The share price of GO advanced by 2.4 per cent to a fresh nine-year high of €3.58,5 on strong volumes of 68,750 shares following the publication of the interim financial statements.

The telecom operator reported that despite the marginal decline in revenue, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) edged 4.9 per cent higher to €25.5 million with an increase in the EBITDA margin to 42 per cent.

GO’s pre-tax profit for the first six months of 2015 improved by 53 per cent to €13 million. As in previous years, no interim dividend was declared. GO indicated that it remains committed to its four pillar strategy by increasing its investment in technology and continue to service its clients in an efficient and effective manner.

Mapfre Middlesea and Bank of Valletta also performed positively today. The share price of Mapfre Middlesea edged up a further 1.5 per cent to €2.07 on shallow volumes of 1,736 shares, while BOV closed marginally higher at the €2.30 level on high activity totalling 58,030 shares.

As a result, the MSE Share Index gained 0.3% per cent to 4,244.364 points despite the marginal decline in the share price of HSBC to €1.87 on a single deal of just 1,000 shares. Tomorrow is the last day for investors to gain entitlement to the interim gross dividend of 5c1 (net: 3c32) per share.

Meanwhile, the other two equities that were active during today’s session closed unchanged – both on shallow volumes. Despite turning ex-dividend, Malta International Airport held on to its €3.90 level on a single deal of 5,200 shares, while the sterling-denominated shares of 6PM Holdings closed unchanged at 76p across.

On the bond market, the RF MGS Index gained 0.2 per cent as medium to long-term government paper was priced higher. Earlier this morning, European benchmark yields declined as Greece reached a bailout deal with its international lenders estimated to be worth around €86 billion while the Chinese authorities devalued the yuan on fears of slowing growth.

The price of the 5.1 per cent 6pm Holdings plc 2025 bonds advanced by a further 50 bp today to 108.50 per cent after failing to hold on to a high of 109 per cent. Activity declined to €25,500 nominal.

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