Daily Market Highlights (02.03.12)

  • MSE Share Index up 0.5% during this morning’s session to close at 3,003.327 points. Today, IHI, Lombard and GO traded higher whilst BOV retreated. A further four equities, including HSBC, ended this morning’s session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary. During the last five sessions the local equity benchmark edge 0.2% higher (in positive territory for the second successive week) on the back of increases in HSBC, Lombard, GO and Middlesea which mainly offset the weekly declines in BOV and FIMBank.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index ended the week marginally higher at 988.167 points reflecting this week’s decline in the benchmark Eurozone yields as economic growth concerns and the uncertainty in the eurozone impacted market sentiment.
  • This week marked the opening of subscriptions for the new Corinthia Finance plc bond. On Wednesday the Company issued a Prospectus in conjunction with the new €7.5 million 6% bond maturing between 2019 and 2022 following approval by the Listing Authority on Monday. Copies of the Prospectus are available here.
  • Over 9,180 HSBC shares changed hands today with the share price unchanged at the €2.60 level. Despite the publication of the 2011 results last Friday and the recommendation of a final gross dividend of €0.072 per share, there was mild trading activity in the shares of HSBC Bank Malta plc during the last five trading sessions amounting to just 24,642 shares. However, the share price edged 0.4% higher to regain the €2.60 level. The 2011 financial statements showed a 6% increase in pre-tax profits but after excluding a number of one-off items including the sale of the card acquiring business and the one-time charges related to the voluntary retirement scheme, the overall performance was in line with the previous year. The final dividend is payable to those shareholders as at close of trading on 13 March. Further details available here.
  • BOV’s share price eased a further 0.7% lower today to drop back to the €2.17 level across five trades totalling 2,625 shares. Few other offers unsatisfied at the closing price with highest bids at €2.161. BOV’s equity ranked as the most active this week with over €265,000 worth transacted during the last five sessions. The Bank’s share price registered a 0.5% weekly drop.
  • A single deal of 1,000 Lombard shares was executed this morning with the Bank’s share price rising 0.8% higher to the €2.53 level. Today’s upturn helped the equity end the week in positive territory following the Bank’s announcement clarifying its position with respect to its largest shareholder, Marfin Popular Bank Public Co. Limited (Marfin). Further details available here.
  • GO inched minimally higher today to close at the €0.85 level representing a weekly increase of 2.4%. A total of 7,200 shares changed hands today with other offers outstanding at the last traded price and highest bids at the €0.76 level.
  • IHI’s share price ended the week unchanged after recovering from this week’s earlier declines during this morning’s session. Equity up 4% today to €0.78 on one deal of 25,000 shares.
  • Similarly, no change in MIA’s share price this week as the equity recovered from an intra-day low of €1.689 during this morning’s session to maintain the €1.70 level on volumes of just over 9,400 shares. The airport operator is scheduled to publish its full-year results on 22 March.
  • RS2 Software held on to the €0.55 level across two trades of 5,000 shares with further offers remaining unsatisfied at the last traded price. The equity also closed unchanged this week on total activity of 160,000 shares.