The MSE Share Index registered gains for the fourth successive session to a new two and a half-year high of 3,518.919 points. Volumes surged during this morning’s trading session with over €766,500 worth of shares exchanged, ranking as the second highest value traded in a single session on the local market in 2013. The highest was registered on 25 March 2013 when €983,441 worth of shares changed hands.
On the positive side, new bids lifted the share price of Bank of Valletta plc 2.5% higher to €2.45 – the equity’s highest share price since early February 2011. A total of 49,797 shares changed hands today with further offers remaining unsatisfied at the last closing price whilst best bids pitched at the €2.42 level.
Positive movements also registered across the active IT equities. Crimsonwing plc moved 2.7% higher to another all-time high of €0.75 across two deals totalling 50,000 shares. The equity is still trading with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of €0.01 per share. Similarly, RS2 Software plc’s share price rallied by 3.7% to a fresh all-time high of €1.40 on volumes of 36,728 shares.
The only other positive performing equity was Malta International Airport plc with a 1% increase to regain the €2.02 level on low volumes of 8,000 shares. Tomorrow is the last day investors can gain entitlement to the net interim dividend of €0.03 per share. Equity turns ex-dividend as from Wednesday 14 August.
On the other hand, the shares of Island Hotels Group Holdings plc only partially recovered from an intra-day low of €0.60 to end this morning’s session 5.8% lower at the €0.65 level. High volumes amounting to 199,170 shares traded today across five deals.
Meanwhile, HSBC Bank Malta plc held on to the €2.749 level across heavy volumes amounting to 85,070 shares on the last day the equity traded with the entitlement to the interim gross dividend of €0.10 per share. Equity turns ex-dividend as from tomorrow.
Similarly, GO plc traded unchanged at the €1.62 level on low volumes of 2,210 shares. The telecoms quad-play operator is scheduled to publish its 2013 half-year results tomorrow.
There was no change registered in the share price of Medserv plc on the back of a single trade of 50,000 shares at the €3.70 level.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index slipped minimally lower to a new 1-month low of 1,024.873 points as Eurozone yields surpassed the 1.70% level. Investors turn focus on riskier sovereign paper with Spain’s spread over German bunds reaching a 2-year low – similar to the last week’s trend in Italy’s benchmark 10-year yield.
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