Trading volumes remained high in the equity market during the mid-week session at the Malta Stock Exchange, with decliners exceeding gainers on a ratio of 3:2.

Global Financial Services Group shares traded for the first time since the company issued its interim results on Friday. Activity was relatively muted, but buyers were behind the deals which saw the price climb 2c or 1.8 per cent, to reclaim the Lm1.20c level.

Bank of Valletta shares crumbled in the dying seconds of the session as supply hit the floor of the Exchange, absorbing all bids down to the Lm5.00c level. Before that, the share price had managed to hold up well with trades going through at and around Lm5.05.

Lombard Bank shares had a weak reaction to the previous day's announcement of their half-yearly results, as most investors deemed the news to be already priced in. Nevertheless, shares moved higher by a penny as a single investor purchased merely 208 shares at Lm5.65.

HSBC Bank Malta declined by the slimmest of margins as two chunky trades saw the price closing at Lm5.49,9, while a last-minute sale of 780 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares, saw the price decline 2c to close at Lm0.85.