The MSE Equity Price Index moved higher for the fourth consecutive day as it added a further 0.72% to an over one-week high of 4,523.587 points. Several equities trended in positive territory, including IHI, RS2, GO and BMIT. On the other hand, only BOV moved lower while a further four shares closed the day unchanged.
The majority of Thursday's trading activity took place in International Hotel Investments plc. The equity surged 6.1% to the €0.70 level after partially retreating from its highest level since late December 2015 of €0.72. A total of 384,900 shares changed hands having a market value of €0.27 million. IHI announced on Thursday that it submitted an application to the Listing Authority of the Malta Financial Services Authority requesting the admissibility to listing of €20 million 4% unsecured bonds maturing in 2026.
Also among the large companies, GO plc moved to yet another multi-year high of €4.54 (+0.9%) on a total of 15,824 shares. The company is due to publish its 2018 full-year financial results on March 8.
RS2 Software plc added 1.4% to regain the €1.42 level after briefly touching an intra-day low of €1.35 (-3.6%). A total of 11,740 shares traded.
BMIT Technologies plc (113,177 shares) and Mapfre Middlesea plc (1,000 shares) both advanced by 1% to €0.53 and €2.00 respectively. BMIT is scheduled to publish its 2018 financial results on March 7.
In the oil and gas segment, the share price of Medserv plc increased by 0.9% to €1.11 on 20,000 shares.
MaltaPost plc climbed 4.1% to the €1.27 level albeit on low volumes.
Subdued trading activity also took place in Bank of Valletta plc and Malta Properties Company plc. BOV retracted by 0.8% to the €1.26 level while MPC ended flat at €0.55. BOV will be publishing its 2018 annual financial statements on 15 March and MPC on March 20.
Malta International Airport plc maintained its all-time high of €6.50 across 1,657 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on April 11 will be entitled to a final net dividend of €0.09 per share.
A single deal of 25,000 shares left the equity of Plaza Centres plc at the €1.02 level while MIDI plc also closed unchanged at the €0.65 level on a total of 36,450 shares.
The RF MGS Index erased some of Wednesday's decline as it advanced by a marginal 0.01% to 1,104.742 points. Sovereign bond yields in the eurozone moved higher, possibly reflecting a rebound in inflation in Germany as well as upbeat consumer spending data in France.
Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.