The MSE Share Index advanced by a further 0.5% during this morning’s session to reach yet another two and a half year high of 3,480.703 points as most of the large cap equities registered further gains.

The share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc edged 0.6% higher to regain the €2.745 level across 14,230 shares. The equity turns ex-dividend as from Tuesday 13 August. Similarly, Bank of Valletta plc’s equity rose by a further 1% to €2.35 – the highest level in almost two and a half years. A total of 23,298 BOV shares changed hands today across ten trades.

There was a muted reaction in the market to yesterday’s publication of the half-year results of Malta International Airport plc. The airport operator announced a 14.2% increase in net profits to a record level of €5.1 million. The improvement was achieved on the back of the 9.2% increase in passenger movements during the period as well as increased revenue from the ‘Retail and Property’ segment following the inauguration of the SkyParks Business Centre.

Despite the improved profitability, the Directors declared an unchanged net interim dividend of €0.03 per share to all shareholders as at the close of trading on Tuesday 13 August. Activity in MIA shares amounted to only 8,000 shares with the price regaining the €2.04 level.

On the other hand, Medserv plc slipped 0.3% lower to €3.70 on volumes of 11,100 shares.

Meanwhile, GO plc once again managed to recover from an intra-day low of €1.60 to end the session unchanged at the €1.62 level across 9,000 shares. The telecoms quad-play operator is scheduled to publish its half-year results next Tuesday 13 August.

Similarly, Lombard Bank Malta plc held on to the €1.90 level on a small deal of 280 shares. The Bank is scheduled to reveal its interim financials on 22 August.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.1% higher to 1,026.077 points as the benchmark Eurozone yields this morning slipped below the 1.70% in line with a fall in US Treasury yields following a strong auction for 10-year US paper.

www.rizzofarrugia.com

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