted a modest gain of 0.58 per cent, reaching a price of €3.46.

International Hotel Investments plc published its financial statements for the year 2017, which show a net profit after tax figure of €14.9 million, up from a loss of €7.7 million in 2016.

Investors reacted positively to these results, as IHI topped the list of gainers with a 7.5 per cent hike to €0.645.

Malta International Airport plc was also very active as 17 deals were recorded in which 29,939 shares changed hands. The equity settled at €4.84.

In the insurance sector, Mapfre Middlesea plc closed unchanged at €1.90, despite a turnover of €7,464 over three deals.

RS2 Software plc published its annual report and financial statements for 2017.

The group’s profit after tax for 2017 was €614,796, up by 35.7 per cent from 2016.

The equity gained 2.4 per cent in 12 deals of 48,742 shares to close at a weekly high of €1.30.

On Monday, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc announced that the 71st AGM will be held on June 21. The equity traded flat at €6.70 across two deals of 4,442 shares.

Retail conglomerate PG plc advanced to €1.31 as seven trades of 28,130 shares were recorded.

On Monday, Medserv plc announced the financial results for the year ended December 2017.

The company was negatively affected by slowdown in demand for its services, delays in drilling projects, and pressure on profit margins due to a downturn in the oil and gas service industry.

As a result, a loss after tax of €7,633,559 was registered by the group, compared to a profit figure of €3 million in the previous year.

The equity traded flat at €1.10 as 18,700 shares changed hands over three deals.

Loqus Holdings plc was the worst performer as it sank 24 per cent to €0.076 as a result of just one transaction on slim volume.

In the property sector, Plaza Centres plc erased last week’s gain as it drifted 1.89 per cent to return to the €1.04 price level. In total, 111,850 shares traded over six deals.

MIDI plc bounced back from the previous week’s loss, climbing 1.13 per cent to €0.358. Trading volume amounted to 58,000 shares over two deals.

Its peer, Malita Investments plc followed suit, putting on 1.81 per cent to reach a price of €0.845. Nine deals of a combined 58,029 shares were registered.

A single transaction of 1,555 Tigne Mall plc shares had no impact on the share price of €0.95.

Malta Properties Company plc surrendered all gains registered last week, dropping 3.83 per cent to €0.452 across 5 transactions of 36,268 shares.

Trident Estates plc announced on Monday that the 18th annual general meeting shall be convened on June 27th.

The company also announced that its three major shareholders have disposed of a number of their shares in order to secure full compliance with the 25 per cent free float requirement for listing.

The equity extended its negative streak to three successive weeks, as a couple of transactions of 16,500 shares dragged the price down by 0.62% per cent to €1.60.

In the corporate debt market, gainers outweighed fallers as out of 35 active bonds, 17 traded higher and ten drifted lower.

The 4.35% Hudson Malta plc Unsecured € Bonds 2026, which commenced trading on Thursday, had positive first days on the Malta Stock Exchange having closed 3.99 per cent higher than its nominal price, at €103.99.

On the other hand, the 6% Medserv plc Sec. & Grntd € Notes 2020-2023 S1 T1 3 were down a substantial 4.25% to €101.50.

Yields in the local sovereign debt market were down, as from 18 active issues, 17 headed north and the other traded flat.

The longer dated issues posted the larger gains, particularly the 3% MGS 2040 which increased 1.23 per cent in value to close at €118.80.