The MSE Equity Price Index extended Thursday's drop by a further 0.22% to 4,477.762 points despite the continued gains in MIA and GO.
The decline was largely driven by HSBC coupled with the negative performance of four other shares. Overall trading activity remained buoyant as a total of €0.82 million worth of shares changed hands.
Malta International Airport plc added 0.8% to regain the €6.45 level on strong activity totalling 51,350 shares. On Wednesday, MIA published its 2018 full-year financial results showing a record EBITDA of €54.4 million (+12.1%) and a net profit of €30.3 million (+25.6%). The directors are recommending a 28.6% increase in the final net dividend to €0.09 per share. Coupled with the net interim dividend of €0.03 per share paid in September 2018, the total net dividend for the year amounts to €0.12 per share, representing a 20% increase from the previous comparable period. The final dividend is payable on May 29 to shareholders as at close of trading on April 11.
GO plc advanced by 1.8% to a new multi-year high of €4.46 (the highest since late August 2006) also on strong activity of 35,404 shares. The company is due to publish its 2018 full-year financial results on March 8.
In contrast, HSBC Bank Malta plc shed 3% to an over two-year low of €1.60 on 29,800 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on March 14 are entitled to a final net dividend of €0.012 per share.
MaltaPost plc lost almost 4% to the €1.22 albeit on trivial volumes.
In the property segment, three equities finished lower on light volumes. Malta Properties Company plc retracted by 2.7% to €0.54 whilst Main Street Complex plc and Plaza Centres plc fell by 1.6% and 1% to €0.63 and €1.03 respectively.
Meanwhile, FIMBank plc retained the $0.70 level after opening 8.6% lower at $0.64. A total of 232,860 shares having a market value of $0.16 million traded.
Within the same sector, Bank of Valletta plc held on to the €1.25 level across 34,275 shares. The bank is due to publish its 2018 full-year results on March 15.
BMIT Technologies plc maintained the €0.535 level on volumes of 120,200 shares. In its first week of trading, the equity surged by 9.2% from its IPO price of €0.49.
Mapfre Middlesea plc and Simonds Farsons Cisk plc traded unchanged at €2.00 and €8.75 respectively on insignificant volumes.
Following Thursday's drop, which was the first in four days, the RF MGS Index resumed its upward trend as it rebounded by 0.04% to 1,104.464 points. Sovereign bond yields trended slightly higher today despite further indications of the economic slowdown in Germany. On the other hand, inflation across the single currency area eased only slightly to 1.4% and in line with previous expectations.
Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.