Daily Market Highlights (03.02.11)

  • Local equity market in negative territory for the fifth consecutive session. MSE Share Index down marginally today to 3,859.891 points as declines in GO, MIA and Medserv offset the gains registered in BOV, Lombard, Middlesea and MaltaPost. Similar trend in the local bond market in line with the rise in the benchmark 10-year Eurozone yield to the 3.25% level. The Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased lower for the third time this week as it lost another 0.1% today to a fresh 17-month low of 981.487 points. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • Next Wednesday 9 February, the Treasury is expected to establish the prices of the two new Malta Government Stock issues. The two new MGS’s are the 4.25% MGS 2017 (III) and a fungible issue of the 5.25% MGS 2030 (I). The subscription period is open between Monday 14 February and Wednesday 16 February. Further details available here.
  • MaltaPost plc ranks as best performer today as the share price of the postal operator jumps 2.9% higher to close at a new all-time high of €1.05 on increased volumes of 52,200 shares. Lowest offers now placed at €1.07 whilst best bids in the market placed at the €0.94 level. MaltaPost is due to pay its 2010 dividend next Friday 11 February.
  • BOV also closes 0.3% higher at the €3.12 level after easing from an intra-day high of €3.134 on volumes of 8,237 shares. The Bank is shortly expected to publish its Interim Directors’ Statement.
  • Meanwhile HSBC holds on to the €3.50 level on rising volumes of over 39,500 shares. Yesterday the Bank announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on 18 February to approve the Group’s 2010 financial statements and consider the declaration of a final dividend.
  • Other positive performances across the financial equities registered in Lombard and Middlesea. Lombard Bank’s equity gains a further 1% to the €2.99 level across three trades totalling 16,785 shares. Meanwhile a single trade of 202 Middlesea shares executed at the €1.02 level, representing a 1% rise from the previous close.
  • GO’s share price declines by 0.7% to the €1.915 level across eleven trades totalling 12,000 shares. Further offers unsatisfied at the closing price whilst best bids in the market at the €1.86 level. Details of the latest acquisition in a series of stock market purchases by Forgendo in Forthnet shares available here.
  • MIA’s share price slumps 2.8% to the €1.75 level on low volumes of only 2,630 shares. MIA’s equity has declined by 4.4% following the strong upturn during the month of January.
  • Medserv’s equity also in negative territory as it trades for the first time this year. Share price down 1.2% to €4.20 across three trades totalling 7,930 shares. No further bids or offers in the market.
  • IHI share price unchanged at the €0.95 level as a further 18,557 shares exchanged at this level.