Daily Market Highlights (05.04.13)

  • The MSE Share Index was practically unchanged today at 3,327.036 points as the gains in MIA, GO and RS2 offset the declines in BOV and IHG. Meanwhile the other two active equities ended the session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary. Over the week, the local equity benchmark edged 0.1% higher on the back of weekly increases in the share prices of HSBC, MIA and RS2 in contrast to the declines in GO (turned ex-dividend), MIDI and Island Hotels Group.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index extended its positive trend to the sixth consecutive session with a further 0.2% increase to a fresh 30-month high of 1,019.857 points. This reflects the decline in Eurozone yields which dropped back to 1.25% following yesterday’s press conference by the President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, during which he strongly hinted to the possibility of a rate cut in the near future.
  • MIA’s share price edged 0.5% higher to regain its all-time high of €1.90 on volumes of 3,382 shares. The airport operator’s share price rose by 3.8% since the publication of its record financial results. The final net dividend of €0.04 per share is payable to those shareholders as at close of trading on 16 April.
  • GO’s share price edged 1.4% higher to close at the €1.57 level across five trades totalling 13,500 shares. Despite turning ex-dividend, the equity of the quad-play telecom operator ended the week just 1.8% lower as renewed confidence in the GO Group helped the equity recover from the adjusted ex-dividend price of €1.509.
  • Further bids emerged for RS2 Software following this week’s earlier announcement confirming the first managed services contract as well as the third licence sale for the 2012 financial year. The IT equity climbed a further 2% today to close at a new all-time high of €1.00 on a single trade of 5,000 shares. RS2 ranks as the best performing equity of the week with an 8.7% jump.
  • On the other hand, BOV slipped a further 0.4% lower across 12,325 shares to completely reverse this week’s gains and close the week unchanged at the €2.25 level.
  • Island Hotels Group also closed in negative territory as 1,000 shares changed hands at the equity’s all-time low of €0.63 representing a 2.8% drop from the previous close.
  • Meanwhile, there was a muted reaction to yesterday’s publication of the financial results of IHI as the equity recovered from an intra-day low of €0.75 to close unchanged at the €0.775 level across 5,689 shares.
  • Similarly, MIDI’s share price recovered from an intra-day low of €0.31 to close unchanged at the €0.314 level on two deals totalling 9,000 shares.