Although 11 equities were active during this morning’s session, trading volumes were shallow with just a few trades executed in each security. Overall, €140,000 worth of shares changed hands today as the share index slipped 0.4 per cent to 3,272.018 points.

The decline in the local equity benchmark was partly due to the 0.4 per cent drop in the share price of Bank of Valletta back to the €2.24 level across 13 deals totalling 33,334 shares.

Amongst the large caps, the equity of Malta International Airport retreated by 2.9 per cent back to the €2.33 level on just 2,500 shares. Later on this week the company will be publishing the November traffic results.

Similarly, FIMBank dropped 4.8 per cent back to the 60cUS level on a deal of 8,589 shares.

The only other negative performing equity was Crimsonwing as 4,200 shares changed hands across two trades at the 83c level representing a 2.4 per cent drop from yesterday's closing price.

This also represents a 0.3 per cent discount to the price of 83c27 being offered by KPMG Investments. KPMG on Friday launched a voluntary offer to acquire the entire issued share capital of Crimsonwing.

Shareholders as at close of trading last Friday will be receiving an acceptance form and a copy of the offer document. Acceptances are to be lodged at Rizzo Farrugia & Co (Stockbrokers) Ltd who has been mandated to act as the manager, registrar, collecting and paying agent. The acceptance period is between December 9 and January 20 (both days included), or as may be extended as provided in the offer document.

HSBC’s share price edged 0.5 per cent higher to regain the €1.92 level albeit on low volumes of 3,817 shares.

Meanwhile, all other five active equities on the official list ended the session unchanged.

Most notably, Medserv held on to the €1.37 level on volumes of 20,000 shares and MIDI continued to trade at its all-time low of 21c across a single trade of 20,000 shares. Meanwhile, insignificant volumes were executed in the other three equities, namely Go, Island Hotels Group and 6pm Holdings.

From the alternative companies list, a total of 11,500 shares of Loqus Holdings changed hands at the 12c level representing a 4.4 per cent increase over the previous closing price.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index only eased marginally lower today to 1,096.109 points despite a relatively higher increase in Eurozone benchmark yields to around the 0.74 per cent level.

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