On the Malta Stock Exchange, trading activity resumed as usual following Wednesday’s public holiday and resulted in a gain in the Index, which rose by 0.3 per cent to terminate at the 3,495.848 level. This happened when shares in Malta’s largest local banks ended in positive territory. In the equity market, activity was limited to four different companies as investors exchanged an aggregate of 57,093 shares over 35 deals.

Bank of Valletta headed the list of gainers during the day as its shares rose by 2c4, which equates to an increase of 0.6 per cent to close at €3.749. The Bank was also the session’s most actively traded equity as investors swapped 26,093 shares across 18 deals for a market consideration of €97,324. Bids for 1,241 shares at €3.720 and offers of 1,900 shares at €3.750, where the day’s best unsatisfied positions at the close of the trading session.

Likewise, HSBC Bank Malta shares also ended the day in positive territory, as the equity rose by 0c9, or 0.3 per cent to end the session at the €2.930 level. Trading activity in the bank resulted when investors exchanged 3,000 shares across 3 deals.

Meanwhile, Plaza Centres was the day’s sole laggard, as the equity declined by 7c, or 4.1 per cent to close at €1.650. Investors in the company transacted 10,000 shares over 4 deals.

GO was a non-mover during the session as the equity closed unchanged at €1.919. The quadruple play telecommunications company was trading at an intra-day low of €1.881, when some buying activity supported its price to its current standing. Activity in GO shares resulted when a total of 18,000 shares were transacted over 10 deals.

In the fixed interest sector of the market, activity was spread across twelve corporate bonds and two government stocks. In the sovereign debt market, all stocks ended the session in negative territory, while sentiment in the corporate sector was largely positive. The highest turnover during the day was registered in the 5.25% MGS 2030 (I) bond, as €191,900 nominal was transacted across 12 deals. The bond ended the day on a negative note as it dropped by 75 tics to close at €102.00.