Trading activity on the equity market this morning was very shallow with a value of only €11,553 worth of shares changing hands.
The MSE Share Index retreated by 0.1% to 3,062.160 points following a 3.2% drop in MIDI plc's share price back to its all-time low of 30c on a single trade of 1,000 shares.
Meanwhile, the three other active equities ended the session unchanged. Bank of Valletta plc held on to the €2.05 level across three trades totalling 2,740 shares with 1,450 HSBC Bank Malta plc shares changing hands at the €2.68 level across a single deal. The only other active equity, RS2 Software plc, maintained the €0.50 level on low volumes of 3,500 shares.
No trades were executed in Malta International Airport plc shares despite yesterday's interim results publication.
The half-year results for the six months ended June 30 revealed a 13% increase in net profit to €4.48 million following a 0.2% increase in revenue to €22.7 million and a 3% drop in operating expenses to €15.3 million.
The airport operator also announced a revised forecast for the 2012 passenger numbers which are now expected to grow by 1.5% to a new record of 3.56 million passenger movements.
The directors declared a net interim dividend of 3c per share (unchanged over last year) to all shareholders as at close of trading on July 25.
Next week Middlesea Insurance plc and HSBC Bank Malta plc are scheduled to publish their interim results with Plaza Centres plc following suit on July 31. In the meantime, Lombard Bank Malta plc this afternoon announced that it will be publishing its half-year figures on August 23.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased marginally lower to 992.116 points as Eurozone yields this morning moved marginally higher ahead of a German Bond auction of 2-year paper.
However, by the afternoon, the benchmark 10-year bund yields slipped back below the 1.20% level as the auction held this morning strengthened Germany's position as a safe haven country amidst the escalating concerns over Spain and Italy.
http://rizzofarrugia.com/news-events/2012/interim-results-mia12/
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