Index ends first trading week 0.3% higher

MSE Trading Report for week ending January 9, 2015

The MSE Index managed to end the first trading week of 2015 in positive territory despite three days of negative returns after recording a significant gain on Monday – the first trading day of the year – and a minimal increase on Tuesday. The index closed 0.28 per cent higher at 3,340.366 points on a turnover amounting to just over €1.1 million. A total of 17 equities were active of which five edged higher, four declined and eight closed unchanged.

HSBC Bank Malta plc shares headed the list of gainers havingappreciated by €0.05 or 2.6 per cent on 22 deals of 112,381 to close at €2.00.

Meanwhile, Bank of Valletta plc shares tradedwith a weekly high of €2.30, but ultimately closed unchanged at €2.24 on the highest turnover of the week worth almost €433k. The banking equity was active across 79 transactions of 190,873 shares. Similarly, FIMBank plc shares traded flat at $0.60 over two trades of 12,300 shares.

On the other hand,Lombard Bank Malta plc shares started the year with a 2.8 per cent decline on Monday as four trades of 8,023 shares were negotiated, to close €0.049 lower at €1.75.

MIDI plc shares were the most liquid in terms of volume with 241,786 shares changing hands also registering the worst loss for the week plunging by 12.5 per cent, to close at €0.21. On the other hand, GO plc shares rallied by €0.045 as 23,595 shares changed hands across 13 deals, closing 1.8 per centhigher at €2.595. Meanwhile,Malita Investments plc shares rose by 0.3 per cent over three deals of 64,000 shares, to close at its all-time high of €0.642.

Malta International Airport plc shares registered an increase for the third consecutive week as they edged 0.5 per cent higher over 15 trades of 24,072 shares, closing at €2.361. Conversely, Grand Harbour Marina plc shares dropped by 2.4 per cent as 7,300 shares were dealt over three trades, to close €0.045 lower at €1.82.

The share price of the hoteliers’ equity International Hotel Investments plc shed 1.6 per cent as five transactions of 15,750 shares were concluded to close at €0.57. On the other hand, Middlesea Insurance plc shares advanced by 0.6 per cent over 13 trades of 27,226 shares, to close at €1.00.

MaltaPost plc and Crimsonwing plc shares closed the week unchanged at €1.20 and €0.86 respectively. The former witnessed six deals of 53,834 shares, while the latter was active across eight transactions of 59,812 shares.

Meanwhile, Medserv plc, Tigne Mall plc, Santumas Shareholdings plc and Loqus Holdings plc shares traded flat at €1.45, €0.60, €2.00 and €0.14 respectively.

In the corporate bond market turnover amounted to €1.8 million spread across 29 issues of which 21 gained ground, three declined whilefive closed unchanged. The 6% Mediterranean Bank plc Subordinated Unsecured € 2019-2024 was the top performing bond for the week as it soared by 3.9 per cent, closing at €106.00. Conversely, the 5.8% International Hotel Investments plc 2021 registered aloss of 0.5 per cent, to close at €102.50.

From the sovereign debt front long-dated issues continued to gain groundas 15 issues registered considerable gains, while eight short-term issues edged marginally lower. The 4.65% MGS 2032 (I) rallied by 1.4 per cent, to close at €122.53, while the 3.75% MGS 2015 (VI) slid by 0.2 per cent, closing at €103.13. Total turnover in this market reached an impressive €28 million. The 4.45% MGS 2032 (II) was the most liquid issue as it witnessed a turnover volume of almost 5.8 million in nominal terms and a value of just under €6.9 million, to close at €119.32. Meanwhile, the 4.1% MGS 2034 (I) is still offering the most attractive yield to maturity of approximately 3.2%with its closing price of €113.37