Daily Market Highlights (31.07.15)

  • The MSE Share Index immediately rebounded from yesterday’s 0.26% decline with a 0.3% uplift during this morning’s session to a fresh 7-year high of 4,207.572 points as various equities closed in positive territory. The local equity benchmark ended the week 2.2% higher and closed the month of July up 2.86% higher. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • Meanwhile on the bond market, the RF MGS Index climbed 0.3% higher to 1,132.389 points as the benchmark 10-year German Bund yield dropped back to the 0.66% level in view of the issues cropping up with respect to Greece’s third bailout. Moreover, the inflation reading for the month of July at 0.2% was unchanged from the previous month and below expectations. Therefore, the market is now expecting the European Central Bank (ECB) to continue injecting liquidity into the region’s economy and possibly augment its support in line with the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
  • During today’s session, the share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc edged higher for the fourth time this week with a further 3% increase to close at the €2.049 level for the first time since March 2012. Volumes remained high with a total of 123,986 shares changing hands today.
  • The share price of the Bank’s postal subsidiary, MaltaPost plc, advanced by 4.5% to reach a fresh all-time high of €1.60 on shallow volumes of 3,364 shares.
  • Likewise, the equity of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc reached a new all-time high of €5.25, representing a 1% increase over the previous closing price, also on low volumes of 2,360 shares.
  • Malita Investments plc also featured amongst today’s positive performers with a 2.8% uplift to recapture the €0.93 level across 3,100 shares. A few minutes prior to the close of today’s session, the Company published its interim results covering the six months ended 30 June 2015. Malita reported a 62.8% increase in net profits to €11.5 million on the back of a further €8.1 million uplift in the fair value of investment property and a tax credit of €0.79 million which is largely attributable to the favourable amendment from the newly enacted taxation rules on the capital gains generated upon the transfer of immovable property. The directors declared a gross interim dividend of €0.0144 (net: €0.00936) to all shareholders as at the close of trading on Thursday 6 August. The dividend will be paid on 11 September.
  • In the financial sector, the share price of HSBC Bank Malta plc ended this morning’s session 0.1% higher at the €1.791 level after failing to hold on to an intra-day high of €1.80 on volumes of 15,840 shares. The Bank is scheduled to publish its interim results next Monday 3 August.
  • Similarly, the share price of FIMBank plc edged 3.1% higher to regain the USD0.495 level on a single trade of 2,450 shares.
  • On the other hand, RS2 Software plc retreated for the fourth consecutive session with a 0.2% drop back to the €2.19 level after only partially recovering from an intra-day low of €2.15 on weak activity of 2,350 shares.
  • Meanwhile, Bank of Valletta plc maintained the €2.30 level on volumes of 16,600 shares.
  • Similarly, GO plc held on to the €3.50 level on a single trade of 2,000 shares and Malta International Airport plc retained the €3.95 level across 5,000 shares. On Wednesday evening, the airport operator published its 2015 interim results showing a 6.5% rise in revenue and an 8.3% increase in EBITDA. Pre-tax profits climbed by 9.6% to a new record of €11.4 million. Despite the increase in profitability, the company’s gross interim dividend was yet again unchanged at €0.0462 (net €0.03) per share for the eighth consecutive year. The dividend will be paid to shareholders on the register at close of trading 10 August 2015.