The high trading activity in the Malta Government Stock market persisted during the final session of the week as a further €3.75 million (nominal) changed hands today.

Most of this activity was executed in the 20-year paper as €2.89 million (nominal) traded in the 5.25 per cent MGS 2030.

Total volumes during the week in government paper amounted to €18.3 million (nominal) with 71 per cent of this in the 20-year stocks. Prices edged marginally lower today but the longer-dated stocks closed the week higher.

Meanwhile on the equity market trading activity remain subdued with only €74,389 worth of shares changed hands during this morning’s trading session. The MSE Share Index edged 0.3 per cent higher to 3,395.689 points as HSBC Bank Malta plc rose 0.9 per cent to regain the €2.85,5 level to close the week unchanged. The index ended this week 0.5 per cent higher mainly on the back of increases in Bank of Valletta plc (+0.3 per cent) and International Hotel Investments plc (+2.4 per cent).

FIMBank plc also closed higher this week with a 2.1 per cent rise to the US$0.99 level. Yesterday afternoon, the trade finance specialist announced that it has submitted an application to the relevant authorities to issue a new three-year bond carrying a coupon of 4.25 per cent ( http://rizzofarrugia.com/news-events/2010/application-for-new-bond-issue-fim08/ ).

This week’s best performer is MaltaPost plc with a 5.9 per cent jump to its 2010 high of €0.90 across 31,104 shares. The postal operator also currently ranks as the best performing equity year-to-date (+28.6 per cent).

On the other hand, this week’s negative performers were Malta International Airport plc (-1.4 per cent), GO plc (-0.5 per cent) and IHG Holdings (-1 per cent) which is at an all-time low of €0.98 compared to the offer price of €1a year ago.

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