Daily Market Highlights (02.03.2018)

  • The MSE Equity Price Index slipped by 0.26% from its near two-month high of 4,510.887 points to 4,499.194 points, reflecting the declines in the share prices of six equities whilst only Malita and Plaza Centres performed positively. Meanwhile, Bank of Valletta plc retained the €1.83 level across 59,245 shares. During the past five trading sessions, the MSE Equity Price Index posted its best weekly performance this year as it added 0.71%, largely driven by the gains in the equities of IHI (+4.1%) and HSBC (+3.2%) which, in aggregate, outweighed the declines in eight other shares. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • The RF MGS Index added a further 0.29% to a near five-week high of 1,114.382 points as euro zone sovereign yields dropped (bond prices gained) after US President Donald Trump suggested that he will introduce new trade barriers that many analysts see as potentially very damaging to world economic growth. Week-on-week, the RF MGS Index surged by 0.73% – the sharpest weekly uplift in over seven months.
  • HSBC Bank Malta plc shed 0.5% to the €1.96 level after failing to hold on to an intra-day high of €1.98 (+0.5%). A total of 23,305 shares changed hands. Shareholders as at close of trading on Friday 9 March 2018 will be entitled to receive a total net dividend of €0.0806 per share.
  • Also among the large companies by market capitalisation, Malta International Airport plc shed 1.2% back to the €4.90 level across 5,055 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on Wednesday 4 April 2018 are entitled to receive a final net dividend of €0.07 per share.
  • PG plc lost 1.5% to an over seven-month low of €1.33 on four deals totalling 11,000 shares.
  • Simonds Farsons Cisk plc also extended its recent negative trend as the equity retreated by a further 0.7% to the €6.95 level (the lowest since late December 2016) across 2,673 shares.
  • Trident Estates plc and MaltaPost plc both dropped 0.5% to €1.90 and €1.91 respectively albeit on light trading volumes.
  • In contrast, three deals totalling 7,500 shares pushed the equity of Plaza Centres plc 5% higher to the €1.06 level.
  • Malita Investments plc advanced 0.6% to regain the €0.835 level on just 3,615 shares.
  • After last week’s announcements by HSBC and MIA, next week Malita Investments plc (Monday), GO plc (Tuesday), Mapfre Middlesea plc and Lombard Bank Malta plc (Thursday) will publish their 2017 annual financial statements.