Daily Market Highlights (07.08.13)

  • The MSE Share Index climbed 0.3% closing at almost a two and a half year high of 3,463.451 points mainly on the back of increases in the share prices of the three retail banks. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index was relatively unchanged at 1,025.489 points as the Central Bank of Malta Stockbroker made minor changes to its bid prices of Malta Government Stocks (MGS). Volatility characterised international bond markets as yesterday’s comments by US Federal Reserve officials were counterbalanced by better-than-expected German industrial output as well as the pledge by the Bank of England that it will maintain rates at the prevailing historically low levels until unemployment drops back to the 7% – a level expected to be reach in around three years.
  • The share price of HSBC edged 1.1% higher to regain the €2.729 level on low volumes of 5,895 shares with the equity still trading with the entitlement to the interim gross dividend of €0.10 per share. The equity turns ex-dividend as from Tuesday 13 August.
  • Similarly, new bids lifted the share price of BOV marginally higher to €2.326 across fourteen trades totalling 24,393 shares.
  • Lombard Bank’s shares also advanced during this morning’s session as 16,000 shares changed hands at the €1.90 level representing a 2.7% increase from the previous closing price.
  • The only other positive performing equity was RS2 Software as it inched 0.7% higher to a new all-time high of €1.33 on low volumes of 3,700 shares. The company still has to publish the date of the interim results announcement.
  • On the other hand, GO only partially recovered from an intra-day low of €1.60 to end this morning’s session at the €1.62 level representing a 1.8% drop from the previous close on low volumes of 3,000 shares. The telecoms quad-play operator is scheduled to reveal its half-year figures on 13 August.
  • Meanwhile, no change was registered in the share price of MIA as a last minute trade once again forced its share price to fall from an intra-day high of €2.04 back to the €2.00 level. A total of 3,220 shares changed hands today ahead of the interim results publication later on this afternoon.
  • IHI shares also closed unchanged at the €0.89 level on a single deal of 1,000 shares. Investors are still awaiting further developments with respect to the sale of the twelve luxury apartments in London. The Group is also due to publish its 2013 interim results in the coming weeks.