The share price of RS2 Software plc jumped by 15.4% to a new multi-year high of EUR0.60 following the announcement of a new licence agreement for Latin America with a value of EUR 5 million. A total of 10,000 shares changed hands today with further shares remaining on offer at this level.
International Hotel Investments plc also performed positively with a 2.2% rise to EUR0.92 across seven trades totalling 35,371 shares. Likewise, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc saw its share price edge closer towards its all-time high but activity was limited to only 200 shares. The equity was active for the first time since the publication of the half-year results last week and the share price gained 4.6% to EUR2.30 reflecting the 45% jump in profitability to EUR3.8 million in the first half of the current financial year ending 31 January 2013.
On the other hand, the two large banking equities were in retreat during this morning’s session. Bank of Valletta plc partially recovered from an intra-day low of EUR2.20 to close at the EUR2.25 level which still represents a 0.7% drop from the previous close. The share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc slid by 1.1% to EUR2.70 across three trades totalling 9,296 shares.
GO plc was unchanged today at the EUR0.95 on volumes of 8,125 shares. Last Friday evening, the Directors of GO explained that they will be postponing their decision on whether to participate in Forthnet’s upcoming EUR30 million rights issue to such time when the Greek company will issue the relevant Prospectus containing all the details.
The only other active equity, MaltaPost plc, held on to the EUR0.70 level across 22,000 shares. Last week marked the end of the postal operator’s financial year. MaltaPost’s full-year results, generally published in December, are expected to reflect a similar downturn as that reported in the first half of the year due to the adverse impact from the changes in the imposed cross-border tariffs of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged minimally lower to 997.319 points as eurozone benchmark yields continued to hover around 1.46%. The 5.7% MGS 2012 was redeemed yesterday with the Treasury affecting payments of over EUR268 million to all bondholders.