The MSE Equity Price Index trended higher for the third consecutive day as it added a further 0.22% to a one-week high of 4,477.239 points.
Overall, the gains in the share prices of FIMBank, GO and MIA outweighed the drops in five other equities. Meanwhile, the three property-related companies (Midi, Malita and Malta Properties) closed the day unchanged.
Half of Thursday's trading volumes took place in the equity of Malta International Airport plc which gained 0.8% to the €4.94 level on heightened activity totalling 30,120 shares. The airport operator is scheduled to reveal its 2017 financial results next week.
Also among the large companies by market capitalisation, GO plc advanced by 1.7% to regain the €3.56 level across 3,655 shares.
FIMBank plc surged by 8.8% to the $0.68 level albeit on two deals of just 7,140 shares.
In contrast, Trident Estates plc retreated by 2.5% from its all-time high of €2.00 back to the €1.95 level across 9,380 shares.
International Hotel Investments plc (23,000 shares) and Bank of Valletta plc (33,862 shares) moved 1.6% and 0.5% lower to the €0.62 and €1.81 levels respectively.
PG plc and Santumas Shareholdings plc also performed negatively as both equities lost 0.7% on light volumes. PG closed at €1.39 while Santumas retreated to the €1.50 level.
Meanwhile, two deals totalling 15,000 shares left the equity of Malita Investments plc at the €0.83 level.
Midi plc maintained the €0.356 level on insignificant volumes while Malta Properties Company plc failed to hold on to a high of €0.484 (+0.8%) as the equity ended flat at the €0.48 level across 35,000 shares.
The RF MGS Index slipped by a further 0.23% to an over three-year low of 1,106.132 points as eurozone sovereign yields continued to add to their recent gains (bond prices fell). At the longer end of the yield curve, the benchmark twenty-year German Bund yield reached an over two-year high of 1.196% before partially retreating.
Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.