BOV share price drops to a new 7-month low

In contrast to the last three positive trading sessions, the MSE Share Index dropped 0.5% this morning to 3,396.892 points mainly due to the drop in the share prices of Bank of Valletta plc and HSBC Bank Malta plc. BOV’s equity shed 1.4% to a new 7-month low of €2.79 across eighteen trades totalling over 27,000 shares. Meanwhile, HSBC Bank Malta plc registered a gain of 0.7% this week despite the equity slipped by 0.7% today after it failed to hold on to the €3.00 level.

Despite today’s downturn, the local equity benchmark still ended the week 2.1% higher mainly due to the 14.3% jump in the share price of International Hotel Investments plc to the €0.80 level recorded yesterday. This level was maintained today as a further 31,250 shares traded at a 5-week high of €0.80.

Elsewhere in the market, GO plc’s share price eased minimally lower during this morning’s session to close at the €1.38 level across six trade totalling just under 19,000 shares. GO’s equity continued to recover from its recent all-time low of €1.27 as it gained a further 2.2% this week.

Meanwhile further demand for Malta International Airport plc shares lifted the equity 0.6% higher to €1.71 across two trades totalling 4,000 shares. The airport operator is shortly expected to publish its Interim Statement covering the performance since the start of 2011.

Plaza Centres plc is also shortly expected to publish its Interim Statement. Plaza will be holding its Annual General Meeting next Tuesday while the AGM of International Hotel Investments plc will take place on Thursday.