Daily Market Highlights (06.02.14)

  • The MSE Share Index retreated by 0.1% to 3,707.353 points as the 0.6% drop in BOV offset the 1.3% increase in the share price of RS2 Software. Meanwhile, all other five active equities ended the session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index was practically unchanged at 1,027.468 points despite an uptick in Eurozone yields this morning. By this afternoon, Eurozone yields continued to edge higher to recapture the 1.66% level after the European Central Bank (ECB) held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at the historically low level of 0.25%. The ECB decide to maintain its policy as the marginal improvement shown in the region’s economic data counterbalanced the risks of deflation. Nonetheless, markets will now be focused on the revised forecasts of the ECB which will be published next month.
  • The share price of BOV slipped back into negative territory with a 0.6% drop back to the €2.451 level on volumes of 23,361 shares.
  • On the other hand, new bids lifted the share price of RS2 Software 1.3% higher to regain the €2.33 level (just €0.05 below its all-time high of €2.38). A total of 22,490 shares changed hands today.
  • The equity of HSBC ended the session unchanged at the €2.60 level after failing to hold on to an intra-day high of €2.62 across five deals totalling 12,468 shares. The Bank is scheduled to publish its full-year results on 24 February.
  • Also GO held on to its multi-year high of €1.95 on volumes of 5,985 shares.
  • Low volumes were also transacted in Crimsonwing as the equity maintained the €0.81 level on a trade of 2,543 shares.
  • Similarly, a further 4,703 shares of MaltaPost traded at the €1.10 level in anticipation of the Company’s Interim Directors’ Statement publication in the coming weeks to update the market on its performance since the start of the current financial year on 1 October 2013.
  • The only other active equity was Simonds Farsons Cisk which ended the session unchanged at its all-time high of €2.95 on a single trade of 400 shares.