Daily Market Highlights (19.02.13)

  • The MSE Share Index moved back into negative territory with a 0.2% drop to 3,250.240 points as the declines in BOV and HSBC offset the 38% jump in the share price of 6pm. Meanwhile, the only other active equity, GO, ended the session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased minimally lower to 1,007.313 points reflecting this morning’s initial uptick in benchmark Eurozone yields to the 1.64% level as Germany’s investor confidence index improved by more-than-expected to a new 3-year high. However, the benchmark 10-year German Bund yield slipped back to the 1.62% level later on in the day.
  • Locally, last week the Treasury announced the issue of €200 million in a combination of two new Malta Government Stocks as follows: (i) 3.00% MGS 2019 (III) and (ii) 4.5% MGS 2028 (II) at prices to be determined on Thursday 21 February 2013. Subscriptions open on Monday 25 February and close on Wednesday 27 February for the General Public. Further details available here.
  • The share price of 6pm soared by 37.9% during this morning’s session on renewed demand for the IT equity following yesterday’s announcement revealing a number of new contracts. Yesterday evening, the Group revealed that it successfully licenced its CareSolutions Climate-HIV management solution to three trusts forming part of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. Moreover, 6pm also won a competitive bid for a major Integrated Record Management (IRM) project worth over GBP2 million with one of the largest hospitals in the UK. A total of 78,975 shares changed hands today with the share price reaching a new 21-month high of GBP0.40 with further bids in the market at the last closing price and lowest offers now placed at the GBP0.45 level.
  • Shallow trading activity was evident across the rest of the market as investors await the start of the full-year reporting season which kicks off this Friday with Malita and Island Hotels Group issuing their financial statements.
  • BOV retreated by 0.9% to €2.26 on volumes of just over 10,000 shares.
  • Similarly, HSBC’s share price slipped by 0.4% to the €2.74 on a single deal of 1,000 shares. HSBC is scheduled to report its 2012 figures on 4 March.
  • The only other active equity today was GO which held on to the €1.38 level on a trade of 2,080 shares.