Daily Market Highlights (26.03.15)

  • The MSE Share Index trended in negative territory for the third consecutive session with a further 0.1% drop during this morning’s trading session to 3,757.011 as BOV weighed down on the index, netting off the increases in four of the remaining seven active equities. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index edged a further 0.6% higher to yet another all-time high of 1,156.604 points as the Central Bank of Malta significantly raised its indicative bid prices for the longer-term maturities thereby partly reflecting the uplift in Malta Government Stock prices on the secondary market amid the increased demand for sovereign paper. The recently issued 3% MGS 2040 dropped by 149 basis points to 116.01% on continued heightened activity totalling €1.6 million nominal.
  • Today’s decline was due to the 0.8% drop in the share price of Bank of Valletta plc, the sole negative performer, back to the €2.35 level across thirteen deals totalling 45,216 shares.On the other hand, the share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc edged 0.2% higher to close the session at the €2.05 level on shallow volumes of 5,000 shares.
  • Similarly, the equity of Malta International Airport plc inched marginally higher to regain the €3.46 level on volumes of 24,670 shares. The equity will continue to trade with the entitlement to the final gross dividend of €0.1231 per share until 16 April.
  • Malita Investments plc increased minimally to €0.93 across 10,875 shares. The equity had touched an all-time high of €0.95.
  • Medserv plc’s share price broke new highs as a single trade of 2,900 shares was transacted at a fresh all-time high of €1.80 with further bids unsatisfied at the last closing price. Earlier this week Medserv published its 2014 financial statements showing pre-tax profits of €3 million which exceeded the forecasts of €2.2 million. The Directors recommended the payment of a net final dividend of €0.056 per share (2013: €0.024 per share) to all shareholders as at close of trading on 26 May.
  • Meanwhile, GO plc held on to the €2.85 level across two deals totalling 4,500 shares. Likewise, Lombard Bank Malta plc ended this morning’s session unchanged at the €1.91 level across two trades totalling 6,500 shares.
  • The only other active equity was Tigné Mall plc as 6,000 shares changed hands at the equity’s all-time high of €0.75 across a single trade. Tigne Mall will be published its 2014 financial statements on 9 April.