During this morning's trading session on the Borza, the MSE Share Index slid 0.2% lower to 3,076.245 points as most of the active equities closed in negative territory.
Bank of Valletta plc eased minimally lower to close at €2.529 on low volumes of 1,500 shares. Also in the financial sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc's share price retreated by 0.4% to €2.63 on volumes of 4,450 shares whilst FIMBank plc registered a more pronounced drop of 9.1% to an 80-month low of US$0.70 also on low volumes of 5,000 shares.
On the IT front, Crimsonwing plc was active for the first time in over two months with its share price sliding 2% to a new 21-month low of €0.338 on a single trade of over 40,000 shares. Meanwhile RS2 Software plc closed unchanged at the €0.58 level also on a singular deal of 3,600 shares. Further bids remain outstanding at this level with lowest offers now placed at its 2011 high of €0.60.
A single trade of 1,000 Simonds Farsons Cisk plc was executed at the €1.70 level today representing a 5.3% drop from the previous close. Shortly after the close of today's trading session, the Farsons Group published the half-year results covering the six months ended 31 July 2011.
The financial statements reveal a 20.8% rise in profitability to €2.6 million on the back of stable sales performance of locally manufactured beverages, improved results from the importation segment and franchised food business, the non-recurrence of an impairment of assets as well as a continuous effort to contain overheads and right-size operations. The Directors declared a net interim dividend of €0.0133 per share (equivalent to last year's interim dividend) to all shareholders as at close of trading on Tuesday 4 October.
On the other hand, the share price of International Hotel Investments plc and Malta International Airport plc both climbed by €0.01 to €0.76 and €1.54 respectively.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index dipped below the 990-points level as the Central Bank of Malta further reduced its Malta Government Stock bid prices in line with the continued recovery in Eurozone yields.
www.rizzofarrugia.com