Today’s trading session on the Malta Stock Exchange was characterized by BOV’s volatile share price and low volumes in the equity market coupled with high trading activity in the bond market.

Bank of Valletta plc’s share price fluctuated between a high of €3.259 and a low of €3.14 before ending the session at €3.24 representing a 0.9% decline from yesterday’s closing price. BOV’s equity had briefly touched a 1-month high of €3.301 at the start of yesterday’s session but volumes remained low ahead of Friday’s stress test results.

Meanwhile the share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc increased by 0.7% to the €2.99 level, Malta International Airport plc regained the €1.60 level (+1.3%), MaltaPost advanced by 1.6% while FIMBank plc shed 4.7% to US$1.001. Trading volumes in most equities was low as investors await the upcoming financial results announcements. Crimsonwing plc will publish its March 2010 full-year results on 26 July followed by the start of the interim reporting season with Plaza Centres plc on Wednesday 28 July.

Malta International Airport plc and HSBC Bank Malta plc will closely follow on the 29 and 30 July respectively.

On the other hand the bond market saw high volumes with trading activity rising to a value of €2.8 million. In the 5% MGS 2021 (I) over €1 million (nominal) traded today possibly in anticipation of the new Malta Government Stocks on offer shortly. Yesterday, the Treasury announced the details of the new stocks which are available at http://rizzofarrugia.com/news-events/2010/new-stock-issues-mgs09/

On the corporate bond market, high volumes were evident in the recently listed 6.6% Eden Finance plc 2017 – 2020 with €637,000 (nominal) changing hands this morning at the 100% level.

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