Multiple equities drag the MSE Equity Price Index lower

 

The MSE Equity Price Index shed 1.35% to a 1-week low of 3,589.761 points as the declines in nine equities outweighed the gain in Lombard. Meanwhile, four other equities closed unchanged as overall trading activity amounted to €0.28 million. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Malta International Airport plc plunged 6% to the €5.50 level across ten trades totalling 12,774 shares. MIA’s Board of Directors is recommending a final net dividend of €0.12 per share to be paid not later than 26 May 2023 to all shareholders as at close of trading on 4 April 2023.

Also amongst the largest equities by market value, International Hotel Investments plc dropped by 3.3% to the €0.58 level on a single deal of 721 shares.

M&Z plc lost 4.4% to the €0.65 level on two trades totalling 38,340 shares.

Simonds Farsons Cisk plc retracted by 2.1% to a two-month low of €6.85 on six trades totalling 2,965 shares.

Today’s worst performing equity – Trident Estates plc – plummeted by 9.1% to the €1.30 level, albeit on one deal of just 438 shares.

A single trade of 375 shares pulled the share price of PG plc 2% lower to the €2.00 level.

BMIT Technologies plc erased yesterday’s gain as it declined by 1.3%, albeit on trivial volumes.

MIDI plc tumbled by 3.6% to the €0.27 level on a single trade of 625 shares.

Lombard Bank plc was today’s only positive performing equity as it climbed 5.3% to the €1.00 level on two trades totalling 15,776 shares.

Also within the banking sector, Bank of Valletta plc closed unchanged at the €0.92 level, after failing to hold to an intraday high of €0.925 (+0.5%). BOV was the most actively traded equity for the fourth consecutive session as 86,000 shares changed hands having a market value of €0.08 million.

Malta Properties Company plc closed unchanged at the €0.46 level after failing to hold to an intraday high of €0.49 (+6.5%) across four deals totalling 125,900 shares. Yesterday, the Board of Directors of MPC is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 14 March 2023 to consider and approve the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022. The Directors will also consider the declaration of a dividend.

The ordinary shares of RS2 Software plc closed unchanged at the €1.15 level after recovering from a low of €1.05 (-8.7%) intraday across two trades totalling 3,500 shares.

Malita Investments plc held the €0.60 level on lacklustre volumes.

The RF MGS Index posted a four-day losing streak as it shed 0.18% to 866.476 points. Although the eurozone annual inflation rate eased to 8.5% in February compared to 8.6% in the previous month, it exceeded expectations. Inflation fell as the lower energy prices outweighed the increased costs of food, non-energy industrial goods and services. The eurozone’s core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, reached an all-time high of 5.6%. Meanwhile, the labour market of the single currency bloc remained resilient with a stable unemployment rate of 6.7%.

 

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.