Daily Market Highlights (15.04.15)

  • The 4.2% drop in the share price of Bank of Valletta plc offset the positive performances of six other equities to drag the MSE Share Index back into negative territory with a 0.7% decline to 3,738.569 points. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased a further 0.1% lower to 1,172.168 points despite continued downward pressure in the benchmark 10-year Eurozone yield which this morning touched yet another fresh all-time low of 0.124%.
  • Yesterday, International Hotel Investments plc published a Prospectus dated 10 April 2015 in connection with a new €45 million 5.75% bond issue redeemable in 2025. Last Friday, IHI had announced that it will be redeeming its outstanding €35 million 6.25% bonds at the first early redemption date of 11 July 2015. As such, IHI will be granting preference to the holders of the maturing bonds as at 8 April 2015, to subscribe for the new bonds by surrendering their existing holding.
  • The share price of Bank of Valletta plc retreated by 4.2% back to the €2.203 level across a total of 30,272 shares of BOV changed hands today ahead of the Bank’s interim results publication by the end of the month.
  • On the other hand, the share price of Malta International Airport plc closed 0.6% higher at a fresh all-time high of €3.52 across five deals totalling 5,000 shares. The equity had also briefly traded at a new intra-day high of €3.535. The equity will trade with the entitlement to the net final dividend of €0.08 per share until close of trading tomorrow.
  • Likewise, a further three equities reached new all-time highs including RS2 Software plc which advanced by a further 0.7% to a fresh high of €3.02 across two deals totalling 29,316 shares. The 2014 financial statements will be published next Tuesday 21 April.
  • MaltaPost plc also reached a new all-time high of €1.44, representing a 1.1% increase over the previous closing price on activity totalling 21,000 shares. The postal operator is scheduled to publish its interim results (covering the six months ended 31 March 2015) on 8 May.
  • Plaza Centres plc climbed by a further 3% to a new all-time high of €0.98 across four deals totalling 29,000 shares.
  • Similarly, the large cap equities of International Hotel Investments plc and GO plc also trended in positive territory. IHI’s share price edged 1.4% higher to regain the €0.71 level on high volumes of 205,825 shares. GO’s equity moved minimally higher to close this morning’s session at the €2.87 level on volumes of just over 17,000 shares ahead of the Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 5 May.
  • Meanwhile, HSBC Bank Malta plc held on to the €2.04 level across three deals totalling 7,332 shares ahead of the Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held next Wednesday 22 April.
  • Also in the banking sector, Lombard Bank Malta plc maintained the €1.95 level on volumes of 16,000 shares. The Bank is also scheduled to hold its Annual General Meeting next Wednesday 22 April.
  • Middlesea Insurance plc also closed unchanged at the €1.20 level on low volumes of 4,398 shares and Malita Investments plc held on to the €0.97 level on a single trade of 5,960 shares.