Daily Market Highlights (15.06.2018)

  • Following the gains in the previous two days, the MSE Equity Price Index dropped by 0.5% today to a two-week low of 4,372.309 points, largely reflecting the declines in the share prices of FIMBank (-4.6%), MIA (-1.4%) and IHI (-0.7%) whilst only PG trended higher. Overall, the Index retracted by 0.49% during the past five trading sessions, partly erasing some of the strong gains registered last week. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • The RF MGS Index surged by 0.38% to a one-week high of 1,101.426 points as eurozone bond yields dropped after the ECB yesterday decided to cut the amount of net monthly asset purchases by half to €15 billion in Q4 2018, and thereafter bring its quantitative easing programme to an end. Nonetheless, the ECB reiterated its commitment to maintain its benchmark interest rate at the prevailing historic low levels “at least through the summer of 2019 and in any case for as long as necessary to ensure that the evolution of inflation remains aligned with the current expectations of a sustained adjustment path.”
  • FIMBank plc slumped by 4.6% back to the USD0.52 level on five deals totalling 100,000 shares.
  • The equity of Malta International Airport plc slipped below the €5.00 mark to the €4.98 level (-1.4%) on volumes totalling 4,450 shares despite last week’s announcement reporting strong growth in passenger movements of 16.8% during the first five months of the year.
  • Also among the large caps, International Hotel Investments plc eased by 0.7% to the €0.685 level albeit on just 4,636 shares. Shareholders as at the close of trading on Tuesday 26 June will be entitled to a net interim dividend of €0.02 per share.
  • Low trading activity also took place in the equities of MaltaPost plc and Mapfre Middlesea plc. The postal operator moved to a fresh 2018 low of €1.70 (-2.9%) whilst Mapfre Middlesea retreated by 2.1% to the €1.90 level.
  • The other negative performing equity today was Medserv plc with a drop of 2.9% to the €1.02 level on two deals totalling 10,737 shares.
  • In the retail banking sector, Bank of Valletta plc (37,272 shares) and HSBC Bank Malta plc (10,865 shares) both closed unchanged at €1.75 and €1.81 respectively. The equity of BOV momentarily traded at an intra-day low of €1.72 (-1.7%).
  • RS2 Software plc retained the €1.25 level across 20,000 shares. The company is scheduled to hold its AGM next Tuesday 19 June.
  • In the property segment, MIDI plc (€0.42), Malita Investments plc (€0.83) and Trident Estates plc (€1.31) traded flat on single deals.
  • Meanwhile, PG plc surged by 4% from its 2018 low of €1.25 to the €1.30 level across 75,000 shares.