The MSE Equity Total Return Index returned to positive territory as it hiked 0.617% to 8,722.206 points. A total of 18 issues were active during the week of which seven ticked higher while four declined. The most notable positive movers wereLombard Bank plc and GlobalCapital plc, both of which traded on slim volumes. Total turnover was approximately in line with the previous week as €1.1 million worth of shares were negotiated across 130 transactions.

In the banking industry, Lombard Bank Malta plc wiped out last week’s losses, as the share price soared 13.86%. A couple of deals of 4,500 shares were executed at a six-week high of €2.30.

HSBC Bank Malta plc followed suit, as it erased losses made earlier during the week, to eventually close 1.62% higher at a 19-week high of €1.88. The performance was the result of 12 deals during which 51,291 shares changed ownership.

On the other hand, its peer, Bank of Valletta plc (BOV) was a major drag on the index. On Friday, BOV updated the market regarding the litigation procedures instituted against the bank by the liquidators of the Deiulemar group. On March 27, the bank had appealed the precautionary warrant for €363 million issued by the Italian Tribunal against BOV. The bank has now been informed that the appeal has been rejected and thus the precautionary warrant is still in effect. The board said that it is still convinced of the strength of its defences and will be keeping the litigation in question under constant review and the supervisory authorities and the market updated with any material developments. In the aftermath of the announcement, the equity shed 1.99% of its value to close at €1.725. The equity was unsurprisingly the most liquid, as a total of 182,585 shares traded across 45 transactions.

In the same sector, FIMBank plc shares closed unchanged at $0.54 despite recording five deals of a combined 36,599 shares.

Telecommunications company, GO plc returned to negative territory, as it edged 1.16% to €3.40. In total, 3,600 shares were exchanged over four deals.

International Hotel Investments plc partially recovered last week’s loss as it increased in value by 4.1% to €0.635 across five deals of 13,096 shares.

Malta International Airport plc traded heavily as 51,789 shares changed hands over 17 deals. As a result, the equity oscillated around the €5.05 price level throughout the week, ultimately closing unchanged at that price. The board of directors is expected to meet next Wednesday, to approve the results for the first six months of 2018.

On Friday, Mapfre Middlesea plc published the half-yearly unaudited financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2018. The group registered a profit before tax of €9.02 million, compared to €7.02 million registered during the comparative period last year. An important driver of this positive performance was an improvement in non-life business, partially as a result of changes implemented in the Motor tariffs. Life premiums saw a growth of 5.6%, mainly driven by the single premium business. In line with Company Policy, the board of directors does not propose the payment of an interim dividend for the half year ended June 30, 2018. Prior to this announcement, the equity had already posted a solid gain 4.74% to reach €1.99, at which price the equity closed the week. Trading volume totalled 5,288 shares across four deals.

Similarly, its peer, GlobalCapital plc appreciated 7.14% to €0.30 as a result of a sole deal of just 100 shares.

A single transaction of 1,000 Medserv plc shares however, had no impact on the price of the equity as it was executed at last week’s closing price of €1.15.

Likewise, RS2 Software plc closed unchanged at €1.20 as three deals of 1,385 shares were struck.

In the food and beverage sector, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc extended its impressive positive streak to five straight weeks, to reach a five-month high of €7.30. A total of 10,988 shares were exchanged over five deals.

Retail conglomerate, PG plc traded five times as 39,035 shares were transacted. However, none of these deals had a bearing on the share price as the equity traded flat at €1.33.

In the property sector, 21,000 Plaza Centres plc shares traded over four deals. The outcome was a 2.8% loss in value, to close the week at €1.04. The company is expected to publish its interim financial statements next week, as the board of directors is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, July 24 to approve the results.

On Wednesday, registered shareholders of Tigne Mall plc as at June 25, 2018, received the final net dividend of €0.0128 per share, as proposed by the board of directors. The share price remained unchanged at €0.95 this week, as a single trade of 5,500 shares was recorded.

Similarly, MIDI plc registered two contrasting performances early during the week, ultimately closing unchanged at €0.486. A total of 24,000 shares were exchanged over five deals.

On Thursday, Malta Properties Company plc (MPC) provided an update on the promise of sale agreement for the Sliema Old Exchange building between Toncam Properties Limited as buyers, and the sellers SLM Property Company Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of MPC. The two parties involved have agreed to extend the promise of sale agreement until August 8, 2018. Back in December, the agreement which was initially valid until January 31, 2018, had already been extended until August 1, 2018.

In terms of trading, MPC slipped 2.44% to the lowest closing price in two months of €0.48. The equity was very liquid as 297,111 shares traded over nine deals.

Conversely, Malita Investments plc bounced back from last week’s session with a 2.35% gain to €0.87, as a result of two transactions of a combined 5,693 shares.

In the corporate debt market, 43 issues were active, of which 13 headed north, and 16 declined.

The 3.5% Bank of Valletta plc € Notes 2030 S2 T1 topped the list of fallers as it lost 1.48% in value, down to €98.51.

On the other hand, the 4% MIDI plc Secured € 2026 managed to break a four-week negative trend, by posting a gain of 1.23% to €103.25.

The best performer however, was the 5.3% Mariner Finance plc Unsecured € 2024 with a 2% increase in value, closing at €110.67.

Performance in the local sovereign debt market were perfectly balanced this week as gainers and fallers amounted to ten each, spread across long-term and shorter-dated issues.

The 3% MGS 2019 (III) registered the weakest performance as it drifted 0.47% lower to €103.59.

At the other end of the spectrum, the 2.2% MGS 2035 posted the largest gain, a 0.48% advancement, to close at €105.28.