Turnover in local government bonds on the increase
MSE Trading Report for week ending September 16, 2016
Activity in the sovereign debt market soared by 55 per cent to €16m over last week’s €10.5m turnover. A total of 20 stocks were active, of which 19 fell in value while the 2.4% MGS 2041 (I) r increased by a minimal 0.1 per cent, to close at €107.64. This long-dated issue was the most liquid having witnessed a turnover of €9.5m.
The MSE Index declined by a minimal 0.03 per cent, to close at 4,424.942 points. Turnover amounted to €1.2m spread over 12 equities of which six declined, three appreciated in value as another three closed unchanged.
Mapfre Middlesea plc shares headed the list of fallers having slipped by €0.03 or 1.4 per cent over a sole transaction of a mere 130 shares, to close at €2.07. Medserv plc shares followed suit having partly erased 1.3 per cent off the previous week’s gain, across ten deals of 90,895 shares, closing at €1.55.
In the banking sector, Bank of Valletta plc shares were the only gainers having increased by 0.4 per cent as 78,107 shares changed ownership across 33 trades, to close at €2.26. Meanwhile, HSBC Bank Malta plc shares closed unchanged at €1.60 as 26 trades of 86,638 shares were executed.
FIMBank plc shares traded flat at $0.915 as 60,000 shares changed ownership over three deals. The other non-movers for the week were RS2 Software plc shares having closed at €1.64, having traded at a weekly low of €1.615 and a weekly high of €1.68. The I.T. equity was active on 24 trades of 67,972 shares.
GO plc (GO) shares registered an increase for the seventh consecutive week having advanced by 0.3 per cent as 14 trades of 25,346 shares were struck, to close at €3.15. On Wednesday, GO announced the changes in the posts of non-executive directors of the Company and that Mr. Nizar Bouguila was appointed as Chairman to the Board of Directors, with effect from September 9, 2016.
Meanwhile, Malta Properties Company plc shares fully recouped the previous week’s losses having appreciated by 3.9 per cent, closing at €0.54. The equity witnessed 16 transactions of 153,871 shares.
International Hotel Investments plc (IHI) shares edged 0.8 per cent lower across four deals of 19,445 shares, closing at €0.635. On Tuesday, IHI announced its acquisition of the remaining 80 per cent shareholding in QPM Limited: a multidisciplinary consultancy company providing services in architecture, civil and structural engineering, integrated building services, interior design, project management, cost management and sustainability management. The Board of IHI is confident that the full ownership of QPM Limited will enable the company to achieve its strategic objective to develop and operate properties worldwide.
Malta International Airport plc shares slipped by 0.2 per cent as 12 trades of 13,049 shares were negotiated, closing at €4.24, having recovered from a weekly low of €4.205. Similarly, Malita Investments plc shares fell by 1.2 per cent over five deals of 36,900 shares, to close at €0.86.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc shares declined by a minimal 0.2 per cent as 10 transactions of 48,274 shares were executed, to close at €6.49. During the week, the company announced that its board of directors are scheduled to meet on September 28, 2016 to consider the financial statements for the six month period ending July 31, 2016 and to consider the declaration or otherwise of an interim dividend on all Ordinary Shares held by shareholders on the Register as at October 5, 2016.
In the corporate bond market activity was spread over 34 issues of which 14 advanced, six decreased and 14 closed unchanged. Turnover amounted to €1.1m. The 4% IHI Secured € 2026 was the most active issue having witnessed a turnover of €214,736, to close 0.1 per cent lower at €103.40. Meanwhile, the 5.1% PTL Holdings Unsecured € 2024 headed the list of gainers having advanced by 4.9 per cent, to close at €107.