Daily Market Highlights (15.12.15)

  • The MSE Share Index registered its fourth consecutive negative performance as the declines in the equities of the two largest companies by market capitalisation – BOV and HSBC – outweighed the gains across three other equities. Most notably, however, trading volumes peaked to their highest daily level since early February 2011 as little over than €1.1 million worth of equities changed hands, with the large majority in Lombard Bank Malta plc. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index slipped by 0.16% to 1,138.465 points as the benchmark 10-year German Bund yield rebounded from the 0.58% level of yesterday morning to 0.60% today. This afternoon, the prices of eurozone sovereign bonds continued to ease further as the 10-year German Bund yield touched the 0.66% level – its highest in the last week – possibly reflecting the strong readings of Germany’s economic sentiment and European car sales as well as a pick up in the price of oil from its recent multi-year lows. Investors are anxiously awaiting the conclusion of the US Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting tomorrow. The Fed is expected to announced the first US interest rate hike since June 2006.
  • In fact, a total amount of €0.8 million worth of trades was executed in the equity of Lombard Bank Malta plc as 325,710 shares traded. The share price advanced by 2.7% higher to yet another new multi-year high of €2.475.
  • Also across the banking sector, both HSBC Bank Malta plc and Bank of Valletta plc ended today’s trading session in negative territory. HSBC shed 1.7% to close at the €1.755 level across relatively low volumes of just 4,612 shares.
  • Bank of Valletta plc eased 0.2% lower to the €2.32 level across 22,549 shares. The Bank is scheduled to hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 17 December during which shareholders will be asked to approve a number of resolutions including those related to the dividend and bonus share issue as well as the election of six directors from the seven nominees.
  • Medserv plc and MIDI plc also ended lower albeit on insignificant volumes. In fact, the equity of the oil and gas logistics company closed at the €2.095 level, representing a 0.2% drop from the previous closing price.
  • MIDI plc was the worst performing equity of the day with a decline of 4.1% to the €0.35 level on activity of 5,700 shares.
  • Also in the property sector, Malta Properties Company plc closed unchanged at the €0.50 level across 157,100 shares.
  • Likewise, the equity of Malta International Airport plc closed at the €4.00 level across 7,250 shares.
  • Apart from Lombard Bank, RS2 Software plc and GO plc were the other positive performers of the day. RS2 advanced to record territory as it inched 1.5% higher to close at the €3.14 level across 30,650 shares.
  • GO plc extended yesterday’s gains with a further increase of 0.5% to the €2.965 level across 14,711 shares.