Daily Market Highlights (20.05.15)

  • The decline in HSBC’s share price offset the gains registered in four other active equities leading to a marginal decline in the MSE Share Index to 3,783.236 points. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged a further 0.1% higher to 1,149.179 points as the benchmark 10-year Eurozone yield remained under pressure after the European Central Bank (ECB) yesterday revealed that it is planning to accelerate its monthly purchases in May and June in view of lower liquidity levels that are generally evident during the summer months.
  • The share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc continued to decline and tumbled by 2.3% to a fresh 4-week low of €1.80 across twenty deals totalling 57,812 shares.
  • One of the positive performing equities was GO plc with a 0.3% uplift to recapture the €3.00 level across six deals totalling 18,910 shares.
  • Similarly, the share price of RS2 Software plc inched minimally higher to close this morning’s trading session at the €3.18 level on volumes of 8,548 shares. The Company is scheduled to hold its Annual General Meeting on 9 June.
  • FIMBank plc’s equity also trended in positive territory today with a 2% uplift to regain the USD0.46 level on a single trade of 5,572 shares. Yesterday, the trade finance specialist issued its interim Directors’ statement reiterating that management is currently implementing the turnaround strategy in order to return the Group to sustainable profit levels within a relatively short time frame. Nonetheless, in 2015, the Group is expected to incur some additional charges in connection with the discontinuance of the Russian factoring business. Furthermore, the Group’s Indian factoring business was also hit by new impairments largely related to legacy issues. Additionally, the Group incurred some relatively small increases in net impairments at Bank level. However, the overall impairment charge for the first few months of 2015 is in line with budgets.
  • The only other positive performing equity was Santumas Shareholdings plc with a 0.3% increase to regain the €2.00 level on shallow volumes of 5,000 shares.
  • Meanwhile, Bank of Valletta plc maintained the €2.30 level on low volumes of 6,070 shares.
  • Likewise, insignificant volumes were transacted in Lombard Bank Malta plc and Mapfre Middlesea plc as both equities held on to their respective previous closing prices.
  • Also, Malta International Airport plc held on to the €3.45 level on volumes of 2,470 shares. This morning, the airport operator held its Annual General Meeting during which shareholders approved all the items on the agenda including the final gross dividend of €0.1231 per share which will now be distributed on 8 June.
  • Malita Investments plc also held on to its previous closing price of €0.80 across two deals totalling 17,000 shares.
  • Likewise, MaltaPost plc traded again at its all-time high of €1.50 on an insignificant trade of 187 shares.