Daily Market Highlights (31.01.2019)

  • The MSE Equity Price Index moved lower for the first time in seven trading sessions as it eased by 0.02% to 4,433.382 points. Activity was mainly concentrated around BOV and MIA, with volumes exchanged in these two equities representing 60% of the total value of equities traded. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • The RF MGS Index advanced by 0.07% to 1,104.946 points as bond yields in the euro area fell sharply after the US Federal Reserve yesterday left interest rates unchanged amid “growing evidence of cross-currents” and a “less-favourable outlook”. The Fed said that growing uncertainties across international financial markets “warrant a patient, wait-and-see approach regarding future policy changes”.  In addition, the central bank acknowledged that “the case for raising rates has weakened somewhat” and that “we believe we can best support the economy by being patient in evaluating the outlook before making any future adjustment to policy”.
  • Bank of Valletta plc dropped 0.8% to the €1.27 level (the lowest since mid-October 2009) across 91,250 shares.
  • MaltaPost plc also lost 0.8% to the €1.27 level on weak volumes of 1,084 shares.
  • Low trading activity was recorded in Mapfre Middlesea plc and RS2 Software plc. The insurance specialist shed 1.5% to the €1.92 level whilst RS2 moved back to the €1.47 level (-0.7%) after opening at a low of €1.40 (-5.4%).
  • Positive sentiment towards Malta International Airport plc persisted further. The equity climbed 0.8% to its two-month high of €6.30 on continued high volumes totalling 30,789 shares.
  • Also among the large companies, GO plc surged 1% to the €4.24 level (the highest since mid-September 2006) across 21,000 shares. Today, GO announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Friday 8 March to consider and approve the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2018. The Directors will also consider recommending a final dividend to shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting. Separately, GO also noted that the general public offer related to the IPO of BMIT Technologies plc is now closed.
  • In the property segment, Malta Properties Company plc added 1% to the €0.525 level across 32,950 shares.
  • Malita Investments plc rose 2.2% to a near three-year high of €0.92 albeit on just 10,000 shares. 
  • Meanwhile, three equities traded unchanged today. HSBC Bank Malta plc (10,887 shares) and International Hotel Investments plc (4,885 shares) maintained the €1.73 and €0.60 levels respectively.
  • A single deal of 8,750 shares left the equity of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc at the €8.00 level.