Daily Market Highlights (13.11.14)

  • The MSE Share Index eased 0.1% lower to 3,337.358 points as a result of a decline in the share price of BOV. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index dropped by 0.1% to a 5-week low of 1,090.726 points as Eurozone benchmark yields this morning rebounded to the 0.81% level. However, by this afternoon, the benchmark 10-year yield drifted back to 0.795% as a European Central Bank (ECB) survey showed reduced inflation expectations for the region which in turn triggered fresh calls for more stimulus by the ECB.
  • On the local corporate bond market, the newly listed €30 million 5.0% Hal Mann Vella Group plc bonds maturing in 2024 remained well supported as it regained its all-time high of 103.80% across €80,500 (nominal).
  • Today marked the last day that Bank of Valletta plc shares traded with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of €0.0925 per share announced on Friday 30 October. Nonetheless, the share price of BOV failed to hold on to an intra-day high of €2.291 as it ended this morning’s session 0.4% lower at the €2.28 level on high volumes of 41,089 shares. The equity turns ex-dividend as from tomorrow.
  • Meanwhile, the only other active equity was HSBC Bank Malta plc with a further 12,500 shares changing hands at the €1.974 level representing no change from the previous closing price.
  • This morning, Malta International Airport plc published its Interim Directors’ Statement updating the market since the end of its interim period on 30 June. Following the 6.7% growth in passenger numbers during the first 10 months of the year, the airport operator confirmed this morning that traffic for the last two months of the year is expected to be similar to that of 2013. As such, passenger movements are expected to grow by around 5.9% to over 4.2 million passengers. MIA’s Directors confirmed that the Company’s financial results for 2014 are expected to be better than the projections made at the beginning of the year and higher than the actual results of 2013.