Low trading activity again characterised this morning's trading session on the Stock Exchange with the MSE Share Index moving marginally higher today to 3,374.218 points.

However, the local equity index still closed the week 0.1 per cent lower.

HSBC Bank Malta plc recovered from an intra-day low of €2.94 to close today's session 0.3 per cent higher at the €2.97 level which represents a weekly rise of 0.7 per cent.

Seven trades transacted today totalling 6,900 shares with further bids unsatisfied at the closing price.

Meanwhile, Bank of Valletta plc ended the week unchanged as the equity maintained the €2.74 level across six trades totalling 27,178 shares.

GO plc's share price dropped 0.7 per cent to the €1.37 level on two trades amounting to 4,000 shares.

The quad-play telecom operator held its annual general meeting this week during which shareholders approved all the items on the agenda including a significantly reduced net dividend of €0.05 per share which will be paid tomorrow.

Further trades were effected in the equity of RS2 Software plc. The share price closed the day unchanged as 11,500 shares changed hands at the €0.49,9 level ahead of the annual general meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

Increased volumes were registered in MaltaPost plc. Almost 35,000 shares traded today at the €1.02 level. No further bids are placed in the market with lowest offers still at the €1.05 level.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index this morning climbed by 0.2 per cent to 975.783 points in line with the drop in the benchmark Eurozone yields back to the €3.01 level.

The downturn in yields follows yesterday's confirmation by the ECB to maintain the level of interest rates at 1.25 per cent.

However, there is wide anticipation that a further increase of 25 basis points will take place next month on further evidence of higher inflation.

The latest tranche of the 19-year MGS saw its price increase to 102 per cent on increasing volumes of over €450,000 (nominal).

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