Daily Market Highlights (17.03.15)

  • During this morning’s trading session on the Borza, most of the active equities once again closed in positive territory lifting the MSE Share Index up a further 1.1% to surpass the 3,700-point level for the first time since February 2014. This was the fourteenth consecutive positive session for the local equity market. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged 0.1% higher to 1,143.571 points as Eurozone benchmark yields eased back to the 0.272% level as yields in the single currency bloc remain under pressure in view of the asset purchase programme being conducted by the European Central Bank (ECB) with €60 billion monthly bond purchases until at least September 2016.
  • Bank of Valletta plc’s equity advanced for the eight successive session with an increase of a further 3% to yet another 7-year high of €2.37 on high volumes totalling 69,196 shares.
  • Similarly, the share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc edged 1% higher to recapture the €2.00 level albeit on lower volumes of 16,176 shares. Tomorrow marks the last day to gain entitlement to the final gross dividend of €0.026 per share.
  • Also amongst the large cap equities, Malta International Airport plc also extended its recent positive run with an increase of a further 1.2% to a fresh all-time high of €3.26 across nine deals totalling 27,289 shares. MIA shares will trade with the entitlement to the dividend until 16 April.
  • GO plc edged up 0.7% also to a fresh 7-year high of €2.93 on increased volumes of just over 54,400 shares. GO shares will trade with the entitlement to the dividend until 30 March.
  • The best performer of the day was MIDI plc with a 4.2% rise to the €0.25 level on higher volumes of 163,700 shares. The share price of MIDI responded positively to last Friday’s announcement in which it was revealed that negotiations are ongoing with a number of strategic partners in connection with the Manoel Island project and MIDI intends to reach an agreement with one of these interested parties.
  • The only other positive performing equity was Grand Harbour Marina plc with a 2.3% increase to regain the €1.82 level across two deals totalling 5,000 shares.
  • On the other hand, the share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc slipped 3% back to the €1.825 level across six deals totalling 8,732 shares. Tomorrow marks the last day for the entitlement to the final gross dividend of €0.04 per share.
  • Similarly, the equity of RS2 Software plc eased minimally lower to €2.959 on a single trade of 6,650 shares. RS2 has yet to announce the date of the publication of the 2014 financial results.
  • Meanwhile, Malita Investments plc held on to its all-time high of €0.95 on weak activity of 2,000 shares. The equity will trade with the entitlement to the final dividend until tomorrow.
  • Likewise, MaltaPost plc held on to its all-time high of €1.41 across a single trade of 2,596 shares. This month marks the end of the first half of the financial year of the postal operator with the interim results generally published in early May.