Daily Market Highlights (04.01.2019)

  • The MSE Equity Price Index dropped by 0.43% to 4,493.533 points today as the declines in the share prices of FIMBank and MIA outweighed the slight gain in BOV. Trading volumes improved to €0.38 million, with activity in BOV and RS2 representing almost 80% of the total value of equities traded. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • The RF MGS Index partly erased yesterday’s gains as it retreated by 0.06% to 1,095.080 points. International bond yields surged (bond prices fell) amid reports that the US and China will be resuming negotiations on trade. On the economic front, preliminary inflationary data and confidence among purchasing managers within the single currency area continued to disappoint. In the US, the unemployment rate rose to 3.9% from its multi-year low of 3.7%.
  • Malta International Airport plc eased by 0.9% back to the €5.80 level across 11,000 shares. The airport operator is soon expected to publish its 2018 traffic results as well as its passenger and financial forecast for 2019. 
  • A single deal of just 7,694 shares forced the equity of FIMBank plc to retreat by 5.3% to the USD0.71 level.
  • Also in the banking sector, Bank of Valletta plc regained the €1.32 level (+0.4%) on high volumes totalling 123,887 shares.
  • Meanwhile, RS2 Software plc maintained the €1.40 level on heightened activity totalling 100,000 shares.
  • On the other hand, three other equities closed the day unchanged on insignificant volumes, namely International Hotel Investments (€0.62), PG plc (€1.37) and Loqus Holdings plc (€0.075).