Daily Market Highlights (16.01.14)

  • The MSE Share Index edged 0.2% higher to 3,657.371 points as increases in the share prices of BOV and Lombard offset the declines in the equities of HSBC and GO. Meanwhile, Middlesea shares ended the session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased minimally lower to 1,024.771 points as Eurozone yields rebounded marginally above the 1.80% level this morning on better than expected economic data in Europe, US and Japan. However, by this afternoon, yields slid back below the 1.8% level as US banking giant, Citigroup, missed consensus earnings estimate.
  • Once again trading activity on the Malta Stock Exchange was centred around the equity of BOV with almost 45,000 shares changing hands during this morning’s session. BOV’s share price inched marginally higher today to regain the €2.395 level. The bonus shares are expected to be listed tomorrow with trading commencing next week.
  • Lombard also trended minimally higher to €1.851 on a deal of 1,574 shares.
  • On the other hand, the share price of HSBC eased 0.7% lower to the €2.559 level also on low volumes of 8,900 shares.
  • The share price of GO closed this morning’s session in negative territory with a 1.4% drop back to the €1.82 level after only partially recovering from an intra-day low of €1.805. Just over 5,000 GO shares changed hands today. This morning, the telecoms quad play operator issued an announcement confirming that Forgendo and its 50% owned subsidiary, Giradena Limited, collectively hold 49,501,193 shares of Forthnet representing 44.96% of the issued share capital of the Greek telecoms operator. The announcement also reiterated the agreement between GO and Emirates International Telecommunications Malta Limited (EITML) whereby GO and EITML provided the necessary funding to Forgendo to participate in the rights issue by way of a loan. Furthermore, GO has an option, valid for a six month period starting from 16 January 2014 being the trading date of the new shares, to convert the loan into equity of Forgendo. If GO does not convert its loan into Forgnedo shares within this period, EITML is obliged to repay the GO loan in exchange for additional shares in Forgendo.
  • Meanwhile, the only other active equity, Middlesea Insurance, ended the session unchanged at the €0.92 level on a small trade of 147 shares.