Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange closed on Tuesday with 2 new 52 weeks, highs and 2 new lows as 15 securities changed hands of which 6 advanced, 5 declined and 4 traded firm, with a total of 145,030 units, valued at $2,055,749 being active.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.25 points to close at 1,142.54, the All T&T Index rose 0.69 points to close at 1,970.28 and the Cross Listed Index fell by 0.02 points to end at 41.22.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, ANSA Mcal with 1,330 units, gained 6 cents to end a $66.36, Clico Investment Fund traded 400 share, advanced by 3 cents to end at $22.75, a new 52 weeks’ high. Guardian Media $50.00 6% Cumulative Preference closed at $65.01 while 20 shares were traded to gain 1 cent, for a new 52 weeks high. National Enterprises gained 3 cents while trading 7,317 units to end at $17.50, Scotiabank had 868 units trading and increased 19 cents to end the day at $59.20 and Trinidad Cement increasing 4 cents to $2.34 while trading 5,520 shares.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Guardian Holdings with 48,950 shares changing hands, for a value of $648,588, fell 24 cents, to close at $13.25, Flavorite Foods traded 1,000 shares at $4.80, down 10 cents, for a new 52 weeks’ low. Grace Kennedy contributed 12,500 shares and lost 9 cents, to close at $3.75, National Commercial Bank with a volume of 48,400 shares and lost 2 cent to end at $1.05, after trading 10 shares and Sagicor Financial Corporation lost 2 cents to end at $5.95, in trading 1,728, for a new 52 weeks’ low.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, First Citizens Bank traded 3,587 at $36.77, while Massy Holdings added 12,400 shares valued at $846,300 to close at $68.25, One Caribbean Media ended with 1,000 units changing hands at $25.10, Prestige Holdings closed at $9.56.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showed 6 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 1 stock with the offer that was lower.
Archives for December 2014
2 new 52 weeks’ highs & 2 lows on TTSE
Only 2 stocks trade on junior market
Trading in the Junior Market closed with very little activity on the second trading day of December. Trading ended with only 22,000 units valued at $27,980. The JSE Junior Market Index fell 5.44 points to close at 679.42, only 2 securities traded, with the price of 2 declining.
At the close of the market, there were 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market weakness continues with 8 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 4 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
The two stock to trade are, Caribbean Cream closed with 5,000 shares trading lower by 1 cent at 70 cents and Lasco Distributors finished trading with 17,000 units and fell 6 cents to $1.44.
Pan Jam jumps $3.30 to year’s high on JSE
Pan Jamaican Investments Trust jumped $3.30 to a new 52 weeks’ high, on Tuesday, trading in the stock accounted for $34.2 million of the day’s activity. Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 4 stocks rising and 7 declining as 18 securities changed hands, ending in 2,127,873 units trading, valued at $41,812,058, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 93.54 points to 74,458.58, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 104.59 points to close at 81,966.34 and the JSE combined index declined by 138.77 points to close at 76,362.07.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes completed trading with 1,000,000 shares changing hands, with a gain of 3 cents to $4.60. Jamaica Money Market Brokers saw trading in 2,300 ordinary shares and gained 5 cents to $7.10, Pan Jamaican Investment finished trading with 618,400 shares, the price rose $3.30 cent to $55 and Proven Investments concluded trading with 7,308 units and put on 1.20 cents to 18.5 US cents.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Carreras ending trading with 920 shares changing hands to close at $36.89, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 4,660 shares trading at $4. Jamaica Stock Exchange ended trading with 6,942 shares changing hands, at $1.50, Mayberry Investments contributed 8,159 shares at $1.50 and Radio Jamaica traded 8,882 shares at $1.18.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless ended with 48,985 units as the price slipped 2 cents to 43 cents, Jamaica Producers finished with 5,000 shares with a loss of 5 cents to $15.95, National Commercial Bank ended with 19,418 shares changing hands to close 11 cents down to $18, Sagicor Group ended trading with 36,298 shares for 10 cents less at $9.90 and Scotia Group ended with 53,411 shares changing hands to close lower by 50 cents at $19.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 282,190 shares changing hands to close at $3 Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share exchanged 3,000 units at $2.
