Archives for February 2014

Grants prop up GOJ revenues

February 2, 2014 by IC Insider.com

The Government of Jamaica’s revenues for December 2013 came up well short of budget. It would have been worse but for an unscheduled intake of grants amounting to $4.1 billion, which helped to prop up the revenues that fell short of budget by $7 billion. Overall, the fiscal operations ended up with a surplus of $5.32 billion in December compared to $5.25 billion originally projected.

For the nine months to December, the government is running $11 billion short on revenues and paid $16 billion less on housekeeping expenses and interest, excluding loan repayments, for an overall deficit of $19.6 billion that is $4.2 billion less than the amount budgeted for of $24.78 billion.

The revenue shortfall is across all major categories with international trade being one of the worse areas, down by $5.7 billion or 6 percent, Income taxes $5.2 billion or 7 percent followed by production taxes off by $1.5 billion or 2 percent. Amount spent on interest is down by $5 billion and capital expenditure by $9 billion.

The government is expected to announce in Parliament that they will close out the 2013/14 fiscal year with a virtual wipeout of the budgeted deficit by the end of March.

Image courtesy of StuartMiles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: Economy Tagged With: Deficit, Economy, GOJ

TTSE PE: Neal & Massy, Republic moves

February 1, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Friday, 31 January 2014 | Neal & Massy and Republic Bank continues to gain this week on the Trinidad Stock Exchange as investors slowly take advantage of the high level of undervaluation of these two stocks.

Meanwhile, investors took profit in First Citizens during the week as the price fell to $38 but recovered $1.99 to close the week at $39.99, down from $43 at its recent peak. The pullback makes First Citizens a more appealing stock at the week’s close with potential gains of 40 percent versus 33 percent last week.

The Trinidad market continues to offer attractive profit potential for a large number of stocks. The top stocks with the highest potential for gain at over 100% are Trinidad Cement at the upper end with 283%, Point Lisa (271%), Berger (206%), Guardian Holdings (202%), National Flour (175%), and Neal & Massy (125%).

Filed Under: Company News, Stock Market, TTSE Market Tagged With: PE Ratios, TTSE

Buy rated: Coming in from the cold

February 1, 2014 by IC Insider.com

A number of the Buy Rated stocks are coming in from the cold as prices rose during the last week of January.

The Jamaica Stock market made big strides, separate and apart from the flurry of trading action emanating from the landmark announcement of Sagicor Group’s acquisition of RBC’s Jamaica operations. Wednesday’s trading activity was the best day for months as 21 stocks advanced in price and the main market indices climbed sharply on three consecutive days.

The Jamaican main market trading had 8 stocks climbing and only 1 declining. Sagicor Group gained 18 percent in the aftermath of the RBC takeover, Scotia Group put on 7 percent, Barita gained 4 percent and Caribbean Cement 3 percent.

The Junior market had mixed fortunes with three of the Buy Rated selections rising; Caribbean Producers gained 2 percent and Lasco Manufacturing 4 percent, while Caribbean Cream fell 9 percent and General Accident fell by 4 percent.

Only one stock lost value on the Trinidad Stock Market as First Citizens dipped 6 percent by week end and Sagicor Financial gained 4 percent.

Jamaica Stock Exchange | From inception of the Buy Rated list in July 2013, Barita is up 13 percent, Caribbean Cement 77 percent, Hardware & Lumber 76 percent, Sagicor Group 5 percent. Those with losses in the main market are all less than 10 percent with JMMB at 8 percent being the largest loser. Junior market stocks are not fearing as well with only Access Financial which was up to 44 percent when we pulled it and placed it as Market Watch. Caribbean Producers is up 35 percent so far and Blue Power way behind at 7 percent increase. The big losers so far are Lasco Manufacturing down 21 percent, Caribbean Cream 18 percent, Jamaican Teas off by 14 percent and Lasco Financial 10 percent.

Trinidad Stock Market | First Citizens, which gained 52 percent in the first round, is up 2 percent since being reinstated to the Buy Rated list even as the price declined from its peak. Neal & Massy is now up 11 percent, Grace Kennedy 12 percent, One Caribbean Media 8 percent, Republic 6 percent, Trinidad Cement 130 percent and 12 percent for Sagicor Financial. The losers number only 4 with Guardian Holdings down 14 percent, JMMB 2 percent, Point Lisas 8 percent and Scotia Investments 24 percent.

The coming week could be interesting in the Jamaican market as the past week showed signs of increased interest in the market. Will the interest continue into February or just a month-end dressing? Whatever the case, what is quite clear is that the supply of stocks for many of the Buy Rated stocks have been waning with some having virtually none on the sell side. February could see the return to a decisive bull market.

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