The MSE Index closed in the red for the second consecutive week as it registered a weekly loss of 0.61 per cent, to settle at 4,715.170 points – the lowest point in five weeks. In total, 19 equities were active during the week, of which the majority declined, five closed unchanged and only three gained ground. Total turnover stood in similar territory as last week at around €1.54 million.
HSBC Bank Malta plc shares turned ex-dividend during the week resulting in a natural fall in price. The equity declined by 1.4 per cent, to close at €2.05 – a decline of €0.03. Total turnover surpassed the €376,000 mark across 33 deals.
Bank of Valletta plc shares also depreciated, as 63 transactions led to a 0.5 per cent decline in price to close at €2.20 on the highest turnover of the week worth €439,700.
The other two active banking equities experienced contrasting fortunes. Lombard Bank Malta plc shares rose by 3.5 per cent in value over five deals of 23,471 shares, while FIMBank plc registered a 1.1 per cent decline over an identical amount of deals as 50,000 shares changed hands. The share price of Lombard Bank Malta plc closed at €2.40 – a 13-month high while FIMBank plc closed at $0.89.
Lombard Bank announced that following a request by the special administrator of Cyprus Popular Bank Public Co. Ltd, at the annual general meeting, the shareholders of the bank will be asked to consider that the bank would be authorised “to disclose information (including price-sensitive information) to a prospective bona fide offeror(s) and the corresponding bona fide transferor in the disposal of a substantial shareholding in Lombard Bank Malta plc.”
On Wednesday, the board of directors of FIMBank plc approved the consolidated audited financial statements for the year-ended December 31, 2016. The group registered a profit before tax of $4,748,732, compared to last year’s loss of $12,048,217. Net interest income for the period under review amounted to $21,963,319, a decline of 25.8 per cent from the previous year. EPS increased to $1.63. Parallel to the three previous financial years, the directors will not be recommending the payment of a final dividend but are suggesting a one for 80 bonus issue to all shareholders.
Following a week of inactivity, Plaza Centres plc shares registered a 1.83 fall in price, having dropped to the €1.07 price tag at the end of the week. The equity featured in five trades worth €24,300 in total.
Tigne Mall plc shares registered a 3.5 per cent slump as the equity traded five times, reaching a total of €21,000. The price at the end of the week’s last trading session stood at €1.062.
During the week, GO plc announced its new chief executive officer, Attila Keszeg, who will officially be in office as from June 1, 2017. The equity traded on eight occasions, which saw a total of 12,733 shares changing hands. The closing price read €3.50 registering a decline of 0.9 per cent when compared to last week.
Mapfre Middlesea plc shares and Malita Investments plc shares both headed south, to register similar losses of 1.8 and 1.3 per cent respectively. Only one trade of a mere 500 shares was executed in Mapfre Middlesea plc at €2.15. On the other hand, Malita Investments plc traded eight times, for a total of 48,860 shares. The closing price at the end of the session read €0.76.
On the other hand, MaltaPost plc shares gained 1.5 per cent over four deals of 7,300 shares, to close at €2.03.
The equities of Malta International Airport plc and RS2 Software plc registered similar declines of 0.6 per cent. The former equity closed at €4.125, while the latter closed at €1.64. Total turnover stood at €56,300 and €23,500 respectively.
During trading last week, Santumas Shareholdings plc shares reached an all-time high by appreciating by three per cent to €1.70 as 8,122 shares changed hands. Meanwhile, GlobalCapital plc headed the list of fallers with an 11.4 per cent drop to €0.35.
Other active non-moving equities were Simonds Farsons Cisk plc, International Hotel Investments plc, MIDI plc, Medserv plc and Malta Properties Company plc.
Grand Harbour Marina plc announced that its board of directors is scheduled to meet on the March 29 to approve the company’s financial statements for the financial year ending 2016. The equity failed to register any trades this week.
The majority of the sovereign debt issues were once again in the red as out of 26 active issues, 18 declined while the remaining eight appreciated. Although most declines were less than or close to one per cent, the 2.1% MGS 2039 heavily deviated from this, registering a fall of 3.1 per cent, to close at €94.01.
Elsewhere, in the corporate debt market, a total of 34 issues were active of which gainers and non-movers tallied at 11 each while the remaining 12 registered declines. Total trading in corporate bond issues amounted to €1.7 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: 21224410, or e-mail info@jesmondmizzi.com.