BOV leads trading activity

The MSE Equity Price Index eased by 0.05% to 3,744.055 points as the declines in APS and IHI outweighed the gains in HSBC and The Convenience. BOV and M&Z closed the session unchanged. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Most of today’s trading activity took place across the shares of Bank of Valletta plc which closed unchanged at the €1.40 level after recovering from an intraday low of €1.38 (-1.4%) across fifteen trades totalling 97,327 shares. Since the start of the year, €4.4 million worth of BOV shares changed hands, making it the most actively traded local equity.    Shareholders as at close of trading on 26 April 2024 will be entitled to a final net dividend of €0.0455 per share.

M&Z plc held the €0.60 level on a single trade of 3,000 shares.

APS Bank plc fell by 1.8% to the €0.54 level across three trades totalling 13,739 shares.

Also among the large companies by market value, International Hotel Investments plc shed 0.9% to the €0.446 level across three deals totalling 23,000 shares.

HSBC Bank Malta plc advanced by 0.7% to the €1.40 level as 2,470 shares changed hands.

A single trade of 4,270 shares pushed the share price of The Convenience Shop (Holding) plc 1% higher to the €1.05 level.

The RF MGS Index recovered some of yesterday’s losses as it climbed by 0.22% to 894.692 points. Today, eurozone sovereign bond yields fell sharply in contrast to yesterday’s movements. In fact, the German 10-year bund yield dropped to the 2.33% level despite climbing above the 2.47% level yesterday. The market movements indicate a divergence in the economic developments in the eurozone and the US. In the eurozone, inflation is expected to continue to ease which will result in a softer monetary policy, while in the US, the stronger-than-expected inflation readings published over the past days increased expectations that interest rates will remain elevated.

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.