Positive trend in Lombard Bank shares sustained

Interest in Lombard Bank Malta plc shares continued this morning as further substantial demand emerged on the last day before cut-off of register entitling shareholders to receive the 2010 full year dividend. Lombard shares gained 0.5% to reach a new one-year high of €3.075 on volumes of over 61,900 shares. Equity turns ex-dividend as from tomorrow.

Malta International Airport plc gained 1.7% higher to reverse yesterday’s decline and retest the €1.76 level. Over 7,300 shares changed hands today with further bids unsatisfied at the closing price whilst lowest offers now pitched at €1.78. MIA shares are still trading cum-dividend.

On the negative side, GlobalCapital plc slumped 33.5% to €0.998, the lowest level since early December 2010. A total of 2,980 shares traded. This morning, GlobalCapital plc announced that it postponed its Board Meeting scheduled to take place today to consider and approve financial results for the year ended 31st December 2010 to 20 April 2011.

The only other active equity, HSBC Bank Malta plc, closed unchanged at the €2.90 level on a single trade of 4,000 shares.

Overall, the MSE Share Index retreated by 0.1% to 3,484.270 points. Meanwhile, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index gained 0.1% to 978.238 points.

Shortly after the closure of today’s trading session, International Hotel Investments plc announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on 30 March 2011 to consider and approve the Group’s 2010 financial results.