GO to consider an interim dividend

The MSE Equity Price Index eased by a further 0.35% to a two-week low of 3,833.013 points as the gain in GO was offset by declines in BMIT, Harvest and MPC. Meanwhile, BOV closed unchanged as overall trading activity amounted to €0.30 million. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

GO plc advanced by a further 2% to a 9-month high of €3.12 across heightened activity totalling 49,700 shares. Today, GO announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Thursday 11 January 2024 to consider the declaration of an interim dividend.

In contrast, GO’s data centre and IT services subsidiary BMIT Technologies plc shed 5.4% to the €0.382 level on two deals totalling 12,000 shares.

Malta Properties Company dropped by 12.2% to the €0.344 level as 15,151 shares changed hands.

Harvest Technology plc tumbled by 45.4% to the €0.655 level, albeit on a single trade of 2,700 shares.

Bank of Valletta plc closed unchanged at the €1.33 level after recovering from an intraday low of €1.30 (-2.3%) across seven deals totalling 100,592 shares.

Yesterday, AX Real Estate plc announced that the Board of Directors resolved to distribute a gross dividend of €4.06 million, equivalent to €0.0148 per share. Following the deduction of a 15% withholding tax, where applicable, the net dividend amounts to €0.01258 per share. The net dividend is marginally higher than the corresponding interim dividend paid in January 2023. All shareholders as at close of trading on Monday 15 January 2024 will receive the interim dividend on Wednesday 31 January 2024.

The RF MGS Index remained practically unchanged at 893.400 points. Data published by Eurostat showed that the unemployment rate within the eurozone reached 6.4% in November 2023, a historically low level and in line with June 2023 but lower than the 6.5% unemployment rate recorded in the previous four months. The resilience of the labour market coupled with risks of elevated wage pressures are expected to add caution among ECB policymakers with respect to any imminent potential rate cuts.

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.