Daily Market Highlights (28.01.15)

The MSE Share Index ended the mid-week session in negative territory with a 0.3% drop back to 3,417.761 points largely due to the declines in Bank of Valletta plc and International Hotel Investments plc. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.

On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index was practically unchanged at 1,125.263 points as the benchmark 10-year Eurozone yields continued to trade within a tight range around the 0.38% level this morning.

The share price of Bank of Valletta plc initially trended higher with a 0.5% rise to the €2.08 level. However, the equity eased back to the €2.065 level representing a 0.2% drop from yesterday’s closing price across on total activity of 53,542 shares. By mid-February, the Bank generally publishes its Interim Directors’ Statement to update the market on its performance since the start of its financial year on 1 October.

Downward pressure was also evident on the share price of International Hotel Investments plc probably in view of yesterday’s terrorist attack on the hotel in Tripoli, Libya. The equity shed a further 3.1% during this morning’s session back to the €0.62 level on volumes of 14,300 shares.

Malita Investments plc retreated by 1.2% from its all-time high of €0.67 to €0.662 across 5,000 shares.

Grand Harbour Marina plc shares, active for the first time in three weeks, also slid into negative territory with a 1.1% drop to the €1.80 level for the first time in 14 months. Only 2,750 shares changed hands across a single trade.

On the other hand, further support emerged for the equity of Malta International Airport plc as it advanced by a further 2% to yet another all-time high of €2.50 on volumes of 11,400 shares. Last week, the airport operator announced that passenger movements during 2014 grew by 6.4% and the company is expecting a further 2% growth this year on the back of additional new routes and airlines operating from Malta. MIA is now scheduled to publish its full-year financial results on Tuesday 24 February.

Similarly, the share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc climbed by a further 1.6% to recapture the €1.88 level for the first time since mid-August 2012 on volumes of 30,200 shares.