Multiple equities pull the MSE Equity Price Index lower

 The MSE Equity Price Index fell by 1.4% to 3,578.480 points as the declines in ten equities outweighed gains in APS, AX Real Estate and BMIT. Meanwhile, four other equities closed unchanged as overall trading activity in equities amounted to €0.14 million. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Bank of Valletta plc fell by 1.1% to the €0.91 level across seven trades totalling 26,500 shares.

Also within the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc shed 2% to the €1.00 level as 1,236 shares exchanged hands. Yesterday, HSBC started trading without the entitlement to the proposed final net dividend of €0.0364 per share.

GO plc was today’s worst performing equity as it plunged 5.7% to the €3.00 level on two trades totalling 2,590 shares. At the upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled for 11 May 2023, the Directors of GO are recommending the payment of a final net dividend of €0.09 per share to all shareholders as at the close of trading on 5 April 2023.

International Hotel Investments plc went down by 2.6% to a one year low of €0.565 across two trades totalling 5,082 shares.

The ordinary shares of RS2 Software plc retracted by 4.3% to the €1.10 level after partly recovering from a low of €1.05 (-8.7%) across three deals totalling 4,000 shares.

Simonds Farsons Cisk plc dropped by 5.6% to a ten-month low of €6.75 across two trades totalling 558 shares.

Harvest Technology plc (5,466 shares) and Malita Investments plc (16,000 shares) both shed 0.7% to the €1.41 and €0.67 respectively.

A single deal of 920 shares pulled the share price of Malta Properties Company plc 0.5% lower to the €0.44 level.

Mapfre Middlesea plc moved 1.2% lower to the €1.67 level across six trades totalling 8,800 shares.

In contrast, AX Real Estate plc was today’s best performing equity as it climbed 7.3% to the €0.515 level on one deal of 9,500 shares.

APS Bank plc went up by 1.6% to a five-month high of €0.63 across nine trades totalling 52,937 shares.

A single trade of 14,100 shares pushed the share price of BMIT Technologies plc 2.2% higher to the €0.47 level.

Malta International Airport plc closed unchanged at the €5.65 level after recovering from a low of €5.55 (-1.8%) across five trades totalling 1,940 shares.

A single trade of 10,000 shares left the share price of MIDI plc at the €0.28 level.

Hili Properties plc held the 0.22 level on one deal of 8,000 shares.

MaltaPost plc closed unchanged at the €0.50 level on a single deal of 4,000 shares as it traded for the first time following the two for one share split.

Loqus Holdings plc held the €0.218 level on trivial volumes.

The RF MGS Index plunged 1.05% to 889.589 points as eurozone yields trended higher following the sharp drop in the previous day, reflecting easing fears of a potential banking crisis. Today, the ECB announced the successful launch of a new real-time gross settlement system and central liquidity management tool which is expected to contribute to harmonisation and efficiency of Europe’s financial markets. Earlier this week, the ECB also participated in a coordinated action involving major central banks to enhance the provision of US dollar liquidity. Meanwhile, today, US Treasury Secretary General Janet Yellen stated that further action in relation to guarantees of deposits will be taken by the government to ensure stability if the banking crisis situation continues to enhance.

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.