Daily Market Highlights (02.04.13)

  • The MSE Share Index recouped some of last Friday’s 0.4% drop with a 0.3% increase during this morning’s session to regain the 3,332.031 points level on the back of increases in the share prices of RS2, GO and BOV. These offset the declines in Lombard and Malita whilst MIA, Plaza and 6pm ended the session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged minimally higher to 1,016.911 points despite a marginal increase in the benchmark Eurozone yields to regain the 1.30% level. The mild recovery in yields reflects the renewed appetite for risk among investors as well as some profit taking on ‘safe-haven’ bonds which had touched new highs in recent days.
  • The share price of RS2 Software climbed a further 3.3% higher during this morning’s session to yet another all-time high of €0.97 on high activity totalling more than 104,500 shares. Today’s upturn reflects this morning’s announcement by the company in which it confirmed that its fully-owned subsidiary, RS2 Smart Processing Ltd, concluded its first managed services contract with an initial 3-year term thereby diversifying the Group’s revenue stream with regular monthly income. Moreover, the announcement also confirmed the third licence agreement for 2012 worth USD1.8 million.
  • GO’s equity also continued to trend higher with a further 0.6% increase to a fresh 2-year high of €1.609 on the last day for investors to gain entitlement to the final net dividend of €0.10 per share. A total of 118,750 shares changed hands today with the equity turning ex-dividend as from tomorrow.
  • BOV also ended today’s session in positive territory with a 0.9% increase to regain the €2.27 level on volumes totalling 35,283 shares. Last week marked the end of the Group’s interim period with the results generally published by the end of April.
  • On the other hand, Lombard Bank gave back some of its recent gains as the Bank’s equity retreated by 1% to the €1.98 level on a single trade of 2,000 shares.
  • Similarly, MIDI eased minimally lower to €0.314 on volumes of 15,800 shares. The company is expected to publish its full-year results on 29 April.
  • Meanwhile, MIA held on to the €1.86 level across three trades totalling 5,630 shares. Equity will continue to trade with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of €0.0615 per share until 16 April.
  • Plaza Centres maintained the €0.55 level across 22,000 shares ahead of the dividend cut-off date of 26 April.
  • 6pm Holdings also closed unchanged at the GBP0.45 on volumes of 10,600 shares as investors await the publication of the 2012 financial results which should show an improvement over the 2011 figures. Moreover, investors are anticipating the possibility of a reinstatement of the dividend.