MSE Index extends negative trend
MSE Trading Report for week ending June 3, 2016
The Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) Index registered its fourth consecutive weekly decline having closed the week at 4,433.079 points and thus registering a 0.89 per cent drop. Turnover amounted to €1.5m spread across 17 equities of which 10 fell in value, three gained ground and four closed unchanged.
MaltaPost plc shares headed the list of fallers having declined by €0.119 or 6.2 per cent over one transaction of 2,000 shares, to close at €1.801. Similarly, International Hotel Investments plc slipped by a further 2.9 per cent across 10 trades of 38,316 shares, closing at €0.63.
In the banking sector, HSBC Bank Malta plc shares eased 0.1 per cent lower over 17 deals of 51,515 shares, to close at €1.60. The bank announced that the Board meeting scheduled for August 5, 2016 has been rescheduled for August 3, 2016 to consider and approve the Group’s and the Bank’s Interim Accounts for the half-year ending 30 June 2016 and if thought appropriate, declare an interim dividend.
Bank of Valletta plc shares declined by 0.9 per cent as 37,522 shares changed ownership, closing at €2.22. Likewise, FIMBank plc shares stumbled by 3.2 per cent over 18 transactions of 90,205 shares, to close at $0.82.
Elsewhere, GO plc shares gained 0.5 per cent following the previous week’s hefty losses, as 20 trades of 37,115 shares were executed, closing at €2.90. The company announced that Tunisie Telecom has clarified its intention to maintain GO’s status as a public listed company with shares traded on the Malta Stock Exchange, as far as it remains in compliance with the Listing Rules. Therefore, it will not be actively seeking to reach the thresholds stipulated for a mandatory squeeze out nor the related implementation of de-listing mechanics. Nizar Bouguila, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tunisie Telecom, expressed his enthusiasm to support GO's growth opportunities both domestically and as part of the wider group and the importance of maintaining a strong local shareholder base to benefit from the strong public and customer support.
Malta Properties Company plc shares gained a minimal 0.2 per cent over 15 deals of 61,111 shares, to close at €0.511. Last Thursday, the company announced that during its Annual General Meeting on June 2, 2016 all of the Ordinary Resolutions on the agenda were approved.
Meanwhile, Malta International Airport plc shares closed unchanged at €4.30 as 87,800 shares changed hands over 16 trades. On Friday, the local airport operator reported that it welcomed 476,575 passengers in May – up by 7.8 per cent from May 2015. This record brings the airport to its 50th consecutive month on month growth. May’s positive results were partly spurred by an increase in seat capacity of 4.9 per cent resulting from the launch of new routes and an increase in frequencies to some popular destinations. The top five traffic drivers for May remained largely unchanged, with the United Kingdom remaining the most popular, followed by Italy, Germany, France and Poland.
In the I.T. sector, RS2 Software plc shares registered a decline for the fourth consecutive week having slipped by one per cent, to close at €3.465. The equity was active on 17 deals of 60,168 shares. Meanwhile, 6pm Holdings plc shares traded flat at £0.95 over a single trade of a mere 731 shares. Likewise, Loqus Holdings plc shares closed unchanged at €0.131 as two transactions of 3,424 shares were negotiated.
Plaza Centres plc shares fell by 0.9 per cent across four trades of 37,226 shares, closing at €1.07. The company announced that during last Monday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), the shareholders, inter alia, approved the Audited Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the payment of a final ordinary net dividend of €0.0286 per share.
Tigne Mall plcannounced that its Annual General Meeting will be held on June 24, 2016 to approve the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the declaration of a final net dividend of €0.0125 per €0.50 share. The equity was not active this week.
Medserv plc shares slipped by 0.6 per cent over 12 trades of 35,660 shares, closing at €1.75. Last Monday, the company announced that at the AGM held on May 30, 2016, the shareholders approved the consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the appointment of the five nominated directors.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc shares plunged by €0.10 or 1.6 per cent as seven trades of 53,854 shares were struck, closing at €6.30. Similarly, MIDI plc shares declined by a further one per cent over two deals of 16,000 shares, to close at €0.384. Conversely, the share price of Mapfre Middlesea plc strengthened by 0.5 per cent across three trades of 2,207 shares, closing at €2.21.
The other non-movers for the week were Malita Investments plc shares having closed at €0.90. The equity was active on nine transactions of 112,210 shares.
In the corporate bond market 28 issues were active of which 10 decreased in value, seven advanced and 11 closed unchanged as turnover amounted to €1m. The 5.1% 6PM Holdings plc Unsecured € 2025 was the most liquid issue having witnessed a turnover of €294k, closing 1.3 per cent higher at €111.
On Monday, GlobalCapital plc announced the extension of the offer period of the €10m GlobalCapital plc 5% unsecured bonds 2021 issue to June 8, 2016. In the same announcement, the company outlined the commitment from both its majority shareholder, Investar p.l.c. and its Sponsor to subscribe directly, or through third parties up to €5m nominal each in the event that the bond is not fully subscribed.
In the sovereign debt market turnover totalled €3.8m spread across 22 issues of which 18 slipped and four gained ground. The 4.3% MGS 2033 (I) r was the worst performer having declined by 0.7 per cent, to close at €135.01, while the 4.45% MGS 2032 (II) headed the list of gainers having closed at €136.86.