Daily Market Highlights (30.11.15)

  • The MSE Share Index retreated slightly from last Friday’s multi-year high to close at 4,473.189 points as the declines in the prices of seven equities offset the gains registered in the prices of four other equities. Following last week’s strong trading activity, with values traded reaching a multi-year high of €3.86 million, volumes were equally strong during this morning’s session as nearly €847,000 worth of equities changed hands. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • On the bond market, the RF MGS Index retreated by 0.09% to 1,149.630 points as the yield of the benchmark 10-year German Bund crept slightly higher from the 0.46% level of last Friday to 0.47% today. On Thursday, the European Central Bank (ECB) will be holding its monetary policy meeting during which markets are anticipating the unveiling of further stimulus aimed at improving the region’s inflationary and growth prospects.
  • Preferred applicants under Tranche 1 of Bank of Valletta plc’s Subordinated Debt Issuance Programme had until today to apply whilst other investors have to submit their application by this Wednesday 2 December. The Bank is offering €75 million worth of Notes carrying a coupon of 3.5% and maturing in 2030.
  • Most notably, the equity of Malta Properties Company plc continued to reverse its recent sharp upturn with a further 9.7% drop during this morning’s session to close at the €0.65 level across 133,602 shares. Following the spin-off from GO plc through an ‘in-kind’ dividend valued at €0.3313 per share, the equity started trading last Tuesday and within three days reached the €0.799 level at which point supply emerged to force the share price back to the aforementioned €0.65 level by the close of this morning’s session.
  • Also in the property sector, the equity of Tigne’ Mall plc shed 2.1% to close at the €0.94 level across 24,584 shares.
  • Mapfre Middlesea plc also suffered significantly as the equity shed 7.0% to close at the €2.12 level albeit on shallow volumes totalling 4,934 shares.
  • In contrast to the recent gains, the equity of FIMBank plc closed this morning’s session 4.3% lower at the USD0.56 level on volumes of 80,000 shares.
  • RS2 Software plc dropped 0.2% from last Friday’s all-time high of €3.10 back to the €3.095 level across 25,630 shares.
  • The equities of Malta International Airport plc and Medserv plc both closed the day 0.2% lower at the €4.00 and €2.12 levels respectively albeit on low volumes.
  • On the other hand, Lombard Bank Malta plc jumped 4.4% to a new multi-year high of €2.35 on increased volumes of 94,086 shares.
  • Also in the banking sector, the equity of Bank of Valletta plc advanced by 1.8% to close at the €2.31 level across 36,597 shares. The Bank will be holding its next Annual General Meeting on Thursday 17 December, during which shareholders will be asked to approve a number of resolutions including a gross final dividend of €0.085 per share (payable on the following day) and a 1 for every 12 bonus share issue.
  • Similarly, the equity of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc registered a 2.7% increase to reach a new all-time high of €6.37 on relatively high trading volumes totalling 34,602 shares.
  • The only other positive performer was the equity of Malita Investments plc as it edged 3.3% higher to the €0.95 level across 22,182 shares.
  • Meanwhile, both HSBC Bank Malta plc and MIDI plc closed unchanged at the €1.79 (18,237 shares) and €0.365 (30,130 shares) levels respectively.