Daily Market Highlights (05.07.2018)

  • The MSE Equity Price Index moved lower for the first time in five days as it retracted by 0.34% from its 1-month high of 4,411.535 points to 4,396.475 points, largely driven by the significant drop in the share price of GO. Trading volumes dropped notably to €0.3 million from yesterday’s five-week high of €1.09 million. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • The RF MGS Index extended yesterday’s decline by a further 0.13% to 1,103.022 points as euro zone sovereign yields moved markedly higher on the back of reports that some ECB members believe that a rate hike should be announced in September or October of next year and not left until the December 2019 meeting. Furthermore, data published today revealed a strong rebound in German factory orders for the month of May.
  • GO plc plunged 4.1% to a fresh 2018 low of €3.30 on three deals totalling 6,800 shares.
  • Also among the large equities by market capitalisation, RS2 Software plc eased by 0.8% to the €1.22 level across 14,000 shares.
  • MaltaPost plc shed 2.4% to a near three-year low of €1.66 albeit on just 3,965 shares.
  • In the property sector, Malta Properties Company plc moved back to the €0.50 level (-3.8%) on heightened activity totalling 283,500 shares.
  • MIDI plc also closed in negative territory as the equity slipped by 0.4% back to the €0.488 level albeit on trivial volumes.
  • Low trading activity also took place in Simonds Farsons Cisk plc and PG plc. Farsons added 1.4% to an over four-month high of €7.20 on just 405 shares whilst PG regained the €1.33 level (+1.5%) on a single deal of 11,000 shares.
  • Meanwhile, HSBC Bank Malta plc rebounded from its opening price of €1.83 (-0.5%) to close unchanged at the €1.84 level across 3,396 shares only. The bank will be publishing its 2018 interim results on 6 August. The Board of Directors will also consider the declaration of a dividend.
  • Malta International Airport plc (6,000 shares) and Bank of Valletta plc (34,747 shares) retained the €5.00 and €1.745 levels respectively.
  • Plaza Centres plc announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 24 July to consider and approve the interim financial statements for the half-year ended 30 June 2018. The equity remained inactive today.