Trading during the last session of the week saw the Malta Stock Exchange Index end on a marginally positive note, closing a mere three points, or 0.1%, higher compared to Thursday’s close. Trading activity was moderate with 73,173 shares changing hands across thirty deals. Trading was however limited to only three equities; two finishing higher and one share ending the day unchanged.

Shares in the local retail bank, Bank of Valletta plc closed up 1c, or 0.4%, and finished the day at €2.610. This equity was by far the volume leader, with 44,288 shares changing hands across twenty deals.

Shares in RS2 Software plc were the day’s biggest movers with one deal for 3,000 shares pushing the price of this equity up by 1c, or 1.8%, to close at €0.560.

HSBC Bank Malta plc was the only other share to trade during yesterday’s session. Although trending marginally lower to €2.751 during the course of the session, this equity ended the day unchanged at €2.760 on moderate volume of 25,885 shares across a total of nine trades.

Trading in the corporate bond market was moderate with €145,800 nominal changing hands across eleven deals. Five stocks were active with two ending marginally higher and the other three ending the day unchanged. The 6.25% Tumas Investments plc € 2014-2016 added €0.14, or 0.1% to end the day at €103.000, whereas the 6.2% Mizzi Org. Fin. plc € 2016-2019 notched up €0.250 or 0.2%.

The Government bond market yesterday was very active, with volume of €9,084,082 nominal across thirty-four deals. The day’s largest gainer was the 6.6% MGS 2019 which ended €1.150, or 1%, higher to end the day at €118.17. The 4.6% MGS 2020 (II) was also strong, with one million nominal changing hands across one deal, and ending the day €0.650, or 0.6%, higher to close at €104.12. On the other hand, the biggest decliner in this sector was the long-dated 5.25% MGS 2030 (I). This was €0.490, or 0.5% lower and ended the day at €102.510.