The MSE Equity Total Return Index returned to positive territory, as it closed 1.7% higher at 8,309.976 points. A total of 13 issues were active, seven of which headed north while another five closed in the opposite direction.
RS2 Software plc (RS2) shares headed the list of gains with a double-digit gain, while hotels operator International Hotel Investments plc (IHI) also played its part in this week’s gain. Total weekly turnover amounted to €0.4m, generated across 145 transactions.
RS2 shares gained 13.3% to end the week at €2.04, following a company announcement on Tuesday. During the week, the equity also reached a six-month high of €2.12 and a low of €1.82. A total of 29,053 shares changed hands across 13 transactions worth €55,625.
The MSE Equity Price Index rallied by 1.32% to 4,029.051 points as the strong gains in FIMBank and IHI, coupled with the positive performances of BOV and Harvest, offset the declines in MIA, HSBC and Farsons. Trading activity improved markedly to €0.27 million largely on the back of increased volumes in BOV shares.
Bank of Valletta plc added 1.1% to regain the €0.90 level on volumes totalling 189,324 shares having a market value of €0.17 million. Today, BOV announced that the full transition from Raiffeisen Bank to Western Union in relation to payments in USD is planned to start in the coming days. Moreover, the bank published a Quarterly Update wherein it explained that revenues decreased by 4% in Q1 2021 but operating costs increased by 4% mainly due to increases in employee compensation, investment in technology, and higher amortisation charges.
The MSE Equity Total Return Index returned in positive territory, as it reached 8,252.192 points – equivalent to a 2.9% weekly change. During the week activity increased by 13%, as total turnover amounted to €1.04 million, generated across 134 transactions.
Out of 19 active equities, 11 registered gains while another five lost ground.
Retail conglomerate, PG plc reached an all-time-high of €2.12 last Wednesday but did not manage to sustain the gain, as it closed the week at €2.08 – translating into a 1% increase.
Eight deals involving 20,072 shares were executed.
Last Thursday, HSBC Bank Malta plc (HSBC) held its annual general meeting and approved all the proposed resolutions.
The shareholders also approved the final gross dividend of €0.0116 per share, representing a final gross payment of €4,179,550.75 as recommended by the board. HSBC shares recorded a 1.2% decline in price, as they closed at €0.85.
The MSE Equity Total Return Index returned to negative territory, as it closed 2.5% lower, reaching 7,975.798 points – the lowest since November 2020.
A total of 21 equities were active, five of which headed north while another 11 closed in the opposite direction. Total weekly turnover increased by €0.16 million, as it amounted to €1.1 million, generated across 171 transactions.
The highest liquidity was recorded in the property sector, as turnover in Malita plc increased by more than ten times, amounting to €314,517. This was the result of five deals involving 349,463 shares, leaving no impact on the equity’s previous closing price of €0.90.
Malta Properties Company plc was also active but closed unchanged at €0.56. A total of 22,000 shares changed ownership across four transactions.
The MSE Equity Price Index trended lower for the second consecutive session on Thursday, with a marginal decline of 0.03% to 3,990.067 points as MIA, HSBC and H