Daily Market Highlights (06.03.14)

  • The MSE Share Index slid 0.2% back to 3,602.028 points as the declines in HSBC, MIA and Medserv offset the gains in Malita and RS2. Meanwhile, BOV’s share price ended the session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.1% to 1,026.791 points as yields edged higher to 1.62% ahead of the European Central Bank (ECB) as the market did not expect the ECB to act. Expectations were met when this afternoon the ECB announced that it left its interest rate unchanged at the historically low 0.25% to lead the 10-year benchmark yields further higher to 1.664% for the first time in over a week.
  • Yesterday’s rebound in the share price of HSBC was short-lived as the Bank’s equity ended the session 0.5% lower at €2.439 after only partially recovering from an intra-day low of €2.40 across twenty deals totalling almost 99,000 shares. The equity is still trading with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of €0.052 per share and will turn ex-dividend as from Thursday 13 March. Moreover, shareholders as at the close of trading on 24 April will also be entitled to a 1 for 9 bonus share issue.
  • Meanwhile low volumes registered across MIA shares as the equity slid 1.4% back to the €2.17 level across 1,200 shares. The equity trended lower despite the airport operator’s full-year results publication yesterday revealing a 17.1% increase in profits to a record €14.59 million. The announcement also revealed a 12.5% increase in the final dividend to €0.0692 per share to all shareholders as at the close of trading on 15 April 2014.
  • The equity of Medserv also shed 1.5% to fall back to the €1.28 level on a small deal of 447 shares.
  • On the other hand, the share price of RS2 Software was lifted 0.4% higher to regain its all-time high of €2.38 on low volumes of 9,000 shares. Yesterday, the Company revealed that it would be investing €1 million in a regional office in Gozo employing 50 people during the next three years and increasing the staff complement by another 50 employees by 2020.
  • The only other positive performing equity was Malita Investments with a 0.2% increase to €0.542 on volumes of 30,000 shares.
  • Meanwhile, BOV shares held on to the €2.34 level across eight deals totalling 23,991 shares.