Daily Market Highlights (05.01.10)

  • MSE Share Index in positive territory for the third consecutive session as the equity market gains a further 0.2% to 3,478.869 points on the back of increases in the share prices of HSBC, Lombard Bank and Middlesea Insurance. Meanwhile BOV eases by 0.1% with GO and MaltaPost closing unchanged. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • HSBC edges minimally higher to regain the €3.25 level on volumes of just over 10,400 shares. Best bids still in the market at €3.23 whilst further offers remaining unsatisfied at the closing price. The Bank’s 2009 full-year results are normally published by the end of February.
  • Following the 2.6% increase in the previous two sessions, BOV‘s equity eases 0.1% to close today’s session at the €3.898 level. Activity remains high with a total of 17,150 shares exchanged today in anticipataion of the 1 for 4 bonus issue to those shareholders as at close of trading on 12 January 2010.
  • Lombard Bank jumps a further 2% to a new 15-month high of €3.05. Volumes remain low with only 2,725 shares changing hands today. Equity rose 17.7% during the last quarter of 2009 ahead of the Bank’s results to be published on 11 March 2010.
  • Middlesea’s positive run continues as the share price rises by a further 3.2% to €0.831 level on volumes of 21,000 shares.  Best bids already placed minimally higher at €0.832 whilst lowest offers now pitched at the €0.86 level – just below the Group’s September 2009 net asset value of €0.87 per share. Following last week’s announcement related to the new Chairman, today Middlesea announced further senior management appointments.
  • GO continues to trade at the €2.10 level. Activity also remains low with only 2,400 shares changing hands today. Few other shares remain on offer at the closing price with highest bids at €2.08.
  • MaltaPost unchanged at the €0.70 level ahead of the full-year results publication on 21 January 2010. 10,500 shares change hands this morning with best bids at €0.68 whilst lowest offers in the market at the €0.72 level.