Daily Market Highlights (10.12.14)

  • Today, the MSE Share Index moved 0.1% higher to 3,260.512 points on the back of increases in the share prices of HSBC, Lombard, Crimsonwing and MaltaPost. On the other hand, BOV and MIA trended in negative territory whilst Island Hotels Group shares closed unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index moved 0.1% higher to yet another all-time high of 1,099.077 points as Eurozone yields touched a new all-time low of 0.672% as investors sought-haven Bunds in view of the Presidential elections in Greece (brought forward) which could herald the anti-bailout party, Syriza, to power.
  • The equity of BOV failed to hold on to an intra-day high of €2.215 as it ended today’s session 0.5% lower at the €2.19 level across seventeen deals totalling almost 47,000 shares.
  • Meanwhile, the share price of HSBC moved 1% higher to recapture the €1.95 level on volumes of 16,888 shares.
  • Also in the banking sector, Lombard Bank’s equity was lifted 0.6% higher to the €1.76 level albeit on lower volumes of 4,000 shares.
  • New bids also lifted the share price of MaltaPost by 2.5% to a fresh all-time high of €1.25 across a trade of 5,000 shares. Yesterday, the postal operator revealed a 37.6% increase in pre-tax profits to €2.7 million largely reflecting the 9.6% growth in revenue to a record €23.7 million on the bank of continued growth in parcel volumes as well as upward revisions in certain postal tariffs with effect from January 2014. These helped offset the continued decline in traditional mail volumes. The Directors recommended unchanged final net dividend of €0.04 per share to all shareholders as at the close of trading on Monday 15 January and proposed to give the option to shareholders to take the dividend either in cash or in the form of new shares at the attribution price of €1.16 per share.
  • The only other positive performing equity was Crimsonwing with a 7.8% jump back to the €0.83 level on a trade of 600 shares. This week marked the opening of the voluntary bid of KPMG Investments Malta Limited with the aim of acquiring the entire issued share capital of Crimsonwing plc shares at a price of €0.8327 per share. Shareholders as at close of trading on 28 November 2014 ought to have received an Acceptance Form and a copy of the Offer Document. Acceptances are to be lodged at Rizzo Farrugia & Co (Stockbrokers) Ltd who has been mandated by the Offeror to act as the Manager, Registrar, Collecting and Paying Agent. The acceptance period is between 9 December 2014 and 20 January 2015 (both days included), or as may be extended by the Offeror as provided in the offer document.
  • On the other hand, new sell orders forced the share price of MIA a further 1.3% lower back to the €2.30 level despite the prospects of another record year in terms of passenger numbers. A total of 15,222 shares changed hands across seven deals.
  • Meanwhile, Island Hotels Group shares traded unchanged at the €0.85 level on volumes of 1,043 shares.