Daily Market Highlights (02.03.2015)

  • During the first trading session of the week, four of the seven active equities closed in positive territory helping the MSE Share Index edge 0.5% higher to 3,464,825 points. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index marked another all-time high of 1,134.069 points, up 0.1% last week’s closing. Eurozone benchmark yields edged this morning as the uncertainty surrounding Greece continues to impact investor sentiment.
  • Malta International Airport plc was the top performer and following last week’s 9.6% rise, the equity advanced by a further 5.6% to yet another all-time high of €3.02 across 30,600 shares. The sudden uplift in the share price over recent days came about from the announcement of the 15% increase in pre-tax profits to €26.1 million and the recommendation of a 77.8% increase in the final gross dividend to €0.1231 per share. The total dividend declared in respect of the 2014 financial year amounts to a record €0.1693 per share (net: €0.11), an increase of 46.6% compared to the dividend distribution in respect of 2013. Shareholders as at the close of trading on 16 April will be eligible to receive the final dividend.
  • The second best performer was GO plc with an increase of 2.1% to a new multi-year high of €2.73 level across weaker volumes of 9,900 shares. GO has yet to announce the date when its Board of Directors will be approving the 2014 financial statements.
  • HSBC Bank Malta plc continued to recover from last week’s decline and advanced by a further 0.5% to €1.88 on activity totalling 42,276 shares. Last week, HSBC Malta published its FY2014 results, reporting a 42% decline in pre-tax profits to €52 million due to lower income, higher expenses as well as a steep rise in impairment charges. As a result, the total gross dividend in respect of the 2014 financial year also dropped by 48.1% to €0.071 per share. The Directors also recommended a 1-for-9 bonus issue to all shareholders as at the close of trading on 27 April 2015.
  • The equity of Bank of Valletta plc continued to trade within a tight range and closed the day minimally higher at €2.12 on lower volumes of 19,806 shares.
  • Meanwhile, three equities closed the day in negative territory. MIDI plc was the worst performer with a loss of 4.3% to €0.225 on weak activity of 2,000 shares. The US Dollar denominated equity of FIMBank plc closed down 3.1% to a fresh all-time low of USD0.475. Similarly, 6PM Holdings plc slipped 1.4% to GBP0.69 on a single deal of 3,400 shares.