Four equities pull the MSE Equity Price Index lower

 

The MSE Equity Price Index extended its losing streak to the seventh consecutive session as it fell by a further 0.12% to a two-month low of 3,751.340 points. The declines in BOV, GO, MPC and Santumas outweighed the gains in MIA, APS and MaltaPost. Meanwhile, three other equities closed unchanged as the total trading activity was muted at just under €0.05 million. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Most of today’s traded value in equities took place across the shares of Bank of Valletta plc which shed 1.6% to a three-week low of €1.25 across volumes totalling 20,967 shares.

Also among the large companies by market value, GO plc declined by 1.3% to a two-week low of €2.94 across three deals totalling 3,060 shares.

Malta Properties Company plc (-3.9%) and Santumas Shareholdings plc (-1.5%) moved lower to the €0.392 and €1.28 levels respectively on trivial volumes.

In contrast, Malta International Airport plc gained 0.9% to the €5.75 level on a single trade of 525 shares.

APS Bank plc rebounded by 3.3% to the €0.62 level, albeit on trivial volumes. APS shareholders as of the close of trading today will receive a net interim dividend of €0.0056 per share, which shareholders can elect to receive the dividend either in cash or through the issuance of new ordinary shares at an attribution price of €0.57 per share.

MaltaPost plc advanced by 2.3% to the €0.44 level across two trades totalling 9,300 shares. Yesterday, MaltaPost plc announced that the Malta Communications Authority (“MCA’) approved its previous requests to revise tariffs related to the Universal Services Obligation (“USO”). The changes to the tariffs will be affected as from 28 August 2023. MaltaPost explained that the changes are expected to alleviate the negative impact of services covered by the USO on the company’s financial performance.

Meanwhile, BMIT Technologies plc closed unchanged at the €0.41 level on a single trade of 8,000 shares.

International Hotel Investments plc held the €0.53 level on muted activity. Tomorrow, IHI is expected to publish its interim results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2023.

A single deal of 949 shares left the share price of Main Street Complex plc unchanged at the €0.412 level. The company is expected to publish its interim results later today.

The RF MGS Index increased by 0.53% to a one-week high of 868.405 points, reflecting the downward movement in MGS yields. Similar movements were observed in European sovereign bond yields with the German Bund yield dropping below 2.53% today after it had consistently stayed above the 2.6% level throughout the last seven sessions. Data published today showed that in August, the Euro Area registered a contraction in business activity. In particular, within the eurozone’s largest economy, the German business activity experienced the sharpest contraction in over three years.

 

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.