MSE Equity Price Index moves marginally higher

 

The MSE Equity Price Index edged 0.05% higher to 3,644.517 points as the gains in the share prices of HSBC and MaltaPost outweighed the decline in GO. Meanwhile, four other companies closed unchanged as overall trading in equities contracted to just €0.04 million. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Bank of Valletta plc was the most actively traded equity today as it held on to the €0.895 level after opening at a low of €0.86 (-3.9%). A total of 25,000 shares changed hands.

Also among the large companies by market value, Malta International Airport plc remained at the €5.95 level after opening at a high of €6.00 (+0.8%). A total of 1,750 shares traded. Last week, MIA announced that during the month of August, passenger movements increased by 3.3% over the previous month to 712,122 which, in turn, is 13.5% lower than the amount of 823,653 passengers welcomed in the same period in 2019. As a result, during the eight-month period ending August 2022, MIA welcomed just under 3.75 million passengers which is 23.1% lower than the amount of 4.87 million handled in the same period in 2019. The airport operator’s target for 2022 is to welcome more than 5.4 passengers which would be circa 26% lower than the record of 7.31 million handled in 2019.

A single deal of 2,000 shares left the share price of International Hotel Investments plc at the €0.735 level.

BMIT Technologies plc traded flat at the €0.48 level on a total of 10,000 shares.

Meanwhile, HSBC Bank Malta plc advanced by 1.4% to recapture the €0.73 level albeit on trivial volumes.

Low trading activity also took place in the equities of MaltaPost plc and GO plc. The postal operator moved 0.9% higher to the €1.11 level whilst GO eased by 0.6% to the €3.08 level.

The RF MGS Index remained virtually unchanged at 907.103 points as the declines in the prices for long-dated MGS offset by the price gains in short-dated MGS. Movements across international bond markets remained volatile ahead of tomorrow’s publication of important inflation data in the US. Meanwhile, in an interview with CNBC, the governor of the Central Bank of Malta Edward Scicluna stated that the ECB is likely to continue increasing interest rates, albeit at a lesser degree than the 75-basis points hike effected last week.

 

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.