The share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc advanced by 0.4% during this morning’s session of the stock exchange to regain the €2.75 level across five trades totalling 10,890 shares. Trading activity in HSBC shares has increased since the start of 2013 ahead of the publication of the Bank’s 2012 full-year results on 4 March.

Meanwhile, no changes were registered in the share prices of the other financial equities with Bank of Valletta plc recovering from an intra-day low of €2.271 to hold on to its 52-week high of €2.28 across ten trades totalling just under 17,500 shares. Likewise, FIMBank plc held on to the US$1.00 level on a single deal of 10,000 shares.

Elsewhere in the local secondary market, International Hotel Investments plc regained the €0.75 level on very low volumes of 841 shares as shareholders still await developments with respect to the sale of the twelve luxury apartments in London.

Similarly, Plaza Centres plc shares edged 0.9% higher to close at the €0.59 level on a trade of 2,500 shares.

GO plc ended this morning’s session unchanged at the €1.38 across 3,500 shares.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index slipped back below the 1,008 points level despite a dip in Eurozone yields back to the 1.62% level. The latter reflects the renewed appetite for ‘safe-haven’ assets on fresh concerns that an inconclusive outcome from the upcoming Italian general elections could derail the country (the third largest economy in the Eurozone) from its road to recovery.

Locally, last week the Treasury announced the issue of €200 million in a combination of two new Malta Government Stocks as follows: (i) 3.00% MGS 2019 (III) and (ii) 4.5% MGS 2028 (II) at prices to be determined on Thursday 21 February 2013. Subscriptions open on Monday 25 February and close on Wednesday 27 February for the General Public.

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