The share price of RS2 Software plc climbed 4.7 per cent to a new all-time high of 90c as new demand entered the market today.

The IT equity has advanced by 21.6 per cent since the start of the year following the two new significant licence sales announced late last year coupled with other potential contracts.

Moreover, in the interim statement published in November 2011, the directors stated that they expect the overall performance of 2012 to be higher than the pre-tax profit of €2.38 million registered in 2011.

Rs2 has yet to announce the date of the publication of the 2012 financial statements.

Similarly, new contracts also fuelled this year’s rally in 6pm Holdings plc which edged a further 2.4 per cent higher today to a new 21-month high of £0.43 representing a year-to-date increase of 38.7 per cent.

The share of GO plc also ended in positive territory today with a 0.4 per cent increase to a fresh 22-month high of €1.405 on low volumes of 3,000 shares.

GO also has yet to announce the publication date for the 2012 financial statements.

Medserv plc shares traded for the first time this year with the equity edging 0.3 per cent higher to the €3.95 level on shallow volumes of 550 shares.

On the other hand, the equities of the retail banks declined. Bank of Valletta plc failed to hold on to its 2013 high of €2.29 as it drifted back to the €2.26 level representing a 0.5 per cent drop from the previous close.

A total of 34,380 shares changed hands. Similarly, the share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc eased 0.4 per cent lower to €2.73 on volumes of 4,500 shares in anticipation of next week’s full-year results publication.

The share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc dropped 1 per cent back to the €1.81,1 level across 20,275 shares ahead of the bank’s full-year results publication on March 14.

Meanwhile, all other active equities during this morning’s session ended unchanged including Middlesea Insurance plc which held on to the 79c level on low volumes of 1,584 shares ahead of the group’s 2012 full-year results publication expected to be published later on this afternoon.

Activity in FIMBank plc increased to 72,856 shares at the $1 level in anticipation of the announcement of the full-year results due next March 6.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased minimally lower to 1,010.116 points despite a further dip in the benchmark 10-year German Bund yields to below the 1.45 per cent.

This was near its 2013 lows as demand for ‘safe-haven’ assets was sustained on renewed concerns over the Eurozone following the inconclusive results of the Italian general election.

On the other hand, Italy’s borrowing costs soared to the highest levels since November 2012 although the Treasury still managed to sell its maximum target of €6.5 billion in government bonds comprising five and 10-year paper.

Subscriptions from the general public for the new Malta Government Stock issues close this afternoon. The Treasury is offering a total of €200 million in any combination of the two new stocks as follows: (i) 3 per cent MGS 2019 (III) at 100.5 per cent giving a yield to maturity of 2.915 per cent and (ii) 4.5 per cent MGS 2028 (II) at par giving a yield to maturity of 4.5 per cent. Copy of the Prospectus and application forms may be found here.

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