Financial news

The last session for the week at the Malta Stock Exchange saw a further decrease in the index of 0.39 per cent to end the day at 3197 points. Activity in the market was spread over five equities. Trading in the equity market was spread over 18 deals for an overall volume of 14,558 shares.

HSBC Bank Malta registered the highest percentage increase with the equity gaining 3c5 or 1.25 per cent to close the trading session at €2.83. Despite the positive showing, trading was spread over a single deal with an aggregate volume of 400 shares.

Simonds Farsons Cisk was the other gainer for the day as the price increased by the slimmest of margins as the equity gained one tenth of a cent to end the session at € 1.9, on the exchange of yet another single deal with a volume of one thousand.

Bank of Valletta incurred the most pronounced loss for the day as the bank shed a further 12c to close at €2.63. This is the lowest level registered by the financial services company in three months and contrasts sharply with the positive outing registered during the first week of the year when the bank's shares rose by 3.7 per cent. The equity was the most liquid and actively traded as a total of 12 deals were swapped for a total value of €28,825.

Go also sustained a decrease in price, as it shed 1c over the previous showing, to end yesterday's trading session at €1.86 over one deal. Trading activity for the Malta International Airport was also spread over a single deal; however, the airport operator registered no change in price.

In the fixed interest sector of the market, activity was spread over five government stocks and three corporate bonds. The 5.7 per cent MGS 2012 was the only government bond to score an increase of 28 ticks as two investors exchanged 2,330 shares.

Weekly MSE Equity report

The Malta Stock Exchange ended the week in negative territory as the Index lost 1.61 per cent over last week's reading. The MSE Index closed at 3197 points with Bank of Valletta shares acting as the main catalyst for the downside.

BOV was the week's most active security however, the banking equity was also the worst performer as it shed in excess of 11 per cent of its value which brought the price down to a multi-month low of €2.63.

On the contrary HSBC Bank Malta recouped previous week's losses, to register an increase of 0.93 per cent for a closing price of €2.83.. FIMBank registered the highest increase in price amongst financial services stocks, with the equity gaining 1.38 per cent. San Tumas Shareholding was the week's best overall performer as trading activity resulted in a rise of 3.23 per cent for a closing price of €3.20.

Malta International Airport and MaltaPost sustained reasonable increases in price, as activity in both equities was spread over six deals. Simonds Farsons Cisk registered marginal gains as it traded on the last session of the week.

Plaza Centres suffered a 2.89 per cent loss on the execution of a single trade with a meager volume of 60 shares.

This article has been prepared by Bank of Valletta p.l.c. (the Bank), which is licensed to conduct investment services business by the MFSA, for your general information only. This information is not a solicitation or offer by the Bank to acquire or sell securities. Nor does it constitute any form of advice by the Bank. Appropriate advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance and the value of your investments may fall or rise.