Market Analysis
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The new man at the helm of Premier Capital plc
My weekly articles generally provide readers with updates on various companies that have their shares listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. In the past, I have also written reports with the aim of keeping readers informed of various developments...
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Stimulus measures push European shares to new high
European shares hit a new five-year high yesterday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank would retain its stimulus measures until the economy improved. Analysts stayed positive on the stock market’s near-term outlook,...
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Shipping movements
The Sea Breeze from Annaba to Annaba, the Jork Valiant from Algeciras to Naples, the Erkan K from Vana to Constanta, the Karina from Bejaia to Algiers, the Connorth from Algiers to Misurata, the CMA CGM Cendrillon from Port Said to Genoa, the Pagola...
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Will Abenomics work?
In an article I wrote in this paper last February, I had spoken about the start of a programme by the Japanese government to push the country towards a two per cent inflation target. Until then, Japan passed through a 20-year period during which...
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Dollar firm ahead of Bernanke’s testimony
The US dollar resumed its rise against the Japanese yen on Tuesday of this week, after paring some of last week’s gains. The greenback fell against the euro and yen on Monday as forex investors scaled back on expectations that Federal Reserve...
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2013 could prove to be a milestone year for IHI
Two weeks ago, International Hotel Investments plc published its 2012 annual report and presented it to the financial community at a business luncheon. The report was recently mailed to all shareholders of the company ahead of the annual general...
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Swiss stocks lift European shares to fresh heights
European shares scaled new five-year highs yesterday, led by gains for several major Swiss stocks after a fresh fall on the Swiss franc that should continue to buoy the country’s exporters. UBS technical analysts said European equity markets may...
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Shipping movements
These vessels are expected in Malta: The K River from Izmir to Izmir, the CMA CGM Onyx from Damietta to Genoa, the Westerburg from Mersin to Antalya, the Macao Strait from Misuratah to Misuratah, the Tyrusland from Tripoli to Tripoli, the Avonmoor...
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The big picture on MGS
The Government of Malta last week announced a new issue of €100 million worth of government stocks split between two existing instruments, namely the three per cent MGS 2019, and 4.5 per cent MGS 2028. It also reserved the right to increase the...
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GBP starts week on a weaker note
Towards the end of last week, the Bank of England left interest rates unchanged and left the Asset Purchases Target at £375 billion, as was widely expected. Actually the pound has enjoyed some better than expected data over the course of the last...
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GHM, Go plc top 2013 dividend league table
As regular followers of my weekly column are aware, at this time of the year, once all companies would have published their full-year financial statements, an updated table showing the dividend yields of companies whose shares are listed on the...
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European shares rise and Deutsche Telekom surges
European shares rose yesterday, extending their three-week rally to fresh multi-year highs, and Deutsche Telekom surged after forecast-beating earnings. The German telecom operator was the best performing blue chip, rising 4.7 per cent to a...
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Shipping movements
These vessels are expected in Malta: The CMA CGM Almaviva from Tanger Med to Port Said, the Saint Roch from Abidjan to Benghazi, the CMA CGM Rigoletto from Port Said to Genoa, the CMA CGM Effingham to Port Said, the Volos from Durres to Taranto, and...
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Pay me to hold your money
Last Thursday, European Central Bank Governor Mario Draghi announced a 25 base point cut in the Central Bank’s main refinancing rate taking this down to 0.50 per cent. This rate cut could have already been partly priced in, but what followed during...
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Euro locked in range despite buoyant sentiment
The EUR/USD has been in somewhat of a see-saw ride since the latter part of last week. Macroeconomic events, including the European Central Bank’s interest rate decision and the non-farm payrolls report from the US, have tugged the most traded...
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Record performance by BOV, but important decisions loom
The six-monthly profit announcements by Malta’s two largest banking institutions are always key events for the local financial market. Last week’s interim results publication by Bank of Valletta plc was also important as it was the first public...
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Dollar slips, oil falls sharply
The dollar hit a two-month low yesterday after disappointing US private-sector job growth reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve will maintain its loose monetary policy, while oil prices slid more than three per cent as the latest data added to...
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Shipping movements
These vessels are expected in Malta: The Sea Breeze from Sfax to Skikda, the CMA CGM Agadir from Algiers to Algiers, and the Westerburg from Mersin to Antalya (Carmelo Caruana Co Ltd), and the Maersk Edinburgh from Fos Sur Mer to Port Said and the...
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Important capital issues
The bail-out of Cyprus was characterised by the intention to make private stakeholders incur a higher proportion of bail-out costs as opposed to taxpayers. The willingness of authorities to bail-in depositors inevitably weakened the relative...
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Softer US growth drives expectations ahead of Fed
High impact data out of the US last Friday set the tone at week’s start. The US’s first quarter GDP advanced (annualised) reading improved, coming out at 2.5 per cent when compared to the previous reading of 0.4 per cent; but investors were more...
