The share price of Malta International Airport plc recovered from an intra-day low of €1.66 to close this morning's session on the local stock exchange 0.7% higher at €1.69 ahead of the 2011 financial results publication later this afternoon.
Trading activity improved to just over 34,000 shares.
Bank of Valletta plc also closed in positive territory as it edged minimally higher to close at the €2.23,5 level on total activity amounting to 23,340 shares. This month marks the end of the BOV Group's half-year with the respective results generally published by the end of April.
The gains registered by MIA and BOV were offset by declines in the share prices of FIMBank plc and GO plc.
The US dollar denominated equity of the trade finance specialist slid 2.3% lower to the US$0.85 level despite still trading with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of US$0.03,1 per share. The equity turns ex-dividend on April 4. High volumes were again traded today in FIMBank totalling 310,000 shares.
Similarly, the equity of the quad play telecom operator reversed some of yesterday's 2.6% rise as it eased by 1.3% to the 78c level across five trades totalling 11,730 shares.
Last week, GO revealed a record €51 million loss for the year ended December 31 following significant losses at Forthnet. Moreover, for the first time since the privatisation way back in 1998, GO's directors did not recommend a dividend due to its depleted reserves.
Very low volumes were registered in the only two other active equities which ended this morning's session unchanged.
A single trade of 1,000 Plaza Centres plc was transacted at the €1.80 level whilst 1,590 Island Hotels Group shares were exchanged at the 85c level.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index moved higher for the first time in fourteen sessions with a minimal 0.1% rise to 982.915 points.
Today's upturn was in line with the drop in benchmark Eurozone yields to the 2% level following negative economic data from China and the Eurozone as well as renewed concerns on the ability of peripheral Eurozone countries to spur growth and meet budget targets.
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