The Malta Stock Exchange Index closed in negative territory for the tenth successive session. During this morning's session the Index slipped by 0.1% to 3,446.751 points as HSBC Bank Malta plc succumbed to further selling pressure.

HSBC's equity shed a further 1.1% to close at €2.899 - the lowest price since November 2009. Over 21,000 shares traded today with further offers unsatisfied at the closing price. Meanwhile Bank of Valletta plc traded unchanged at the €3.30 level on low volumes of 4,246 shares.

On the positive side, Malta International Airport plc moved 1% higher to close at the €1.595 level following last week's traffic results publication with respect to May 2010. During May the airport registered a 19.3% increase in passenger movements when compared to the same month last year.

GO plc climbed 1% to regain the €2.03 level on a thin trade of just 500 shares. International Hotel Investments plc also closed in positive territory as its share price edged marginally higher to close at €0.825 level on volumes of 10,000 shares.

On the bond market, the allocation policy with respect to the two recent bond issues by Simonds Farsons Cisk plc and Eden Finance plc should be announced shortly. Meanwhile Mediterranean Investments Holding plc this afternoon announced that it lodged an application with the Listing Authority to offer a new €30 million Bond (with an over-allotment option of a further €10 million) in a combination of euro, Sterling and US Dollar.

Meanwhile, in a company statement to follow up a statement issued on May 25, Hotel San Antonio said that, as expected, it had obtained full financing from its bankers to cover both the redemption of the 7.5% bonds due to mature in May 2012 as well as to carry out further improvements in the hotel, thus showing complete confidence in the company.

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