The Malta Stock Exchange Index managed to finish in positive territory on Thursday, after trading lower for most of the session as shares in a local retail bank finished higher.  The Index closed almost 10 points, or 0.3 per cent higher, to close at the 3346.092 level.

Saving the index from closing lower were Bank of Valletta plc shares, which closed 4c, or 1.3 per cent higher, as trades in the last few moments of the session bumped the share price up to €3.240.  A total of eight trades took place for 14,125 shares.

Pushing the index lower earlier in the day were GO plc shares, which finished marginally lower, closing down 1c, or 0.5 per cent, to close at €1.840 in five trades for a total of 32,700 shares.

The other stock to trade in the day and manage to close higher was that of Malta International Airport plc, which finished 1c, or 0.7 per cent higher, in light volume of 5,300 shares across two deals to finish at €1.540.

Other shares to trade in the day yet failed to register a change in their closing prices were Grand Harbour Marina plc, HSBC Bank Malta plc, International Hotel Investments plc, Middlesea Insurance plc, and Simonds Farsons Cisk plc, all trading in relatively light volumes

Trading in the corporate bond market finished mainly lower as €125,354 nominal across 24 deals was traded where only one of the twelve bonds to trade in the session closed higher while five finished lower.  The big mover on the day was the 6.30% International Hotel Investments 2013 issue, which lost €0.91, or 0.9 per cent, to close at €100.09 in a single trade of €3,000 nominal.  The single issue to close higher was the 5.90% HSBC Bank Malta 2018 bond, which gained €0.02 in a single deal of €3,000 nominal, to close at €105.62.

Meanwhile, investors in the government stock market reversed sentiment and turned positive as twelve of the sixteen government bonds to trade in the session finished higher while four closed lower.  The largest gainer in the day was the 7.80% MGS 2018 II issue, which gained €0.13, or 0.1 per cent, to close at €129.22 in a single deal of €11,647 nominal.  The issue to suffer the biggest drop was the 5.25% MGS 2030 I fungible issue, which lost €0.62, or 0.6 per cent, to close at €103.38 in relatively light volume of €30,000 nominal across two deals.

This article has been prepared by Bank of Valletta p.l.c. (the Bank) for your general information only and is not intended to address your particular requirements. This information is not a solicitation or offer by the Bank to acquire or sell securities. Nor does it constitute any form of advice or recommendation by the Bank.  Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision.  The price of investments can go down as well as up, and investors may not get back the amount they invested. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance.

Bank of Valletta p.lc. is licensed to conduct investment services business by the MFSA. Bonds and shares may be purchased and sold from any BOV branch. Further details may be obtained by contacting us on Tel. 2131 2020 or email: customercare@bov.com