Following three consecutive sessions of declines, the share index edged 0.3 per cent higher today to 3,782.405 points aided by increases in the share prices particularly those in the financial services sector. Nonetheless, the local equity benchmark still ended the week 0.25 lower.

The share price of Bank of Valletta edged 0.8 per cent higher to recapture the €2.30 level across 11 trades totalling 23,348 shares. The bank is scheduled to pay out the net interim dividend of 2c5 per share on May 27.

HSBC was also among today’s positive performers with a 0.3 per cent increase to €1.85 on total volumes of 15,335 shares.

Similarly, the share price of Lombard Bank Malta jumped 3.2 per cent to €1.95 albeit on shallow volumes of 1,972 shares. The bank’s shares continue to trade with the entitlement to the 1 for 20 bonus share issue until May 25.

Also within the financial sector, Mapfre Middlesea ended the session with a marginal gain of 0.1 per cent on insignificant volumes of 144 shares.

GO was the only other positive performing equity today as it ended this morning’s session 0.3 per cent higher at the €2.99 level after recording from an intra-day low of €2.97 whilst also failing to hold on to an intra-day high of €3 across nine deals comprising 16,000 shares.

On the other hand, Medserv slipped 2.1 per cent to €2.15,5 across six trades for a total of 20,928 shares.

Earlier on during the trading session, Medserv issued its interim directors’ statement, in which it reported that the company continued to meet its targets both in terms of revenue and profit margins.

The Malta-base is operating at close to full capacity in view of the exploratory and production projects offshore Libya as well as the support services being provided to oil companies that relocated from Libya to Malta.

The announcement also explained that although the Cypriot base is currently facing a slowdown as drilling offshore Cyprus has been interrupted as the rig had to undergo scheduled maintenance.

The directors also explained that while the Misurata base remained dormant, the Tripoli office was active with a number of administrative contracts. Through an additional separate announcement, the company announced the update to the financial analysis summary that was published in relation to the bond programme finalised earlier on last year, including forecasts for 2015.

RS2 Software also ended the session in negative territory, albeit on shallow volumes. The equity slipped minimally lower to €3.17,9 across less than 500 shares.

Earlier on this week, RS2 Software issued the interim directors’ statement, which primarily announced a new agreement with a Vietnamese bank that is envisaged to enable the company to access the Asian market.

Furthermore, the company also announced that it will put forward to the annual general meeting a recommendation by the board for a share split (two for one), effective June 16 and which will include trades up to June 12.

Two other equities ended the session unchanged. Malita Investments closed at the 87c level across three trades for a total of 31,100 shares and International Hotel Investments was unchanged at the 68c level on a single deal of 500 shares.

On the bond market, following four consecutive sessions of declines, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged marginally higher to 1,143.765 points as the four-day rally in the benchmark Eurozone yield was broken.

The German 10-year Bund yield dropped back to the 0.655 per cent level following comments by the ECB President Mario Draghi who reaffirmed that the quantitative easing programme will be executed to the full.

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