HSBC and BOV lift MSE Equity Price Index higher

The MSE Equity Price Index recovered by 0.5% to 4,033.363 points on Thursday as gains in BOV, HSBC, Plaza, Malita and Loqus outweighed the decline in MIA. Two other equities ended the day flat whilst trading activity remained subdued.

In the banking sector, Bank of Valletta plc inched nearly 1% higher as the equity returned to the €1.05 level across 3,000 shares. Meanwhile, HSBC Bank Malta plc erased all of yesterday’s losses as it recaptured the €1.02 level albeit across trivial volumes.

A single trade of 3,000 shares in Malita Investments plc saw the equity climb by 5.9% to an 8-week high of €0.90.

Plaza Centres plc rose by 1% to the €0.98 level across insignificant volumes. On Tuesday, Plaza announced that following the announcement made by the Minister of Health and Superintendent of Public Health on 1 May 2020, it has resumed business activity with reduced hours and subject to the restrictions imposed by the public health authorities.

Elsewhere, Loqus Holdings plc surged by 21.3% to the €0.097 level across 12,000 shares. Yesterday, Loqus announced that Loqus UK Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of the company incorporated in England and Wales, acquired 100% of the issued share...