The MSE Equity Price Index dropped by 0.43% to 4,493.533 points on Friday as the declines in the share prices of FIMBank and MIA outweighed the slight gain in BOV. Trading volumes improved to €0.38 million, with activity in BOV and RS2 representing almost 80% of the total value of equities traded.
Malta International Airport plc eased by 0.9% back to the €5.80 level across 11,000 shares. The airport operator is soon expected to publish its 2018 traffic results as well as its passenger and financial forecast for 2019.
A single deal of just 7,694 shares forced the equity of FIMBank plc to retreat by 5.3% to the $0.71 level.
Also in the banking sector, Bank of Valletta plc regained the €1.32 level (+0.4%) on high volumes totalling 123,887 shares.
Meanwhile, RS2 Software plc maintained the €1.40 level on heightened activity totalling 100,000 shares.
On the other hand, three other equities closed the day unchanged on insignificant volumes, namely International Hotel Investments (€0.62), PG plc (€1.37) and Loqus Holdings plc (€0.075).
The RF MGS Index partly erased Thursday's gains as it retreated by 0.06% to 1,095.080 points. International bond yields surged (bond prices fell) amid reports that the US and China will be resuming negotiations on trade. On the economic front, preliminary inflationary data and confidence among purchasing managers within the single currency area continued to disappoint. In the US, the unemployment rate rose to 3.9% from its multi-year low of 3.7%.
Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.