The Malta Stock Exchange Index gained more than 82 points, or 2.5 per cent on Thursday as investors poured back into equities, pushing the index to the 3,412.637 level.

International Hotel Investments plc shares soared during trading, gaining €0.10, or 14.3 per cent, to close at the €0.800 in seven deals for a total of 28,946 shares.

Stock of the local telecommunications provider, GO plc, made a marginal gain of 0c1, or less than 0.1 per cent, to close at €1.381 in three deals for a total of 3,260 shares.

In the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc added 4c, or 1.4 per cent, to end at €3.000 on low volume of 3,700 shares across five deals.

Bank of Valletta plc stock added 1c, or 0.4 per cent on the day, closing at €2.830 in six deals for a total of 3,230 shares.

At the end of trading on Thursday, Grand Harbour Marina released its interim directors’ statement whereby it stated that for the first quarter of 2011 the company realized a high level of occupancy throughout the marina while berthing revenues amounted to €303,212 compared to €279,879 registered for the same period a year earlier.

On Wednesday, Medserv plc also released its interim directors’ statement for the first quarter of 2011. The company experienced an upturn in activity out of its base in Malta due to the ongoing crisis in Libya, leading to a positive effect on the financial results for the period. The companies operations out of the Misurata, Libya base, meanwhile, have remained suspended.

The corporate bond market finished mixed with three of the six bonds to trade in the session closing higher while a single issue ended lower. The 6.2% Tumas Investments plc € 2017 - 2020 issue gained €0.50, or 0.5 per cent higher, to finish the day at €104.000 in a single deal of €1,000 nominal, while the 7% Grand Harbour Marina plc €2017-2020 bond shed €1.000, or 1.0 per cent, to close out trading at €103.000, on volume of €21,100 nominal across three deals.