Five equities register gains on the week

The Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) moved 0.26 per cent higher on a week-on-week basis, as five of the 11 active equities share price registered modest gains. In the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta (HSBC) and FIMBank performed positively while Bank of Valletta (BOV) and Lombard Bank (Lombard) share price moved lower. Maltacom, Simonds Farsons Cisk and Malta International Airport (MIA) registered increases in their share price while Middlesea Insurance, GlobalCapital and Datatrak holdings all closed in the red.

The total volume traded stood at 1,090,954 for a turnover of Lm1,155,495. The equity market accounted for 32 per cent of such value while the bond market accounted for 57.5 per cent. The remaining turnover balance was executed in Treasury Bills.

HSBC registered the largest amount of transactions during the week, as 57,722 shares changed hands across 62 transactions. The equity price rose 1.02 per cent on a weekly basis to close at Lm1.89. It was a mixed week for HSBC shares, as the share price climbed 0c9 on Monday, lost 1c on Tuesday, gained 3c on Wednesday and lost this last gain in Thursday's session. The last session of the week however proved to be positive for the equity, as it gained 2c to close 1c9 higher from last week's closing price.

FIMBank added 1.56 per cent throughout the week, having registered three consecutive share price increases from Wednesday's session onwards. This equity was the most active with regards to volume traded, having nearly 121,300 shares change hands across fourteen transactions. Its share price closed US$0.003 higher from last week, at the level of US$1.95.

Within the same sector, BOV as well as Lombard closed in the red. BOV had below 10,000 shares trade over thirty-one transactions to lose 1.11 per cent and close at Lm3.56, while Lombard had a mere 438 shares change hands over three transactions to close 1.01% lower at Lm4.92.

Maltacom was amongst the positive equity performers of the week, rising by a further 1.7 per cent, following last week's five per cent increase. Trading remained strong in the equity with 90,569 shares being traded across fifty-five deals. The equity gained 1c on Monday and 2c on Wednesday, to edge 0c5 lower at yesterday's session and close at Lm1.495.

Furthermore, MIA and Simonds Farsons Cisk added 0.15 per cent and 1.19 per cent respectively. MIA had 5,600 shares trade across nine transactions to close at Lm1.362, while Simonds Farsons Cisk registered a single transaction at the price of Lm0.855, this representing a 1c increase.

Datatrak Holdings was the worst equity performer of the week declining by 4.26 per cent. This was however attained over a single deal of 1,424 shares, which was executed at the price of Lm0.27. GlobalCapital also saw its share price slip by 2.05 per cent, to close at Lm1.91 over two transactions with a total of 1,075 shares changing hands.

Middlesea Insurance registered a minor drop of 0c3 to close 0.16 per cent lower on a week-on-week basis at Lm1.90. A transaction of 2,600 shares was also executed in San Tumas shares with the equity remaining unchanged at Lm1.15.

In the local bond market, 14 Government stocks and 13 corporate bonds were traded. Yesterday, the Treasury announced the issue of two new Malta Government Stocks, namely the:

5.7 per cent MGS 2012 (iii) Fungible Issue with a premium of Lm105.95 per Lm100 nominal;

5.1 per cent MGS 2014 (iii) Fungible Issue with a premium of Lm103.64 per Lm100 nominal;

The Stocks will open on April 23 and close on April 26 or earlier at the discretion of the Accountant General. Both issues will be for an amount of Lm10 million with an over-allotment option of another Lm10 million in each issue.

This article which was compiled by 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 please contact JFMS at 67/3, South Street, Valletta or on tel: 2122 4410 or e-mail jmizzi@jmfs.net