The share prices of both HSBC Bank Malta plc and Bank of Valletta plc traded lower for the second consecutive session forcing the MSE Share Index to ease by 0.1 per cent today to a new two-week low of 3,159.716 points.
During this morning’s session, HSBC’s share price slid 1.1 per cent lower to €2.67 across five trades totalling 5,000 shares while BOV’s equity eased 0.5 per cent lower to a new siv-week low of €2.36 on volumes of just over 21,400 shares.
FIMBank plc shares also retreated by 3.6 per cent to the USD0.80 level as investors await the documentation in connection with an extraordinary general meeting scheduled to be held on January 31.
During this meeting, shareholders will be principally asked to approve a structured joint-offer by Burgan Bank and United Gulf Bank (both subsidiaries of the Kuwaiti based KIPCO Group).
The share price of RS2 Software plc closed in negative territory for the first since mid-July.
A single trade of 10,667 shares was executed in the final stages of today’s session at 70c representing a 2.8 per cent decline from yesterday’s close.
Similarly, MaltaPost plc halted its recent recovery with a 5.6 per cent drop back to the 85c level as the equity traded for the first time without the entitlement to the net dividend of 4c per share. A total of 10,797 shares traded today at the 85c level.
On the other hand, Lombard Bank Malta plc edged 0.6 per cent to close at the €1.81 level on low volumes of 5,900 shares. International Hotel Investments plc also closed higher to regain the 85c level across two trades totalling 11,517 shares.
MIDI plc was the best performer of the day as the equity climbed by six per cent to close above its all-time low of 25c for the first time since September 18. A total of 53,700 shares changed hands today with the equity closing at the 26c5 level.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index dropped 0.1 per cent lower to 1,002.280 points as Eurozone yields regained the 1.333 per cent level as investors’ concerns over Italy’s political instability waned.
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