Light trading activity across several equities

The MSE Equity Price Index rose by 0.46% to 3,756.129 points, as the gains in GO, Harvest, and Farsons outweighed the decline in PG. Meanwhile, seven other equities closed unchanged. Nonetheless, the overall trading value was muted at just €0.08 million. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Bank of Valletta plc closed unchanged at the €1.30 level after recovering from an intraday low of €1.28 (-1.5%) across seven deals totalling 26,975 shares.

Also in the banking sector, APS Bank plc traded flat at the €0.55 level on two trades totalling 44,970 shares.

HSBC Bank Malta plc remained unchanged at the €1.28 level, after retreating from an intraday high of €1.29 (+0.8%) over three deals amounting to 3,548 shares.

Hili Properties plc closed unchanged at the €0.214 level as 10,500 shares changed hands, but today’s volume-weighted average price was €0.193 (-9.8%).

Also in the property sector, Malta Properties Company plc and Trident Estates plc both closed unchanged at the €0.356 and €1.21 levels respectively, both on muted activity.

A single trade of 3,389 shares of International Hotel Investments plc left the price unchanged at the €0.454 level.

GO plc surged by 5.2% to the €3.20 level albeit over trivial volumes.

Also among the large companies by market value, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc offset some of yesterday’s drop as it rebounded by 2.3% to the €6.65 level on one deal of 262 shares.

Harvest Technology plc advanced by 3.5% to the €0.735 level across two trades amounting to 5,000 shares.

PG plc shed 0.9% to the €2.10 level over two deals totalling 2,280 shares.

Yesterday, MedservRegis plc announced that the Board of Directors resolved to distribute a net interim dividend of €1 million, equivalent to €0.0098389 per share. Shareholders as at the close of trading on Tuesday 6 February 2024 will receive the dividend on Thursday 29 February 2024. The Company explained that the dividend represents profits generated by the Company arising from dividends distributed within the Group during January 2024.

The RF MGS Index climbed by 0.72% to 894.396 points as the Index saw the largest daily uplift in over a month. Today, the German Bundesbank released its monthly economic report which stated that the German economy is not expected to grow during the first quarter of the current financial year amidst weak external demand and high borrowing costs.  On the other hand, the Central Bank expects inflation to decrease notably primarily on the base effects of high readings in the year earlier. Meanwhile in the US, the core personal consumption inflation in December was at 2.9%, the lowest figure in almost three years and less than the 3.0% that was anticipated.

This report contains public information only and is not to be construed as investment advice or an offer to buy or sell any securities. Information contained herein is based on data obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but no representations or guarantees are made with regard to the accuracy of the data. Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Rizzo, Farrugia & Co. (Stockbrokers) Limited is a company licensed to undertake investment services in Malta by the MFSA under the Investment Services Act, Cap—370 of the Laws of Malta and a member of the Malta Stock Exchange.