Daily Market Highlights (20.12.16)

  • The MSE Share Index moved higher for the fifth consecutive day as it advanced by a further 0.97% to an over eight-month high of 4,593.306 points. In particular, five large companies all registered gains today, adding nearly €39 million in their respective aggregate market capitalisation. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index posted a three-day positive streak as it advanced by a further 0.32% to a one-month high of 1,149.591 points. Euro zone sovereign yields extended their recent declines (bond prices went up) despite signs of a continued economic recovery in the single currency area. Indeed, the 10-year benchmark German Bund dropped to 0.271% today from 0.316% yesterday morning.
  • The best performing equity was International Hotel Investments plc which rebounded by 2.8% to the €0.657 level across 56,000 shares.
  • In the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc edged 2.6% higher to the €1.91 level across 9,000 shares whilst four deals totalling 17,000 shares pushed Bank of Valletta plc to the €2.275 level (+1.1%). Last Friday, BOV held its Annual General Meeting during which the Chairman and the CEO emphasised the need for the bank to revise its business model and raise fresh capital in line with the more stringent regulations being imposed on European banks. Shareholders approved a number of resolutions including the recommendation of a final gross dividend of €0.085 per share as well as a 1 for 13 bonus share issue. The cut-off date for the bonus issue is 12 January 2017.
  • RS2 Software plc closed in positive territory for the third consecutive day as it advanced by a further 0.1% to a fresh three-month high of €1.68 across 33,150 shares.
  • Malta International Airport plc closed the day 0.2% higher at the €4.06 level across 3,000 shares. Recently, MIA stated that, following the strong performance in November, it is aiming to exceed 5 million passenger movements in 2016.
  • Medserv plc erased yesterday’s decline as it moved back to the €1.65 level (+0.1%) across 15,900 shares.
  • MaltaPost plc reached a new record high of €2.05 (+1.5%) albeit on trivial volumes of just 700 shares. The equity will continue to trade with the entitlement to the final net dividend of €0.04 per share until Friday 23 December.
  • Shallow volumes were also traded in the equity of MIDI plc which maintained the €0.33 level.