Daily Market Highlights (05.01.17)

  • The MSE Share Index posted its first drop in the last five trading sessions as it slipped by 0.11% to 4,633.806 points. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index moved lower for the fourth consecutive day as it dropped by a further 0.31% to 1,138.094 points – the lowest since mid-December 2016. Euro zone sovereign yields extended their recent rebound, reflecting upbeat inflationary data issued yesterday which showed that inflation in the single currency area rose to 1.1% year-on-year last December – the highest since July 2011 – pushed mainly by higher food and energy prices. The 10-year benchmark German Bund momentarily topped the 0.30% mark today – the highest in over two weeks – from 0.26% yesterday.
  • In a press release issued this afternoon, the Treasury revealed that it intends to approach the local capital market four to five times this year with new offers for Malta Government Stocks (MGS). The first MGS issue is expected to be launched in February 2017 whilst the issuance of the Malta Government Savings Bonds is expected to be launched in the second half of 2017.
  • The decline in the local equity index was largely shaped by the 3.9% fall in the share price of International Hotel Investments plc which ended the day at the €0.62 level across two deals totalling 38,222 shares.
  • A single deal of 35,000 shares pulled the equity of Plaza Centres plc 0.9% lower to the €1.08 level.
  • The other negative performing equities today were Mapfre Middlesea plc and Grand Harbour Marina plc, both on weak volumes. The insurance specialist shed 2.2% to the €2.20 level whilst the marina operator finished the day 0.2% lower at €0.899.
  • Light volumes were also traded in the equities of Malita Investments plc and Simonds Farsons Cisk plc which maintained the €0.857 and €7.00 levels respectively.
  • Malta International Airport plc held on to the €4.05 level after recovering from an intra-day low of €4.026. A total of 5,000 shares changed hands.
  • In contrast, HSBC, BOV, RS2 and GO all registered gains today. HSBC Bank Malta plc briefly traded at the €1.95 level – the highest since late March 2014 – before closing at €1.925 (+1.3%) on volumes totalling 15,967 shares.
  • Within the same sector, Bank of Valletta plc advanced by 0.4% to recapture the €2.26 level across 35,625 shares. The equity will continue trading with the entitlement to the 1 for 13 bonus issue until 12 January 2017.
  • RS2 Software plc (8,662 shares) and GO plc (1,200 shares) both gained 0.3% to €1.834 and €3.28 respectively.
  • Medserv plc extended yesterday’s uplift by a further 0.6% to the €1.61 level across 10,000 shares.