Daily Market Highlights (02.02.11)

  • MSE Share Index closes marginally lower at 3,860.665 points as FIMBank share price drops 2.6%. Meanwhile all other active equities, including HSBC and BOV, closed unchanged. MIDI registered its first trades since the listing of the company’s shares on 21 December 2010. Further declines in the local bond market as the benchmark 10-year Eurozone yield remains above the 3.20% level. The Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index lost a further 0.1% to a new 15-month low of 982.216 points. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • Next Wednesday 9 February, the Treasury is expected to establish the prices of the two new Malta Government Stock issues. The two new MGS’s are the 4.25% MGS 2017 (III) and a fungible issue of the 5.25% MGS 2030 (I). The subscription period is open between Monday 14 February and Wednesday 16 February. Further details available here.
  • FIMBank’s equity eases 2.6% lower today to the US$0.95 level on a single trade 18,438 shares. Best bids still placed at US$0.912 whilst lowest offers now pitched at the US$0.975 level. The trade finance specialist is scheduled to publish its 2010 accounts on 3 March.
  • HSBC again unchanged at the €3.50 level across seven deals totalling 10,627 shares. Further bids outstanding at the closing price with lowest offers placed at the €3.51 level. Shortly after today’s trading session the Bank announced that its Board of Directors will be meeting on 18 February to consider and approve the Group’s 2010 financial statements. The Directors will also consider the declaration of a final dividend subject to shareholders’ approval at the next Annual General Meeting.
  • BOV also closed unchanged at €3.11 after opening marginally higher at the €3.115 level. Over 21,000 shares exchanged today with few other bids unsatisfied at the last traded price whilst lowest offers now in the market at €3.135. The Bank is shortly expected to publish its Interim Directors’ Statement reviewing its operational performance since the last financial year ended 30 September 2010.
  • MIDI active for the first time since listing on 21 December 2010. High volumes of 225,000 shares change hands across three trades with the share price unchanged at the IPO level of €0.45 level.
  • MIA also unchanged at the €1.80 level on a single trade of 1,000 shares. Bids of 20,000 shares in the market at €1.75 whilst further offers remain unsatisfied at the closing price.
  • Crimsonwing shares trade for the first time this year. A small deal of 400 shares executed at the €0.38 level. Further offers amounting to 62,700 shares outstanding at the last traded price whilst best bids pitched at the €0.35 level.