The Malta Stock Exchange Index closed relatively unchanged on Wednesday, shedding a mere point, to end at 3,463.776 as trading volume continued to dwindle. A scant 33,151 shares across 28 deals were traded in the day as six equities witnessed trading action.
The banking sector finished marginally lower as both Bank of Valletta plc and HSBC Bank Malta shares each fell 0c5, or 0.2 per cent each, to close at €2.905 and €2.945, respectively, both on moderately low volume.
Finishing on the upside were shares of GO plc, which gained 1c, or 0.7 per cent, to close at €1.510 in low volume of 4,870 shares across five deals.
Also putting in a positive performance were the shares of the local airport operator, Malta International Airport plc, which also gained 1c, or 0.6 per cent, to end at €1.770, in five deals for a total of 2,800 shares.
Other equities to trade during the session include International Hotel Investments plc and RS2 Software plc, which both closed unchanged at €0.830 and €0.350, respectively, in single deals of 501 shares and 1,600 shares, respectively.
Trading in the corporate bond market also continued to be subdued as €41,100 nominal across nine deals were executed. The big mover on the day was the 6.8% Euro 2017-2020 bond of Premier Capital plc, which closed €1.990, or 1.9 per cent lower to €102.000, on volume of €10,000 nominal across two deals. The 5.9% HSBC Bank Malta Plc € Sub 2018 issue was also lower on the day, dropping €0.570, or 0.5 per cent, to close at €105.000 in a single deal of €3,200 nominal.
Trading in the government bond market, although considerably more active than Tuesday’s session, was decidedly negative as nine of the thirteen issues to trade on Wednesday closed lower while only three closed higher. A total of €924,573 nominal were traded across 28 deals versus a total of €92,600 nominal across 9 deals on Tuesday. The big price movement was made in the 5% MGS 2021(I) issue, which fell by 0.6 per cent, or €0.610, to end the session at €102.390 in a single deal of €7,222 nominal.