During this morning’s session on the Malta Stock Exchange, the share prices of RS2 Software plc and Crimsonwing plc continued to advance. The equity of RS2 Software plc climbed by a further 6.7% to the €0.80 level as the 24,400 shares on offer in the market were satisfied across three trades. No further shares are now being offered in the market.
Although the €0.80 level had been the price of the IPO in May 2008, this has since been re-adjusted to €0.75 following the bonus share issue which took place in 2012. RS2 shares have been among the positive performers in recent months and following the 31.6% increase during 2012, the equity has already gained 8.1% during the first few sessions of this year on continued positive sentiment resulting from the new significant licence agreements as well as the expected introduction of managed services which in turn should lead to improved profitability for the RS2 Group.
Crimsonwing plc has also been among the positive performers following the announcement of the new international contracts and the bullish profit forecast for the next financial year to 31 March 2014. The share price of Crimsonwing continued to trade above its December 2007 IPO level of €0.50, with a further 1.9% gain today closing the day at the €0.55 level on volumes of 40,675 shares. Following this latest upturn, Crimsonwing shares already top the local equity rankings with a 12.2% jump in the first three sessions of 2013 following the 96% rise last year.
Bank of Valletta plc shares also closed in positive territory as the banking equity rose 1% today to a new 7-week high of €2.45 across twenty-five trades totalling 62,607 shares. The increased activity is possibly ahead of the upcoming 1 for 9 bonus share issue. The Bank’s equity will trade with the entitlement to the bonus issue until next Monday 14 January 2013.
The other positive performing equity during this morning’s session was GO plc as its share price edged 0.4% higher to regain the 2012 high of €1.20 on volumes of 13,463 shares.
On the other hand, Plaza Centres plc reversed last year’s late recovery which was achieved on an insignificant amount of shares. In fact, Plaza’s share price slid by 10% back to the €0.54 level across five trades totalling 153,330 shares.
The only other active equity was Lombard Bank Malta plc which held on to the €1.86 level on just over 8,000 shares.
Overall, the MSE Share Index climbed 0.3% to a new 2-month high of 3,259.071 points.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index again edged marginally higher to 1,005.211 points as the benchmark 10-year German Bund yields eased from their 2-month highs of 1.56% after last Friday’s sharp sell-off.