The share index closed in positive territory for the third consecutive session as it edged 0.33 per cent higher to 4,406.858 points – the highest level since mid-May 2008. Volumes remained encouraging as over €243,000 worth of shares changed hands.

Despite still trading with the entitlement to the final dividend, BOV's equity eased a further 0.1 per cent lower to the €2.43,5 level across heightened activity totalling 78,522 shares.

Subject to shareholders’ approval at the next annual general meeting to be held on December 17, a final net dividend of 5c525 per share is payable on December 18 to shareholders as at close of trading on November 13.

Moreover, a bonus share issue of one new share for every 12 shares will also be distributed to those shareholders as at close of trading on next January 13.

The other negative performer of the day was GO as the equity of the quad-play operator retreated by 1.8 per cent to €3.24 after hitting an-intra-day low of €3.19 across shallow volumes of 3,500 shares.

On the other hand, Medserv closed at the €1.90 level across two deals totalling 5,000 shares.

This represents an increase of 8.6 per cent over last week’s adjusted price. Last Friday, the oil and gas logistics specialist declared a net interim dividend of 8c per share and a bonus share issue of four new shares for every five shares held.

Shareholders as at close of trading on October 28 are eligible to both the cash dividend and the bonus shares. Medserv is expected to hold an extraordinary general meeting on or around December 1.

The two other positive performers were Mapfre Middlesea and International Hotel Investments on weak activity.

The share price of the insurance company climbed by 3.8 per cent to €2.20 on a single deal of 796 shares. Likewise, IHI advanced by a further 1.2 per cent to 82c on activity of only 3,194 shares.

Last week, the IHI Group published its interim directors’ statement covering the nine-month period up to the end of September. The company explained that during the period under review, the positive trends highlighted in the 2015 interim financial statements persisted during the third quarter of the year and expectations for the rest of the financial year remain buoyant.

IHI is anticipating a year of overall growth with new development and hotel management agreements expected to be entered into with third party investors in cities and resorts across Europe and the Gulf. Further announcements in this regard will be made at the opportune time.

Meanwhile, HSBC and MIDI closed unchanged at the €1.84,5 and 35c levels across 14,000 and 5,000 shares respectively.

On the bond market, the RF MGS Index remained largely flat as it edged up by just 0.02 per cent to 1,137.329 points as the 10-year German Bund reversed yesterday’s decline and went back to the 0.56 per cent level today.

Yesterday evening, the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi explained that the ECB will review the degree of monetary stimulus when they meet in December and remain willing and able to act if needed in order to shore up eurozone’s economic and inflation figures.

Since the ECB’s last monetary policy meeting two weeks ago, a number of ECB policymakers have urged caution after the release of better-than-expected economic data in certain countries.

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