The share index quickly moved into positive territory following yesterday’s 0.2 per cent decline as marginal gains in the equities of the two large banks lifted the local equity benchmark by 0.1 per cent to 3,350.475 points.

Bank of Valletta failed to hold on to an intra-day high of €2.70 as it ended the session at the €2.26,1 level representing only a marginal gain over yesterday’s closing price across eight deals totalling 14,378 shares.

Similarly, the share price of HSBC Bank Malta touched an intra-day high of €2 before easing to a close of €1.99 which still represents a 0.5 per cent increase over yesterday’s closing price. A total of 45,527 shares changed hands across 12 deals.

Meanwhile, no changes were registered in the other five active equities on insignificant volumes. Go plc held on to the €2.60 level across 2,000 shares.

Likewise, in the property segment, Malita Investments maintained the 56c level across 3,500 shares and 500 shares of Plaza Centres were traded at the 61c level.

A single deal of 700 Crimsonwing plc shares was executed at the 80c level, unchanged from the previous closing price. Investors now await developments at shareholder level after shareholders granted permission for price sensitive information to be shared with prospective bidders.

The only other active equity was MaltaPost plc with a single trade of 823 shares at the €1.12 level, unchanged from the previous close.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased minimally lower to 1,089.009 points as Eurozone yields marginally rebounded to 0.919 per cent as hopes of aggressive stimulus in the near term were shattered by yesterday’s European Central Bank decision to only commit to its purchase programme announced in the previous month.

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