Daily Market Highlights (18.08.15)

  • Today, the MSE Share Index retreated by 0.2% to 4,219,743 points largely due to the 1.6% drop in the share price of HSBC as well as declines in MIa and IHI. On the other hand, the equities of BOV, GO and RS2 trended in positive territory whilst Medserv, Lombard and Farsons ended this morning;s session unchanged. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index edged a further 0.1% higher to 1,137.010 points as the benchmark 10-year German Bund yield approached the 0.6% level reflecting concerns of low inflation triggered by a further slump in the price of oil to near six-year lows.
  • HSBC Bank Malta plc back to the €1.80 level across nine deals totalling 17,753 shares. On 10 September the Bank is due to pay the recently declared interim gross dividend of €0.051 per share (net: €0.0332).
  • Amongst the large cap equities, the share price of International Hotel Investments plc eased by 1.1% back to the €0.791 level across 9,500 shares.
  • Similarly, Malta International Airport plc minimally retreated to €3.895 on shallow volumes of 5,300 shares.
  • On the other hand, further bids emerged during this morning’s session helping the share price of RS2 Software plc advanced by a further 2.6% to recapture the €2.25 level – just €0.01 below the equity’s all-time high of €2.26. A total of 35,000 shares changed hands today. Last Friday afternoon, RS2 Software plc published its interim results covering the six months ended 30 June 2015 revealing a significant improvement in pre-tax profits to €6.56 million compared to €2.96 million in the corresponding six months of 2014. The surge in profitability is largely attributable to the 48.5% growth in revenue to a record €11.5 million on the back of increases in licence fees, service fees and maintenance fees. RS2 reported improved profit margins with the EBITDA margin rising by more than 13 percentage points to 62.7%.
  • Likewise, the equity of Bank of Valletta plc trended in positive territory with a 0.2% increase to €2.285 despite failing to hold on to an intra-day high of €2.30 on total volumes of 36,000 shares.
  • The only other positive performing equity was GO plc with a 0.3% increase to €3.58 across four deals totalling 6,350 shares. Last week, the telecoms quad-play operator also published its 2015 half-year results revealing a 53% increase in pre-tax profit to €13 million largely due to a 5.2% decrease in cost of sales to €34.5 million.
  • Meanwhile, Lombard Bank Malta plc maintained the €2.115 level on a single trade of 3,153 shares. The Bank is scheduled to release its 2015 interim results on Tuesday 25 August.
  • Similarly, Medserv plc held on to the €2.34 level on just 1,850 shares ahead of the Group’s interim results publication on 27 August.
  • Simonds Farsons Cisk plc also ended the session unchanged at the €5.25 level on insignificant volumes of 395 shares.