MGSs succumb to selling pressure

MSE Trading Report for week ending April 22, 2016

The sovereign debt market witnessed a negative week, as all 23 active issues registered a decline in value. The 2.3% MGS 2029 (II) registered the most significant decline, having closed 1.4 per cent lower at €108. Meanwhile, the recently issued 2.5% MGS 2036 (I) r was the most liquid with a turnover of €2.4m – to close 0.7 per cent lower at €106. Total turnover amounted to €6m.

 

Meanwhile, the Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) Index recouped by a minimal 0.03 per cent, to close at 4,534.762 points. Turnover in the equity market amounted to €1.14m spread across 16 equities of which eight gained ground, seven fell and one closed unchanged.

 

Mapfre Middlesea plc shares headed the list of fallers having plunged by €0.12 or five per cent over a sole trade of 22,210 shares executed at €2.30 last Wednesday.

 

Conversely, MIDI plc was the best performer having advanced by 4.9 per cent across 11 deals of 66,603 shares, to close at €0.388. The company announced that the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on May 12, 2016 to consider among other matters, the approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the payment of a final net dividend of €0.007 per share, which represents a final net dividend of €1,499,119, for payment by May 27, 2016.

 

In the banking sector, FIMBank plc shares advanced by 3.2 per cent as 204,000 shares changed ownership over nine deals, closing at $0.75. The trade finance bank announced that its AGM shall be held on May 10, 2016 to consider among other matters, the approval of the Audited Accounts for the Financial Year ended December 31, 2015 and the approval of a bonus ordinary share issue of one for every 25 ordinary shares held, with a nominal value of $0.50 per share.

Bank of Valletta plc (BOV) shares declined by a further 0.4 per cent as 28 trades of 58,674 shares were negotiated, to close at €2.26. The bank announced that its Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on April 29, 2016 to consider and approve the Group's and the Bank's interim financial statements for the six months ended March 31, 2016 and to consider the declaration of an interim dividend.

HSBC Bank Malta plc shares partially erased the previous week’s 4.2 per cent loss, with a 0.6 per cent gain to close at €1.60. The equity was active on 15 deals of 103,233 shares.

 

International Hotel Investments plc shares recouped 1.6 per cent as 46,684 shares changed hands, closing at €0.63.The company announced that its Board of Directors will review the Financial Statements for year ended December 31, 2015 on April 26, 2016. During the week, the company issued its annual report on sinking funds in respect of the IHI 6.25% Bonds 2017-2020.  

GO plc shares partly erased the previous week’s negative performance having registered a 0.8 per cent gain over 10 transactions of 29,148 shares, closing at €3.479. Conversely, Malta Properties Company plc (MPC) shares fully reversed the previous week’s gain, having declined by two per cent over 15 trades of 95,489 shares, to close at €0.58.

MPC announced that its first AGM will be held on June 2, 2016, to consider among other matters, the approval of the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2015.

In the I.T. sector, Loqus Holdings plc shares increased by 0.8 per cent over four deals of 22,364 shares, closing at €0.131. On a negative note, RS2 Software plc shares fell by 0.5 per cent across 11 transactions of 33,410 shares, to close at €3.80.

6PM Holdings plcannounced that its Board of Directors  is scheduled to meet on April 26, 2016 to consider and approve the Company’s Audited Financial Statements for the financial year ended December 31, 2015 and the declaration or otherwise of a dividend to be recommended to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting, to be held on June 21, 2016. The equity was not active this week.

Malta International Airport plc shares oscillated between a weekly high of €4.375 and a low of €4.25, to ultimately close one per cent lower at €4.33. The equity was executed across 28 deals of 43,327 shares.

Meanwhile, Plaza Centres plc shares fell by 0.5 per cent over a single trade of 15,000 shares executed at €1.03. In the same sector, Tigne Mall plc announced that its forthcoming Annual General Meeting will be held on June 24, 2016. The equity was not active this week.

Medserv plc shares edged 0.6 per cent higher as six deals of 37,300 shares were negotiated, to close at €1.791. Similarly, the share price of Malita Investments plc rose by a minimal 0.1 per cent across two trades of 5,376 shares, closing at €0.93.

Santumas Shareholdings plc shares slipped by 0.4 per cent over two trades of 2,330 shares, to close at €2.35. Meanwhile, MaltaPost plc shares closed unchanged at €1.98 as five deals of 21,500 shares were struck.

In the corporate bond market, turnover amounted to €1.2m. Activity was spread across 38 issues of which 21 gained ground, 11 declined and six closed unchanged. The 6% Island Hotels Group Holdings plc € 2024 was the best performer having appreciated by five per cent, closing at €115. Meanwhile, the 4.8% BOV Notes 2018 was the most liquid having witnessed a turnover of €133k, to close unchanged at €104.50.