Daily Market Highlights (13.03.2017)

  • The MSE Share Index kicked-off the week in negative territory as it retreated by 0.32% to a near three-week low of 4,728.945 points. Trading activity was spread across thirteen equities: six posted declines, five closed flat whilst only MIA and RS2 registered gains. The total value of equities traded dropped to €0.28 million from nearly €0.50 million last Friday. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index halted an eight-day negative streak as it maintained its two-year low of 1,110.593 points. The indicative bid prices quoted by the Central Bank of Malta for Malta Government Stocks (MGSs) with maturities up to seven years moved lower whilst bids for MGSs with maturities of ten years and more moved higher, reflecting changes in the 10-year and 20-year benchmark German Bund yields. The 10-year Bund advanced to 0.447% from 0.435% last Friday while the yield of the 20-year Bund eased to 0.947% from 0.974% last Friday.
  • The most actively traded equity today was Bank of Valletta plc which held on to its over nine-year high of €2.21 across 54,744 shares – representing 43% of the total value of equities traded today.
  • Two deals totalling 35,000 shares left the equity of Medserv plc at the €1.60 level. The oil and gas logistics specialist is due to publish its 2016 financial results on 5 April 2017.
  • Simonds Farsons Cisk plc maintained the €7.20 level on shallow volumes totalling 540 shares.
  • Likewise, Malta Properties Company plc and MIDI plc also finished the day unchanged at €0.52 and €0.33 respectively on light volumes. MPC is due to reveal its 2016 financial results on 21 March 2017 whilst MIDI will follow on 20 April 2017.
  • In contrast, Tigne’ Mall plc, Malita Investments plc and Plaza Centres plc moved lower today. The worst perform among these three shares was Tigne’ Mall as it lost 3.6% to the €1.06 level across 9,090 shares.  The Company is due to publish its 2016 financial results on 6 April 2017.
  • On the other hand, Malita Investments plc retreated by 1.3% to a fresh two-year low of €0.76 across 48,860 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on Friday 24 March 2017 will be eligible to a final net dividend of €0.01482 per share subject to shareholders’ approval during an Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday 27 April 2017.
  • Plaza Centres plc dropped 0.9% to a near two-month low of €1.08 albeit on a single deal of just 1,658 shares. Last Thursday Plaza revealed that it generated record post-tax profits of €1.27 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2016. Shareholders as at close of trading on Wednesday 26 April 2017 are entitled to receive a final net dividend of €0.0294 per share subject to shareholders’ approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday 31 May 2017.
  • International Hotel Investments plc erased last Friday’s gains as it declined by 0.8% to the €0.635 level across 4,250 shares.
  • Today, the equity of HSBC Bank Malta plc started to trade without the entitlement to the recently recommended final net dividend of €0.027 per share. The share price slipped by 1.9% to the €2.04 level on weak volumes totalling 14,264 shares.
  • Lombard Bank Malta plc eased 0.9% to a near three-week low of €2.30 on trivial volumes. Last Thursday, the Bank revealed its 2016 financial results showing an 11.4% drop in adjusted pre-tax profits to €6.95 million (FY2015: €7.84 million). The Directors recommended an unchanged net dividend of €0.026 per share to all shareholders as at close of trading on 24 March 2017. The dividend is payable on 5 May 2017 subject to shareholders’ approval during the upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 27 April 2017.
  • Meanwhile, Malta International Airport plc recaptured the €4.20 level (+1.2%) across 1,500 shares. Shareholders as at 6 April 2017 will be eligible to receive a final net dividend of €0.07 per share subject to shareholders’ approval during an Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 10 May 2017.
  • Five deals totalling 4,670 shares lifted the equity of RS2 Software plc 1.2% higher to the €1.67 level.