J$ slips vs US$ gains on others – Tuesday
The Jamaican dollar lost value against the US dollar but gained against the British pound and the Canadian dollar, on Tuesday. Authorized dealers purchased the equivalent of US$34,565,581 versus US$36,591,367, on Monday, and sold the equivalent of US$33,169,744 compared with US$35,704,084 on Monday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$29,642,890 compared to US$29,868,883 on Monday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 16 cents to $113.11 and US$30,393,433 was sold versus US$31,686,958 on Monday. The selling rate was up 4 cents at $113.63 The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 30 cents to $98.33 with dealers buying C$2,355,803 and selling C$1,822,198, at an average selling rate that declined 38 cents, to $99.24. The rate for buying the British Pound dipped 56 cents to $175.58, for the purchase of £1,739,181, while £574,118 was sold, the rate fell back 44 cents to $177.40. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$175,201 while the equivalent of US$288,647, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, closed $1.15 cents higher at $114.95, the lowest buying and the highest selling rates were unchanged at $93.35 and $119.63 respectively, but the lowest selling rate jumped $17.70 to $111.05. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar was unchanged at $100. The lowest buying rate closed 8 cents higher at $79.68. The highest selling rate closed $4.80 higher, at $108.70 and the lowest selling rate rose 10 cents to $96. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, was up 41 cents to $178.95. The lowest buying rate rose 37 cents to $144.21, the highest selling rate rose 48 cents to $185.91 and the lowest selling rate fell 30 cents to $173.
JSE Market starts December up
Monday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 7 stocks rising and 6 declining as 22 securities changed hands, ending in 1,979,654 units trading, valued at $9,662,737, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 213.63 points to 74,552.12, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 238.86 points to close at 82,070.93 and the JSE combined index gained 180.89 points to close at 76,500.84.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless completing trading with 229,162 shares while gaining 1 cent to 45 cents, Mayberry Investments concluded trading with 100,000 units and put on 2 cents to $1.50, National Commercial Bank closed with 6,500 shares as the price climbed 11 cents to $18.11 and Sagicor Group finished trading with 157,895 shares changing hands to close 1 cent higher at $10.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Grace Kennedy having 2,768 shares trading at $61, Pan Jamaican Investment ended trading with 4,386 shares changing hands, at $51.70. Radio Jamaica contributed 17,354 shares in trading to end at $1.18, Scotia Group ended with 106,500 shares at $20, Scotia Investments finished trading with 7,756 shares changing hands at $22.50 and Seprod had 12,185 shares changing hands to close at $12.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras ending with 650 units as the price slipped 11 cents to $36.89, Jamaica Broilers finished with 84,583 shares with a loss of 5 cents to $4. Jamaica Stock Exchange finished with 35,000 units and fell 5 cents lower at a new 52 weeks’ low of $1.50 and Proven Investments ended trading with 165,136 shares for 0.69 cent less at 17 US cents.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded with 32,350 shares changing hands to close at $3.
J$ gains vs euro & Pound Friday
The Jamaican dollar lost value against the United States and the Canadian dollar, but gained versus the euro and the Pound in Friday foreign exchange trading in Jamaica.
Overall there was buying of the equivalent of US$52,174,458 versus US$42,831,449 on Friday, and selling of the equivalent of US$44,651,307 compared to US$41,907,894 on Thursday. In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$46,132,454 compared to US$36,830,088 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 6 cents to $114.10 and US$41,961,857 was sold versus US$37,213,356 on Thursday while the selling rate rose 1 cent to $114.59. The Canadian dollar buying rate was up 64 cents to $97.08 with dealers buying C$2,100,188 and selling C$1,012,039, at an average selling rate that fell 50 cents, to $98.77. The rate for buying the British Pound rose 32 cents to $177.65 for the purchase of £2,605,212 while £953,717 was sold, the rate eased 24 cents to $179.06. At the end of trading it took J$141.82 to purchase the Euro, $1.23 less than on Thursday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$139.10, for a fall of $1.26. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$198,857 while the equivalent of US$326,747, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, closed 9 cents lower at $114.80, the lowest buying rate closed 13 cents higher to $93.94. The highest selling rate was unchanged at $120.37 and the lowest selling rate climbed $15.47 to $111. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 58 cents to $99.30. The lowest buying rate rose 33 cents to $78.52. The highest selling rate rose $1 to $102 and the lowest selling rate gained 60 cents to end at $94.60. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined 20 cents to $180. The lowest buying rate dropped 74 cents to $144.01, highest selling rate fell $3.77 to $182.84 and the lowest selling rate lost 50 cents to $173.50.
