Daily Market Highlights (05.04.2017)

  • The MSE Share Index erased some of yesterday’s decline as it rebounded by 0.31% to 4,716.302 points reflecting the gains in FIMBank (+2.5%), IHI (+1.4%), BOV (+0.2%) and Malta Properties (+0.2%). Meanwhile, another three shares closed unchanged. Trading activity remained subdued as only €0.14 million worth of shares changed hands. Download a copy today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index extended yesterday’s gains as it advanced by a further 0.17% to a fresh four-week high of 1,126.266 points. Euro zone sovereign yields continued to ease lower with the 10-year benchmark German Bund yield touching a five-week low of 0.231% today from 0.269% yesterday. On the economic front, the latest data was mixed as the results of fresh surveys gauging the level of activity in the services and manufacturing sectors in France and the whole of the eurozone disappointed while Germany showed a slightly better-than-expected performance. Meanwhile, the Governor of the Bank of Finland, who is also a member of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) Governing Council, was reported as saying that the ECB is not planning to increase interest rates before the end of its current quantitative-easing programme which is expected to last until December 2017.
  • Two deals totalling 10,000 shares lifted the equity of FIMBank plc 2.5% higher from its near eleven-month low of USD0.80 to the USD0.82 level. Shareholders as at close of trading on 7 April 2017 will be eligible to a 1-for-80 bonus share.
  • The equity of International Hotel Investments plc traded for the first time in the last nine trading sessions as it advanced by 1.4% to the €0.649 level across 23,000 shares.
  • Also among the large companies by market capitalisation, Bank of Valletta plc recaptured its over nine-year high of €2.21 (+0.2%) on volumes totalling 4,646 shares.
  • Malta Properties Company plc edged 0.2% higher to a four-week high of €0.548 albeit on trivial volumes.
  • Meanwhile, three equites closed the day flat. HSBC Bank Malta plc held on to the €2.08 level across 36,000 shares.
  • Medserv plc maintained its four-month low of €1.515 across five deals totalling 17,000 shares. The oil and gas logistics specialist is due to reveal its 2016 financial results today.
  • Mapfre Middlesea plc retained the €2.19 level on insignificant volumes.