Daily Market Highlights (09.02.16)

  • Yesterday’s rebound in the MSE Share Index was short-lived as the local equity benchmark slipped by 0.38% during this morning’s session to a fresh 2-week low of 4,464.134 points largely due to the declines in BOV, HSBC and IHI. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary. 
  • After holding on to the €1.70 level for three consecutive sessions, the share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc slid 1.2% back to an almost 1-year low of €1.68 across fourteen deals totalling 26,812 shares. The Bank is scheduled to publish its 2015 preliminary financial statements on 22 February. Meanwhile, media reports yesterday morning confirmed that the Bank has reached a deal on a new collective agreement for its employees.
  • The equity of Bank of Valletta plc reversed yesterday’s increase with a likewise 0.4% drop during this morning’s session back to the €2.23 level on volumes of 41,266 shares.
  • International Hotel Investments plc also performed negatively with a 0.7% decline back to the €0.73 level across a single trade of 5,000 shares.
  • MaltaPost plc also retreated by 2.1% back to the €1.811 level on volumes of 1,040 shares. Next Friday, the postal operator is scheduled to settle its dividend either in the form of new shares or in cash at €0.04 (net) per share.
  • The only other negative performing equity was Malta Properties Company plc with a 3.5% decline to €0.55 albeit on small deal of just 50 shares.
  • On the other hand, the share price of Malta International Airport plc regained its all-time high of €4.50 across five deals totalling 30,230 shares. The airport operator is scheduled to publish its preliminary full-year results on 24 February. The Directors will also consider the recommendation of a final dividend. Last Friday, the company published its January 2016 traffic results showing a 13.2% growth in passenger numbers to a new record of 236,552 passengers.
  • Likewise, new bids lifted the share price of RS2 Software plc by 0.5% to €3.325 across two deals totalling 5,000 shares.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index slumped by 0.5% to a 4-week low of 1,134.936 points as the bid prices quoted by the stockbroker of the Central Bank of Malta declined further. This was in line with the continued rise in peripheral yields. On the other hand, the downward pressure on the benchmark 10-year Bund yield continued with the yield dropping to a 9-month low of 0.194% earlier this morning as Eurozone inflation expectations hit record lows. 10-year German yields rebounded to around the 0.24% level later on today.