The MSE Equity Price Index opened the month of April in positive territory as it edged 0.05% higher to 4,711.575 points following last Friday’s sharp drop of 1.1%.
Five equities trended higher, including BOV, MIA and RS2. On the other hand, GO, Lombard and IHI posted declines while several other equities closed the day unchanged. Trading volumes improved markedly to €0.81 million largely on the back of heightened activity in Farsons, RS2 and Lombard. Activity in these three shares accounted for nearly 70% of Monday's total value of equities traded.
Bank of Valletta plc regained the €1.40 level (+1.4%) across 7,347 shares while Malta International Airport plc added 0.8% to recapture its all-time high of €6.65 on activity totalling 9,860 shares. The cut-off date for MIA’s dividend is April 11.
RS2 Software plc advanced by 0.7% to the €1.42 level on strong volumes totalling 152,568 shares.
BMIT Technologies plc climbed 1% to the €0.525 level across 104,838 shares.
The other positive performing equity was Main Street Complex plc which moved 1.6% higher to the €0.64 level after recovering from an all-time low of €0.60. Only 6,150 shares traded.
Low trading activity was also recorded in four other equities, all of which closed the day flat. HSBC Bank Malta plc stayed at its 2019 low of €1.60 while Mapfre Middlesea plc held on to its over two-year high of €2.36. HSBC is due to hold its annual general meeting on April 17.
Medserv plc maintained the €1.10 level after recovering from an intra-day low of €1.08 (-1.8%) while a single deal of just 572 shares left the equity of Malta Properties Company plc at the €0.58 level. Medserv is due to publish its results for the 2018 financial year on April 24.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc retained its 15-month high of €8.75 on robust volumes totalling 27,354 shares having a market value of €0.24 million.
Santumas Shareholdings plc traded unchanged at the €1.42 level.
MIDI plc (68,150 shares) and MaltaPost plc (10,000 shares) ended the day unchanged at €0.63 and €1.25 respectively.
Meanwhile, International Hotel Investments plc shed 2.6% back to the €0.75 level across 29,989 shares.
GO plc moved below the €4.90 mark for the first time in three weeks as the equity eased by 0.4% to the €4.88 level albeit on trivial volumes.
Lombard Bank Malta plc retracted by 0.8% to the €2.34 level on activity totalling 43,625 shares.
The RF MGS Index extended last Friday’s sharp drop by a further 0.15% to 1,113.859 points as bond yields in the euro area trended higher amid brighter economic data in China as well as more optimistic views on the prospects of a trade deal between the US and China. Conversely, fresh economic data in the euro area remained subdued, particularly pointing to further contraction in the level of activity of purchasing managers in the manufacturing sector, as well as disappointing inflationary data coupled with higher unemployment in Italy.
Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.