Daily Market Highlights (30.12.09)

  • MSE Share Index closes the year in positive territory and at a fresh 2009 high. Index rises 0.4% during this morning’s session to 3,460.553 points on gains in BOV, Lombard and FIMBank which offset marginal losses in Middlesea and IHG Holdings. Local equity market ends the year 7.9% higher led by the double digit increases in the index heavyweights BOV, GO and HSBC. Medserv also closed 2009 higher whilst all other equities registered yearly declines with the exception of Grand Harbour Marina which was unchanged as it failed to trade during the last 12 months. Next trading session to take place on Monday 4 January. Download a copy of today’s Equity Market Summary.
  • Intensified demand for BOV shares pushes the equity 1.8% higher during the last trading session of 2009 to close at the €3.87 level. Over 28,800 shares transacted today on increased demand ahead of the 1 for 4 bonus share issue to those members as at the close of trading on 12 January 2010. Lowest offers now pitched at the €3.889 level with further demand outstanding at €3.85. BOV ranks as the best performing equity this year with a yearly rise of 33.8%.
  • Meanwhile HSBC maintains the €3.23 after recovering from an intra-day low of €3.22. Low trading activity persists in HSBC with only 840 shares changing hands this morning. Equity also registers a double-digit gain of 19.6% in 2009.
  • A single trade of 696 Lombard shares transacted at the €2.99 level, representing a 0.7% increase over the previous close. Last week the Bank announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on 11 March 2010 to approve the Group’s 2009 full-year results and to declare a final dividend. Lombard’s equity has recovered by 17.7% during the final quarter of the year to trim this year’s decline to just 0.3%.
  • GO closes unchanged at €2.10 for the second consecutive session on a single trade of 2,000 shares. GO was the star performer during the final quarter of 2009 with a gain of 33%. This helped the equity rank as the second best performer in 2009 with an increase of 19.9%.
  • Middlesea closes today’s session minimally lower at €0.804 on volumes of 7,000 shares. Best bids now at €0.78 whilst further offers outstanding at the last trading price. Although the share price is 34% higher than the rights issue price of €0.60, Middlesea ranks as the worst performing equity in 2009 with a loss of 68.5%.
  • FIMBank edges 0.9% higher to the US$1.10 level on a single trade of only 500 shares. Further bids remaining unsatisfied at the closing price whilst lowest offers now pitched at the US$1.12 level. The trade specialist’s share price slumped 25.5% during 2009.
  • Share price of Island Hotels Group sheds 1% to drop back to the €1.01 level on a single trade of 1,000 shares. Last week the Group announced the acquisition of the Hal Ferh complex situated close to the Golden Sands Resort. Further details available here.