Daily Market Highlights (04.05.2018)

  •  Following the gains in the previous three trading sessions, the MSE Equity Price Index eased by 0.05% today to 4,305.153 points as the declines in the share prices of Plaza (-1.9%) and MIA (-0.4%) marginally outweighed the 0.6% uplift in Malita Investments plc which regained the €0.845 level albeit on trivial volumes. During this shortened week, the local equity index gained 1.2%, thus partially reversing some of the heavy losses suffered in the previous five weeks. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • After the RF MGS Index yesterday suffered the sharpest drop in over a week, it rebounded strongly today as it surged by 0.45% to an over fourteen-week high of 1,120.284 points. Euro bond yields fell amid disappointing inflationary data as well as reduced levels of optimism among purchasing managers in the manufacturing and services sectors in Germany, France and the entire single currency area. Moreover, during a conference held in Malta commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Central Bank of Malta, ECB Vice-President Vítor Constâncio was reported as saying that the weak inflationary dynamics across the euro zone merit further caution by the ECB when it comes to monetary policy tightening. Mr Constâncio also added that recent studies showed that the euro economy continues to have ample spare capacity, thus making it more difficult for the central bank to achieve its target inflation rate of close to 2%.
  • Plaza Centres plc shed 1.9% to the €1.04 level on two deals totalling 82,000 shares. The company is due to hold its Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) on 30 May.
  • Malta International Airport plc retreated by 0.4% to the €4.84 level across 20,244 shares. The airport operator is soon expected to publish the traffic results for the month of April. Next Tuesday, MIA will hold its AGM.
  • Also among the large companies, Bank of Valletta plc (18,956 shares) and GO plc (3,190 shares) traded unchanged at €1.73 and €3.46 respectively. BOV’s AGM will be held on 10 May whilst that of GO will take place on 14 May.
  • HSBC Bank Malta plc retained the €1.73 level after recovering from an intra-day low of €1.71 (-1.2%). A total of 51,079 shares changed hands.
  • In contrast, PG plc opened 4.6% higher at the €1.37 level but still closed the day unchanged at €1.31 on a total of 11,000 shares.
  • A single deal of just 1,555 shares left the equity of Tigne’ Mall plc at the €0.95 level. Shareholders as at close of trading on 21 June will be entitled to a final net dividend of €0.0128 per share. This is payable on 18 July subject to shareholders’ approval during the AGM scheduled to be held on 25 June.
  • Following the publication on 25 April 2018 of a prospectus by Main Street Complex plc in connection with the issuance of 5,230,769 new ordinary shares and an offer of 7,538,460 ordinary shares from existing shareholders at a price of €0.65 per share, the offer period is open until 16 May 2018.