Daily Market Highlights (04.01.12)

  • MSE Share Index in positive territory for the second consecutive day with another 0.1% rise to 3,105.189 points following increases in the share price of HSBC, BOV and MIA. Meanwhile Lombard tumbled 3.7% whilst Middlesea and GO ended today’s session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased marginally lower to 986.528 points as Eurozone yields continued to recover. On the secondary market, the most notable development was the increase in the prices of the 5.2% MGS 2031 to yet another new high. This stock touched a new record of 103.06% before easing to close unchanged at 103.02%.
  • Yesterday afternoon, MIA announced that during 2011 the company registered a record 3.5 million passenger movements representing a 6.5% increase over 2010 which was also a record year. Looking ahead, the new CEO Mr. Klaushofer explained that MIA is expecting a challenging year ahead, especially in so far as seat capacity is concerned. Nonetheless the CEO also indicated that 2012 will be an eventful year with the inauguration of the SkyParks Business Centre and the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Terminal building. There was a mild positive reaction to yesterday’s news as the equity opened 1.2% higher at the €1.71 level. However, the share price of MIA eased back to the €1.70 level by the close of today’s session trimming its gains to just 0.6% over the previous close on total volumes of 7,400 shares.
  • BOV’s share price moved another 0.2% higher this morning to close at the €2.535 level across thirteen trades totalling just over 29,700 shares. Other offers unsatisfied at the closing price whilst best bids pitched at the €2.53 level. BOV’s equity will trade with the entitlement to the bonus share issue until next Monday 9 January 2012.
  • Similar HSBC’s equity in positive territory for the second consecutive session as its share price marched a further 0.4% higher to the €2.59 level. A total of 12,344 shares exchanged today with other offers unsatisfied at the closing price whilst best bids still placed at the €2.58 level. Recently the Bank announced that its Board of Directors approved a cost savings plan in order to mitigate the expected slowdown in business during 2012. The profit from the sale of the Bank’s card acquiring business for €11 million which was announced earlier this week should offset some of the one-off restructuring costs of circa €10 million.
  • Meanwhile Lombard Bank’s share price tumbled 3.7% back to the €2.60 level – just €0.04 higher than the equity’s 2011 low. A single deal of 1,300 shares transacted today with other offers outstanding at the last traded price whilst best bids placed at the €2.57 level.
  • Middlesea failed to hold on to an intra-day high of €0.82 to close unchanged at the €0.80 level on low volumes of 3,400 shares. No other bids in sight whilst further offers remained unsatisfied at the closing price.
  • GO’s share price slipped to an intra-day low of €0.95 before recovering to close unchanged at the €0.98 level on total volumes of 2,250 shares. Nonetheless, offers already placed minimally below the last closing price. The Greek telecommunications company Forthnet is scheduled to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on Friday 13 January to seek shareholders’ approval on a €30 million rights issue in line with the conditions of its restructured debt.