Daily Market Highlights (08.11.11)

  • MSE Share Index down 0.3% to 3,112.144 points mainly due to the 5% decline in the share price of MIA. Lombard, GO and RS2 Software also index negative territory whilst HSBC advanced by 0.4%. The only other active equity, BOV, ended the session unchanged. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • Various Malta Government Stocks again active today ahead of next week’s new stock issues. Last Friday, the Treasury announced the issuance of two new Malta Government Stocks which are available for subscription by the general public. The two stocks are the 4.25% MGS 2017 (III) FI and the 5.2% MGS 2031 (I). Prices of both stocks will be determined on Thursday 10 November. Subscriptions open on Monday 14 November and close on Wednesday 16 November. Further details available here.
  • The Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased 0.2% lower to 990.377 points as Eurozone yields marginally recovered to regain the 1.8% level ahead of this afternoon’s confidence vote in Italy.
  • Yesterday afternoon, MIA announced that it will be refunding all landing fees during its winter schedule which spans from November 2011 to March 2012. The CEO of MIA explained that this action was taken in order to incentives all airlines to utilise the Maltese airport and thus try and maintain the growth in passenger numbers of recent years and months. In this morning’s media it was revealed that this initiative will result in around €1.3 million loss in revenue for the airport operator. The share price of MIA closed 5% lower at the €1.70 level across four trades totalling 59,000 shares. The bulk of today’s activity took place at the €1.77 level as three trades took place in quick succession. However, on lack of further support in the market, a further offer of 4,000 shares sent the price down to the €1.70 level.
  • BOV held on to the €2.42 level amid sustained high volumes amounting to over 83,000 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading next Friday will be entitled to receive the final gross dividend of €0.08 per share. Equity turns ex-dividend as from next Monday. Further details on the September 2011 full-year results available here.
  • On the other hand, HSBC edged 0.4% higher to regain the €2.69 level across six trades totalling more than 66,000 shares. The Bank is shortly expected to publish its Interim Directors’ Statement covering the performance during the third quarter of the year.
  • Lombard’s share price edged 0.4% lower to €2.74 on volumes of over 21,500 shares. Lowest offers in the market at €2.75 whilst best bids still placed at the €2.70 level. Lombard is also expected to publish its Interim Directors’ Statement in the next few days.
  • Middlesea Insurance published its Interim Statement this morning revealing a subdued but positive result for the third quarter (between July and September 2011) as the positive performance across all insurance portfolios compensated for the negative returns achieved from their investment portfolios arising from the challenging conditions across both the local and global equity markets. The announcement failed to generate any trades as the equity remained inactive with offers placed at the last traded price of €0.90 and highest bids placed at the €0.85 level.
  • A small trade of 300 GO shares transacted at the €1.049 level representing a 1.9% drop from yesterday’s close. Further offers unsatisfied at the last traded price with best bids pitched at the €1.02 level.
  • The only other active equity, RS2 Software slipped 3.3% this morning from its 2011 high of €0.60 to the €0.58 level. A total of 6,000 shares changed hands today with other bids outstanding at the closing price and lowest offers at the €0.60 level.