The MSE Equity Price Index extended Monday's gain by 0.18% to just over 4,488 points as the share price increases in BOV and Trident outweighed the declines in RS2 and BMIT. Meanwhile, another five shares ended the day unchanged while trading volumes eased to €0.28 million - the majority of which took place in GO.
GO plc maintained its highest level since August 2006 of €4.50 on continued healthy volumes totalling 33,658 shares. The company is due to publish its 2018 full-year financial results on March 8.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc opened at a low of €8.50 (-2.9%) before settling at the €8.75 level, representing no change from the previous closing price. A total of 2,352 shares changed hands.
Three deals totalling 21,393 shares left the equity of Grand Harbour Marina plc at the €0.70 level.
In the property segment, Malta Properties Company plc and Main Street Complex plc traded flat at €0.54 and €0.63 respectively albeit on light volumes.
In contrast, Trident Estates plc added 0.7% to the €1.36 level on 10,000 shares.
Bank of Valletta plc regained the €1.27 level (+1.6%) across 18,229 shares.
Meanwhile, BMIT Technologies plc slipped by 0.9% to €0.535 after partially recovering from an intra-day low of €0.525 (-2.8%). A total of 83,200 shares traded.
A single deal of just 2,000 shares forced the equity of RS2 Software plc to close 0.7% lower at €1.39.
The RF MGS Index erased Mondya's decline as it rebounded by 0.08% to just under 1,105 points. Changes in Malta Government Stock prices reflected movements in the yields of Spanish and Italian government bonds as these trended lower, possibly reflecting the decision by FitchRatings to maintain its grading on Italy at ‘BBB’.
On the economic front, French consumer confidence continued to show encouraging signs of recovery whilst in the UK, Prime Minister Theresa May acknowledged the possibility that Brexit might be delayed.
Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.