Trading for Friday's session at the Malta Stock Exchange resulted in a positive result for the Index which rose by 0.13 per cent to close the session at the 3,018 level. Trading activity for the day was characterized with higher than usual volume of shares struck in one particular equity.

FIMBank was the day's most liquid and actively traded equity as mainly institutional clients swapped 2,244,766 shares, carrying a market consideration of $2.8 million, were exchanged across 14 deals. These transactions did not affect the previous closing level of $1.29.

Similarly, HSBC Bank Malta was also a non-mover for the day with all 5,000 shares exchanged during the session being struck at the €2.60 level. Following the close of the day's activity, the company issued its Interim Director's Statement which warned that the bank's core retail business and profitability level were affected by the global downturn.

The day's trading activity for Bank of Valletta resulted in a negligible one tenth of a cent drop in share price to bring the equity down to €2.399. Investors in the financial services company transacted an aggregate 3,885 shares over 8 deals.

Malta International Airport was the day's best performer as the equity rose by 7c or 3.33 per cent to close at €2.17 as 2,047 shares were purchased across 4 transactions. At the end of the day 1,910 shares stood as best demand bidding at €2.001 whilst best supply was for 5,650 shares offered at €2.18.

GO too registered an increase in share price albeit rising by a mere 0c5 to terminate the session at €1.755. The quadruple play communication's company was active over a total of 12,000 shares and 8 deals.

Low volume characterized the trading session of both MaltaPost and Simonds Farsons Cisk. The former closed unchanged at €0.71 and the latter shed the slimmest of monetary values to close at €1.869.

In the fixed interest sector of the market, institutional activity was evident in both the 5.40% MGS 2010 and the 5.10% MGS 2014 where in excess of 10 million and 1.7 million respectively were exchanged at the corresponding prices of €102.52 and €106.93.

This article was compiled by Bank of Valletta plc which is licensed to

conduct investment services business by the MFSA. Bonds and shares may be

purchased and sold from any BOV branch. Further details may be obtained by contacting us on tel.: 2131-2020 or email: [email protected]