Daily Market Highlights (02.09.15)

  • The MSE Share Index closed today’s session 0.4% higher at 4,238.445 points as most traded equities closed higher.  Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index continued with its downward trend as it eased 0.1% lower to 1,119.077 points as the benchmark 10-year German Bund yield marginally exceeded the 0.8% level.
  • Medserv plc continued its recent positive streak and added a further 1.7% to close at €2.95 after hitting an intra-day fresh all-time high of €3.00. A total of 45,300 shares changed hands today. Last week the company published its half-year results covering the six months ended 30 June 2015 during which it registered a record pre-tax profit figure of €4.5 million reflecting the heightened activity levels at the Malta base, the services provided to ENI from the Group’s Cypriot base as well as the successes of the maintenance unit which has just been awarded another contract. The Directors explained that although the results for the first half of 2015 substantially exceeded expectations, the results for the second half of the year, whilst remaining profitable, are not expected to exceed budgets.
  • RS2 Software plc advanced by 1.7% to close at a new all-time high of €2.34 on volumes of 50,000 across 6 trades.
  • Lombard Bank Malta plc also increased by 1.7% to close at €2.15 on volumes of 18,653 shares. Also in the financial services sector, Bank of Valletta plc closed 0.5% higher at €2.25 on volumes of 26,549 shares.
  • Malta International Airport plc edged marginally higher by 0.1% to close the session at €3.895 on low volumes of 4,718 shares. MIA should be publishing its August traffic results in the coming days.
  • Low volumes were also registered in the equity of GO plc with 2 deals of 2,500 shares at an unchanged level of €3.495.
  • Similarly, Malita Investments plc maintained the €0.94 level on activity of 19,450 shares.
  • International Hotels Investments plc advanced by 0.8% to close at €0.79 across 3 deals on volumes of 12,000. On the 28th of August, the company published its interim results covering the six months ended 30 June 2015 in which it revealed a net loss figure of €0.9 million – significantly lower than the €7.7 million loss reported for the previous corresponding period.  The results showed improved performances across its hotels with the exception of those in Libya and Russia, reflecting the political and economic uncertainties in each of the respective countries.
  • MIDI plc edged up 0.9% to €0.353 – a new high for this year and the highest since January 2012. Last Monday, the company published its interim results covering the six months ended 30 June 2015 in which it revealed that during the period under review the Group registered an improved net profit figure of €2.95 million compared to the net loss of €0.99 million incurred in the first half of 2014. This was reached on the back of improved revenues largely reflecting the delivery of the first few apartments at the Q1 residential block, a 6.8% increase in income from property and rental management and a tax credit of €3.6 million.