July 2024 is the busiest month in MIA’s history.

 

The MSE Equity Price Index increased for the fourth consecutive session as it rose by 0.45% to a five-month high of 3,865.721 points as the gains in seven equities outweighed the declines in APS, BOV and Trident. Meanwhile, four other equities closed unchanged as today’s trading activity in local equities was muted at around €0.06 million. Download today’s Equity Market Summary.

Malta International Airport plc increased by 0.8% to a two-year high of €6.05 on two trades amounting to 650 shares. Today, MIA announced that it welcomed a record 951,861 passengers during July 2024, an increase of 12.2% compared to July 2023 and 8.4% higher than the previous record in August 2023. In fact, July 2024 was the airport’s first month to ever surpass 900,000 movements. The seat load factor for July 2024 was 89.7%, 0.6 percentage points more than July 2023. Additionally, total seat capacity was 11.5% higher when compared to the corresponding month in 2023. Recently, the Board of Directors declared a net interim dividend of €0.06 per share, double the interim dividend paid in 2023. The dividend is payable by not later than Friday 13 September 2024 to all shareholders as at the close of trading on Tuesday 20 August 2024.

Also among large companies by market value, HSBC Bank Malta plc moved 3.0% higher to a one-week high of €1.69 across three trades amounting to 5,450 shares.

Plaza Centres plc surged by 12.5% to a three-week high of €0.63 as 1,100 shares changed hands. Shareholders as at the close of trading today will be eligible to receive a net interim dividend of €0.0098 per share, to be paid on Wednesday 28 August 2024.

Malta Properties Company plc gained 5.7% to the €0.37 level on one deal of 5,100 shares.

Also in the property sector, MIDI plc rose by 8.7% to the €0.25 level albeit over trivial volumes.

A single trade of 5,633 shares pushed the share price of Malita Investments plc 1.2% higher to the €0.496 level. Malita announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 28 August 2024 to consider the approval of the interim financial statements for the six-month period ended 30 June 2024. The Directors will also consider the payment of an interim dividend.  

Loqus Holdings plc increased to the €0.193 level on muted activity.

On the other hand, Bank of Valletta plc shed 0.6% to the €1.63 level across four deals amounting to 9,932 shares.

Also in the banking sector, APS Bank plc slumped by 2.2% to the €0.494 level over three trades totalling 13,617 shares. APS shareholders as at the close of trading on 20 August 2024 will be eligible for a net interim dividend of €0.0053 per share subject to regulatory approval.

Trident Estates plc fell by 1.7% to the €1.14 level on one trade of 5,500 shares.

Meanwhile, M&Z plc held the €0.59 level on a single deal of 2,520 shares. Today, M&Z announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 27 August 2024 to consider the approval of interim financial statements for the six-month period ended 30 June 2024. The Directors will also consider the declaration of an interim dividend.

Simonds Farsons Cisk plc traded flat at the €6.85 level as 1,353 shares changed hands.

PG plc remained unchanged at the €1.91 level on one trade of 400 shares.

Tigné Mall plc closed unchanged at the €0.99 level across two trades amounting to 5,500 shares. Shareholders as at the close of trading today will be eligible to receive a net interim dividend of €0.01445 per share, to be paid on Wednesday 28 August 2024.

Today, RS2 plc announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 28 August 2024 to consider the approval of the interim financial statements for the six-month period ended 30 June 2024.

The RF MGS Index remained relatively unchanged at 902.824 points. Data released today showed that German commercial property fell by 7.4% in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the corresponding period last year. On the other hand, valuations rose by 0.4% from the first quarter of 2024, indicating a slowdown in the decline of Germany’s commercial real estate market following a consistent two-year downtrend. Meanwhile, in the UK, Catherine Mann, an external member of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee expects that the price of goods and services in the UK will rise once again. Furthermore, she anticipates that wage pressures in the economy might take years to fully dissipate. Elsewhere in the US, Michelle Bowmann, a governor of the Federal Reserve stated inflation still remains uncomfortably above the goal of 2% and is subject to upside risk. In this respect, she advocated for a patient data-driven approach towards lowering rates without overreacting to any single data point.