The share index slumped by 0.93% today back to 4,634.070 points following decreases in the share prices of BOV, HSBC and Mapfre Middlesea. PG edged marginally higher while a further three equities ended the session unchanged.
The equity of Bank of Valletta moved back into negative territory with a decline of almost 1% to €2.04 across 28 deals totalling 80,273 shares. Earlier this week, BOV published its extracts from the management accounts covering the first six months of 2017.
During the period, the BOV Group reported a 7.9% increase (excluding the €22 million one-off gain registered in the first half of 2016) in pre-tax profits to €68 million as the downward pressure on net interest income was outweighed by the growth in non-interest income as well as a €6 million reversal of impairments.
The bank will publish another set of results covering the 12-months ending September 30 by the end of October and preliminary results covering the 15 months ending December 31 (BOV is changing its financial year end) by the end of March 2018. BOV is also planning a €150 million rights issue to strengthen its capital base.
Similarly, HSBC slumped 4.4% back to the €1.91 level (just above its 2017 low of €1.90) albeit on a single trade of 486 shares. The equity is trading without the entitlement to the net interim dividend of 3c per share.
The only other negative performing equity today was Mapfre Middlesea as it retreated by 0.3% back to the €1.85,5 level on volumes of 3,000 shares.
On the other hand, the share price of PG inched minimally higher to €1.40 ahead of the group’s preliminary full-year results publication later on this afternoon. A total 16,188 shares changed hands across six deals.
Meanwhile, GO held on to the €3.60 level on shallow volumes of 2,200 shares.
Likewise, Malta Properties Company maintained the 50c level on volumes of 6,800 shares.
Malta International Airport also closed unchanged at the €4.22 level on a single trade of 1,160 shares. The equity will trade with the entitlement to the net interim dividend of 3c per share until August 21.
On the bond market, the RF MGS Index rebounded by 0.12% to 1,128.525 points as the benchmark 10-year eurozone yield maintained its downward trend hovering around the 0.4% level for the first time since late June 2017.
Investors continued to seek safe-haven assets in view of the geopolitical tensions between the US and North Korea.
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