Daily Market Highlights (16.01.2019)

  • The MSE Equity Price Index moved to its lowest level in nearly four months as it declined by 2.2% to 4,355.106 points. A total of eight equities, including Farsons, MIA, GO and BOV, performed negatively whilst a further five equities closed the day unchanged. Furthermore, most equities traded on shallow activity whilst almost half of today’s volumes took place in just two equities – namely MPC and BOV. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • The RF MGS Index extended its recent positive run as it trended higher for the fifth consecutive day to a fresh near six-month high of 1,100.163 points. Prices of Malta Government Stocks advanced higher despite a downturn across euro bond prices. International financial markets were largely dominated by the aftermath of the UK Parliamentary vote on Brexit. Meanwhile, the latest data in Germany showed that, in 2018, Europe’s powerhouse economy grew at 1.5% – its slowest rate in five years.
  • Bank of Valletta plc continued to trade within a tight range as it eased 0.7% to the €1.29 level across 45,350 shares.
  • Among the large caps, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc, Malta International Airport plc and GO plc also trended lower although on much lower volumes. Farsons shares slumped 9.7% to the €7.90 level on volumes of 2,051 shares and GO retreated by 2% to the €3.98 level on 2,240 shares.
  • MIA dropped 2.5% back to the €5.75 level on just over 5,000 shares. Today, MIA announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 20 February 2019 to consider and approve the company’s financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2018. The Board of Directors will also consider the declaration of a final dividend.
  • MaltaPost plc tumbled 24.1% to its lowest level in four years of €1.20 albeit on shallow activity.
  • Similarly, a single deal of just 1,580 shares forced the equity of Mapfre Middlesea plc to move almost 13% lower to the €1.83 level. This morning, Mapfre Middlesea announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 13 March 2019 to consider and approve the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2018. The Directors will also consider the recommendation of a dividend.
  • In the property segment, Trident Estates plc plunged by 10.8% to the €1.32 level on insignificant volumes.
  • Malta Properties Company plc eased 0.9% to the €0.53 level across 125,240 shares.
  • On the other hand, MIDI plc retained the €0.67 level across 6,000 shares.
  • HSBC Bank Malta plc also closed the day unchanged at the €1.76 level after recovering from an intra-day low of €1.71 (-2.8%). A total of 21,359 shares changed hands.
  • International Hotel Investments plc held on to the €0.59 level on 47,031 shares. 
  • A total of 2,326 shares of Grand Harbour Marina plc were exchanged at the equity’s all-time low of €0.60 and PG plc maintained the €1.34 level on trivial volumes.