Daily Market Highlights (28.07.15)

  • The MSE Share Index edged 0.4% higher to 4,172.684 points largely due to the 8.8% rebound in the share of GO. Mapfre and Lombard also trended higher whilst the equities of MIA, Tigne Mall, RS2, BOV and IHI moved lower. Meanwhile, a further five equities ended the session unchanged. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index was practically unchanged today at 1,128.036 points as benchmark yields across the eurozone were flat.
  • Following last week’s 12.5% slump in the share price of GO plc and the initial 1.6% rebound yesterday on heightened activity, GO’s equity continued to recover today and advanced by 8.8% to €3.48 on volumes of 39,800 shares. Last Thursday the company revealed that its majority shareholder Emirates International Telecommunications (Malta) Limited (EIT) intended to dispose of its 60% shareholding in GO in the ‘short-term’. On Sunday afternoon, EIT issued a press release explaining that the process of disposing of its stake has just been initiated and therefore it has no yet identified a buyer for its shares.
  • The share price of Mapfre Middlesea plc edged up by 2.9% to regain the €1.80 level across four deals totalling 5,387 shares. Yesterday, Mapfre Middlesea confirmed that following the preliminary agreement signed with Allcare Insurance Limited in May 2015, it entered into a Sale of Business Agreement and a Portfolio Transfer Agreement with Allcare. The total consideration is of €1.1 million together with a deferred payment of up to a maximum of €0.5 million payable over a three year transitory period.
  • Similarly, the equity of Lombard Bank Malta plc trended in positive territory with a 0.5% increase to close the session at the €1.96 level on shallow volumes of 9,605 shares.
  • On the other hand, Malta International Airport plc failed to hold on to yesterday’s all-time high of €4.00 as it slipped by 1.3% to the €3.95 level across 11,458 shares. Last week, the airport operator revealed record passenger numbers for the first six months of 2015 and upgraded its 2015 passenger growth forecast to +4.6%. MIA is scheduled to publish its interim financial statements tomorrow.
  • Likewise, Tigné Mall plc retreated from yesterday’s all-time high of €0.89 and moved back to the €0.87 level on a single deal of 5,000 shares.
  • The equity of RS2 Software plc also trended in negative territory with a 2.2% drop back to the €2.20 level albeit on low volumes of 8,651 shares.
  • Amongst the large cap equities, Bank of Valletta plc shed 0.9% back to the €2.27 level and International Hotel Investments plc eased minimally lower to €0.835. Low volumes were evident across both equities.
  • Meanwhile, the equity of HSBC Bank Malta plc ended this morning’s session unchanged at the €1.82 level in a somewhat volatile session. The equity opened at an intra-day high of €1.84, only to subsequently retreat to an intra-day low of €1.80 before the final trade was executed at the €1.82 level. A total of 36,792 shares changed hands during this morning’s session.
  • Similarly, in the property segment, Plaza Centres plc closed unchanged at the €0.95 level on volumes of 47,950 shares and Malita Investments plc held on to the €0.90 level on a single trade of 1,000 shares.
  • The only two other active equities, FIMBank plc and Grand Harbour Marina plc also closed this morning’s session unchanged at USD0.47 and €0.945 respectively on shallow volumes.