Daily Market Highlights (04.04.2017)

  • The MSE Share Index erased yesterday’s gains as it fell by 0.48% – the sharpest daily decline since early February – to an over two-month low of 4,701.535 points. Trading activity was spread across nine equities: four moved lower, three closed unchanged whilst another two shares registered gains. Trading activity remained subdued as only €0.15 million worth of shares changed hands. Download a copy today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index advanced 0.26% to a four-week high of 1,124.390 points. Euro zone sovereign yields fell notably today amid renewed concerns over the ability of US President Donald Trump to implement his promised expansionary policies. The 10-year and 20-year benchmark German Bund yields fell to 0.269% and 0.78% respectively from 0.308% and 0.811% yesterday. Italian government bond prices outperformed on hopes that the European Commission might allow the Italian government to bail-out two struggling Italian banks. On the economic front, the latest data continued to point towards sustained recovery in the single currency area as retail sales increased by a better-than-expected 1.8% in February year-on-year, and by 0.7% from the previous month.
  • FIMBank plc was the worst performing and most actively traded equity today as it slumped by 5.9% to the USD0.80 level across 61,352 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on 7 April 2017 will be eligible to a 1-for-80 bonus share.
  • Within the same sector, Lombard Bank Malta plc retreated by 1.2% from its fourteen-month high of €2.48 to the €2.45 level. A total of 4,955 shares traded.
  • MIDI plc lost 3.0% to a fresh six-month low of €0.32 across 21,500 shares. The Company is due to publish its 2016 financial results on 20 April. Yesterday, MIDI announced that it was notified that Bank of Valletta plc transferred its entire shareholding in the company (equating to 8.92% of the total issued share capital) to Mr Mark Andrew Weingard.
  • Two deals totalling 3,350 shares pulled the equity of Malta International Airport plc 1.2% lower to the €4.19 level. Shareholders as at 6 April will be eligible to receive a final net dividend of €0.07 per share.
  • Also among the large companies by market capitalisation, Bank of Valletta plc held on to the €2.205 level across 16,474 shares.
  • Medserv plc maintained its four-month low of €1.515 across two deals totalling 6,000 shares. The oil and gas logistics specialist is due to reveal its 2016 financial results tomorrow.
  • A single deal of just 4,000 shares left the equity of Malita Investments plc at its two-year low of €0.75.
  • In contrast, Malta Properties Company plc extended yesterday’s gains as it advanced by a further 1.3% to an over three-week high of €0.547 across 28,200 shares.
  • MaltaPost plc recaptured the €2.00 level (+1%) albeit on shallow volumes.