MSE Equity Price Index falls despite HSBC’s uplift

The MSE Equity Price Index eased by 0.13% to 3,547.922 points as the declines of four equities outweighed the gain in the share price of HSBC. Meanwhile, AX Real Estate plc remained at the €0.54 level on one deal of 5,000 shares. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Nearly half of today’s trading occurred in the shares of HSBC Bank Malta plc as it surged by 8.1% to the €0.80 level on ten deals totalling 87,000 shares.

In contrast, Bank of Valletta plc slipped by 3.2% to €0.90 after partly recovering from a low of €0.85 (-8.6%) across eight trades totalling 49,328 shares.

Malta International Airport plc fell by 0.9% to the €5.55 level across four trades totalling 5,156 shares.

International Hotel Investments plc eased by 0.8% to the €0.60 level, albeit on one deal of 1,010 shares.

A single trade of 1,000 shares moved the share price of PG plc 1% lower to the €2.06 level.

The RF MGS Index shed 0.13% to 889.119 points as eurozone sovereign bond yields remained volatile with the German 10-year bund resurfacing above the 2.20% level, after dropping below the 2.10% level yesterday. ECB Executive Board member Fabio Panetta reportedly stated that the central bank will not commit to future rate hikes after its March meeting, thus fuelling further uncertainty to the market. Elsewhere, the US GDP growth rate for Q4 2022 was at an annualised rate of 2.9%, which is higher than expectations but lower than the 3.2% increase of the previous quarter.

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.