The MSE Share Index shed some of yesterday’s gains as it retreated by 0.25% to 4,542.299 points today. The declines in HSBC and MIA, in particular, outweighed the gains in six other shares. Trading volumes declined further to a new four week-low of €213,000.
HSBC Bank Malta plc retreated by 2.3% to the €1.63 level across 17,266 shares. Shareholders as at close of trading on 14 March will be eligible to receive a final gross dividend of €0.026 per share (€0.017 net). This is payable on 19 April subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting to be held on 15 April.
Malta International Airport plc reversed yesterday’s gains as it slipped back to the €4.50 level (-2.2%) across 6,596 shares. Last week, the airport operator reported a 14.3% growth in pre-tax profits to a new record of €29.8 million (2014: €26.1 million). The Directors recommended a final gross dividend of €0.107692 per share (2014: €0.1231), representing a 12.5% decrease over last year’s final dividend. Shareholders as at the close of trading on 30 March will be eligible to receive the final dividend. This will be payable by 19 May following shareholders’ approval at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 4 May.
Also among the large companies, GO plc eased by 0.3% to the €3.30 level on light volumes totalling 1,300 shares. The equity trades with the entitlement to a final net dividend of €0.10 per share until 7 April 2016.
A single deal of 5,304 shares pulled the equity of 6PM Holdings plc down 1.3% to the GBP0.75 level.
On the other hand, RS2 Software plc continued to inch higher as it closed at a new record high for the seventh consecutive session. The equity gained a further 0.8% to the €3.69 level across 14,133 shares.
In the banking sector, Lombard Bank Malta plc and Bank of Valletta plc registered marginal gains. Lombard closed at the €2.201 level across 5,095 shares whilst BOV advanced to a three-week high of €2.235 (+0.2%) across 21,628 shares. Recently, BOV announced the issuance of €50 million 3.5% Tranche 2 subordinated bonds 2030 at par (100%) forming part of its Debt Issuance Programme launched in October 2015.
Meanwhile, Bank of Valletta’s associate company, Mapfre Middlesea plc, edged 0.4% higher to the €2.59 level albeit on insignificant volumes. The insurance specialist will reveal its 2015 financial results tomorrow.
Simonds Farsons Cisk plc gained 3.3% and closed at the €6.20 level on a single trade of 2,000 shares. Likewise, a single trade in Malita Investments plc of 10,000 shares pushed the share price 5.9% higher to €0.985. Malita is expected to announce its 2015 full-year financial results today.
Also in the property segment, MIDI plc maintained the €0.36 level across 27,735 shares.
On the bond market, the RF MGS Index registered its sixth consecutive uplift as it advanced by 0.22% to a one-month high of 1,144.114 points. Eurozone bond yields remained close to their recent lows on deflationary fears. The latest data showed that consumer prices in February retreated by -0.2% year-on-year, with energy prices being the major drag.
www.rizzofarrugia.com