The Malta Stock Exchange Index continued to slide on Friday, shedding almost eleven points, or 0.3 per cent, to close at 3,437.375 in continued light volume of 19,692 shares across 20 trades. On Thursday, trading volume was also thin as 33,500 shares across 13 deals were executed across three equities.

Middlesea Insurance plc was the day’s worst performer, dropping 5c, or 5.6 per cent, to close at €0.850 in two trades for a total of 697 shares.

Also closing lower where the shares of Bank of Valletta plc, which shed 1c9, or 0.7 per cent, to end the session at €2.901, on total volume of 16,295 shares across 14 trades.

GO plc shares, meanwhile, the only other equity to trade in the session, closed unchanged at €1.490 in four deals for a total of 2,700 shares.

The corporate bond market was also quiet in the last day of trading for the week as just fourteen trades took place across five issues. Just a single bond closed higher in the session while one issue closed lower. The 4.25% FIMBank plc USD 2013 bond fell by US$0.15, or 0.2 per cent, to end at US$99.500 in four deals for a total of US$52,500 nominal. The 4.8% Bank of Valletta Plc Sub € 2020 issue gained €0.050, or 0.1 per cent, to close at €101.00 on volume of €25,300 nominal across six trades.

The government bond market was the victim of negative investor sentiment on Friday as seven of the ten issues to trade on the day closed lower while just a single bond finished higher. Volume was moderate as €1,300,807 nominal changed hands across 22 trades. The big loser in the session was the 6.6% MGS 2014 bond, which dropped €0.630, or 0.6 per cent, in a single deal of €3,029 nominal. The sole advancer was the 5.25% MGS 2030 (I) bond, which added €0.500, or 0.5 per cent, to end at €102.000 in ten deals for a total of €231,900 nominal.

This article has been prepared by Bank of Valletta p.l.c. (the Bank) for your general information only and is not intended to address your particular requirements. This information is not a solicitation or offer by the Bank to acquire or sell securities. Nor does it constitute any form of advice or recommendation by the Bank. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. The price of investments can go down as well as up, and investors may not get back the amount they invested. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. Bank of Valletta p.lc. 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]