The MSE Equity Price Index moved higher for the third consecutive day as it added a further 0.08% to 4,491.490 points. The gains in MIA, RS2 and MPC outweighed the declines in PG, Plaza and BMIT. Meanwhile, several equities closed unchanged while trading volumes increased markedly to €1.59 million.

Malta International Airport plc advanced by 0.8% to regain its all-time high of €6.50 on continued strong volumes totalling 47,444 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on April 11 will be entitled to a final net dividend of €0.09 per share.

RS2 Software plc edged 0.7% higher to the €1.40 level on high volumes of 94,323 shares.

In the property segment, Malta Properties Company plc surged almost 2% to the €0.55 level across 186,100 shares. The company is due to publish its 2018 annual financial results on March 20. The directors will also be considering the declaration of a final dividend.

In contrast, Malita Investments plc, Main Street Complex plc and Trident Estates plc traded unchanged at €0.92, and €0.63 and €1.36 respectively. Trading in Malita was shallow as only 3,054 shares changed hands. The company is due to report its 2018 financial results on March 8. On the other hand, activity in Main Street Complex and Trident was much stronger and amounted to €0.07 million and €0.08 million respectively.

A single deal of just 2,822 shares left the equity of Bank of Valletta plc at the €1.27 level.

Within the same sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc maintained its over two-year low of €1.60 across 102,646 shares.

GO plc temporarily recorded a new multi-year high of €4.52 before ending the day at the €4.50 level (representing no change from the previous closing price) on a total of 72,876 shares having a market value of €0.31 million. The company is due to publish its 2018 full-year financial results on March 8.

Simonds Farsons Cisk plc opened at a low of €8.70 (-0.6%) before settling unchanged at the €8.75 level. A total of 14,458 shares changed hands.

Meanwhile, BMIT Technologies plc extended Tuesday's decline as it dropped by a further 1.9% to the €0.525 level across 236,725 shares. On Wednesday, the company announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Thursday March 7 to consider and approve the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.

PG plc eased by 0.7% to the €1.36 level on volumes totalling 76,000 shares while Plaza Centres plc lost 2% to €1.02 on 40,000 shares.

The RF MGS Index retracted by 0.03% to 1,104.583 points as bond yields in the eurozone trended higher despite a surge in geo-political tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. On the economic front, fresh data published on Wednesday across the single currency zone was mixed amid a marked slowdown in private sector loans whilst indices gauging the level of confidence among businesses and consumers dropped by less than expected.

www.rizzofarrugia.com

Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

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