The share index slipped by 0.23 per cent to 4,416.017 points as the negative performance of four equities outweighed the gains registered in another four shares. Most notably, trading volumes surged to a two-week high totalling €717,000, mostly on substantial turnover in the equity of Lombard Bank.

A total of 198,298 Lombard Bank shares changed hands today at the €2.48,5 level, representing a 0.2 per cent increase over the previous closing price.

Also in the banking sector, the equity of Bank of Valletta advanced by 0.4 per cent to the €2.35,5 level (the highest since mid-November) across 33,661 shares. The bank’s shares will trade with the entitlement for the one for 12 bonus share issue until January 13 and will turn ex-bonus from the following trading day.

The two other positive performers of the day were MaltaPost and Midi. Following last Wednesday’s 8.6 per cent decline, the equity of the postal operator rebounded slightly by 0.7 per cent to the €1.81,2 across 8,772 shares. The company will be holding its annual general meeting on January 15.

Midi also trended higher with a gain of 0.3 per cent to the 36c5 level across three deals totalling 65,770 shares.

On the other hand, Malita Investments declined by 3.5 per cent to the 95c level albeit on insignificant volumes.

A single deal totalling 23,000 shares of FIMBank was traded at 65cUS, representing a three per cent decline over the previous closing price.

Amongthe large caps, International Hotel Investments and HSBC  also trended lower. The equity of IHI declined by 1.3 per cent to the 75c level – a new seven-month low – on negligible trading volumes totalling 5,509 shares.

Likewise, the equity of HSBC failed to hold on to an intra-day high of €1.78, and closed at the €1.74,1 level (-0.2 per cent) across 10,632 shares.

Meanwhile, five equities closed the day unchanged. Malta International Airport (€4) and RS2 Software (€3.16) continued to trade close to their respective all-time highs.

Last week, MIA announced that it is expecting a record 4.6 million passengers during the whole of 2015 (+7.3 per cent compared to 2014). On the back of this growth, MIA also revealed plans for a €78 million capital investment programme comprising a number of rehabilitation and upgrade initiatives on the airfield side, embellishments and expansion of the terminal building as well as a €40 million business centre (branded SkyParks 2).

The equities of Mapfre Middlesea (€2.30), 6PM Holdings (70p) and Malta Properties Company (50c) also closed the day unchanged.

On the bond market, the RF MGS Index advanced by 0.17 per cent to 1,136.793 points as the yield of the benchmark 10-year German Bund eased from the 0.61 per cent level of yesterday to 0.59 per cent today following some stabilisation in the price of oil.

Tomorrow is the last trading session on the Malta Stock Exchange for 2015.

www.rizzofarrugia.com