Local equities end 2021 at peak, despite sharp rise in COVID
The MSE Equity Total Return Index (MSE) has moved higher as investor sentiment has improved over the last trading week of the year despite the increase in COVID-19 cases globally. This week’s earnings pushed the local equity index above 8,000 points for the first time since mid-November, ending the year at 8,199,397.
A total of 18 equities were active, with 13 going higher and Grand Harbor Marina plc (GHM) being the only red-capped equity. During the week, the two major banks were the most active issues. Almost € 0.4 million was traded in all shares traded.
This week marks the end of trade for 2021. During the year, MSE decreased by 3.2 percent, while in terms of new entrants, four new equities were added to the MSE core market list.
In the banking sector, the shares of Bank of Valletta plc (BOV) rose by 3.5 per cent, with 22 transactions worth almost € 65,500 being recorded. Bank equity closed the week at € 0.90, down 5.3 percent year-on-year.
Two contrasting sessions at HSBC Bank Malta plc (HSBC) canceled each other out as equity closed flat. Equity declined on Monday and recovered in the middle of the week to return to the € 0.92 level, this week’s closing price. HSBC was the most liquid equity, as a turnover of € 67,256 was generated on 14 deals. HSBC was the only bank equity to end the year higher, gaining 2.2 percent.
Lombard Bank Malta plc closed the week with a six per cent increase to € 1.95, albeit on insignificant volumes.
Malta International Airport plc traded on a small volume, with only 1,105 shares changing hands. The share price of the airport operator fluctuated between the lowest € 5.70 per week and the highest of € 6, this week’s closing price.
GO plc and its subsidiary BMIT Technologies plc (BMIT) both ended the week in positive territory. The telecommunications company advanced by € 0.10 to the price level of € 3.36, as two transactions of 455 shares were recorded on Monday. No other trades were recorded during the remaining trading sessions.
Meanwhile, BMIT was active for three sessions and ended the week at 1.7 percent, with 10 transactions of 33,500 shares executed.
Shares of RS2 Software plc traded 1.2 percent higher at € 1.74 on Thursday after reaching a daily low of € 1.71. A total of 14,505 shares were traded in six transactions. Equity closed the year at 13 percent.
PG plc closed the short trading week at € 2.40, as two small transactions of 4,140 shares were executed. The share price of the retail conglomerate closed the year among the best performing with a 20 percent increase.
International Hotel Investments plc ended the week in the green, as the price of equity rose by almost nine percent to end the year at € 0.62. Five transactions of € 25,500 worth of € 15,100 were executed.
Food and beverage company Simonds Farsons Cisk plc (SFC) was the best equity this week, advancing 16.3 percent to the € 9.65 level. SFC shares had a volatile week, as during Tuesday’s trading session, the equity price jumped 15.3 percent to € 9.80.
During the year, the Malta Stock Exchange decreased by 3.2 per cent, while in terms of new entrants, four new equities were added to the MSE main market list.
On Thursday, a volatile session for SFC shares saw the share price fall to € 8 and only recover to the level of € 9.65 in the minutes of the death of the trading session. Since the beginning of the year, SFC shares have gained nearly 24 percent.
Mapfre Middlesea plc also closed in the green, as four transactions of 4,950 shares pushed the share price to the level of € 2.30, a weekly increase of 4.6 percent.
One transaction of 500 shares of LifeStar Holdings plc pushed the price by 5.3 percent to the price level of € 1.00. On a year-to-date basis, equity was the second best performer, as the share price doubled.
LifeStar Insurance plc closed the week unchanged at € 0.50.
GHM was the only negative artist this week. Equity closed 1.4 percent lower at € 0.68, as a result of a single transaction involving 500 shares.
Tigné Mall plc closed the week at € 0.75, up 7.1 percent after 78,306 shares changed ownership in nine trades.
Malita Investments plc closed fixed at € 0.80. This was the result of two transactions of 18,294 shares.
Conversely, the share price of Malta Properties Company plc (MPC) rose by 3.8 per cent to the level of € 0.55 on trivial volumes. MPC was among the best performing stocks this year, up 10 percent.
Two trades at a volume of 16,250 Plaza Centers plc sent higher equity to the level of € 0.93. Despite this week’s earnings of 3.3 percent, equity closed the year lower by five percent.
In the fixed income market, activity was concentrated in the Corporate Bond Market, as 64 transactions worth almost € 0.7 million were executed. A total of 26 bonds were traded, with Bank of Valletta plc € Notes 2030 S2 T1 at 3.5% being the most liquid issue. This bond ended the week at € 104. The 4% MIDI plc Secured € 2026 closed at € 103.25, as five deals worth € 63,509 were recorded. The MSE Total Corporate Bond Return Index ended the year at 1,149.11 points, up five percent during 2021.
On the sovereign debt front, only two Malta Government Bonds were traded, as the 4.5% MGS 2028 (II) was the most liquid issue and closed the week at € 131. Since the beginning of the year, the MSE MGS Total Return Index has fallen 4.2 percent.
In the MTF Prospects Market, activity was spread over three issues, with 4.75 percent KA Finance plc Secured Callable Bonds 2026-2029 being the most active issue. The bond closed the week at € 95.
We wish all our readers a healthy and prosperous new year.
This article, compiled by Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited, is not intended to provide investment advice and its content should not be construed as such. The company is licensed to provide investment services by the MFSA and is a member of the Malta Stock Exchange and the Atlas Group. Directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients are likely to have an interest in the securities referred to in this article. For more information contact Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited at 67, Level 3, South Street, Valletta, tel: 2122 4410, or email [email protected].
Freelance journalism costs money. Times of Malta Support for price of coffee.
Support us