Daily Market Highlights (15.05.2018)

  • The MSE Equity Price Index moved higher for the third consecutive day as it gained a further 0.34% to 4,318.476 points, largely driven by the 3.6% uplift in the share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc which regained the €1.75 level across 21,335 shares. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • The RF MGS Index trended lower for the second consecutive day with a further drop of 0.15% to an over one-week low of 1,115.481 points. Sovereign euro bond yields gained further ground today, possibly reflecting encouraging readings of two indices gauging the level of economic confidence in Germany and the entire single currency area which were better than previously estimated. In fact, the 10-year and 20-year German Bund yields reached a near three-week high of 0.64% and 1.05% respectively. On the other hand, however, other data published today pointed towards a slowdown in economic growth in Germany as well as lower growth in industrial production across the euro area. Meanwhile, the political situation in Italy continued to be uncertain as the leaders of the Northern League and the Five Star Movement still haven’t reached an agreement in forming a new government.
  • The other positive performing equity today was Trident Estates plc as it added 0.7% to the €1.54 level on a single deal of 5,000 shares. The company is due to publish its 2017/18 financial results on Wednesday 23 May.
  • Within the same segment, a single deal of 22,000 shares left the equity of Malta Properties Company plc at the €0.47 level.
  • GO plc (23,619 shares) and International Hotel Investments plc (3,000 shares) also traded unchanged today at the €3.48 and €0.63 levels respectively. IHI’s AGM is scheduled to be held on 5 June.
  • Among the large companies by market capitalisation, RS2 Software plc shed 0.8% to the €1.23 level after partially recovering from an intra-day low of €1.20 (-3.2%). A total of 9,840 shares changed hands. Shareholders of RS2 as at close of trading tomorrow will be entitled to a net dividend of €0.0146 per share.
  • Bank of Valletta plc retracted back to the €1.74 level (-0.6%) across 23,800 shares whilst two deals totalling 4,339 shares forced the equity of Lombard Bank Malta plc 0.9% lower to the €2.30 level.