Daily Market Highlights (05.03.2018)

  • The MSE Equity Price Index opened the week in negative territory as it slipped by 0.28% to 4,486.783 points, reflecting the declines in the share prices of four equities whilst Lombard and MIA both closed the day unchanged. Trading activity was weak with only €0.16 million worth of shares changing hands. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • After the RF MGS Index last week registered its sharpest weekly uplift in over seven months, it retreated by 0.1% today from its near five-week high of 1,114.382 points to 1,113.264 points. Movements in euro zone sovereign yields were mixed today. On the one hand, the 10-year and 20-year German Bund yields dropped markedly and momentarily even trended below the 0.6% and 1% levels respectively. In contrast, yields of peripheral countries (mainly Italy and Spain) rose amid heightened concerns over the outcome of the general election in Italy. Meanwhile, in Germany, members of the Social Democratic Party voted in favour of forming a “grand coalition” with the CDU/CSU parties led by Angela Merkel. On the economic front, an index gauging the level of confidence among purchasing managers in the services and manufacturing sectors across the single currency area unexpectedly dropped to a four-month low. Likewise, the level of investor confidence also took a notable dip to a near one-year low.
  • RS2 Software plc dropped by 2.3% to €1.25 (its lowest level since early September 2015) across six deals totalling 12,375 shares.
  • Tigne’ Mall plc shed 1% to the €1.00 level on a single deal of 10,000 shares.
  • In the retail banking sector, both Bank of Valletta plc and HSBC Bank Malta plc performed negatively today. BOV eased by 0.3% to the €1.825 level across 34,289 shares whilst HSBC finished 0.5% lower at the €1.95 level after partially recovering from an intra-day low of €1.93 (-1.5%) on volumes totalling 21,116 shares. HSBC shareholders as at close of trading on Friday 9 March 2018 will be entitled to receive a total net dividend of €0.0806 per share.
  • In contrast, Lombard Bank Malta plc maintained its nine-month high of €2.40 albeit on just 1,500 shares.
  • Malta International Airport plc also ended unchanged at the €4.90 level across 5,600 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on Wednesday 4 April 2018 are entitled to receive a final net dividend of €0.07 per share.
  • Tomorrow, Malita Investments plc and GO plc are expected to publish their 2017 annual financial statements.