BOV and RS2 Software edge higher

During today’s trading session on the Malta Stock Exchange, 3 equities were active with the share prices of Bank of Valletta plc and RS2 Software plc ending higher while HSBC Bank Malta plc held on to the €2.76 level. The MSE Share Index ended this volatile week 3.4% lower at 3,159.19 points after having dropping to a 21-month low of 3,117.717 points on Tuesday. High trading activity took place in the banks equities.

Over 44,000 BOV shares traded this morning across 20 transactions with the equity ending 0.4% higher at €2.61. During the past five trading sessions, a total of 228,286 BOV shares changed hands with the equity ending the week 3% lower after dropping to a low of €2.45 on Tuesday.

HSBC’s equity attracted 9 trades today amounting to 25,885 shares with the price initially dropping to €2.751 before edging up to close unchanged at €2.76. This week HSBC’s share price lost 4.5% with total volumes amounting to 91,972 shares.

The share price of RS2 Software plc advanced by 1.8% to a new 2011 high of €0.56 on low volumes of 3,000 shares. RS2 has yet to announce the date of publication of the interim financial results due by end August.

Also worth highlighting is the publication of the document related to the mandatory bid launched by Mapfre Internacional SA for the remaining shares in Middlesea Insurance plc. After purchasing 18.3 million Middlesea shares on 29 July 2011 from Munich Re at a price of €0.63 per share, Mapfre International became the majority shareholder in Middlesea (with a shareholding of 50.98%) and in terms of Chapter 11 of the Listing Rules offered to purchase all the issued shares in Middlesea Insurance plc at the offer price of €0.965 per share. Shareholders of Middlesea who were on the company’s books as at close of business on Friday 29 July 2011 have the option of selling their holding in Middlesea Insurance plc by completing the Acceptance Form during the acceptance period which runs from 29 August 2011 to Monday 26 September 2011.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.3% lower following yesterday’s upturn as European benchmark yields improved following the decline towards the level of 2.20% yesterday. The price of the 5.25% MGS 2030 (I) dropped by 49 basis points to 102.51%.