Trading activity for the final session of the week at the Malta Stock Exchange resulted in a negative outcome as the index declined by a marginal 0.03 per cent to terminate at the 3,081 level. Activity in the equity market was relatively subdued and spread over an aggregate 18 deals in four different listings. The two largest equities in asset terms remained static during the session.
Bank of Valletta was the most liquid and actively traded equity as investors swapped a total of 7,150 deals over eight deals for a market consideration of €18,947. Nonetheless, the bank was a non-mover during the session as it closed unchanged at €2.65 following the recent positive streak.
Similarly, trading activity did not result in any change in price for HSBC Bank Malta shares as it closed unchanged at €2.60. Despite trading at an intra-day low of €2.58, fresh buying activity pushed the price back up to its present standing. Trading activity in the financial services company consisted of 4,500 shares spread over six deals for a market value of €11,684.
Lombard Bank Malta defied the static trend in the banking sector as it declined in value during Friday's trading session when it shed €0.05cor 1.9 per cent to close at €2.60. Activity for the Bank was relatively muted and restricted to a single deal.
Go plc was the sole non-banking equity to be active during the session and the day's only gainer as the listing rose by a marginal €0.01c or 0.6 per cent to end the session at €1.74. Trading for the quadruple play communications company was spread over 3 deals for a monetary value of €10,420.
In the fixed interest sector of the market, activity was higher than usual, spread over six government stocks and 11 corporate bonds. The highest turnover in the government securities was the 5.4 per cent MGS 2010(IV) as 139,763 nominal were transacted over two deals as it closed marginally lower at €102.31.
Weekly MSE equity report
The Malta Stock exchange closed marginally lower as the local index shed 0.58 per cent to close at 3041.49 points.
Bank of Valletta was the main gainer for the week as the banking equity appreciated by 2.47 per cent, seeing the highest number of both trades and volumes.
The other banking equities trading during the week fared somewhat worse, as HSBC Bank Malta, Lombard Bank and FIMBank all trailing. Lombard Bank dropped 1.9 per cent to close at €2.60, while HSBC closed at an equal standing to Lombard at €2.60 and FIMBank wrapped up the week at $1.28.
Although registering some healthy volumes, Go shares remained stationary at €1.72.
Middlesea Insurance headed the list of losers during the week as it shed 11.5 per cent to close at €2 over a mere 200 shares, swapped over two deals.
Malta International Airport also depreciated in value during the week shedding 5.66 per cent to close at €2.20 on low volume.
International Hotel Investments terminated at €0.99 as it lost a marginal one per cent of its share value on just a single deal.
There was no change in price for Simonds Farsons Cisk, Medserv and GlobalCapital.
This article has been prepared by Bank of Valletta p.l.c. (the Bank), which is licensed to conduct investment services business by the MFSA, for your general information only. This information is not a solicitation or offer by the Bank to acquire or sell securities. Nor does it constitute any form of advice by the Bank. Appropriate advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance and the value of your investments may fall or rise.