The MSE Equity Total Return Index closed the four-day trading week 2.202 per cent higher at 8,675.988 points as 22 equities were active of which nine gained ground while six fell and the share price of International Hotel Investments and HSBC Bank Malta steamed ahead. Turnover increased to €1.4 million from the previous week’s €1.15 million.
International Hotel Investments plc shares were the best performers having rallied by 10.3 per cent across 27 deals of 233,427 shares. The equity oscillated between a 23-month high of €0.70 and a weekly low of €0.63 but ultimately closed last week €0.065 higher at €0.695.
The company held its AGM last Tuesday during which all resolutions on the agenda were approved. The company also announced that a net dividend of €0.02 per share will be paid on July 16 to all registered shareholders as at June 30, 2018.
HSBC Bank Malta plc shares appreciated by 8.3 per cent having erased the previous week’s 1.2 per cent loss, as 33 trades of 179,306 shares were executed, to close €0.14 higher at €1.83, having traded at a low of €1.69 and a high of €1.84.
Bank of Valletta plc shares extended the previous week’s 0.3 per cent minimal increase, having advanced by 0.6 per cent across 49 transactions of 157,586 shares, closing at €1.76 – a one-month high.
FIMBank plc shares climbed by 4.8 per cent as 3,186 shares changed ownership over two deals, to close at $0.545.
Meanwhile, Lombard Bank Malta plc shares closed unchanged for the second consecutive week at €2.30, as two trades of 9,500 shares were executed.
The investments and insurance services provider GlobalCapital plc registered no change in its €0.34 share price as one transaction of 250 shares was concluded.
In the same sector, Mapfre Middlesea plc shares fell by €0.14 or 6.9 per cent as three deals of 4,004 shares were negotiated, closing at a four-week low of €1.90.
Malta International Airport plc shares appreciated by €0.05 or 1 per cent across 18 trades of 34,154 shares, to close at a record high of €5.05. Last Wednesday, the local airport operator published its monthly traffic results for May, showing that the company continued on the positive trend set out in the earlier months of 2018.
The passenger traffic figure stood at 643,089 passengers during May, translating to a 17.3 per cent upsurge over the same month last year. This growth in passenger numbers was driven by a 16.6 per cent increase in aircraft movements and a 17 per cent increase in seat capacity, while seat load factor was marginally up to 80.6 per cent, registering an increase of 0.1 percentage points.
The top contributors for the month were the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France and Spain.
Grand Harbour Marina plc shares increased by 5.3 per cent over two transactions of 3,107 shares, closing €0.04 higher at €0.79 – a 10-month high.
The retail and supermarkets owner PG plc recorded a 0.8 per cent increase in its share price as 54,000 shares changed hands on six deals, to close at €1.29.
RS2 Software plc (RS2) shares fell by €0.03 or 2.6 per cent as 12 trades of 70,930 shares were negotiated, closing at €1.14.
The company issued an interim directors’ statement providing the market with some updates on recent developments.
In its interim directors statement RS2 reported that the group has successfully formed a strategic alliance and a processing services agreement with a large player in the travel and tourism industry, to deliver global acquiring services to international airlines, travel agents, hotels and car rentals in various regions.
The group also signed a three-year processing agreement with Finanfarma in Portugal and an-other agreement with a European partner to offer non-EU processing and global acquiring services.
Furthermore, the group is in final stages of concluding a managed services agreement with a major player in the ASEAN region considered as a leading payment service provider operating across various countries in Asia Pacific.
The group is also concluding another processing agreement with a US payment services provider to process their business in the European market.
Turnover increased to €1.4 million from the previous week’s €1.15 million
In the same sector, Loqus Holdings plc shares closed unchanged at €0.10 as two trades of 4,850 shares were concluded.
The shopping mall owner Tigne Mall plc registered a 5 per cent drop in its share price – fully erasing the previous week’s 4.2 per cent gain, as seven transactions of 80,369 shares were negotiated, closing €0.05 lower at €0.95.
Meanwhile, Main Street Complex plc shares partially reversed the previous week’s 6.2 per cent increase, having declined by 1.5 per cent, to close at €0.68.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc (SFC) shares advanced by €0.20 or 3.1 per cent, closing at €6.70.
The food and beverage supplier’s shares were active on two trades of 555 shares. SFC’s spin-off Trident Estates plc (Trident) registered no change in its €1.30 share price as 19,392 shares were negotiated on three deals.
Trident announced that the company’s AGM will be held on June 27, 2018 to approve the financial statements for the year ended January 31, 2018, re-appoint the auditors and approve directors’ aggregate amount of emoluments payable annually.
MaltaPost plc shares erased the previous week’s 2.9 per cent increase, having slipped by 2.8 per cent over two transactions of 3,200 shares, closing €0.05 lower at €1.75.
Medserv plc recorded no change in its share price of €1.05, despite having traded at a weekly low of €1.03 and a high of €1.06. The oil and gas logistics services provider’s shares were active on six trades of 22,569 shares.
The telecommunications services provider GO plc swayed between a weekly high of €3.48 and a low of €3.36, however closed unchanged at €3.40 as 32,189 shares changed hands across 14 deals.
In the property management sector, MIDI plc shares added to the previous week’s 0.9 per cent slip, having decreased by 3.7 per cent as 18,198 shares were negotiated over three transactions, closing at €0.42.
The company will hold its AGM on June 27, 2018, to approve the financial statements for 2017 and the proposed net dividend of €0.007 per share, together with a final net dividend of €0.007 per share, the re-appoint of the auditors and the maximum annual aggregate remuneration for all directors.
In the same sector, Malita Investments plc shares increased by 1.2 per cent over three trades of 12,859 shares, to close at €0.85.
Malta Properties Company plc shares closed unchanged at €0.55 as 9,004 shares changed hands on four deals.
In the corporate bond market turnover increased to €2.3 million from the previous week’s €1.5 million. Activity was spread across 33 issues, of which 10 advanced and 13 lost ground.
The 3.75% Bortex Group Finance plc Unsecured € 2027 was the best performer having increased by 2.4 per cent after having registered two consecutive weekly declines, closing at €103.95.
In the sovereign debt market 21 issues were active, of which 12 appreciated and nine declined. Turnover fell from the previous week’s €5.5 million to €1.7 million. The 2.1% MGS 2039 (I) was the most liquid issue having witnessed a turnover of €252,255, to close 0.7 per cent higher at €100.63.
This article, compiled by Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited, 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.
The directors or related parties, including the company and their clients, are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned in this article. For further information contact Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited at 67, Level 3, South Street, Valletta, or Tel: 2122 4410.
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