Daily Market Highlights (29.10.15)

  • The MSE Share Index retreated by 0.04% to 4,346.671 points as the negative performance of four equities marginally offset the gains across four other equities – three of which, namely RS2 Software, Farsons and MaltaPost, all trading up to their highest levels ever. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index closed minimally lower at 1,145.361 points as the 10-year German Bund yield reversed some of yesterday’s decline as it went up slightly from the 0.45% level yesterday morning to 0.46% today. The shift in sentiment was driven by a somewhat hawkish position from the U.S. Federal Reserve which, at the end of a two-day meeting yesterday, hinted at the possibility to slowly start abandoning its ultra-loose monetary policy and normalise interest rates in the world’s largest economy. This contrasts sharply with the stance taken by the European Central Bank last week, whereby additional monetary easing is on the agenda.
  • Ahead of the publication of the 30 September 2015 financial statements due tomorrow afternoon, Bank of Valletta plc failed to hold on to an intra-day high of €2.44 – the highest level since March 2015 – and closed the day 0.8% below yesterday’s close at the €2.40 level across 29,905 shares. BOV will be holding its Annual General Meeting on 17 December 2015, during which shareholders will also be asked to approve the payment of a final dividend which will be announced tomorrow afternoon. Moreover, last week BOV announced that it obtained approval for a €150 million Subordinated Debt Issuance Programme. Further details will be available in due course.
  • In the property sector, Plaza Centres plc and Tigne’ Mall plc dropped 1.0% and 1.1% lower to the €0.99 and €0.94 levels respectively on low volumes.
  • A single deal of just 288 shares sent the equity of Mapfre Middlesea plc 3.7% lower to the €2.12 level.
  • Meanwhile, three equities traded up to new record levels. RS2 Software plc advanced by 1.6% to the €2.55 level across healthy volumes totalling 27,404 shares.
  • Simonds Farsons Cisk plc added 0.8% to a level of €6.10 on shallow volumes of 312 shares and MaltaPost plc closed up 0.1% to the €1.821 after opening at a new record of €1.86. A total of 6,864 shares today ahead of the publication of the September 2015 annual financial statements due on 4 December.
  • The other positive performer today was HSBC Bank Malta plc as the bank’s equity moved 1.4% higher to the €1.845 level on low volumes of 2,729 shares.
  • Grand Harbour Marina plc and Malta International Airport plc closed unchanged at the €1.00 and €3.86 level respectively also on weak activity.