The Malta Stoik Exchange Index fully erased the previous week’s gain having decreased by 1.08 per cent, to close at 4,472.26 points – thus registering the first week-on-week decline of he year.
However, despite this fall, the index managed to advance by one per cent in the first month of this year.
Turnover over the week amounted to €1.2 million and was spread across 18 equities of which nine fell, two advanced and seven closed unchanged.
In the banking sector, negativity prevailed as out of four banking equities, three registered losses, while one closed unchanged. HSBC Bank Malta plc shares headed the list of fallers having stumbled by €0.064 or 3.6 per cent as 29 transactions of 76,274 shares were struck, closing at €1.731.
Lombard Bank Malta plc shares followed suit having declined by 1.4 per cent over a sole transaction of 1,040 shares, to close €0.035 lower at €2.40.
Likewise, Bank of Valletta plc shares edged 0.5 per cent lower across the highest volume of the week of 245,758 shares, closing at €2.23.
Meanwhile, FIMBank plc shares traded flat at $0.63. The trade finance bank’s shares were active on a sole trade of 2,000 shares.
Mapfre Middlesea plc shares fully stumbled by four per cent as 10,316 shares changed ownership over six trades, closing €0.095 lower at €2.255. Similarly, Medserv plc shares fell by 2.1 per cent across five trades of 10,218 shares, to close at €1.645.
On a positive note, the rarely active GlobalCapital plc shares recovered by 11.1 per cent as two deals of 2,000 shares were executed, closing €0.05 higher at €0.50.
Conversely, Malta Properties Company plc shares were the worst performers having stumbled by 6.9 per cent, to close €0.04 lower at €0.54. The equity was active on 16 trades of 62,980 shares.
GO plc shares oscillated between a weekly high of €3.19 and a low of €3.09, to ultimately close at its weekly high. The telecommunications provider’s shares witnessed 19 transactions of 40,504 shares. The company announced that its fully owned subsidiary, GO Data Centre Services Limited, has completed the acquisition of 51 per cent of the issued share capital of Kinetix IT Solutions Limited.
International Hotel Investments plc shares slipped by 0.7 per cent as 61,200 shares changed hands over 10 transactions, closing at €0.735, having traded at a low of €0.70.
On a similar note, Malta International Airport plc shares declined by 0.5 per cent across 25 deals of 26,024 shares, to close at €4.33, having traded at a high of €4.40 and a low of €4.27 intra-week.
In the IT sector, RS2 Software plc shares continue to move away from its record highs, having slipped by 0.5 per cent over seven deals of 34,080 shares, to close at €3.275.
On the other hand, 6PM Holdings plc shares traded unchanged at £0.70 across two trades of 2,000 shares.
Plaza Centres plc shares traded unchanged at €1 over two transactions of 8,000 shares, closing at €1.
Likewise, Tigne Mall plc shares remained changed at €0.96 as two trades of 6,000 shares were struck.
The other non-movers for the week were MaltaPost plc, MIDI plc and Malita Investments plc shares having closed unchanged at €1.92, €0.35 and €0.95 respectively.
Loqus Holdings plc announced that at the annual general meeting of the company held last Thursday, the audited financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2015 and the directors’ report and the auditors’ report were approved.
In the corporate bond market turnover amounted to €789,008. Activity was spread across 23 issues of which seven appreciated, five declined and 11 close unchanged. The 4.25% BOV € Notes 2019 Series 2 Tranche 1 was the best performer having advanced by 5.8 per cent, to close at €110, while the 5% Hal Mann Vella Group plc Secured Bonds € 2024 headed the list of fallers having declined by 2.3 per cent, closing at €105.
In the sovereign debt market 22 issues were active of which short-dated stocks marginally fell, while long-dated stocks moved higher. Turnover totalled €7.1 million. The 2.3% MGS 2029 (II) was the most liquid issue having witnessed a turnover of €2.8 million. Meanwhile, the long-dated 3% MGS 2040 (I) was the top performer having rallied by 1.9 per cent, closing at €110.38.
This article, which was compiled by Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited, does not intend to give investment advice and the contents therein should not be construed as such.
The company is licensed to conduct investment services by the MFSA and is a Member of the Malta Stock Exchange and a member of the Atlas Group.
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 contact Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited at 67, Level 3, South Street, Valletta, or on Tel: 2122 4410, or e-mail info@jesmondmizzi.com.