MSE Index breaks four month positive streak
Movements in Equity & Bond Indices
The MSE Equity Total Return Index (MSE) experienced a decline of 0.9% to end the month at 7,960.665 points, following four positive months. A total of 28 equities were traded, as 14 declined while 9 gained ground. Total turnover amounted to €3.7m, generated across 493 transactions.
The
recovered by 0.3%, to close at 876.541 points on a turnover of €11.7m. A total of 29 government bonds were active, with 13 heading north and 14 closing in the opposite direction. The best performer was the 3% MGS 2040 (I), gaining 6.7% to close at €96. On the other hand, the 2.4% MGS 2041 (I) declined by 3% to €78.60.
The
headed south, declining by 0.9%, as it closed at 1,150.955 points. Out of 85 active issues, 31 headed north while another 37 closed in the opposite direction. Total trading turnover reached €6.6m. The 4.65% Smartcare Finance plc Secured € 2031 was the top performing corporate bond, as it gained 5.3% to close at €100. The 4% SP Finance plc Secured € 2029 was the worst performing bond, ending the month at €95.01, a decline of 5.5%.
MSE MGS Total Return Index MSE Corporate Bonds Total Return Index
Top 10 Market Movers
HSBC Bank Malta (HSBC) experienced a 2.4% decline to close at €1.22, after trading at a monthly high of €1.35 and a low of €1.20. A total of 54 transactions involving a total volume of 289,072 shares were executed. Total turnover reached €373,517.
Bank of Valletta plc saw a modest increase of 0.8% to end the month at €1.26. A total of 163 trades involving 1,061,324 shares were executed. The equity was the most traded equity, generating a total turnover of €1.4m.
Lombard Bank Malta plc (LOM) shares declined by 6.7%, as the equity ended the month at €0.84. Nearly 103,000 shares exchanged hands across 11 deals.
FIMBank plc experienced a strong month with a 9.5% gain
plc
to close at $0.196. This was the outcome of two trades involving 9,998 shares, worth $1,759.
A total of 12 deals involving 32,756 Mapfre Middlesea plc shares faced a double-digit decline of 17%. The equity closed at a monthly low of €1.25.
Similarly,
International Hotel Investments plc
experienced a 7.3% decline to close the month at a low of €0.505. Twelve deals involving 31,073 shares were executed, generating €16,562 in turnover.
The share price of Malta International Airport plc (MIA) reached a monthly high of €5.90 but ended the month of August at €5.75. The equity still managed to gain 1.8% as 69 deals worth €471,047 were executed.
MaltaPost plc registered a monthly gain of 22%, ending the month at the €0.44 price level. Eleven transactions involving a total volume of 108,893 shares were recorded.
GO plc followed suit with a slight increase of 1.4%, ending the month at €2.94. This was the outcome of 29 deals worth 540,097.
On the other hand, LifeStar Holding plc lost 62% to close at €0.34. Two trades of 1,690 shares were executed.
Company Announcements HSBC
The board of approved the Group’s and Bank’s interim condensed financial statements for the six-month financial period ended June 30, 2023. Profit before tax increased by 238% to €59.3m, mainly driven by higher income on the placement of excess liquidity, better performance reported by the insurance subsidiary and lower reported costs. The directors recommended an interim gross cash dividend of €0.06 per share.
The board of Lombard Bank Malta plc approved the Group’s and Bank’s interim condensed financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2023. The group delivered a robust financial performance in the first half of 2023 with a profit before tax of €5.4m (profit after tax of €3.4m). The comparable figure for 2022 of €17.2m, included a one-off significant recovery on a long outstanding non-performing loan. When adjusted for this special factor the profit before tax in 2022 would have been €5m.
The board of FIMBank plc approved the consolidated and the Bank’s interim financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2023. The FIMBank Group reported an after tax profit of $3.9m, compared to a $2.9m after tax loss registered for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
MIA announced that the Group’s revenue for the first six months increased by 43.8% over 2022 to a total of €53.6m. This growth was mainly driven by a record first half, during which traffic surpassed 2019 highs by 5.6% and totaled 3.43m passengers. The board of directors also approved an interim net dividend of €0.03c per share.
The board of RS2 Software plc approved the condensed interim consolidated financial statements, for the six-month period ended June 30, 2023. On consolidating its activities, the group generated revenue of €17.6m (2022: €18.8m) and registered a loss after tax of €2.6m (2022: profit after tax of €1.5m).
The board approved paying an interim net dividend of €3m by way of scrip with each ordinary and preference shareholder having the option to receive either cash or new ordinary shares or preference shares as applicable, at an attribution price of €1.23 per ordinary share and €1.43 per preference share. The net dividend is equivalent to €0.01315 per ordinary share and €0.01446 per preference share.
The board of directors of International Hotel Investments plc approved the half-yearly financial report for the period ended June 30, 2023. The Group registered a loss after tax of €11.7m, compared to a profit of €0.8m in the same period last year. This was mainly due to a rise in interest expense of €4.5m to €17.3m.
PG plc announced an operating profit for the year ended April 30, 2023, amounting to €18.9m, an increase of 4.6% over the comparative of €18.1m recorded in 2022. The Group’s profit before taxation amounted to €17.6m, compared to €16.7m in 2022.
The board of GO plc approved the Group’s interim unaudited financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2023. The group generated total revenue amounting to €120.5m, an increase of €14.5m, or 13.7% compared to the first half of 2022. Revenue from local telecom services registered an increase of €5.5m or 8.6%, driven by growth in GO’s fixed broadband and mobile subscriptions, growth in roaming and other international wholesale business, and comparatively higher levels of supply and maintenance of hardware and telecoms equipment.
This article, which was compiled by Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited, does not intend to give investment advice and the contents therein should not be construed as such. The Company is licensed to conduct investment services by the
MFSA and is a Member of the Malta Stock Exchange and a member of the Atlas Group. The directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned in this article. For further information contact Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors
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