Daily Market Highlights (29.09.15)

  • The MSE Share Index rebounded from yesterday’s decline and edged 0.2% higher to 4,340.852 points. The most actively traded equity was Lombard Bank whilst MaltaPost closed at a new record level.  Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index advanced by 0.27% to 1,130.283 points – its highest level since 25 August – as the benchmark 10-year German Bund yield moved lower to the 0.57% level before going up again to the 0.60% level during the day. The move was triggered by upbeat confidence data, which shrugged off slower growth concerns across Chinese. Sentiment was also conditioned by Spanish statistics which showed that consumer prices fell more rapidly in September than in the previous month.
  • Last Friday, the Treasury announced the issue of two Malta Government Stocks for a total aggregate amount of €120 million subject to an over-allotment option of up to a further €60 million. The two new offerings are the 2.00% MGS 2020 (V) FI which last traded at 106.33% the 2.30% MGS 2029 (II) FI which last traded at 102.96%. The offer prices will be determined next Thursday 1 October 2015 in the afternoon and subscriptions open next Monday 5 October.
  • Meanwhile last Wednesday, Hili Properties plc published a Prospectus in connection with a new €37 million unsecured bond issue at a rate of 4.5% per annum.
  • MaltaPost plc had been inactive since 24 August and returned to action this morning with a 3.9% rise to a new all-time high of €1.70 across 7,146 shares.
  • The parent company of the postal operator, Lombard Bank Malta plc, also featured among the positive performers today on high activity. The share price advanced by 1.8% to the €2.138 level on volumes of 54,355 shares.
  • Also in the banking sector, Bank of Valletta plc gained 0.4% and closed the session at €2.36 across 18,994 shares. Yesterday the Bank announced that its forthcoming Annual General Meeting is going to be held on Thursday 17 December 2015. BOV generally publishes its preliminary full-year results by the end of October. Recently BOV also announced that it lodged an application with the Listing Authority for a subordinated debt issuance programme of a maximum of €150 million over the next twelve months. Further details will be issued in the Prospectus and Final Terms once approval is granted.
  • A single deal of just 551 shares in Mapfre Middlesea plc led the insurance company 0.4% higher to the €2.279 level. Recently the Company announced that, subject to all regulatory approvals, it reached agreements with Montaldo Insurance Agency Ltd and Untours Insurance Agency Ltd for them to act as agents of Mapfre Middlesea.
  • Malita Investments plc was the day’s worst performer as the equity shed 5.4% to the €0.88 level across two deals totalling 30,000.
  • Meanwhile, the other three traded equities closed the day unchanged.
  • HSBC Bank Malta plc managed to recover from an intra-day low of €1.82 and closed at the €1.83 level across 20,000 shares.
  • On the other hand, insignificant volumes were registered in International Hotel Investments plc and Simonds Farsons Cisk plc as both equities traded unchanged at €0.80 and €5.60 respectively.