Daily Market Highlights (17.03.2017)

  • The MSE Share Index extended yesterday’s drop by a further 0.05% to an over five-week low of 4,715.170 points, reflecting the declines in the share prices of Plaza Centres and GO. Meanwhile, four equities traded unchanged. Trading volumes across the equity market improved to €0.34 million from just €0.16 million yesterday. Week-on-week, the MSE Share Index lost 0.61% as most equities registered declines whilst only Lombard, MaltaPost and Santumas Shareholdings performed positively. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • Following the strong rebound in the previous two days, the RF MGS Index sunk by 0.47% – the sharpest decline in six days – to 1,109.602 points. Euro zone sovereign yields rose sharply today following comments made by European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Ewald Nowotny who said that the central bank may decide on a possible deposit rate hike before or after the end of its quantitative-easing programme. The 10-year and 20-year benchmark German Bund yields surged to 0.474% and 0.938% respectively from 0.429% and 0.912% yesterday. Week-on-week, the RF MGS Index eased by 0.09% amid heightened volatility in yields.
  • Almost all of today’s trading activity took place in the equities of Bank of Valletta plc (72,046 shares) and HSBC Bank Malta plc (75,983 shares). Both equities closed flat at €2.20 and €2.05 respectively.
  • In the property segment, Tigne’ Mall plc and MIDI plc closed unchanged at €0.33 and €1.062 respectively. Tigne’ Mall is due to reveal its 2016 financial results on 6 April 2017 whilst MIDI will follow on 20 April 2017.
  • In contrast, Plaza Centres plc slipped by 0.9% to a near two-month low of €1.07 across 16,000 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on Wednesday 26 April 2017 will be eligible to receive a final net dividend of €0.0294 per share.
  • A single deal of just 1,000 shares pulled the equity of GO plc 0.6% lower to the €3.50 level. Shareholders as at 29 March 2017 will be eligible to receive a net dividend of €0.11 per share subject to shareholders’ approval during an Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 3 May 2017.