Daily Market Highlights (08.03.16)

  • The MSE Share Index extended yesterday’s gains by a further 0.37% to 4,579.284 points – the highest level since mid-April 2008 – as four of the twelve active equities traded higher. Trading volumes declined substantially to just €211,000 today. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index extended yesterday’s decline by a further 0.14% to 1,141.961 points. In contrast to the bond yields of most other eurozone countries, the yield of the 10-year Spanish Government gained ground possibly because of the negative effects on the country’s economy resulting from the prolonged political impasse. On the economic front, fresh data regarding German industrial production for the month of January came in much better than expected. Nonetheless, bond markets are still expecting the European Central Bank to increase the extent of its current quantitative easing programme at its next policy meeting to be held on Thursday.
  • Bank of Valletta plc climbed to a one-year high of €2.27 (+0.9%) albeit on low volumes totalling 3,890 shares. The deadline for submission of applications in respect of the recently announced BOV €50 million 3.5% Tranche 2 subordinated bonds 2030 issued at par (100%) is on 18 March (or earlier in the case of over-subscription).
  • RS2 Software plc continued to trend higher into record territory as it gained a further 1.4% to the €3.905 level across 21,601 shares. The equity has been registering new all-time highs for twelve consecutive trading sessions.
  • Two single deals of just 1,000 shares each pushed the equities of Tigne’ Mall plc and MaltaPost plc to new record highs of €1.15 (+16.2%) and €2.00 (+0.05%) respectively.
  • On the other hand, FIMBank plc reversed most of yesterday’s gains as it retreated by 3.8% to the USD0.625 level across 90,014 shares. FIMBank will reveal its 2015 full-year results on 15 March.
  • Also in the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc (3,600 shares) and Lombard Bank Malta (6,950 shares) plc closed unchanged at €1.62 and €2.18 respectively. Lombard will issue its 2015 financial results on Thursday 10 March.
  • Five other equities traded unchanged. Malta International Airport plc closed at the €4.50 level for the sixth consecutive session on activity of 5,900 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on 30 March will be eligible to receive the final net dividend of €0.07 per share. This will be payable by 19 May following shareholders’ approval at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 4 May.
  • Medserv plc maintained the €1.645 level across 7,100 shares. The Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 22 March 2015 to consider and approve the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015.
  • 6PM Holdings plc (GBP0.75), Grand Harbour Marina plc (€0.90) and MIDI plc (€0.36) also closed flat on shallow volumes.
  • This morning, GlobalCapital plc published a Prospectus in connection with the recently announced €4.74 million Rights Issue.