The MSE Share Index extended yesterday’s decline of 0.52% by a further 0.05% to a one-week low of 4,665.943 points, mainly reflecting the 1% drop in the share price of HSBC. Coupled with the negative performance of Tigne’ Mall, these two equities together outweighed the gains in three other shares. Trading volumes remained below the daily average volume as €0.24 million worth of shares changed hands.
Five deals totalling 8,506 shares pulled the equity of HSBC Bank Malta plc 1% lower to the €1.901 level.
The other negative performing equity today was Tigne’ Mall plc which lost 0.3% to the €0.977 level albeit on trivial volumes of just 1,500 shares.
Low trading activity also took place in Malta Properties Company plc as the equity regained the €0.53 level (+2.9%) across 3,405 shares only.
PG plc climbed 0.7% to recapture its all-time high of €1.40 on a single deal of 14,100 shares whilst Bank of Valletta plc advanced 0.2% to the €2.14 level across 30,230 shares.
Meanwhile, both GO plc and RS2 Software plc closed the day unchanged. GO maintained the €3.599 level across two deals totalling 27,300 shares while RS2 traded again at the €1.78 level (22,000 shares). RS2 is expected to publish its 2017 interim results by the end of this month.
Medserv plc is imminently due to publish its interim financial statements following a board of directors' meeting being held today. Meanwhile, tomorrow, Lombard Bank plc and International Hotel Investments plc are expected to issue their respective interim financial statements.
On the bond market, the RF MGS Index moved lower for the first time in the last five days as it slipped by 0.09% from its near eight-week high of 1,130.713 points to 1,129.656 points. Eurozone sovereign yields edged higher today following the publication of positive readings from surveys gauging the level of confidence amongst purchasing managers in the manufacturing and services sectors in Germany, France and the whole of the eurozone.
Meanwhile, in a speech this morning, ECB president Mario Draghi defended the deployment of unconventional monetary policy by the central bank in recent years, but acknowledged that there were still gaps in the proper understanding of any of its effects on the real economy. In the US, further political uncertainty loomed after President Donald Trump asserted that he is even ready to shut down government in order to fulfill his electoral pledge of building a wall along the border with Mexico.
Trading in the newly listed €15 million 4.5% Grand Harbour Marina plc 2027 bonds commenced today. The bond rallied by 300 basis points to 103% on volumes totalling €87,000 nominal.
Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.