The share index moved 0.5 per cent higher to a fresh seven-year high of 4,228.224 points as various equities trended in positive territory during this morning’s session.
In the financial sector, HSBC moved 1.6 per cent higher to regain the €1.88 level across six deals totalling 18,517 shares. The equity will continue to trade with the entitlement to the interim gross dividend of 5c1 (net: 3c32) per share until next Wednesday. The equity turns ex-dividend as from Thursday.
Similarly, the share price of Lombard Bank was lifted 2.5 per cent higher to recapture the €2.10 level for the first time since February 2013 on volumes of 23,212 shares. The bank is scheduled to publish its interim results on August 25.
The equity of Mapfre Middlesea also edged 0.5 per cent higher to €2.03 albeit on shallow volumes of 2,100 shares.
Positive movements also in the share price of Malta International Airport with a 1.3 per cent rise to regain the €3.95 level on shallow volumes of 1,500 shares. The airport operator’s equity will continue to trade with the entitlement to the interim gross dividend of 4c62 (net: 3c) per share until Monday. The equity turns ex-dividend as from Tuesday.
GO shares also trended in positive territory with a 0.5 per cent uplift to €3.49,8 across 5,000 shares. The telecomms quad-play operator is scheduled to publish its interim results on Tuesday.
On the other hand, the equity of Bank of Valletta eased minimally lower to €2.29,9 on volumes of 30,392 shares.
Likewise, the share price of RS2 Software retreated by 0.4 per cent back to the €2.14 level on shallow volumes of 2,500 shares.
Meanwhile, there were no changes in the share price of MaltaPost at the €1.60 level after the equity failed to hold on to an all-time high of €1.65 across insignificant volumes of 2,214 shares.
On the bond market, the RF MGS Index edged 0.2 per cent higher to 1,132.179 points as the benchmark 10-year German Bund yield retreated back to the 0.71 per cent level on diminishing prospects of an interest rate hike in the UK by the end of this year.
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