The Malta Stock Exchange Index gained just under six points, or 0.2% on Wednesday, to close at 3,310.205, as trading was relatively thin. Twenty three trades were executed for a total of 65,793 shares across five equities.

Middlesea Insurance plc was, again, the market’s high flyer, adding another 2c7, or 2.7% yesterday, closing at €1.030 in two deals for a total of 8,000 shares. On Tuesday, Middlesea shares added 1c3, or 1.3%, on volume of 5,846 shares across four deals.

GO plc shares managed to close in positive territory yesterday, adding 1c, or 0.8%, to close at €1.300 in eight deals for a total of 8,754 shares.

Also closing higher were the shares of Bank of Valletta plc, which added a marginal 0c5, or 0.2%, and ended at €2.810 in moderate volume of 21,289 shares across six deals.

Also trading in the day yet closing unchanged were the stock of HSBC Bank Malta plc, and International Hotel Investments plc, which closed at €2.940 and €0.700, respectively, on volume of 26,750 shares and 1,000 shares, respectively.

The corporate bond market finished mostly lower as six of the eleven issues to trade in the session closed lower, while three ended higher. The 7% MIDI GBP 2016-2018 issue suffered the day’s biggest loss, dropping €3.000, or 2.9%, to close at par, or €100.000, in two deals for a total of €25,000 nominal. Finishing considerably higher was the 6.5% International Hotel Investments Plc € 2012-2014 bond, which gained €6.000, or 6.5%, to close at €98.000 in a single deal of €9,600 nominal.

Trading in the government bond market was considerably silent on Wednesday as just two issues traded during the session. The 3.6% MGS 2013 (IV) bond gained 6c, or 0.1%, to close at €101.520 in a single deal of €2,300 nominal, while the 5% MGS 2021(I) bond lost 13c, or 0.1%, to close at €103.340 in a single deal of €2,799 nominal.