The Malta Stock Exchange Index regained its momentum on Friday as the index climbed almost 25 points, or 0.6 per cent, to close at 3,869.771, despite the banks finishing mostly lower.
Despite putting in stellar performances in recent sessions, shares of HSBC Bank Malta plc closed unchanged yesterday, finishing the week at €3.500, on continued robust volume of 64,312 shares across 18 deals.
Bank of Valletta plc shares, meanwhile, were down marginally, dropping 0c1, on volume of 27,336 shares across 31 trades, to close at €3.150.
Lombard Bank plc shares followed suit and fell 3c, or 1.1 per cent, to end the week at €2.750 in light volume.
Trading in very heavy volume on Friday was the stock of FIMBank plc. FIMBank, whose shares have been trading in volatile fashion of late, witnessed 156,110 of its shares change hands in the session, across 5 deals, to close down 2c, or 2.1 per cent, and close at US$0.920.
Recouping more than Thursday’s losses were the shares of Island Hotels Group Holdings plc (IHG), which were up 9c8, or 10.9 per cent on the day, to close at €0.998 in light volume. On Thursday, IHG shares were down 9c, or 9.1 per cent.
Also making gains in the session were shares of International Hotel Investments plc, which added 2c9, or 3.1 per cent, to end at €0.980 in six trades for a total of 40,684 shares.
Shares of the local airport operator, Malta International Airport plc, and the local insurance provider, Middlesea Insurance plc, were also up on the day, adding 0c2, and 3c5, respectively, to close at €1.670 ad €1.050, respectively, both on low volume.
Other shares to trade in the session, yet close unchanged, were those of GO plc, MaltaPost plc, and RS2 Software plc, which ended the week at €1.940, €1.000 and €0.460, respectively, all on light volume.
In what was a relatively light week of trading in the corporate bond market, trading on Friday continued the pace as only €62,143 nominal across 11 deals were executed. Trading was mostly positive as four of the eight issues to trade closed higher while the remainder finished unchanged. The day’s best performance came from the 4.6% HSBC Bank Malta Plc € 2017 bond, which added €0.50, or 0.5 per cent, to close at €103.00 in a single trade of €6,000 nominal.