More than 602,000 Plaza Centres plc shares changed hands today representing 2.1 per cent of the company's share capital. The share price slipped by 13.6 per cent to 51c, representing a new 19-month low.

The share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc also retreated by 1.1 per cent to yet another fresh seven-year low of €1.80 across nine trades totalling 18,569 shares.

Middlesea Insurance plc shares also closed in negative territory as the equity clipped some of the recent increases with a two per cent dip to 75c5 on low volumes of 4,329 shares.

Also in the financial sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc shed 1.1 per cent to €2.77 across nine trades totalling 48,100 shares.

On the other hand, Bank of Valletta plc edged 1.4 per cent higher to regain the €2.26 level during the final stages of today's session.

A total of 19,975 shares changed hands ahead of the bank's full-year results publication on October 26.

Likewise GO plc advanced by one per cent close at the 99c level for the first time since August 24.

Just under 9,800 shares traded as investors continue to await further information on the rights issue of Forthnet.

The only other active equity was Malta International Airport plc which closed unchanged at €1.75 on a single trade of 3,400 shares.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased by 0.1 per cent to a new three-week low of 995.923 points as Eurozone yields surpassed the 1.6 per cent level for the first time since August 23.

Investors' appetite for risk increased significantly today after Moody's maintained the investment grade status of Spain's sovereign paper affirming its Baa3 rating. This also eased Spain's borrowing costs with the benchmark 10-year yields of Madrid retreating to 5.523 per cent - the lowest level since early April 2012.

On the local corporate bond market, it is noteworthy to highlight that the 6.2 per cent Tumas Investments plc 2020 traded up at an all-time high of 107.5 per cent on volumes of €204,100 (nominal).

www.rizzofarrugia.com