Daily Market Highlights (10.04.15)

During the final trading session of the week, the MSE Share Index advanced by 0.8% to 3,766.201 points mainly due to gains in the share prices of BOV and GO. Despite the upturn today, the equity benchmark still closed the week 1.1% lower as the two retail banking equity declined. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.

Earlier today, the Central Bank of Malta’s indicative bid prices for the Malta Government Stocks were revised downwards, pushing the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index down 0.1% to 1,173.712 points, reflecting the rebound in the benchmark European yields from their all-time lows of 0.145% touched earlier on yesterday.

The share price of Bank of Valletta plc recovered by a further 3.1% today to regain the €2.30 level on activity totalling 65,356 shares following the 1.4% rise yesterday. Notwithstanding the rebound in the past two days, BOV’s equity ranks as this week’s worst performer with a decline of 3.8% in reaction to the announcement issued late last week revealing that legal proceedings have been instituted against the bank before an Italian Court whereby BOV is being requested to pay a sum of up to €363 million. The Bank has received a legal opinion clearly stating that there is no basis at law for the claim being made before the Italian Court and that the Bank should reject the claim against it as completely unfounded. BOV confirmed that further announcements will be made in the event of any significant developments in this respect. Meanwhile, the Bank generally publishes its half-year results, covering the six months ended 31 March, by the end of April.

GO plc edged 1.1% higher today to regain the €2.87 level on weaker volumes totalling 4,870 shares. The equity of the telecoms operator edged 0.7% higher this week although it is trading without the entitlement to the net dividend of €0.07 per share which will be approved by shareholders for approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled for 5 May.

Malta International Airport plc edged up marginally to regain the record level of €3.50 on continued high volumes totalling 51,050 shares. The Annual General Meeting will take place on 20 May to approve, amongst others, the payment of a final gross dividend of €0.1231 per share. MIA’s equity will trade with the entitlement to this dividend until 16 April 2015.

A single deal of 2,000 shares in 6PM Holdings plc was executed at the GBP0.73 level representing an increase of over the previous closing price. The market awaits news as to when the financial results for the year ended 31 December 2014 will be published. Likewise, the shares of Plaza Centres plc edged 0.1% higher to the €0.951 level on a single deal of 17,670 shares. Plaza’s equity will trade with the right to the final net dividend of €0.0268 per share until Thursday 23 April.

On the other hand, only RS2 Software plc ended today’s session in negative territory, slipping 0.4% to €2.979 on a single trade of 1,000 shares. RS2 has also yet to announce the date when the 2014 financial statements will be published.

Meanwhile, MaltaPost plc and HSBC Bank Malta plc closed unchanged at the €1.422 and €2.039 levels respectively. HSBC was the more active of the two, with a total of 12,032 shares changing hands, while only 582 MaltaPost shares traded. Shortly after the close of today’s trading session, MaltaPost issued a company announcement informing the market that its board is set to meet on 8 May to consider and approve the Group’s interim financial statements for the six months ended 31 Mary 2015.