Trading for the last day of the week at the Malta Stock Exchange resulted in a minor improvement in the MSE Index which increased by just 0.06 per cent to terminate practically unchanged at the 3,059 level. Activity in the equity market increased from Thursday’s session and was spread over a total of 29 deals and 6 listings.

HSBC Bank Malta was the sole gainer for the day as the equity rose marginally by 1c8 or 0.7 per cent to close at e2.598. The Bank was also the most liquid component as investors swapped an aggregate 8,000 shares over 5 deals for a market value of e20,682.

On the contrary, Bank of Valletta registered a minor decline in price as the equity shed 1c which equates to 0.42 per cent fall to terminate at e2.39. The equity was trading at an intra-day high of e2.40 when selling pressure pushed the price back down to its present standing. Trading activity was spread over 11 deals and a market consideration of e18,427.

In the banking sector, Lombard Bank Malta and FIMBank were the day’s sole non-movers as their share price closed unchanged at e2.70 and $1.29 respectively over relatively low volume.

RS2 Software headed the list of losers as the equity lost 3c or 4.17 per cent to end the session at e0.69 as two investors swapped a total of 5,000 shares in the IT Company.

Similarly, GO shares also depreciated in value during the session as it incurred a decline of 1c or 0.6 per cent to terminate at e1.72. Activity in the quadruple play communications’ company resulted in a total of 9 deals of a monetary value of e12,160.

In the fixed interest sector of the market activity bounced back from Thursday’s session and was spread over 7 government stocks and 7 corporate bonds. The highest turnover in the government securities was registered in the 5.1% MGS 2014 (III) as 350,622 nominal were exchanged over 10 deals, as it increased by 26 ticks to close at e105.81.