Daily Market Highlights (11.04.2017)

  • The MSE Share Index climbed 0.32% – the sharpest daily uplift in two weeks – to 4,721.828 points today as the gains in five equities outweighed the 1.3% decline in Malita Investments plc which moved to a fresh two-year low of €0.74 on a single deal of 15,000 shares. Meanwhile, BOV and MIDI closed the day unchanged. Trading volumes improved to €0.39 million – the highest in the last eight trading sessions. Download a copy today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index edged 0.16% higher to an over five-week high of 1,126.757 points. Euro zone sovereign yields dropped (bond prices rose) as geopolitical tensions following the latest developments in Syria and North Korea remained high. In addition, comments made by the Vice-President of the European Central Bank (ECB) during the presentation of the ECB 2016 Annual Report to a European Parliament Committee reassured investors that the central bank “stands ready to react to downside shocks” if needed. Accordingly, the 10-year and 20-year benchmark German Bund yields dropped to their lowest levels since late February 2017 of 0.192% and 0.676% respectively from 0.226% and 0.723% yesterday. On the economic front, fresh surveys gauging economic sentiment among German institutional investors and analysts showed robust and better-than-expected readings in April. On the other hand, industrial production in the single currency economy declined by more than expected in February.
  • The most actively traded equity today was Bank of Valletta plc as the equity ended this morning’s session unchanged at the €2.21 level after failing to hold on to €2.23 – the highest price level touched since November 2007. A total of 112,667 shares changed hands.
  • MIDI plc finished flat at €0.32 on trivial volumes. The Company is due to reveal its 2016 financial results on 20 April.
  • On the other hand, HSBC Bank Malta plc advanced by 0.3% to close at the €2.087 level across shallow trading activity. The Bank is due to hold its Annual General Meeting this Thursday 13 April.
  • Similarly, Malta International Airport plc extended yesterday’s gains by a further 2.3% to recapture the €4.20 level across 13,224 shares.
  • RS2 Software plc regained the €1.65 level (+0.6%) across 13,000 shares whilst GO plc trended minimally higher to the €3.499 level on volumes totalling 7,800 shares.
  • The only other positive performing equity was MaltaPost plc advanced 2.5% to the €2.05 level across 10,000 shares.