Daily Market Highlights (30.01.15)

  • The MSE Share Index closed 0.1% higher during this morning’s trading session to 3,420.191 points on the back of increases in BOV, Lombard and MaltaPost which offset the declines in HSBC, Grand Harbour Marina and Crimsonwing. Meanwhile a further two equities ended this morning’s session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary. Over the week, the equity benchmark closed with an increase of 0.1% as most active equities trended higher.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index inched marginally higher to yet another all-time high of 1,127.427 points as eurozone benchmark yields remained close to all-time lows following data showing that prices dropped by 0.6% across the single currency area in January as energy costs continued to tumble.
  • Today’s uplift was mainly due to the 0.9% increase in the share price of Bank of Valletta plc to regain the €2.09 level on high volumes totalling 107,952 shares.
  • Similarly, the share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc advanced by 2.1% to close at the €1.92 level for the first time since June 2012. A total of 36,928 shares changed hands today with outstanding bids at the €1.90 level and lowest offers now at the €1.95 level.
  • The Bank’s postal subsidiary, MaltaPost plc, also trended in positive territory today with a 0.8% increase to yet another all-time high of €1.31 on a single deal of 2,500 shares. This morning, the postal operator paid out the net dividend of €0.04 per share. Those shareholders who opted to receive the dividend in the form of new shares were today allotted their respective entitlement. In fact, the Malta Stock Exchange this morning announced the admission of 1,026,318 shares representing a high take-up of 84.36%. Following this scrip dividend, the total number of shares in issue increased to 36,306,728 shares.
  • On the other hand, the equity of HSBC Bank Malta plc eased 1% lower back to the €2.00 level on shallow volumes of 2,538 shares.
  • Grand Harbour Marina plc also retreated by 2.8% back to the €1.75 level on a single trade of 5,000 shares.
  • The only other negative performing equity was Crimsonwing plc with a 0.7% drop back to the €0.844 level across 10,433 shares. Meanwhile, this afternoon, the Company announced that shareholders owning 97.7% or 29,506,296 shares have accepted the offer made by KPMG Investments Malta Limited. Furthermore, the latter confirmed its intention to acquire the remaining shares.
  • Meanwhile, the share price of International Hotel Investments plc maintained the €0.62 level on volumes of 7,600 shares.
  • Middlesea Insurance plc held on to the €0.99 level across 2,000 shares.