Following the declines of the past two days, the share index advanced by 0.05 per cent to 4,467.514 points today on high trading volumes. In fact, the total value traded amounted to just over €0.8 million – the highest level since mid-December.
The most active equity during this morning’s session was RS2 Software as it accounted for 66 per cent (equivalent to €0.54 million) of today’s total value traded.
Most of today’s trades in RS2 were executed around the €3.28 level but its share price ended the session marginally higher at €3.29 (+0.2 per cent compared to the previous closing price) after briefly touching an intra-day high of €3.32 on a deal of just 500 shares.
Malta International Airport also gained 1.8 per cent to close at a new all-time high of €4.45 across 5,000 shares. On Tuesday, MIA confirmed that Flughafen Wien AG (the owner and operator of Vienna Airport) signed a share purchase agreement with SNC-Lavalin (Malta) Limited for the acquisition of the latter’s indirect stake in MIA.
Upon closure of this transaction, the total aggregate holding of Flughafen Wien AG in MIA, directly and indirectly, will increase to 48.44 per cent. The total value of the transaction amounts to approximately €63 million, equivalent to €3 per share of MIA, subject to working capital adjustments. MIA will be publishing its 2015 financial results on February 24. The board of directors will also be considering the payment of a final dividend.
Similarly, Tigne’ Mall regained its all-time high of 97c (+one per cent) albeit on insignificant volumes of 485 shares.
A single deal of 10,000 shares pushed the equity of FIMBank plc 0.8 per cent higher to the 60c5US level.
MaltaPost was the worst performer as the equity retreated 3.6 per cent lower back to the €1.85 level across 2,069 shares.
Five deals, totalling 25,000 shares, were executed in GO at the €3.15 level (-1.3 per cent). The company’s board of directors is scheduled to meet on Thursday to consider and approve the 2015 financial results as well as the payment of a final dividend.
Bank of Valletta virtually closed unchanged at the €2.23,9 level across 28,400 shares.
Also in the banking sector, HSBC closed unchanged at its 11-month low of €1.70 on volumes of 51,113 shares. The bank will publish its 2015 full year results on February 22.
The directors will also be considering the payment of a final dividend for approval at the upcoming annual general meeting scheduled to be held on April 15.
Malta Properties Company (12,500 shares) recovered from an intra-day low of 56c to close the session unchanged at the 57c level.
On the bond market, the RF MGS Index rebounded by 0.06 per cent to 1,142.548 points despite a rise in the 10-year benchmark German Bund yield as it regained the 0.3 per cent level today after touching an intra-day low of 0.27 per cent yesterday.
The latest data from the Eurozone, related to its services sector and retail sales, showed that the region’s economy is continuing to progress albeit at a slow pace. Nonetheless, inflationary outlook remains dismal, compelling the European Central Bank to consider further stimulus measures at its next monetary policy meeting to be held on March 10.
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