Daily Market Highlights (07.03.2017)

  • The MSE Share Index erased some of yesterday’s drop as it rebounded by a minimal 0.05% to 4,758.277 points. Trading activity was spread across twelve equities: four registered gains, another four moved lower whilst the other active equities closed the day unchanged. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index moved lower for the fifth consecutive day today as it fell by a further 0.27% to 1,121.879 points. Euro zone sovereign yields remained close to their recent highs despite disappointing economic data showing that German factory orders tumbled 7.4% in January – the sharpest decline in eight years and much worse than an expected drop of 2.5%. Meanwhile, GDP in the euro area grew by 0.4% during the fourth quarter of 2016 when compared with the previous quarter. Year-on-year, GDP rose by a seasonally adjusted 1.7%.
  • The most actively traded equity today was Malta International Airport plc which slipped by 1.2% back to the €4.15 level on volumes totalling 15,432 shares. This afternoon, MIA issued its February traffic results revealing a 25.2% increase in passenger movements over the same period last year and the fourth consecutive monthly double-digit growth reflecting the expanded winter schedule. On the other hand, the seat load factor drop by 2.6 percentage points to 76.8%. Today’s announcement also revealed that Malta’s airport has been classified in third place from among 84 other European airports in the Airport Service Quality Awards 2016.
  • Among the large companies, GO plc also finished the day 0.8% lower at the €3.54 level after only partially recovering from an intra-day low of €3.50 (-1.9%). A total of 12,300 shares changed hands. Shareholders as at 29 March 2017 will be eligible to receive a net dividend of €0.11 per share subject to shareholders’ approval during an Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 3 May 2017.
  • The other negative performing equities today were Malta Properties Company plc (13,651 shares) and Tigne’ Mall plc (9,300 shares) as they slid back to the €0.54 (-1.6%) and €1.10 (-2.6%) levels respectively. Malta Properties Company plc is due to reveal its 2016 financial results on 21 March 2017 whilst Tigne’ Mall plc will follow on 6 April 2017.
  • In contrast, MIDI plc held on to its seven-week high of €0.348 albeit on trivial volumes.
  • Low trading activity also took place in the equity of GlobalCapital plc which maintained the €0.395 level across 10,000 shares.
  • Simonds Farsons Cisk plc also held on to the €7.20 level across 3,779 shares whilst eleven deals totalling 27,468 shares left the equity of HSBC Bank Malta plc unchanged at the €2.08 level. Shareholders of HSBC as at 10 March 2017 will be eligible to receive a final net dividend of €0.027 per share subject to shareholders’ approval during an Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 13 April 2017.
  • On the other hand, Bank of Valletta plc recaptured the €2.20 level (+0.5%) on reduced volumes totalling 7,706 shares.
  • RS2 Software plc extended yesterday’s gains with a further 1.1% increase to the €1.669 level across 9,970 shares.
  • A single deal of just 4,300 shares lifted the equity of Medserv plc 1.2% higher to the €1.649 level. Last week, the oil and gas logistics specialist announced that it was awarded its largest contract ever. Medserv also revealed that it was not successful in its first tender to offer its services in Trinidad.
  • International Hotel Investments plc gained 1.0% to the €0.636 level on shallow volumes totalling 1,646 shares.