Daily Market Highlights (10.10.13)

  • The MSE Share Index slipped 0.3% to 3,466.139 points as the declines in the share prices of BOV, IHI, GO, RS2 and Middlesea offset the positive movements in the equities of HSBC, MIA, MIDI and Crimsonwing. Meanwhile, the shares of Plaza, Malita and MaltaPost ended this morning’s session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index slipped 0.1% lower to 1,018.666 points as Eurozone yields surged towards the 1.85% level on increased hopes that the US will manage to reach an agreement on its budget and debt ceiling.
  • Shortly after the close of today’s trading session, RS2 Software announced that Barclays Bank plc has completed the acquisition of a 10% stake in the Company from ITM (Information Technology Management) Holding Ltd – the largest shareholder in RS2. As a result, Barclays no longer have the option to cancel the GBP8.5 million licence agreement. In a separate announcement, the Company revealed that the shareholding of Mr Mario Schembri, which currently occupies the post of Chairman, has fallen below the 5% threshold to 4.13%. On the secondary market, prior to the release of these announcements, the share price of RS2 eased 0.5% lower to the €1.99 level on a small deal of 1,000 shares.
  • Four other equities ended this morning’s session in negative territory including BOV with a 0.2% decline to the €2.47 level on volumes of 20,855 shares.
  • Similarly, GO’s share price retreated by 0.3% to €1.495 on just 500 shares.
  • A single deal was also executed in IHI at the €0.84 level representing a 2.2% decline from the previous close.
  • The only other negative performing equity was Middlesea Insurance with a 5.9% drop back to the €0.80 level on a mere 200 shares.
  • On the other hand, a number of equities closed in positive territory comprising HSBC with its share price edging 0.4% higher to €2.63 on volumes of 14,330 shares.
  • In the IT sector, Crimsonwing’s equity advanced by a further 1.9% to yet another all-time high of €0.79 across three deals totalling 40,000 shares.
  • Lower volumes were transacted in MIA with the equity rising by 1.5% to regain the €2.00 level for the first time since mid-August. Only 7,150 MIA shares changed hands today. Recently, the airport operator revealed yet another record month in terms of traffic numbers with a 10.8% increase in passenger movements during the month of September. During the first nine months of 2013, MIA reported a 9% increase in passenger movements to a record 3,157,730 passenger movements mainly reflecting the increased seat capacity.
  • Similarly, a trade of 5,000 MIDI shares was transacted at the €0.25 level representing a 4.2% increase over the previous close.
  • Meanwhile, Plaza Centres held on to the €0.56 level on a single trade of 86,563 shares.
  • Similarly, Malita Investments maintained the €0.52 level on a single deal of 3,000 shares.
  • MaltaPost also unchanged the €1.05 level on insignificant volumes of only 110 shares.