During this morning's trading session of the Malta Stock Exchange, the share price of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc touched a new 2010 high of €1.90 before easing to close at the €1.85 level, 2.8% higher than the previous close on trading activity of just under 9,900 shares. Today was the last day for investors to gain entitlement to the final net dividend of €0.05 per share. Farsons is currently raising €15 million through the bond market and preferred applicants must submit their application forms by next Friday 28 May.

Medserv plc also closed in positive territory. Its share price edged 0.7% higher to regain the €4.28 level - just below its all time high of €4.30. Three trades amounting to 10,200 shares were transacted today with further offers remaining unsatisfied at the closing price.

The MSE Share Index closed 0.2% lower following yesterday's 0.7% increase. The decline in the equity market today was mainly as a result of losses in the share price of Bank of Valletta plc, HSBC Bank Malta plc as well as MaltaPost plc. BOV reversed some of its recent gains as the share price eased 0.6% to drop back to the €3.37 level on six trades totaling 10,631 shares while HSBC Bank Malta plc shed 0.3% to close at the €3.05 level on volumes of 8,865 shares.

MaltaPost plc failed to hold on to its multi-year high of €0.90 as the equity shed 3.3% to the €0.87 level on some mild profit-taking. 8,564 shares were traded today with further offers remaining unsatisfied at the closing price.

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