The share index edged 0.2 per cent higher to 3,814.979 points, lifted by increases in BOV and Medserv.

Medserv rallied by 8.4 per cent to close at a fresh all-time high of €2.20 on activity of 16,390. The equity will trade with the entitlement to the net dividend of 5c6 per share until May 26.

The share price of Bank of Valletta rose to an intra-day high of €2.35,1 before settling to a close of €2.34, representing a 0.4 per cent increase over yesterday's close on volumes of 46,050 shares.

Last Thursday’s interim results publication surprisingly revealed a 5.6 per cent improvement in the bank’s core profitability to €42.9 million and a 15.9 per cent increase in pre-tax profits to €58.8 million.

Nonetheless, the directors declared an unchanged interim gross dividend of 3c9 (net: 2c54) per share to all shareholders as at the close of trading on May 8.

The equity of HSBC was also very active this morning with over 77,000 shares changing hands. The share price however held on to the €1.93 level.

Similarly, two other equities closed unchanged. Malta International Airport  closed at €3.49 across 2,850 shares and Middlesea Insurance ended the session at €1.22 on one trade of just over 500 shares.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index continued to decline, slipping a further 0.2 per cent to 1,157.533 points, as European benchmark yields continued to trend higher closer to the 0.45 per cent level. The price of the three per cent MGS 2040 dropped a further 164 bps to 114.36 per cent.

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