MIA passenger movements in January 2023 exceed 2019 levels

The MSE Equity Price Index climbed a further 0.66% to 3,624.561 points reflecting the gains in the ordinary shares of RS2, HSBC, IHI and Loqus. Meanwhile, seven other equities traded unchanged as total trading activity increased to €0.34 million compared to €0.28 million yesterday. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Malta International Airport plc closed at the €5.70 level as 13,290 shares changed hands. Following the close of today’s trading session, MIA announced that for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger movements exceeded their relative 2019 figures. Indeed, the January 2023 traffic of 379,335 passenger movements is 3.9% higher than the same month in 2019, albeit it remains 9.3% below the record figure of 418,096 passenger movements of January 2020. Meanwhile, the seat load factor for January 2023 stood at almost 77%.

Heightened trading activity took place in the shares of PG plc which traded in a tight range but closed unchanged at the €2.08 level. Trading volumes amounted to 81,535 shares having a market value of €0.17 million.

Simonds Farsons Cisk plc held the €7.00 level on one deal of 1,420 shares.

A single trade of 1,500 shares left M&Z plc at the €0.68 level.

GO plc (1,000 shares) and AX Real Estate plc (3,734 shares) also remained at the €2.90 and €0.53 levels respectively.

APS Bank plc traded flat at the €0.615 level on volumes totalling 14,336 shares. Yesterday, APS announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Thursday 9 March 2023 to consider and approve the financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2022. The Directors will also consider the declaration of a dividend, subject to regulatory approval.

Also in the retail banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc extended its recent gains by a further 0.5% to the €0.945 level across five deals totalling 63,349 shares. HSBC’s Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 21 February 2023 to consider and approve the 2022 annual financial statements. The Directors will also consider the declaration of a final dividend to be recommended to the Bank’s Annual General Meeting which will be held on Thursday 20 April 2023.

The ordinary shares of RS2 Software plc erased some of yesterday’s losses as the equity rebounded by 5.5% to the €1.16 level across three trades totalling 8,429 shares.

International Hotel Investments plc climbed 3.3% higher to the €0.62 level across three trades totalling 1,682 shares.

Loqus Holdings plc advanced by 3.8% to the €0.218 level across 1,299 shares.

The RF MGS Index moved 0.28% higher to 881.531 points. Data from the eurozone showed that employment levels improved by a further 0.4% during the final quarter of 2022. Meanwhile in the US, the annual inflation rate eased to 6.4% in January 2023, which is the lowest reading since October 2021, but still higher than expectations of 6.2%. Excluding food and energy, the core consumer price index increased by 5.6% from a year earlier, also marginally above expectations.

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.