Trading activity in local equities climbs to six-week high

The MSE Equity Price Index remained relatively unchanged at 3,676.577 points as the gains in Lombard and BMIT were offset by the decline in HSBC. Meanwhile, five other equities closed unchanged as the total trading activity in local equities climbed to a six-week high of €0.25 million. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Bank of Valletta plc closed unchanged at the €1.23 level after recovering from an intraday low of €1.20 (-2.4%) across eight trades totalling 25,976 shares.

Santumas Shareholding plc was today’s most actively traded equity as it closed unchanged at the €1.28 level across four deals totalling 134,438 shares. Santumas will hold its Annual General Meeting on Friday 27 October.

Malita Investments plc held the €0.58 level on a single deal of 4,500 shares.

Similarly, International Hotel Investments plc (3,000 shares) and MaltaPost plc (3,000 shares) closed unchanged at the €0.51 and €0.41 levels respectively.

BMIT Technologies plc gained 2% to the €0.418 level over three trades totalling 2,805 shares.

Lombard Bank Malta plc moved 2.6% higher to the €0.80 level across six deals totalling 25,000 shares.

In contrast, HSBC Bank Malta plc shed 0.9% to a two-week low of €1.15 across five trades totalling 17,500 shares.

The RF MGS Index slumped by 0.58% to a fresh all-time low of 846.214 points, marking a 2.12% decline since the start of 2023. Today, the German 10-year bund yield touched the 3% level, the highest level since 2011. Within the Eurozone, retail sales fell by 1.2% month-over-month, a sharper drop than expected, as consumer spending was hit by tougher economic conditions. On the other hand, the Euro Area experienced smaller contractions in the services and manufacturing industries when compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, the US Treasury 10-year yield fell from yesterday’s 16-year high after fresh data showed that private employment in September increased by a slower pace than forecasts.

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.