A total of 10 equities were active during the final trading session of this week with the MSE Share Index rising 0.1 per cent to 3,425.068 points.
In the financial sector, Bank of Valletta plc edged 0.2 per cent higher to €2.28 on volumes of 21,826 shares and the share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc was lifted 2.8% higher to a fresh 2013 high of €1.85 across three deals totalling 13,410 shares.
Meanwhile, a new sell order forced the share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc 0.2 per cent lower to €2.71,5 on low volumes of 6,350 shares ahead of the Bank’s interim results publication on August 5.
Similarly, Middlesea Insurance plc eased 1.2 per cent lower back to the 81c5 level following yesterday’s publication of the group’s half-year results which showed a 12.9 per cent drop in profitability to €2.4 million.
The decline in earnings reflects the losses incurred at company level particularly in the motor insurance business. On the other hand, FIMBank plc maintained the $1 level on a single deal of 6,400 shares.
Elsewhere in the local equity market, RS2 Software plc’s equity eased 0.8 per cent lower to €1.31 across 3,200 shares and 6pm Holdings plc shares retreated by 1.6 per cent back to the 61p level on a trade of 1,000 shares.
The equity of Island Hotels Group Holdings plc also trended lower with a 5.7 per cent drop back to the 66c level across two deals totalling 17,000 shares.
On the other hand, Malta International Airport plc jumped two per cent to regain the €2.04 level on volumes of 1,500 shares. The airport operator is scheduled to publish its half-year results on August 7.
The only other active equity, Malita Investments plc ended the session unchanged at the 51c level on a deal of 13,500 shares.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index moved higher for the eighth time in the last nine sessions with a further 0.1 per cent increase to yet another all-time high of 1,028.898 points as most of the medium and long-term MGS also reached new highs.
The local MGS benchmark ended the week in positive territory for the fourth consecutive time reflecting the downward trend in yields during the same period following reassurances from various central banks, particularly by the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, that they will continue to support their respective economies through asset purchases and low interest rates as long as necessary.
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