The MSE Equity Total Return Index erased last week’s marginal increase, closing 0.13 per cent lower at 8,977.09 points.
A total of 17 issues were active during the week of which four advanced, while eight declined, as HSBC Bank Malta share prices had a negative impact on the index given its significant weighting.
Total turnover during the week dipped from €3.54m to €2.84m.
In the telecommunications sector, GO plc shares topped the list of performers during the week as the equity reached a three-week high at €3.59. A total turnover of €54,251 was generated among eight deals.
Malta International Airport plc broke a three-day winning streak on Friday, adding 1.7 per cent to its value over the week to close at €4.68. The equity managed to notch the highest turnover during the week at €1.45 million, whilst also reaching a 20-month high, at €4.70.
Maltapost plc shares also closed in positive territory, trading during Monday and Thursday’s sessions.
The equity advanced by 2.5 per cent, managing to reach an 18-week high at €2.03.
In the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc registered the weakest performance among its peers as the equity contracted by 2.4 per cent, closing at €1.855.
A total of 18,919 shares were dealt among eight deals.
Despite generating almost 36 per cent of total turnover and reaching an eight week high at €2.111, the share price of Bank of Valletta plc closed the week unchanged at €2.10. On Thursday, the bank announced that the board of directors is scheduled to meet on October 26, 2017 to consider and approve the Group’s and the Bank’s second interim financial statements for the 12-month period from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017.
The share price of Lombard Bank plc registered a marginal decline of 0.05% to close at €2.20 on a turnover of €136,164 as 61,886 shares exchanged hands.
Meanwhile a single trade of 6,622 shares was executed in FIMBank plc closing flat at $0.70.
Financial services and insurance firms, Mapfre Middlesea plc and Global Capital plc headed in opposite directions. A single trade of 4,350 shares in Mapfre Middlesea managed to increase the equity’s price by 0.9 per cent, closing at €1.86, while Global Capital shares curbed 2.7% of last week’s increase as the equity closed at €0.36.
In the oil and gas industry, 2,993 shares were exchanged over a single deal in Medserv plc shares, to close flat at €1.26.
Three trades executed between Thursday’s and Friday’s session in RS2 Software plc saw 18,100 shares exchange hands. The equity declined by 0.6 per cent to close the week at €1.679.
Retail conglomerate, PG plc traded five times during the week over a slim volume to close 2.7 per cent lower at €1.46.
Similarly, food and beverage firm Simonds Farsons Cisk plc held on to its €9.47 price level – as a single deal over a slim volume was executed.
In the property sector, all three active equities namely; Malta Properties Company plc, MIDI plc and Tigne Mall plc, lost ground.
MPC shares registered the worst performance among its peers as the equity lost 4.9 per cent of its value to close at €0.504.
MIDI shares followed suit, as a total of 107,000 shares were dealt over five trades, closing 2.6 per cent lower at €0.302. Tigne Mall, also closed in negative territory as a single deal of 1,000 shares managed to shave 0.5 per cent of its share price to close at €0.955.
In the Local Sovereign Debt market, longer dated bonds experienced mixed fortunes. A total of 21 issues were active of which 11 headed north, while 10 lost ground.
The 2.1% MGS 2039, 3% MGS 2040 and the 2.4% MGS 2041 halted a two- week positive streak, as all three bonds declined. Meanwhile, the 2.2% MGS 2036 extended its winning streak for the fourth consecutive week.
On Friday, the treasury announced that the total applications received for the second issue of the 3% 62+ Malta Government Savings Bond 2022 amounted to €64.3m – €31.2m received from new applicants, while €33.1m from the previous issue. New applicants will be subject to the same allocation policy applied for the applicants of the first issuance of the 62+ Malta Government Savings Bond held in September 2017.
After this exercise is concluded, the remaining amount from the €30 million on issue, will be allocated among all the eligible applicants of the 62+ Malta Government Savings Bond of October 2017.
In the local corporate debt front, a total of 30 issues were active of which 16 closed higher, while six declined. The 3.5% Bank of Valletta plc € Notes 2030 S1 T1 registered an advancement for the third consecutive week as the bond price closed 0.5% higher at €99.99.
On Monday, Mediterranean Bank plc announced the basis of acceptance for the issue of Euro equivalent of €20,000,000 5% Subordinated Unsecured Bonds 2027.
Interest on the bonds commenced on October 13, 2017. The bonds have been admitted to listing on the Official List of the Malta Stock Exchange on Thursday and trading commenced yesterday.