Daily Market Highlights (14.05.2019)

The MSE Equity Price Index recovered some of yesterday’s decline as it rebounded by 0.11% to 4,745.989 points. The gains in three equities outweighed the drops in three other companies whilst several other shares ended the day unchanged. Trading volumes contracted to €0.35 million compared to €0.53 million yesterday. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

The RF MGS Index trended lower for the third consecutive day as it slipped by a further 0.08% to an eight-day low of 1,113.562 points. Movements in the prices of Malta Government Stocks continued to be largely dominated by the considerable volatility impacting international financial markets reflecting the various uncertainties related to the trade dispute between the US and China.

International Hotel Investments plc added 1.3% to the €0.79 level (the highest since end November 2015) on a total of 107,500 shares. The hotel chain operator is due to hold its AGM on 13 June. Shareholders as at close of trading on 26 June will be entitled to receive a net dividend of €0.02 per share.

Similarly, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc surged by 2.2% to the €9.45 level (the highest since mid-November 2017) across 2,878 shares. Tomorrow, Farsons is due to publish its results for the financial year ended 31 January 2019.

BMIT Technologies plc regained the €0.54 level (+1.9%) on activity totalling 12,300 shares. The company will be holding its AGM on 27 May.

Malta International Airport plc retreated by 1.4% from its all-time high of €7.00 to the €6.90 level across increased activity totalling 18,175 shares. Tomorrow, MIA will be holding its AGM during which shareholders will also be asked to approve the payment of a final net dividend of €0.09 per share. If approved, the dividend is payable on 29 May to all shareholders as at close of trading on 11 April.

In the property segment, Tigné Mall plc moved back to the €0.92 level across light volumes totalling 11,000 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on 18 June will be eligible to receive a final net dividend of €0.0131 per share.

Malita Investments plc shed 1.8% to the €0.835 level across 31,000 shares.

In contrast, Trident Estates plc held on to its four-month high of €1.47 albeit on trivial volumes. Shareholders as at close of trading on 22 May will be entitled to receive a net dividend per share of €0.0067.

Low trading activity took place in the equities of FIMBank plc (USD0.65), Medserv plc (€0.975) and Mapfre Middlesea plc (€2.26) all of which traded unchanged. Medserv is due to hold its AGM on 27 May.

RS2 Software plc maintained the €1.55 level after recovering from an intra-day low of €1.50 (-3.2%). A total of 33,400 shares changed hands. Shareholders as at close of trading tomorrow will be entitled to receive one bonus share for every eight shares held.

Three deals totalling 5,331 shares left the equity of HSBC Bank Malta plc at the €1.72 level. Last Thursday, HSBC issued an Interim Directors’ Statement explaining the performance of the bank in the first three months of 2019. The bank said that pre-tax profits were in line with management expectations but lower than the corresponding period last year. HSBC noted that loans and advances to customers increased when compared to the end of 2018 whilst capital ratios remained strong and above regulatory requirements.

Within the same sector, Bank of Valletta plc retained the €1.34 level on just 5,485 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on 6 June will be entitled to a 1-for-10 bonus share.