The share index today gained 0.1 per cent and closed at 3,394.641 points, as the marginal decline in the share price of Bank of Valletta plc was offset by gains in Plaza Centres plc and Middlesea Insurance plc.

Bank of Valletta plc closed minimally lower at €2.11,9 after recovering from an intra-day low of €2.10. A total of 29,937 shares changed hands during today’s session.

Also in the banking sector, HSBC again held on to the €2 level on activity totalling 22,127 shares. The recently declared gross interim dividend of 4c5 per share will be payable to shareholders as at close of trading on Monday.

The two positive performers of the day were Plaza Centres plc and Middlesea Insurance plc. The share price of Plaza advanced by 5.4 per cent to regain the 59c level on increased volumes totalling 60,906 shares. The equity of the insurance operator rose by 3.4 per cent to the 92c level on volumes of 5,989 shares.

Malita Investments plc maintained the 55c level with a further 41,500 shares changing hands today. The equity will trade ex-dividend as from tomorrow. The gross interim dividend of 1c5 per share (net: 0.975c) will be paid on September 12.

Malta International Airport plc also held on to the €2.30 level (2,000 shares) despite yesterday’s announcement of an 8.5 per cent growth in passenger movements during the month of July to a new record of 511,243 passengers.

Three other companies closed the day unchanged on low volumes. MIDI plc held on to the 24c level on activity of 10,000 shares, Go plc maintained the €2.40 level on 1,500 shares and 2,000 Medserv plc shares traded at €1.30.

All three companies will be publishing their interim results by the end of the month, with the telecoms company coming out first on August 13.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index declined to 1,061.993 points despite a decline in Eurozone yields to a record low of 1.104 per cent as Ukrainian-Russian tensions escalated.

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