Positive day for MaltaPost and MIA

In contrast to the downward trend in the local equity, the share prices of MaltaPost plc and Malta International Airport plc closed higher during this morning’s session. The equity of the local postal operator jumped 7.8% to regain its 2010 high of €0.90 on volumes of 15,164 shares. Meanwhile the share price of MIA increased by 1.3% to €1.58 on increased volumes of 79,100 shares. The airport operator is scheduled to pay the declared interim dividend of €0.03 per share on 15 September.

On the other hand the two large banks closed in negative territory. HSBC Bank Malta plc shed 1.4% to drop back to the €2.82 level on volumes of just over 19,900 shares while Bank of Valletta plc eased 0.4% to the €3.285 level on weak volumes of 1,500 shares.

Elsewhere, GlobalCapital plc shares were active for the first time since the publication of the Group’s 2010 interim results on 26 August. The share price slumped 14.7% to a fresh 2010 low of €1.28 on just 240 shares with further offers already placed at €1.26. The half-year results showed an after-tax loss of €1.4 million compared to the €2.3 million loss reported in the comparable period last year. Further details of results available at https://rizzofarrugia.com/news-events/2010/interim-results-gcl05/.

On the bond market, longer-dated Malta Government Stocks declined following the strong gains in recent weeks while the Sterling tranche of the recently listed 7.15% Mediterranean Investments Holding plc traded for the first time with the price immediately shooting to a strong premium as £25,000 were exchanged at 105%.