The MSE Equity Price Index trended positively for the third consecutive day as it added a further 0.12% to 4,307.256 points, mostly driven by the strong rebound in the share price of RS2. On the other hand, MIA and Trident moved lower while a further seven equities closed the day unchanged.
RS2 Software plc surged by 3.2% to regain the €1.30 level across 21,000 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on May 16 will be entitled to a net dividend of €0.0146 per share.
In the property segment, Plaza, MIDI and MPC all performed positively on Thursday. Plaza Centres plc climbed back to the €1.06 level (+1.9%) across 19,850 shares. The company will hold its annual general meeting on May 30.
MIDI plc (58,000 shares) and Malta Properties Company plc (28,198 shares) advanced by 1.1% and 0.4% to €0.358 and €0.452 respectively. Shareholders of MIDI as at close of trading on May 24 will be entitled to a final net dividend of €0.007 per share.
In contrast, Trident Estates plc slipped by 0.6% to the €1.60 level on two deals totalling 16,500 shares. The company is due to publish its 2017/18 financial results on Wednesday May 23.
Malta International Airport plc moved back to the €4.86 level (-0.8%) across 4,550 shares. MIA is due to hold its AGM next Tuesday May 8.
Also among the large companies by market capitalisation, BOV, GO and IHI closed the day unchanged. Bank of Valletta plc retained the €1.73 level across 17,530 shares. BOV’s AGM will be held on May 10.
GO plc (7,050 shares) and International Hotel Investments plc (2,000 shares) held on to the €3.46 and €0.645 levels respectively. GO is scheduled to hold its AGM on 1May 14 while that of IHI will be held on June 5.
Medserv plc maintained its 2018 low of €1.10 on three deals totalling 18,700 shares. On Monday, the oil and services company revealed its financial performance for 2017 and also provided a detailed outlook on its growing pipeline of business. Overall, Medserv is expecting revenues to grow by 27.4% to €36.7 million in 2018 and EBITDA to rebound to €6.8 million compared to €4.4 million in 2017.
Three deals totalling 25,100 shares left the equity of Malita Investments plc at the €0.84 level.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc (4,442 shares) and Mapfre Middlesea plc (3,431 shares) maintained the €6.70 and €1.90 levels respectively. Farsons is due to publish its 2017/18 financial results May 16.
The RF MGS Index suffered its sharpest drop in over a week as it fell by 0.13% to 1,115.257 points. Eurozone sovereign yields climbed higher after the Federal Reserve on Wednesday kept interest rates unchanged but noted that "overall inflation and inflation for items other than food and energy have moved close to 2%". Nonetheless, bond yields moved sharply lower after the publication of disappointing inflationary data within the single currency area.
Following the publication on April 25 of a prospectus by Main Street Complex plc in connection with the issuance of 5,230,769 new ordinary shares and an offer of 7,538,460 ordinary shares from existing shareholders at a price of €0.65 per share, the offer period is open until May 16.
Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.