Equities cautiously threaded higher during yesterday's trading session at the Malta Stock Exchange but activity in the bond sector almost dried up suddenly, especially when compared to previous sessions.

Plaza Centres was the day's most liquid equity with 66,716 shares being exchanged across 10 transactions, all at the Lm0.60 level.

This represents a 3.3 per cent premium to the previous day's closing price, and a 5.3 per cent gain since the beginning of the week.

The larger banking stocks returned in favour although volumes were a pittance of what was traded earlier in the week. HSBC Bank Malta gained 0c5 as 3,748 shares were exchanged across six transactions pushing the price to the Lm5.38,5 level while 6,047 shares of Bank of Valletta were struck over 11 deals to close at Lm5.05,2.

Interest in Global Financial Services Group saw all supply up to the Lm1.21 level cleared, as a total of 1,240 shares where purchased in rapid succession over two transactions, towards the end of the session.

Maltacom pulled back from its recent slump as investors cautiously purchased 15,659 shares up to a 1c premium over Tuesday's closing level of Lm1.30.

Finally two single low volume transactions in Malta International Airport and Datatrak Holdings did not affect their previous closing levels of Lm1.33 and Lm0.25 respectively.