Daily Market Highlights (08.02.13)

  • The MSE Share Index closed off the first full-week of February on a positive note with a 0.3% rise to 3,243.243 points following increases in the share prices of HSBC, BOV and GO. On the other hand, MIA and Plaza traded lower whilst IHI and Grand Harbour Marina shares ended the session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary. Despite today’s uplift, the local equity benchmark ended the week 0.1% lower mainly reflecting the declines in BOV, MIA and MIDI which offset the weekly gains in HSBC, GO and MaltaPost.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.1% higher to 1,008.647 points as benchmark Eurozone yields slid back to the 1.6% level following yesterday’s comments by Mario Draghi, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB). Mr Draghi hinted at further intervention, including lowering the Bank’s interest rate, if the recent appreciation of the euro derails the economic recovery across the region.
  • BOV’s share price edged 0.5% higher to regain the €2.262 level across eight trades totalling almost 19,200 shares ahead of the Bank’s Interim Directors’ Statement which should be published by the end of next week.
  • Similarly, HSBC’s equity edged 0.4% higher to close at the €2.735 level on volumes of 19,280 in anticipation of the Group’s 2012 full-year results scheduled to be published on 4 March.
  • Further bids for GO’s shares helped the equity advance by a further 0.4% to a new 18-month high of €1.38 level on volumes of just over than 13,000 shares.
  • On the other hand, Plaza Centres shares traded for the first time this week and slipped 3.3% back to the €0.58 level on high volumes of 266,000 shares representing 0.9% of the Company’s issued share capital.
  • Similarly, the share price of MIA eased 0.1% lower back to the €1.789 level across six trades totalling 9,450 shares.
  • IHI’s equity held on to the €0.74 level across 6,200 shares with shareholders still awaiting developments with respect to the sale of the 12 luxury apartments adjacent to the London Hotel.
  • A single deal of 3,100 Grand Harbour Marina shares was executed this morning at the €1.82 level representing no change from the previous close. The marina operator is expected to publish its 2012 financial results by the end of April. The 2012 figures should be boosted by the sale of a super-yacht berth for a consideration of €3.1 million.