Malta Stock Exchange hosts first Investor Day Conference

There was a healthy turnout at the Investor Day Conference 2026, hosted by the Malta Stock Exchange, last Thursday, with listed entities, investment services firms and investors themselves showing up in their hundreds.

In his welcome address, MSE Executive Chairman Joseph Portelli said: “We are pleased to offer our listed companies a dedicated platform to present their business strategy and prospects directly to investors. In a market of our size, that direct conversation between companies and their shareholders is invaluable.”

After outlining the excellent results of the MSE since his appointment 11 years ago, Mr Portelli focused on the website that the Exchange launched last August, www.investi.com.mt. This, along with other measures, is part of the MSE’s strategy to promote increased trading volumes, especially of equities, on the Exchange.

“The foundations are in place. We’re proud of where we’ve come with our capital markets, for the size of our economy, I believe the Malta Stock Exchange punches above its weight class,” Mr Portelli said.

Minister of Finance Clyde Caruana addressing the MSE Investor Day Conference last week (Photos: Jean Marc Zerafa)

Finance Minister urges more productive use of local savings

In his address to the conference, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana, referring to the issue of household savings, said: “We must now ask a further question: are we making the best possible use of the capital that our nation has accumulated throughout the years?”

Quoting National Statistics Office figures, he said Maltese households saved approximately €2.54 billion in 2025. According to the Central Bank of Malta, Mr Caruana added, by March 2026, household deposits in Maltese banks had exceeded €20 billion, with more than €17 billion held in overnight deposits.

With the European Commission noting that Maltese firms remain heavily dependent on internally generated funds and bank financing, with far less use of listed equity than the European average, suggesting not a shortage of capital but a gap between the capital available and the channels through which it can support productive capacity, the Finance Minister said:

“We must address this gap. We should not just look to save more, but make the savings we already have work harder. The strength of our household savings, the liquidity of our banks and the resilience built through the past economic decisions give us the opportunity to approach the future from a position of strength. Our question is not only how to respond to immediate pressures, but how to invest wisely for the next generation.

“I encourage our banks, insurers, fund managers, investment firms and pension providers, and possibly the Malta Stock Exchange itself, to familiarise yourselves closely with the European Commission Savings and Investment Union. Launched this year, this initiative seeks to remove barriers that threaten European capital markets and to connect savers more effectively with productive investment.”

Mr Caruana urged the country to move forward from a culture that sees saving as its destination to one that understands that savings is the beginning of investment and further future return. “Investment is the opportunity that gives us the necessary future financial security,” he said.

“If we succeed, the benefits will translate into stronger retirement incomes, more resilient households, better funded businesses and an economy capable of creating more value with the resources that we already possess. That is the challenge before us. Let’s make out of the resources that we have the best use possible.”

Presentations from five listed equities

During the course of the day, no fewer than four CEOs of listed equities delivered presentations, along with another by GO plc Head of Investments Paul Grech on Connecting Tomorrow.

The other presentations were from Marcel Cassar of APS Bank plc on Driving Retail Banking Innovation; Kenneth Farrugia of Bank of Valletta plc on Navigating Growth and Stability; Simon Naudi of IHI on Why Scale Matters: How IHI Converts Global Expansion into Shareholder Returns; and Radi El Haj of RS2 on A Profitable Payments Platform Trading Below Its Potential: RS2 on the Malta Stock Exchange.

Malta Stock Exchange Executive Chairman Joseph Portelli delivers his welcome address to the conference

There were also two panel discussions. Maltese Markets Outlook was moderated by MSE CEO Simon Zammit with the participation of Edward Rizzo, Financial Analyst, Rizzo Farrugia & Co; Donatella Galea, Head of Stockbroking & Capital Advisory, BOV; Jesmond Mizzi, Managing Director, Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors; and Nick Calamatta, Joint CEO, Calamatta Cuschieri Moneybase plc.

International Markets Outlook was moderated by MSE Executive Chairman Joseph Portelli with the participation of Geoffrey Fichte, CEO, HSBC; David Curmi, Chief Officer – Business Development and Client Relationships, Curmi & Partners; and Jack Smith, Co-Head of Fixed Income, Waverton Investment Management.

Mr Smith had earlier delivered a keynote address 300 Years of Bond Markets – Lessons for Investors Today. Another keynote was delivered by financial coach Patrick DeBattista on Investing While the World is on Fire.

Follow www.investi.com.mt for further detailed coverage of the first Malta Stock Exchange Investor Day Conference.