The MSE Equity Total Return Index extended the previous week’s 1.457 per cent decline, closing at 8,556.237 points. Activity was spread across 20 equities of which 10 fell and five gained ground as turnover increased to €1.9 million from the previous week’s €1.7 million.
HSBC Bank Malta plc shares swayed between a weekly high of €1.86 and a 17-month low of €1.71, to finally close €0.14 or 7.5 per cent lower at €1.72. The equity was active on 27 transactions of 141,077 shares.
Last Wednesday, various media sources reported that HSBC Holdings plc CEO, John Flint, and chairman, Mark Tucker are considering the possibility of an exit or sale from the group’s smaller consumer operations, such as Bermuda, Malta and Uruguay.
In response, the bank issued an announcement in which it stated that at this stage the company has no information to announce and that the bank’s media policy is not to comment on speculation.
Malta International Airport plc (MIA) shares closed the week unchanged at €4.90, despite having reached a weekly high of €4.94 and low of €4.84.
The local airport operator’s shares were negotiated across 19 trades of 52,955 shares.
Last Friday, MIA announced its traffic results, showing a 22.5 per cent increase in traffic during March when compared to the same month of the previous year.
This means that the winter season has been concluded with a total upturn in passengers of 17 per cent. In all, 1.8 million passengers were hosted at the airport during the period stretching from November 2017 and March 2018.
Bank of Valletta plc shares added to the previous week’s 5.3 per cent decline, having slipped by a marginal 0.3 per cent over the highest turnover of 109 deals of 379,520 shares, closing at €1.795.
FIMBank plc shares decreased as seven trades of 49,376 shares were negotiated, to close $0.07 lower at $0.535, despite the strong results announced last month.
Shareholders of FIMBank have last week received information on the recently announced rights issue. Eligible shareholders shall be entitled to subscribe to two new ordinary shares for every three ordinary shares in their possession at a subscription price of US$0.55. If subscribed to in full at the Offer Price, the Rights Issue will raise gross proceeds of US$115,328,085.
Any lapsed rights from the Rights Issue will be offered to Financial Intermediaries during an Intermediaries Offer.
Lombard Bank Malta plc shares edged 1.7 per cent as 400 shares changed ownership over one deal, closing €0.04 lower at €2.36.
In the insurance and investments services sector, GlobalCapital plc shares stumbled by 14.3 per cent over four transactions of 33,786 shares, to close at an eight-month low of €0.30.
HSBC shares close €0.14 or 7.5 per cent lower at €1.72
Meanwhile, Mapfre Middlesea plc shares closed unchanged at €2.10, despite having reached a weekly low of €2. The equity witnessed four transactions of 5,861 shares.
The telecommunications services provider GO plc registered a 2.9 per cent increase in its share price as five deals of 20,211 shares were executed, closing €0.10 higher at €3.60.
Grand Harbour Marina plc shares advanced over one trade of 53,000 shares, to close at a 10-week high of €0.75.
International Hotel Investments plc (IHI) shares closed unchanged at €0.62 as 11 transactions of 154,973 shares were concluded. Last Thursday, IHI announced that its Annual General Meeting shall be held on June 5, 2018. Further details will be communicated at a later date.
RS2 Software plc shares witnessed 13 deals of 33,696 shares and closed unchanged at €1.43.
In the same sector, Loqus Holdings plc shares registered the worst performance having dropped by 25.9 per cent as 50,000 shares changed hands across one trade, to close at €0.10.
The oil and gas logistics services operator Medserv plc recorded a 3.6 per cent increase in its share price. The equity was negotiated over eight deals of 38,200 shares, closing €0.04 higher at €1.14.
PG plc shares fell by €0.05 or 3.7 per cent. The supermarkets and retail owner’s shares witnessed two transactions of 20,000 shares and closed at €1.31 – an 8-month low.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc (SFC) shares edged €0.05 or 0.7 per cent, to close at €6.90. The food and beverage supplier’s shares were active on four trades of 4,360 shares.
SFC’s spin-off Trident Estates plc’s shares closed unchanged at €1.90 on eight transactions of 21,570 shares.
Malta Properties Company plc shares registered a decline for the third consecutive week, having decreased by 1.7 per cent over eight trades of 30,960 shares, closing at €0.462.
In the same sector, MIDI plc shares increased by 1.2 per cent over three transactions of 225,000 shares, to close at €0.35.
Meanwhile, Malita Investments plc shares fully erased the previous week’s 0.6 per cent decline, having appreciated by 5 per cent, closing €0.04 higher at €0.84. The property management equity was negotiated over 15 deals of 180,100 shares.
The shopping mall owner, Plaza Centres plc recorded a 3.8 per cent drop in its share price, following the previous week’s 1.9 per cent advancement.
The equity witnessed two trades of 3,000 shares, closing €0.04 lower at €1.02.
In the corporate bond market 28 were active of which four advanced and nine fell as turnover increased to €1.25 million from €1.05 million.
The 4% IHI Unsecured € 2026 was the best performer having increased by 1.5 per cent as eight deals worth €47,830 were executed, to close at €104. Meanwhile the 5% GlobalCapital Unsecured EUR 2021 headed the list of fallers having declined by 2.8 per cent as seven transactions worth €37,830 were concluded, closing at €97.
The 7.5% MeDirect Bank plc Subordinated Bonds EUR 2019 was the most active issue having witnessed a turnover of €440,974, to close unchanged at €105.75.
In the sovereign debt market turnover fell to €1.7 million from €3 million. Activity was spread across 19 issues of which 13 appreciated and five fell.
The 4.5% MGS 2028 (II) headed the list of gainers having advanced by 0.8 per cent as three deals worth €58,274 were negotiated, to close at €133.
The 2.1% MGS 2039 (I) registered the highest loss of 0.7 per cent closing at €101.25. The long-dated issue was also the most liquid having witnessed 16 trades worth €331,022.
This article was compiled by Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited. It 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.
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