Daily Market Highlights (22.12.16)

  • Following yesterday’s losses, the MSE Share Index rebounded slightly by 0.11% to 4,569.678 points reflecting the gains registered in the share prices of RS2, GO and HSBC. Meanwhile, six other equities closed the day unchanged. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • Following the strong gains registered in the previous four days (+1.37%), the RF MGS Index dropped by -0.19% to 1,152.443 points today. Euro zone sovereign yields rebounded (bond prices fell) following comments made by Mr Jens Weidmann – the head of the German Central Bank (the Bundesbank) – in which he was reported as saying that the European Central Bank (ECB) is risking letting its monetary policy run too loose in the face of rising inflation. The ECB’s latest forecasts show that inflation is expected to reach 1.7% in 2019 which is slightly under the 2% target. The 10-year benchmark German Bund yield touched a three-week low of 0.233% earlier today before rallying to a high of 0.277%.
  • RS2 Software plc advanced 1.1% to the €1.72 level after briefly trading at a new three-month high of €1.798. A total of 31,000 shares changed hands today.
  • Also among the large companies, a single deal of just 1,150 shares pushed the equity of GO plc to a new seven-month high of €3.26 (+0.3%) whilst HSBC Bank Malta plc edged 0.1% higher to €1.911 across 14,866 shares.
  • In contrast, Bank of Valletta plc maintained the €2.269 level after recovering from an intra-day low of €2.24 (-1.3%). BOV was the most actively traded equity today as 55,666 shares changed hands. The equity will continue trading with the entitlement to the 1 for 13 bonus issue until 12 January 2017.
  • Malta International Airport plc also closed unchanged at €4.05 across 12,293 shares. On Tuesday, the airport operator issued a press release to announce that it has reached the 5 million passenger movement mark which is a new record for MIA.
  • MIDI plc held on to the €0.335 level on heightened activity totalling 134,900 shares.
  • MaltaPost plc maintained its all-time high of €2.05 across 19,450 shares. Tomorrow is the last day before the equity turns ex-dividend.
  • FIMBank plc retained the USD0.85 level for the second consecutive trading session. A total of 33,433 shares changed hands today.
  • Mapfre Middlesea plc also closed flat at €2.12 on trivial volumes.