Trading in BOV & Lombard dominate market activity

 

The MSE Equity Price Index extended yesterday’s decline as it slipped by a further 0.49% to 3,672.249 points. The drops in four equities outweighed the gains in three other companies whilst Bank of Valletta plc stayed at the €0.925 level on robust volumes totalling 220,915 shares having a market value of €0.21 million. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Heightened activity also took place in Lombard Bank Malta plc which rallied by 8.6% to recapture the €1.90 level on 265,000 shares having a market value of just over €0.5 million.

Lombard’s postal subsidiary – MaltaPost plc – also closed the day considerably higher at €1.09 (+7.9%) albeit on just 5,000 shares. Today, MaltaPost issued an Interim Directors’ Report in which it welcomed the recent approval by the Malta Communications Authority to certain upward revisions in postal tariffs. However, the postal operator explained that these changes do not fully address the financial issues in relation to its Universal Service Obligations and other developments which took place in recent years.

The other positive performing equity today was RS2 Software plc as the company’s ordinary shares gained 1.3% to the €1.57 level across 5,000 shares.

Also among the large companies by market value, Malta International Airport plc eased by 0.8% to the €5.95 level on volumes totalling 4,000 shares.

A single deal of just 1,695 shares forced the share price of International Hotel Investments plc to move 5.7% lower back to the €0.66 level.

APS Bank plc erased yesterday’s uplift as it retracted by 1.5% to the €0.66 level across 56,967 shares. Yesterday, APS announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Thursday 28 July to consider and approve the interim financial results covering the six-month period ended 30 June 2022.

PG plc slipped by 0.9% to the €2.16 level on light volumes.

The RF MGS Index trended lower for the first time in four days as it dropped by 0.41% to 940.552 points. Concerns over global economic growth slowdown continued to overshadow investor sentiment despite encouraging readings of Purchasing Managers’ Indices in the services sector in Europe as well as better-than-expected factory orders data in the US.

 

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.