The Malta Stock Exchange index halted last week’s dive, having ended this week stable at 4,468.719 points as a negligible decline of 0.08 per cent was recorded.

Total turnover increased from €1.2 million to €2.8 million with activity spread across 17 equities. Seven closed flat, five edged higher while five closed lower.

This week’s top performing equity was Malta International Airport plc. After starting the week flat, a steady increase was registered throughout the week to finally close at a new high of €4.50 and thus registering a 3.9 per cent gain over the previous week. A total of 21,865 shares changed hands over 17 deals.

Last Tuesday, MIA announced that Flughafen Wien AG, through the signing of a share purchase agreement to acquire SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. indirect stake in SNC-Lavalin (Malta) Limited, subject to the fulfilment of certain closing conditions by both parties. Upon reaching financial closure Flughafen Wien AG will own in excess of 48 per cent of the total issued share capital of MIA.

After the close of market last Friday, MIA announced positive traffic results for the month of January 2016, with a 13.2 per cent increase in passengers over the same month last year and an 11 per cent growth during winter so far. London, Frankfurt, and Rome were January’s top destinations, while the maximum take-off weight rose by 7.2 per cent, and cargo and mail grew by 3.4 per cent.

In the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc shares took a 1.8 per cent pounding to close at €1.70 on a turnover worth €372,000 while the share price of Bank of Valletta plc only witnessed slight movements intra-week to finally close unchanged at €2.23.

Similarly, Lombard Bank Malta plc shares ended the week flat at €2.40 as two deals of 18,000 shares were executed on Wednesday.

The other faller in this sector was FIMBank plc as seven deals of 171,325 shares dragged its share price four per cent lower to $0.605.

Elsewhere, GO plc shares halted their recent upward trend having eased 0.6 per cent lower to the €3.17 level as 37,926 shares changed hands.

Last week, the company announced that the board of directors is scheduled to meet on February 11, 2016 to consider and approve the company’s audited financial statements for the financial year ended December 31, 2015 and to consider the declaration and recommendation of a final dividend.

A significant decline of 4.2 per cent or €0.08 was registered in the share price of MaltaPost plc having closed at its weekly low of €1.84 on a turnover of €12,500.

Meanwhile, trading in Medserv plc ranged between a high of €1.65 and a low of €1.60 – at which it closed – thus registering a 2.7 per cent decline over the week. A total of 10 deals of 16,559 shares were executed over four trading sessions.

On the upside, the share price of Malta Properties Company plc rallied by 5.6 per cent to €0.57 as 36,334 shares changed hands.

Positive trading was also witnessed in MIDI plc and Tigne Mall plc albeit on lower volumes, with gains of 2.9 and one per cent respectively.

Elsewhere, RS2 Software plc shares closed the week in positive territory having closed 0.8 per cent higher at €3.30 on the second highest turnover this week worth almost €720k.

No movement was recorded in the closing price of Mapfre Middlesea plc, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc, Plaza Centres plc, GlobalCapital plc and Pefaco International plc. The latter equity was active over one deal of 399,786 shares executed at €2.24.

The board of directors of Mapfre Middlesea plc and Plaza Centres plc are due to meet on March 2, 2016 and March 16, 2016 respectively, to approve the companies’ financial statements and consider the recommendation of the payment of a dividend.

In the corporate bond market, 24 issues were active during the week reaching a turnover of €495,000, down from €789,000 last week – seven issues edged higher, nine lost ground and eight closed unchanged.

The highest volume of 50,000 nominal was traded in the 3.5% Bank of Valletta plc € Notes 2030 S1 T1, closing 0.5 per cent lower at €99.50. The 4.5% Hili Properties plc Unsecured € 2025 recovered 1.9 per cent to close at €106.49.

In the sovereign debt market, trading declined considerably from €7 million to €3.8 million as activity was spread across 21 stocks. While short and long dated issues closed the week in the red, four issues with a four to five year maturity managed a gain on the week. The 4.1% MGS 2034 (I) took the lion’s share of trading with a turnover of €1.14 million.

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

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