Daily Market Highlights (16.05.2017)

  • The MSE Share Index inched minimally from yesterday’s near five-month low of 4,625.179 points to 4,627.829 points as the gains in the share prices of FIMBank (+3.7%) and GO (+0.7%) outweighed the drops in HSBC (-1%) and PG (-0.7%). Meanwhile, another five equities closed the day unchanged. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index moved lower for the fourth consecutive day as it slipped by a further 0.04% to a fresh near seven-week low of 1,118.700 points. Whilst the 10-year and 20-year benchmark German Bund yields advanced to 0.433% and 0.969% respectively from 0.416% and 0.933% yesterday, the corresponding yields of the two largest peripheral countries – Spain and Italy – declined. On the economic front, fresh inflationary data in France and Q1 GDP growth in Italy and in the whole of the single currency economy were in line with estimates. On the other hand, the euro zone increased its trade surplus in March with both exports and imports rising markedly whilst confidence among investors and analysts improved further in May to reach fresh multi-year highs.
  • Most of today’s trading activity in the local equity market took place in Bank of Valletta plc which maintained its six-week low of €2.20 across 108,121 shares – representing nearly 70% of the total value of equities traded.
  • Also among the large companies by market capitalisation, four deals totalling 14,500 shares left the equity of RS2 Software plc unchanged at €1.60. Tomorrow is the last day for shareholders to be entitled to a final net dividend of €0.01 per share as well as a bonus share issue of one share for every twelve shares held.
  • Medserv plc (4,657 shares) and Malita Investments plc (4,900 shares) held on to their two-year lows of €1.25 and €0.72 respectively. The oil and gas logistics specialist is due to hold its Annual General Meeting on 31 May.
  • Similarly, Tigne’ Mall plc retained its eight-month low of €1.00 across 20,000 shares. The equity is still trading with the entitlement to a final net dividend of €0.0125 per share.
  • GO plc recovered most of the declines suffered in the previous two trading sessions as it bounced back by 0.7% to the €3.494 level albeit on shallow volumes totalling 3,000 shares.
  • A single deal of just 2,000 shares lifted the equity of FIMBank plc 3.7% higher from its over one-year low of USD0.75 to the USD0.778 level.
  • In contrast, HSBC Bank Malta plc slipped back below the €2.00 mark to the €1.98 level (-1%) on two deals totalling 5,100 shares.
  • PG plc extended yesterday’s drop by a further 0.7% to the €1.29 level on significantly lower volumes amounting to 23,600 shares.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index moved lower for the fourth consecutive day as it slipped by a further 0.04% to a fresh near seven-week low of 1,118.700 points. Whilst the 10-year and 20-year benchmark German Bund yields advanced to 0.433% and 0.969% respectively from 0.416% and 0.933% yesterday, the corresponding yields of the two largest peripheral countries – Spain and Italy – declined. On the economic front, fresh inflationary data in France and Q1 GDP growth in Italy and in the whole of the single currency economy were in line with estimates. On the other hand, the euro zone increased its trade surplus in March with both exports and imports rising markedly whilst confidence among investors and analysts improved further in May to reach fresh multi-year highs.