Daily Market Highlights (15.03.2017)

  • The MSE Share Index moved higher for the first time in the last four trading sessions as it rebounded by a minimal 0.03% to 4,721.355 points. Trading activity was spread across thirteen equities – seven posted gains, three closed flat and another three shares registered declines. Trading volumes in equities improved to a near three-week high of €0.50 million. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index moved higher for the first time this month as it rebounded by 0.38% to 1,111.791 points as euro zone sovereign yields fell (bond prices gained) possibly on renewed political uncertainties in Europe including the outcome of the Dutch general elections being held today. Furthermore, on the economic front, fresh data showed that employment in the single currency area rose by a less than expected 1.1% year-on-year in the last quarter of 2016.
  • The most actively traded equity was International Hotel Investments plc which recaptured the €0.64 level (+0.8%) on volumes totalling 435,297 shares – representing 56% of the total value of equities traded today.
  • Also among the large companies, Bank of Valletta plc finished the day minimally higher at the €2.20 level across 20,378 shares. Similarly, six deals totalling 18,768 shares lifted the equity of HSBC Bank Malta plc 0.3% higher to the €2.045 level.
  • Lombard Bank Malta plc also climbed 2.1% to a fresh twelve-month high of €2.40 across 17,500 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on 24 March 2017 will be eligible to receive a net dividend of €0.026 per share subject to shareholders’ approval during the upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 27 April 2017.
  • Lombard’s postal subsidiary, MaltaPost plc, also performed positively today as it gained 1.5% to recapture the €2.03 level on three deals totalling 6,300 shares.
  • Santumas Shareholdings plc reached a record high of €1.70 (+0.6%) albeit on insignificant volumes.
  • Following last Monday’s decline of 3.6%, Tigne’ Mall plc rebounded by a minimal 0.2% to regain the €1.062 level. A total of 9,900 shares changed hands. The Company is due to publish its 2016 financial results on 6 April 2017.
  • Meanwhile, MIDI plc and Plaza Centres plc held on to the €0.33 and €1.08 levels respectively on trivial volumes. Last week, Plaza reported record post-tax profits of €1.27 million and its Board of Directors recommended a final net dividend of €0.0294 per share payable on 6 June 2017 to shareholders as at close of trading on Wednesday 26 April 2017.
  • Simonds Farsons Cisk plc also traded unchanged today as it held on to the €7.20 level on light volumes.
  • On the other hand, GlobalCapital plc slumped 11.4% to a seven-month low of €0.35 across 25,600 shares.
  • Similarly, Malta International Airport plc lost 1.8% to the €4.125 level on volumes totalling 12,025 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.
  • A single deal of just 1,270 shares pulled the equity of RS2 Software plc 0.1% lower to the €1.649 level.
  • This afternoon, FIMBank plc published its 2016 preliminary results, revealing a net profit attributable to shareholders of USD4.92 million in contrast to the losses suffered in the previous three financial years. The Group’s operating income was relatively unchanged at €46.1 million. On the other hand, the Group’s performance was boosted by significantly lower expenses and impairments. Subject to Regulators’ and shareholders’ approval, the Directors recommended a 1 for 80 bonus issue to shareholders as at close of trading on 7 April 2017. The equity remained inactive today.