Daily Market Highlights (18.01.11)

  • Local equity market closes in negative territory for the first time in over a week. MSE Share Index sheds 0.5% to close at 3,856.345 points as the declines in HSBC, Plaza and RS2 outweighed the increases in the share prices of BOV and MIA. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index in negative territory for the sixth successive session as the benchmark 10-year Eurozone yield regained the 3.08% level. The MGS Index eased a further 0.2% today to close at 987.623 points, representing a 0.5% drop since the start of the year.
  • HSBC’s share price retreats by 1.9% to the €3.46 level as the equity closed in negative territory for the first time since 6 January. Only 3,750 shares changed hands today with offers already placed lower at €3.449 whilst best bids now placed at the €3.44 level. HSBC generally publishes its full-year results by the end of February.
  • Meanwhile BOV reverses yesterday’s 0.3% drop as its share price regained the €3.15 level on higher volumes amounting to 24,635 shares. Best bids placed at €3.13 whilst lowest offers in the market at the €3.155 level. The Bank is shortly expected to publish its Interim Directors’ Statement to update the investing public on its performance since the last financial year ended 30 September 2010.
  • MIA ranks as the star performer of the day as the share price of the airport operator climbed 1.8% to reach its highest price level since 31 July 2006 on relatively high volumes of almost 45,000 shares. Following the 38.3% rise during 2010, the equity has already gained 2.4% this year. Further bids outstanding at the last closing price whilst lowest offers now placed at the €1.75 level.
  • On the contrary, Plaza Centres plc plummeted 11.2% back to the €1.50 level on low trading activity of just 4,000 shares. Bids already placed higher at €1.60 whilst no offers are in sight.
  • RS2 Software share price slips by 2.2% to its all-time low of €0.45 on two small deals amounting to 600 shares. Further shares on offer at the last traded price whilst best bids placed significantly lower at the €0.25 level.