Trading activity for Monday’s session on the Malta Stock Exchange ended in negative territory for the Index, as it dropped by 0.4 per cent to terminate at the 3,364.970 level. This happened when the positive results registered in two equities did not suffice to make up for the losses registered in another four. In the equity market activity was light as investors transacted an aggregate of 50,174 shares spread across 28 deals.

The day’s most significant loser was Lombard Bank Malta as the equity dropped by 8c9 or 3 per cent to close at €2.840. Despite this decline, volume was muted as two investors exchanged just a mere 1,000 shares.

Elsewhere, in the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta also closed the session lower as the equity depreciated by 1c or 0.3 per cent to end the day at €2.940. Trading activity in the bank resulted when 12,690 shares were transacted across 8 deals. Meanwhile, Bank of Valletta was the only non-mover during the day as it closed unchanged at €2.740. The Bank was nevertheless the day’s most liquid and actively traded equity as investors negotiated 21,033 shares across 11 deals.

Beyond the financial sector of the market, International Hotel Investments declined by 1c, which equates to a drop of 1.2 per cent to close at €0.820. Activity in the third largest equity by market capitalisation was muted as 1,551 shares were transacted across a single deal. Likewise, MIDI also ended the session on a negative note, as it shed 0c4 or 0.9 per cent to close at €0.435.

Meanwhile, Middlesea Insurance and Malta International Airport shares traded in positive territory as both companies gained 1c each. Volume in Middlesea was very low as 460 shares were swapped across one deal. However, investors in MIA transacted 12,440 shares across 5 deals.

In the fixed income sector of the market, activity was spread across ten corporate bonds and four government stocks. Sentiment in the corporate debt sector was mixed as four bonds ended lower, three unchanged and three bonds rose. The best performance was registered in the 6.25% International Hotel Investments plc 2017-2020 euro bond which gained 5.4 per cent to close at €97.000.