The Malta Stock Exchange index returned to negative territory this week, having closed the week at 3,340.478, a fall of 0.23 per cent as trading activity across all markets fell from 541 deals to 388 deals. The index registered its heftiest decline on Tuesday, a fall of 0.508 per cent, while increasing by 0.31 per cent the next session. Although the index closed lower on the week, five out of the 13 traded equities closed in positive territory, four declined and another four remained unchanged.
Turnover decreased in almost all markets, excluding the Treasury Bills market, as it rose from €1.2 million to over €5.79 million. In the equity market turnover declined by almost half compared to last week, thus totalling €545,723. In the Corporate Bond market turnover remained relatively stable at €646,166 on 82 deals, while in the Government Stock market 171 trades were executed for a total value of over €3.41million.
Malta International Airport plc was the best performer this week, as the equity appreciated by 2.7 per cent. The closing share price was €1.60, as the equity saw 26,220 shares change hands across eight deals. The share price of Maltapost plc also closed the week higher with a gain of 2.22 per cent, or €0.02, registered yesterday, closing the week at €0.92, as 6,172 shares changed hands over three trades. Maltapost now stands at a year-to-date gain of 31.43 per cent.
None of the banking equities registered any gains this week. The worst performer in this sector was Lombard Bank plc, with a depreciation of 3.7 per cent in its share price. The equity closed the week at €2.60, with 5,860 shares changing hands on three deals.
HSBC Bank Malta plc continued to lose ground this week, with a fall of one per cent. HSBC registered declines on three trading sessions, while increasing on a trading session and remaining flat on Monday. A low of €2.75 was registered during the week, while a high of €2.798 was registered on Monday. A total of 39 deals were registered, consisting of 55,100 shares, with the equity’s share price closing at €2.77, thus increasing the year-to-date loss to 14.24 per cent.
Bank of Valletta plc closed the week unchanged at €3.24 and was the most traded equity this week, with 57,571 shares changing hands over 45 transactions, for a total value of €185,729. From Wednesday to yesterday, the bank registered gains of 0.31 per cent in each session, as it recovered from a decline of 0.93 per cent registered on Tuesday. This week the group announced that the board of directors would be meeting next Friday to approve the annual audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, and to consider the declaration of a final dividend, to be recommended at the annual general meeting.
FIMBank plc shares also closed flat at $0.95 yesterday, on three trades of 6,000 shares.
Go plc registered a rise of 1.63 per cent, which was spread equally across three trading sessions, with a gain of 0.54 per cent in each of the sessions. The equity’s share price closed at €1.87, an increase of €0.03, having registered 13 trades of over 36,000 shares.
Crimsonwing plc was the worst performing traded equities, with a loss of just over 9.5 per cent. Due to this fall, the equity’s year-to-date performance slipped into the red by 2.56 per cent. The closing share price was €0.38, as 39,449 shares were traded on three deals. Intra-week the equity traded at a low of €0.35.
A single trade of 1,000 shares in Grand Harbour Marina plc closed the week 1.02 per cent higher at €1.98.
Middlesea Insurance plc and International Hotel Investments plc closed the week unchanged at €1.00 and €0.80 respectively, as the former registered two deals of roughly 6,800 shares, while the latter had 37,500 shares changing hands over nine transactions.
The share price of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc retreated by 1.71 per cent yesterday, or €0.03, following last week’s gain of 7.03 per cent. The equity closed at €1.72, with a volume of 5,740 shares changing hands across three deals.
On the other hand, the share price of Plaza Centres plc yesterday registered a rise of €0.015, or 0.89 per cent, closing at €1.70, on a single deal of 5,400 shares.
This article, which was compiled by Atlas JMFS Investment Services Limited, does not intend to give investment advice and the contents therein should not be construed as such. Atlas JMFS is licensed to conduct investment services by the MFSA and is a member firm of the Malta Stock Exchange. The directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned in this article.
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