RS2 shares continue to rally
MSE Trading Report for week ending February 26, 2016
The MSE Index registered an increase for the third consecutive week having edged 0.91 per cent higher to close at 4,528.666 points. Turnover totalled €2.4m spread across 17 equities of which 12 appreciated, three fell and two closed unchanged.
RS2 Software plc shares advanced by a further €0.245 or 7.2 per cent as 56 deals of 199,920 shares were struck. The equity touched a record high of €3.65 on Friday, however closed at €3.645 – registering a year-to-date gain of 15.4 per cent.
In the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc shares strengthened by 1.8 per cent across 39 trades of 113,613 shares, closing at €1.639. Last Monday, during trading, the bank announced that the group registered a profit before tax of €46.8m for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to €52.1m registered in 2014. On an adjusted basis, excluding the effect of non-recurring expenses for the early voluntary retirement provision, profit before tax was up €9m or 18 per cent on the previous year. Net interest income for the period under review amounted to €127m – a rise of 3.7 per cent from 2014. Earnings per share decreased to €0.082 from €0.093 in 2014. The Board recommends a final gross dividend of €0.026 per share, which together with the interim dividend paid in September 2015, amount to a total gross dividend for the year of €0.077 per share, which represents a 20 per cent increase compared to 2014 dividend adjusted for the bonus share issue in April 2015. The final dividend will be paid to shareholders on the bank’s register of shareholders at March 16, 2016.
Bank of Valletta plc shares recouped by 1.2 per cent as 84 deals of 194,410 shares were negotiated, closing at €2.229. On a similar note, Lombard Bank Malta plc shares increased by 0.7 per cent over four transactions of 13,018 shares, to close at €2.20.
Meanwhile, FIMBank plc shares advanced by 0.8 per cent as 77,051 shares changed ownership, closing at $0.64.
Also in the financial sector, Mapfre Middlesea plc shares increased last week’s two per cent gain by an additional 2.8 per cent over nine deals of 4,872 shares, to close at €2.57. Similarly, GlobalCapital plc shares rose by 2.2 per cent over a sole transaction of a scant 420 shares, closing at €0.46.
Malta International Airport plc shares stumbled by €0.22 or 4.7 per cent as 51 trades of 74,226 shares were executed – intra-week the equity touched an all-time high of €4.76 stooping to a low of €4.30, to then close at €4.50. Notwithstanding this drop, the equity is still up 11.7 per cent year-to-date. After close of trading on Wednesday, the company announced that profits for the financial year ending December 31, 2015 increased from €16.8m to €19.3 m. This increase signals that the company is on the right path to proceed with the next stages of its ambitious investment plan for 2016 and beyond. The Earnings before Interest, Taxation Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) of the group increased from €33.8m to €35.6m.
The Board of Directors approved a gross dividend of €0.107692 per share to be paid to all shareholders on the register of members as at close of business on April 4, 2016. This, together with the interim dividend already paid, shall be proposed to the shareholders for the financial year ended December 31, 2015, for a gross final dividend of €0.153846. The Company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled to be held on May 4, 2016.
Medserv plc shares fully reversed the losses incurred during the month of February, having advanced by 7.1 per cent over 11 transactions of 57,297 shares, to close €0.11 higher at €1.65.Last Tuesday, Medserv announced that the company completed the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of METS Holdco, which holds the entire issued share capital of METS UAE and METS Oman.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc shares headed the list of fallers having decreased by €0.30 or 4.8 per cent as 1,880 shares changed hands across three deals, closing at €6.
MIDI plc shares registered a 2.9 per cent gain over 28 trades of 834,440 shares, to close at €0.36. The company announced that the Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on March 28, 2016 to consider and approve the company's Audited Financial Statements for the financial year ended December 31, 2015 and to consider the recommendation of a final dividend at the company's AGM.
Malita Investments plc shares declined by 1.1 per cent as four deals of 61,700 shares were struck, closing at €0.93. The company’s AGM is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2016.
Elsewhere, GO plc shares gained 0.9 per cent over 18 transactions of 36,447 shares, to close €0.03 higher at €3.30, while Malta Properties Company plc shares closed unchanged at €0.57 as 169,325 shares changed hands.
The other non-movers for the week were International Hotel Investments plc having closed unchanged at €0.72.
Plaza Centres plc shares increased by two per cent over a single trade of 7,497 shares, closing at €1. Likewise, MaltaPost plc shares edged one per cent higher across one deal of a scant 50 shares, to close at €1.96.
In the corporate bond market turnover amounted to €1.2m spread across 32 issues of which nine advanced, 13 declined and 10 closed unchanged. The 6.8% Premier Capital plc € Bond 2017-2020 was the worst performer having declined by 2.4 per cent, closing at €103.01.
In the sovereign debt market 25 issues were active of which short-dated issues fell, while long-term issues gained ground. Turnover totalled €28.2m. The 6.65% MGS 2016 (IV) was the most liquid issue having witnessed a turnover of €12.2m.