The Malta Stock Exchange index added less than two points, or less than 0.1 per cent yesterday, to close at 3,376.090 points in light volume of 35,702 shares across 24 trades.
Stock of Bank of Valletta plc were the session’s sole advancer, adding 1c, or 0.4 per cent, to close at €2.750 on relatively light volume of 11,100 shares across seven deals.
HSBC Bank Malta plc, meanwhile, ended the session unchanged at €2.970 in two deals for a total of 1,850 shares.
Also in the banking sector, FIMBank plc, also closed unchanged, closing at $0.800 in six trades for a total of 8,887 shares.
Closing lower was the stock of Santumas Shareholdings plc. Shares of the seldom and thinly traded company fell by 6c7, or 2.6 per cent, to finish at €2.500 in a single deal of 100 shares.
Shares of the local airport operator, Malta International Airport plc, shed 1c, or 0.6 per cent, to close at €1.730 in two deals for a total of 7,800 shares.
Finally, Go plc shares ended the day unchanged, at €1.370, in six deals for a total of 5,965 shares.
Trading in the corporate bond market was mixed as three of the 10 bonds to trade in the day closed lower while three ended higher. The 4.8% Bank of Valletta Plc Sub € 2020 bond dropped by €0.85, or 0.8 per cent, in a single deal €7,000 nominal to end at €101.000. The 7.15% Mediterranean Investments Holding plc GBP 2015-2017 issue, meanwhile, gained €3.000, or 3.6 per cent, to close at £86.000 in three deals for a total of £11,500 nominal.
The week ahead - Economic indicators for week starting June 13
Economic data on the US economy, due out next week, features a range of indicators, including retail sales figures for May, scheduled for today. Due to the slump in car sales, analysts are expecting a material drop compared to April. Tomorrow, month-on-month consumer price data for May is due to be released while the figures for America’s current account balance for the first quarter of 2011 are scheduled to be published on Thursday. Also slated for Thursday are the number of new building permits and housing starts for May. Most economists surveyed do not anticipate any considerable improvement over April’s figures.
Data released for the eurozone, meanwhile, will be light this week. Analysts are expecting weak industrial production figures for the month of April following poor individual industrial output numbers for members Spain, France and Germany. Economists are expecting Italy to put in a positive performance though, albeit a marginal one. Data on prices within the 17-nation region is due out on Thursday as market participants are expecting the core consumer price index for the month of May to come in at a rate of 1.6 per cent, virtually flat from April’s level. Economists will also be awaiting the eurozone’s current account numbers for the month of April, which are also scheduled for publication.
In the United Kingdom, following the publication of inflation data today, the main highlights of the week will be provided via the International Labour Organisation’s unemployment rate for the three months to April and retail sales figures for May.
This article has been prepared by Bank of Valletta plc (the Bank), which is licensed to conduct investment services business by the MFSA, for your general information only. This information is not a solicitation or offer by the Bank to acquire or sell securities. Nor does it constitute any form of advice by the Bank. Appropriate advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance and the value of your investments may fall or rise.