MSE

Trading Report for week ending January 15, 2010

BOV

and GO maintain positive momentum

The Malta Stock Exchange Index closed the

week in positive territory for the second week running this year, edging 1.13

per cent higher on the week. The gains registered in the first two trading

sessions of the week, were enough to make up for the losses recorded in the

three sessions that followed, hence the Index now rests at 3,694.170 points. When

compared to the previous week value transacted in the equity market was higher,

activity in governments stocks increased by 90%, while fewer deals were

executed in corporate bonds. Similarly to last week 15 equities were active

during the week, nine of which closed higher on the week, two closed unchanged,

while the remaining four closed in decline.

Total transactions

for the week amounted to 551 deals with a turnover of just under €7.1m. In the equity market 399 deals were executed

for a total value of over €1.3m while in the corporate bonds market 94 transactions were registered for a value

of €933,945. On the other hand 53 transactions in the government bond market totalling €619,911 were executed across

eleven securities. In the treasury bills

market, three transactions were traded amounting to over €4.2m.

Out of the

financial equities Bank of Valletta plc headed

the list of gainers having gained 5.74 per cent to stand at €3.35 after the

equity’s price was adjusted on Wednesday to reflect the bonus share issue of

one share for every four held. In fact on Wednesday the equity closed

unchanged, at €3.28 while gains were recorded across the remaining sessions.

During the week a total of 120,522 shares changed hands across 114 deals.

On the contrary HSBC Bank Malta plc failed to keep up with last week’s impressive

performance as the equity closed 1.35 per cent lower at €3.65, having traded at

a high of €4.05. Hefty gains were registered on Monday and Tuesday while the

equity lost ground in the remaining sessions. A total of 115 deals of nearly

113,000 shares were executed. 

Similarly Middlesea Insurance plc closed the week

in the red, down by 22.23 per cent or €0.209 to reach €0.731, after the company

announced that the losses incurred by Progress, its Italian subsidiary, in the

fourth quarter of 2009 could be higher than forecasted. In fact the equity

closed four trading sessions in decline, with the share price trading at the

lower limit permitted on the day. A total of 156,856 shares were traded over 61

transactions.

Meanwhile, FIMBank plc was active across all

trading sessions, as the equity gained 2.68 per cent on the week, hence

reaching $1.15. Investors’ preference towards this equity increased as 74,321

shares were traded across 26 deals, up from 1,900 shares traded last week.

Conversely, Lombard Bank plc unleashed

some losses during the week as the equity gained only on Wednesday, while

losses were recorded in the remaining three sessions, as the price now stands

at €3.139. For the second week running Global

Capital plc closed on a positive note as the price increased by 3.88 per

cent to reach €1.50, having traded on the first three sessions.

GO

plc maintained its positive stance

throughout the week as gains were recorded across four sessions while closing

unchanged yesterday. A total of 61,645 shares were active over 41 shares, as

the equity now reached €2.26, up by 5.61 on the week.

Meanwhile, International Hotel Investments plc

retracted last week losses as the price now stands at €0.772, edging 2.25 per

cent higher on the week. Similarly, MaltaPost

plc was active during three sessions as the share price gained 2.78% on

Thursday with the price closing at €0.74.

Malta

International Airport plc was the best

performing equity of the week, having gained 6 per cent, to reach €2.65. A

total of 2,300 shares were negotiated across six deals. Simonds Farsons Cisk plc and Plaza

Centres plc recorded one transaction each, as the equities’ price now

stands at €1.72 and €1.65 respectively. 

Medserv

plc was active for the first time this

year yesterday as three deals of 4,700 shares were executed, with the price

closing unchanged at €4.25. Similarly, Crimsonwing

plc was active only during one session as one transaction of 1,000 shares

left the price unchanged at €0.40. Meanwhile, a loss of 0.88 per cent was

recorded by Island Hotels Group Holdings

plc as 4,000 shares on one deal changed hands with the price closing at €1.01. 

This article,

which was compiled by Jesmond Mizzi, Managing Director of Jesmond Mizzi

Financial Services Limited (JMFS), does not intend to give investment advice

and the contents therein should not be construed as such.  JMFS is licensed to conduct investment

services by the MFSA. The directors or related parties, including the company,

and their clients are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned in

this article. For further information contact JMFS at 67/3, South Street, Valletta

or on Tel: 21224410 or email [email protected].