Trading activity on the last trading day of the week on the Malta Stock Exchange saw the MSE Index increase by 0.05 percent, to close at the 2,994.256 level. In the equity market, the MSE saw twelve deals involving an aggregate of 22,604 shares that changed hands, with four equities reporting activity during the session.

Bank of Valletta plc registered the majority of the deals during the session, with 9 transactions concluded in its shares, for a total of 8,004 shares. Total market value associated with this equity amounted to €17,692. BOV’s share price increased by 0.23 percent, or 0c5 to reach €2.215 by the end of trading.

Lombard Bank Malta Plc registered a volume of 4,000 shares, which changed hands through a sole trade. Lombard shares closed the session at €2.53, which was also registered on Wednesday’s close of trading.

GO Plc also saw shares exchanging hands but with no effect on the previous day’s closing share price. Only one transaction was registered in GO equity, involving 5,600 shares. GO’s share price ended the session at €0.860.

Middlesea Insurance Plc registered a volume of 5,000 shares, which also changed hands through a sole trade. Middlesea shares closed the session at €0.700, ending the session as it did on Wednesday.

In the fixed income sector of the market, activity was spread across seventeen corporate bonds and five government stocks. In the corporate bond market, five bonds reported an increase in price, ten others remained at unchanged, while two registered a drop in their respective prices. Out of the corporate bonds that reported an increase in price, the 6.25% International Hotel Investments Plc 2017-2020 registered the highest, which amounted to an increase of 1.0 percent or €1.00 on the previous closing price, through a sole deal and closed the session at €101.00. On the other hand, the 6.6% Eden Finance Plc 2017-2020 saw its price fall by 1.96%, or €2.00, to reach €100.

In the government bond market, the highest gainer was the 3.6% MGS 2013 which reported a gain of 0.1percent from the previous session’s close, to reach €102.89 through a sole transaction involving a nominal amount of €30,100. The government bond market reported a rather subdued session, with four bonds registering a drop in price, with the worse hit being the 5.1% MGS 2022, which reported a drop of 0.49% or €0.520 to reach a price of €106.58