Daily Market Highlights (29.09.16)

  • The MSE Share Index closed lower for the first time in a week as it retreated by a minimal 0.08% to 4,455.970 points, reflecting the declines in the share prices of Lombard and RS2 which outweighed the gains in Mapfre Middlesea, BOV and Malta Properties. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index posted its first decline in the last seven days as it dropped by 0.13% to 1,175.248 points. The decline in the indicative bid prices quoted by the Central Bank of Malta reflected movements across euro zone sovereign yields, which today edged higher. In fact, the 10-year benchmark German Bund moved to -0.115% from -0.139% yesterday. Similarly, the 10-year yields of both Italy and Spain also rose. Meanwhile, the markets attention remains centred around the most recent developments happening within the European banking system, and more specifically about the issues currently hitting Germany’s largest financial institution – Deutsche Bank.
  • Lombard Bank plc traded for the first time in a month and lost 4.5% to close at the €2.10 level on insignificant volumes.
  • A single deal of 12,000 shares dragged the share price of RS2 Software plc 1.2% lower to the €1.63 level.
  • The most actively traded equity today was Tigne’ Mall plc as 105,000 shares (valued at €0.11 million – representing 55% of the total value of equities traded) left the share price of the shopping mall owner unchanged at €1.065.
  • HSBC Bank Malta plc failed to hold on to its intra-day high of €1.638 (+1.1%) as it finished the day unchanged at the €1.62 level. A total of 3,599 shares changed hands.
  • In contrast, Bank of Valletta plc recaptured its near five-month high of €2.26 (+0.2%) on 24,700 shares.
  • Meanwhile, BOV’s insurance associate, Mapfre Middlesea plc, climbed 1.4% to the €2.10 level on trivial volumes.
  • Malta Properties Company plc extended its recent run as it gained a further 0.2% to reach a new four-month high of €0.57 on activity totalling 13,100 shares.
  • Also in the property segment, Plaza Centres plc yesterday announced that it completed the acquisition of the ‘Tigne Place’, Sliema having a total rentable area of 3,279 sqm apart from underlying car spaces. The equity remained inactive today.
  • Furthermore, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc yesterday published its interim results showing a 20.1% jump in pre-tax profits to a record of €5.8 million. The improved results came largely from the ‘Brewing, production & sale of branded beers & beverages’ segment arising from the solid performance of Malta’s economy together with significant growth in tourist arrivals. The Directors declared an unchanged net interim dividend of €0.0333 per share to all shareholders as at close of trading on Monday 3 October. The interim dividend will be paid on Wednesday 19 October.