The share price of Bank of Valletta plc dropped to a low of €2.10 but partially recovered to €2.12 by the close of the session, representing a decline of 2.75 per cent from yesterday’s close.
High trading activity took place again with a total of 120,766 shares changing hands.
The decline is possibly in reaction to comments made by the bank’s chairman in an interview published in Times of Malta today.
Mr Cassar White indicated possible changes to the shareholding structure after the results of the Asset Quality Review and the stress tests are announced later this year.
The other equities of the retail banks also closed lower today. HSBC Bank Malta plc shed a further 0.7 per cent to €2.10 on volumes of 25,001 shares with Lombard Bank Malta plc also dropping to a fresh 2014 low of €1.56 on lower volumes of 4,934 shares.
The declines in the share prices of the three retail banks forced the MSE Share Index to close 0.7 per cent lower at 3,411.621 points.
In the IT sector, the equity of RS2 Software plc was adjusted for the dividend and the bonus share issue.
Shareholders as at close of trading yesterday were entitled to the net dividend of 2c35 per share and the one for 17 bonus share issue.
Yesterday’s record share price of €2.46 is equivalent to €2.32,3.
As such, the closing price of today of €2.39,9 represents a new all-time high and an increase of 3.3 per cent from yesterday’s adjusted close. Volumes remained low at only 2,097 shares.
Elsewhere in the IT sector, 6pm Holdings plc held on to the 75p level on volumes of 27,150 shares and Crimsowning plc eased by 1.2 per cent to 86c. Crimsonwing is expected to publish its March full-year results in the coming weeks.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc continued to trade at its record level of €3. The equity is still trading with the entitlement to the final net dividend of 5c per share. This dividend is payable to all shareholders as at close of trading on May 14.
GO plc dropped to an intra-day low of €1.91,5 but partly recovered to a close of €1.96,9. The final net dividend of 7c per share will be distributed tomorrow.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged minimally lower to 1,037.565 points as Eurozone yields rose. The European Central Bank announced after its monthly monetary policy meeting held today that it decided to keep its interest rates unchanged at 0.25 per cent.
ECB President Mario Draghi stated that the bank may consider fresh monetary policy measures at its June meeting following publication of updated economic forecasts by the bank's staff.
On the primary market, Island Hotels Group Holdings plc today issued its formal notice in connection with its €35 million six per cent bond issue maturing in 2024.
Earlier this week, Pendergardens Developments plc filed a prospectus in connection with an offering of two secured bonds, a six-year bond at a coupon of 5.5 per cent and a bond with an eight-year maturity at six per cent.
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