The MSE Share Index closed in negative territory for the fourth time in the last five sessions today with a further 0.2% drop to 3,331.993 points as the share prices of Bank of Valletta plc and HSBC Bank Malta plc remained under further pressure.
The equity of BOV declined for the fourth consecutive session. The share price lost another 1.1% closing at the €2.26 level on volumes of almost 59,700 shares. Today marked the last day for investors to gain entitlement to the interim gross dividend of €0.06 per share. As such, the equity turns ex-dividend as from tomorrow.
HSBC’s share price moved minimally lower to €2.60 on low volumes of 5,120 shares.
On the other hand, 6pm Holdings plc climbed 5.7% to yet another new 3-year high of GBP0.56 (+80.7% year-to-date) on volumes of 15,260 shares. Last week, the IT Group issued a press release revealing that after an initial contract for one of the Group’s document management solutions with a major mental health trust in the UK comprising 350 users, the same Trust has now purchased an additional licence comprising a further 1,500 users.
Malta International Airport plc also closed in positive territory today with the share price edging 0.5% higher to the €1.93 level on volumes of more than 40,000 shares. The airport operator is expected to publish the April 2013 traffic statistics shortly.
Meanwhile, FIMBank plc held on to the US$1.01 level on low volumes of 4,550 shares and GO plc maintained the €1.59 level across seven deals totalling 8,200 shares. GO today issued its Interim Statement in which the Directors noted that Group profitability during the first quarter of 2013 is marginally below that registered during the same period last year. Nonetheless, GO reported that it maintains a healthy cash generation and a significant level of liquidity and available banking facilities
Similarly, no change was reported in the share price of MaltaPost plc as it closed this morning’s session at the €1.05 level on volumes of 8,733 shares. The company is shortly expected to publish its March 2013 interim financial statements.
On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index tumbled 0.2% to 1,022.847 points following the surge in Eurozone yields last Friday afternoon. Yields regained the 1.25% level on the back of a surprisingly strong US jobs report.
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