HSBC & BOV continue to recover

The share prices of HSBC Bank Malta plc and Bank of Valletta plc continued to recover during this morning’s trading session helping the MSE Share Index close in positive territory for the fourth consecutive session with another 0.7% rise to 3,114.152 points. HSBC’s equity advanced by a further 1.4% today to close at €2.729 on activity of 7,000 shares. Similarly, BOV edged 0.8% higher to end the day at the €2.56 level across fourteen trades totalling over 10,000 shares.

On the other hand, Lombard Bank Malta plc eased minimally lower to €2.679 on volumes of 7,400 shares. The only other active equity, Malta International Airport plc, rose by 1.3% higher to €1.54 on volumes of 4,700 shares. Yesterday the airport operator revealed that passenger movements during August 2011 were just below the all-time monthly record of 427,924 passenger movements recorded in August 2010. Nonetheless, since the start of 2011, MIA still registered an 8.5% growth in passenger movements. Further details available at https://rizzofarrugia.com/news-events/2011/august-traffic-statistics/.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index jumped by a further 0.2% today to a new 9-month high of 997.165 points in line with the further dip in Eurozone yields to new record lows of 1.86%. On the secondary market, over €500,000 (nominal) changed hands today in the 4.25% MGS 2017 (III) as its price reached an all-time high of 104.92%. High volumes were also recorded in the 5.25% MGS 2030 (I) with almost €1 million (nominal) traded. The price of the 19-year bond added 10 basis points to 103.20%.