The MSE Equity Price Index added to Wednesday's gains as it moved 0.49% higher to 4,410.594 points. Various equities, including BOV, Farsons, GO, HSBC and MIA, performed positively on Thursday while only two equities ended lower. Trading volumes improved further to €0.31 million compared to €0.22 million on Wednesday.
Malta International Airport plc jumped by 2.5% to recapture the €6.10 level across 14,914 shares. Last week, MIA issued its 2019 passenger forecast and financial targets indicating new expected record results. The airport operator also reiterated its plans for various multi-million capital investments including the expansion of the terminal building, a new apron, the parking village as well as SkyParks II.
Bank of Valletta plc and HSBC Bank Malta plc also trended higher. BOV advanced by 0.8% to the €1.30 level across 27,893 shares while a single deal of just 1,681 shares lifted HSBC back to the €1.76 level (+0.6%).
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc climbed 1.3% to regain the €8.00 level on 8,688 shares and GO plc moved to its multi-year high of €4.14 (+0.5%) across 8,400 shares.
GlobalCapital plc rose by 2.2% to the €0.276 level albeit on trivial volumes.
In the property segment, Malta Properties Company plc moved ahead by 1.9% to the €0.525 level across 57,000 shares.
In contrast, Main Street Complex plc eased by 0.8% to the €0.645 level on 23,000 shares.
International Hotel Investments plc also finished the day in negative territory with a drop of 1.7% back to the €0.59 level across 45,731 shares.
The RF MGS Index moved higher for the fourth consecutive day as it added a further 0.16% to reach a fresh six-month high of 1,103.392 points. Bond yields in the eurozone continued to drift lower (bond prices gained) amid disappointing readings related to the level of confidence among purchasing managers across the single currency area as well as dovish comments made by ECB President Mario Draghi following the conclusion of Thursday's Governing Council meeting. The ECB left interest rates unchanged and noted that "near-term growth momentum is likely to be weaker than previously expected".
Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.