The share price of Bank of Valletta plc slid 0.7 per cent lower to the €2.64 level on volumes of just over 39,000 shares sending the MSE Share Index into negative territory for the first time in the last eight sessions.

The local equity benchmark eased by 0.1 per cent to 3,532.176 points. BOV’s equity continues to trade with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of 13c per share until this Thursday.

On the other hand, the share price of GO plc advanced by 0.7 per cent to €1.56 across six deals totalling 40,000 shares. Similarly, Middlesea Insurance plc edged 2.4 per cent higher to regain the 85c level on low volumes of 6,400 shares.

The only other active equity, RS2 Software plc, ended this morning’s session unchanged at the €2.28 level on increased volumes of just over 49,000 shares.

In the coming days, 13 companies with a December financial year-end will be publishing their Interim Directors’ Statements to update the market on their performances since the half-year end.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index slid by 0.1 per cent to a fresh one-month low of 1,018.366 points as Eurozone yields reached a three-week high of 1.79 per cent on the back of growing speculation that the US Federal Reserve will start tapering its asset purchase programme soon – possibly even during the policy meeting scheduled to be held in December.

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