The Malta Stock Exchange index had an all-positive week, as it gained just below one per cent, to surpass the 3,500 level, precisely at 3,504.846 points. The index halted its two weekly consecutive losses, as gains this week ranged between 0.182 per cent and 0.267 per cent. During this four-day week, 10 equities were traded, as half of these closed in positive territory, three closed lower and two other equities registered no price movements. Turnover in the equity market declined during the week, as 155 deals consisting of 304,747 shares, for a value reaching €661,792 were executed, with Bank of Valletta plc shares again dominating the market.
In the Government Stock market, turnover amounted to €1.26 million across 65 deals, with approximately 36 per cent traded in the 5.25% MGS 2030 (I) FI issues, as trading in this market saw a decline. Likewise, the Corporate Bonds market also registered a decline in turnover, with €1.06 million being traded over 106 trades. Meanwhile, two deals of €4.47 million were executed in the Treasury Bill market.
GlobalCapital plc shares continued to impress this week, as an overwhelming 19.05 per cent gain was registered yesterday, with a closing share price for the week of €1.50. The equity’s year-to-date performance was re-vamped over the past three weeks as it previously stood at a loss of 26.15 per cent, while after two consecutive weekly gains, the equity has a year-to-date positive performance of approximately 11.1 per cent, thus one of the healthiest year-to-date positions. However, despite this rise, only 4,800 shares changed hands over nine deals this week.
Bank of Valletta plc continued last week’s upward move, as this week it appreciated by 1.89 per cent to close at €3.77, with 99,066 shares changing hands across 80 deals. A low of €3.699 was registered, while this week’s high, was again equivalent to the week’s closing share price of €3.77, as the equity out performed the MSE index’s, as the year to date gains reached 22 per cent.
On the negative side, Plaza Centres plc shares were the week’s worst performing equity closing at €1.65, a drop of €0.07 or 4.07 per cent. This decline was backed by four deals of 10,000 shares.
Conversely, HSBC Bank Malta plc shares rebounded after two week-on-week losses. Activity in this equity amounted to 21,631 shares changing hands on 17 deals, compared to last week’s figure of approximately 76,000 shares. The equity’s share price closed the week at €2.93, almost 1.4 per cent, or €0.04 higher.
FIMBank plc was the only banking equity to edge lower this week. In fact, its share price closed at $0.94, a decrease of $0.01 or 1.05 per cent. Shares traded amounted to 51,000, which were traded across three deals. This week’s decline was mainly due to a drop of 3.05 per cent on Tuesday, although the equity recouped some of this loss yesterday, with a rise of 2.06 per cent.
Maltapost plc closed the week flat at €0.93 on Monday, as 3,900 shares changed hands over two trades. Similarly, Lombard Bank plc closed the week unchanged for the second week running at €2.57, having registered eight deals of 7,300 shares. Notwithstanding a rise of 1.17 per cent registered on Tuesday which was, however, erased by yesterday’s decline.
International Hotel Investments plc continued to lose ground this week, having registered a loss of 0.66 per cent on Monday, to close the week at €0.75, as 40,000 shares were swapped on three trades.
On the contrary, gains of 0.47 per cent and 0.05 per cent meant a total gain of 0.52 per cent for Go plc shares, and thus closing at €1.92, as the equity is now on a two-week positive streak. Shares traded amounted to 31,000 shares over 15 deals. After almost eight and a half months, Forgendo Limited, the joint venture company between Go plc and Emirates International Telecommunications (Malta) Limited, has acquired a further 1,299,439 shares in Forthnet S.A. issued share capital. Forgendo’s shareholding in Forthnet now stands at 40.71 per cent.
Malta International Airport plc was another gainer out of this week’s positive performers, as it closed the week at €1.65, a marginal rise of €0.005 or 0.3 per cent. Volume traded this week totalled 36,050 shares across 14 transactions. On Tuesday, MIA published its Traffic Results for November 2010. Passenger movements rose to 202,718, the highest number ever registered in November. When compared to the same month last year, the increase in passenger movements resulted in a rise of 12.5 per cent. Similarly, aircraft movements grew by 11.7 per cent.
This article, which was co-mpiled 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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