Daily Market Highlights (05.02.15)

  • The four-day positive streak in the local equity market was interrupted as the MSE Share Index slumped by 0.5% to 3,416.322 points following declines in a number of equities. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index was practically unchanged today at 1,128.537 points despite a further increase in Eurozone yields towards the 0.36% level.
  • Amongst the negative performers, the share price of Bank of Valletta plc eased 0.2% lower back to the €2.08 level across sixteen deals totalling 49,954 shares. The Bank generally issues its Interim Directors’ Statement by mid-February.
  • Similarly, HSBC Bank Malta plc’s equity retreated by 1% back to the €2.03 level across a single trade of 1,000 shares. The Bank is scheduled to publish its 2014 full-year results on 23 February.
  • Also in the financial sector, Middlesea Insurance plc eased 0.6% lower back to the €0.994 level on shallow volumes of 3,778 shares.
  • The worst performer of the day was Medserv plc with a loss of 4.1% to the €1.42 level on high activity totalling 150,000 shares.
  • International Hotel Investments plc also trended in negative territory as it only partially recovered from an intra-day low of €0.616 to close at the €0.62 level representing a 1.6% drop from the previous closing price. A total of 10,101 shares changed hands today across three trades.
  • On the other hand, Island Hotels Group Holdings plc, which IHI is planning to acquire, moved 0.9% higher to reach the €1.029 level on a trade of 2,000 shares. Island Hotels will be holding an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on 20 February asking for shareholders’ permission to divulge all the required information to IHI in preparation of its binding offer to IHG shareholders which tentatively has been set at €1 in cash and 0.246 shares in new IHI shares.
  • The only other positive performing equity was GO plc as it ended the session minimally higher to close at the €2.60 level on volumes of just over 26,000 shares.
  • Meanwhile, Malta International Airport plc maintained the €2.50 level on low volumes of 3,400 shares. Yesterday evening, MIA published its January statistics showing a 4.8% increase in passenger movements to a new record of 208,903 passengers.
  • Likewise, the equity of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc held on to the €3.09 level across two deals totalling almost 8,000 shares.
  • On the Alternative Companies List, the equity of Loqus Holdings plc wiped out yesterday’s 5.7% increase as the equity dropped back to the €0.14 level on low volumes of 8,200 shares.