MIA share price up another 1.7% to €1.76

The share price of Malta International Airport plc closed in positive territory for the second consecutive session following last Thursday’s 2010 full-year results publication. The financial statements revealed a 20.1% increase in pre-tax profits to €16.97 million on the back of a 12.9% growth in passengers to a record 3.29 million passenger movements. Looking ahead, the Directors confirmed that MIA is looking to maintain the record number of passengers registered in 2010. During this morning’s session, MIA’s shares climbed a further 1.7% to €1.76 on volumes of 2,800 shares. Equity will continue to trade with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of €0.053846 per share (net dividend of €0.035 per share) until 30 March.

Elsewhere in the market, Bank of Valletta plc edged 0.3% higher to regain the €2.95 level across nine trades totalling 12,872 shares, while HSBC Bank Malta plc eased 0.7% lower to €2.87 across activity of 7,235 shares.

Also in the financial sector, Lombard Bank Malta plc maintained the €3.01 level on volumes of over 15,800 shares. Similarly FIMBank plc traded unchanged at the US$0.90 level across three trades totalling almost 33,900 shares. Both equities are still trading with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of €0.115 and US$0.038 per share respectively.

In contrast to last Friday’s 2.4% plunge, GO plc’s share price this morning inched minimally higher to close at €1.661 on low volumes of 3,700 shares. Equity turns ex-dividend as from 5 May.

Overall, the MSE Share Index closed marginally lower at 3,494.458 points. A 0.2% decline was also registered in the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index which dropped back to 977.888 points as the benchmark 10-year Eurozone yields strongly recovered to over 3.20%.

Later on today, Medserv plc is scheduled to publish its 2010 full-year results.