Daily Market Highlights (28.12.12)

  • During the last trading session of 2012, the MSE Share Index eased minimally below its 7-week high closing the year up 3.8% at 3,211.906 points. 6 equities traded during the final trading session of the year with the 0.2% decline in the share price of Bank of Valletta plc offsetting the 0.9% gain in the equity of GO plc. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index surged during the final session of 2012 to close at a fresh 25-month high of 1,005.379 points. Today’s increase in the Index reflects the new record prices for most of the longer-dated Malta Government Stocks. During 2012, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index climbed by 1.7% reflecting the sharp decline in eurozone benchmark yields.
  • Bank of Valletta plc touched an intra-day low of €2.40 before recovering to end the day at €2.415. The equity eased by 0.2% from yesterday’s close on volumes of 16,300 shares. BOV closed the year with an increase of 8.7%. The cut-off date for the 1 for 9 bonus issue is Monday 14 January 2013.
  • GO plc edged a further 0.9% higher to end the year at €1.19 – only marginally below its 2012 high of €1.20. GO ranks as the second best performer during the month of December with an increase of 11.7%. Throughout 2012, GO ranks as the fourth best performing equity with gains of 21.4%.
  • HSBC Bank Malta plc traded again at the €2.70 level resulting in a year-to-date appreciation of 4.7%. HSBC announced that its 2012 full-year financial statements will be published on 4 March 2013.
  • The US Dollar dominated equity of FIMBank was active at the USD0.80 level. During the past 12 months, FIMBank’s equity edged 8.1% higher mainly in the first half of the year following the March announcement of the interest shown by Burgan Bank to purchase the stake of the largest shareholder and assume majority control. An Extraordinary General Meeting for this purpose is being convened on 31 January 2013.
  • 6pm Holdings plc closed unchanged at GBP0.31 and registered a marginal increase over the year. 6pm recently concluded a significant contract in the UK and in a letter to all shareholders, the Company revealed that given 6pm’s profitable position throughout 2012, the Board of Directors will be recommending the payment of a final dividend and the distribution of more bonus shares once the full-year results are approved in 2013.
  • The Malta Stock Exchange will re-open for business on Thursday 3 January 2013.