The MSE Index closed in the red as a 0.05 per cent decrease was registered over four trading days – in the first week of extended trading hours on the Malta Stock Exchange. The Index settled at 4,702.925 points as a total of 16 equities were active during the week. Half of these appreciated while another seven registered losses as the other active equity closed unchanged. Total turnover amounted to €902,644.
Bank of Valletta plc was back to levels last seen in January 2008, as the equity’s price increased by 1.4 per cent, to close the week at €2.25. This share featured in 44 separate deals worth almost €212,000.
HSBC Bank Malta plc’s shares, failed to hold to the €2.09 intra-week high, as the price at the end of the week read €2.06.
This equates to a 1.3 per cent week on week decline. The outcome was achieved via 29 trades worth €131,170.
The equities of Lombard Bank Malta plc and FIMBank plc headed south by 3.1 per cent and 1.4 per cent, respectively.
The drop in the share price of Lombard’s to €2.41 resulted from two trades of 2,300 shares, while FIMBank’s equity priceread $0.799, following low trading volumes.
FIMBank plc announced that the AGM will take place on May 11.
Among the resolutions subject for approval, the board is recommending a bonus issue of fully paid up ordinary shares of a nominal value of $0.50 per share, in the ratio of 1 share for every 80 owned – allotted to those Members on the Register as at the record date April 11, 2017.
Mapfre Middlesea plc shares closed at a fresh five-month low, as a loss of 0.9 per cent was registered. The price at the end of the final session for the week read €2.10.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc’s equity closed at a fresh all time high of €7.40, as a weekly gain of 2.8 per cent was registered.
This positive performance came as a direct consequence of two trades worth €20,000 in total.
Similarly, Santumas Shareholdings plc shares surged by 2.9 per cent on a single transaction of 2,000 shares, as the price read €1.75 at the end of the week.
In the telecommunications industry, shares of GO plc experienced a 1.1 per cent decline, to close at €3.45. The equity traded on seven occasions, for a total turnover of €67,000.
RS2 Software plc suffered a loss of similar magnitude as the equity’s price declined by 1.3 per cent to close at €1.58 – the lowest price since December 9, 2016.
The company announced that it had registered profits after tax for the year of €453,133 in 2016 from the €4,819,347 reported in 2015.
Meanwhile, revenue for the year also decreased from €19,437,614 in 2015 to €17,171,291 reported in 2016. The earnings per share decreased by €0.026 – from €0.03 in 2015 to €0.004 in 2016.
Plaza Centres plc’s equity was one of the four to exceed the €100,000-mark as a week on week leap forward of 7.3 per cent was registered. The closing price of €1.1 translates into a fresh two month high.
Equities of MIDI plc and Malita Investments plc experienced similar fortunes, as the respective prices increased by 1.3 per cent and 1.4 per cent. The former traded on thin volume while the latter traded 16 times for a total of €144,100.
Both prices at the end of the session read €0.319 and €0.75.
On Thursday, MIDI group announced it had registered a loss after tax of €2.515 million during the financial year under review, compared to a profit of €9.920 million registered during the previous financial year.
Unlike the previous financial year, the company had very few apartments which it could deliver to respective owners. Turnover for the year, including revenues from sales of property, amounted to €8.674 million (2015 - €41.042 million). Operating profit for the year amounted to €1.631 million (2015 – €13.123 million).
Two equities with identical week on week performances were MaltaPost plc and Malta Properties Company plc, as they both registered a one per cent increase in price. MaltaPost plc closed the week at the €2.05 price tag, while the property company closed at €0.52. In total 17,000 MaltaPost plc shares were exchanged across five transactions while Malta Properties Company plc traded on thin volumes.
Tigne Mall plc shares closed off the week at a fresh seven month low, as the price declined by 0.3 per cent to €1.059. Eight transactions worth €35,220 in total, were registered in this equity.
On the other hand, 20 deals of 17,520 shares, failed to veer Malta International Airport plc’s share price, having traded slightly higher during the week.
Trading in the corporate debt market was negative, as 13 of the active issues traded in negative territory, while nine headed north and six closed unchanged.
Total trading in corporate bond issues exceeded €2,500,000.
The 5.5% Pendergardens Developments plc Secured €2020 Series 1 experienced the sharpest fall as it declined by 5.1 per cent, to close at €102.50. Trading in the Sovereign debt market followed a very similar trend, as 14 of the 24 active issues declined while an-other eight gained ground.
Gains and losses ranged from -0.36 per cent to +0.14 per cent.
The most traded stocks were the 4.1% MGS 2034 and the 4.45% MGS 2032, as they both exceeded the €1,000,000 mark.