J$ stable with US$ gains on others – Monday
The Jamaican dollar was stable against the US dollar but gained against the British pound and the Canadian dollar, on Monday. Authorized dealers purchased the equivalent of US$36,591,367 versus US$39,425,266, on Friday, and sold the equivalent of US$35,704,084 compared with US$31,274,156 on Friday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$29,868,883 compared to US$35,565,489 on Friday. The buying rate for the US dollar dropped 18 cents to $112.95 and US$31,686,958 was sold versus US$29,379,322 on Friday. The selling rate was unchanged at $113.59. The Canadian dollar buying rate climbed 80 cents to $98.63 with dealers buying C$3,954,756 and selling C$3,050,747, at an average selling rate that declined 4 cents, to $99.62. The rate for buying the British Pound rose 17 cents to $176.14, for the purchase of £1,933,114, while £719,301 was sold, the rate fell back 35 cents to $177.84. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$254,759 while the equivalent of US$215,363, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, closed 5 cents higher at $113.80, the lowest buying rate put on 25 cents to $93.35. The highest selling rate was unchanged at $119.63, but the lowest selling rate fell $1.96 to $93.35. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar drifted down 80 cents to $100. The lowest buying rate closed with a 99 cents loss, to $79.60. The highest selling rate remained at $103.90 and the lowest selling rate fell $1.10 to $95.90. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, was off 16 cents to $178.54. The lowest buying rate slipped 58 cents to $143.84, the highest selling rate rose $3.40 to $185.43 and the lowest selling rate fell 70 cents to $173.30.
4 advancing stocks on TTSE, 3 down
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on the first day of December, closed with 11 securities changing hands of which 4 advanced, 3 declined and 4 traded firm with a total of 62,958 units, valued at $927,832 passing through the market.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.25 points to close at 1,143.31, the All T&T Index gained 0.69 points to close at 1,970.03 and the Cross Listed Index fell 0.02 points to end at 41.46.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Clico Investment Fund with 4,280 shares, valued at $97,208 and advanced 2 cents, to $22.72, First Citizens Bank traded 1,011 shares at $36.77, with a 1 cent gain. Scotiabank traded 125 units and gained 19 cents to close at $59.01 and West Indian Tobacco added 4,250 shares valued at $515,313, gained 25 cents, to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $121.25.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Massy Holdings fell 23 cents to close at $68.25 while trading 1,600 shares. National Enterprises with 600 shares ended with a 1 cent loss,at $17.47 and Sagicor Financial Corporation contributed 10,000 shares to close at $5.97, after falling 3 cents, for a new 52 weeks’ low.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 990 units closed at $12.76, Firstcaribbean International Bank traded 870 shares at $5, Scotia Investments with a volume of 18,632 shares traded to close at $1.45 and Trinidad Cement with 20,600 shares changing hands for a value of $47,380 closed at $2.30.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Lower Q4 profit squeezes Scotia Group
Scotia Group Jamaica (Scotia Group) reported profit after tax of $10.1 billion for the year ended October, 2014, a decrease of $774 million or 7 percent compared with the net income of $10.9 billion in 2013.
The results for the fourth quarter of $2.5 billion represents an increase of $129 million or 5 percent over the same period last year, and a decrease of $188 million or 7 percent compared to the previous quarter ended July, 2014.
Earnings per share were $3.14 compared to $3.37 in 2013, and the Return on Average Equity was 13.41 percent, down from 15.67 percent last year. During the October quarter, income from foreign currency trading fell sharply from the July quarter, from $636 million to only $234 million and insurance revenues dropped from $661 million to $495 million, a fall of $166 million or 25 percent. While insurance income was higher than in the 2013 quarter at $476 million, the foreign exchange trading gains was still well below the $677 million generated in the 2013 quarter. Loan loss impairment fell to $227 million in the October 2014 quarter slightly higher than the $191 million in 2013 but much lower than the $497 million in the July 2014 quarter.
Jackie Sharp, President and CEO said, “Scotia Group experienced another year of solid performance across all business lines. We saw 9 percent growth year over year in our Commercial & SME portfolios; 6 percent growth in our retail loan portfolio; 12 percent growth in mortgages; and our Premium Money Market Fund which is offered by our subsidiary, Scotia Investments surpassed the $10 Billion mark. During the last half of the year, we have seen strong growth and we are poised for another successful year in 2015.”
Net interest income after impairment losses for the year was $22.9 billion, an increase of $57 million compared to 2013. Other revenue for this financial year amounted to $10.9 billion, a reduction of $465 million or 4 percent compared to 2013. Net fee and commission income remained stable year over year, despite the growth in loan and transaction volumes. Net gains on foreign currency activities decreased by $767 million, while net gains on financial assets increased by $520 million compared to the prior year.
Operating Expenses for the year amounted to $20.2 billion, an increase of $527 million or 2.7 percent compared 2013. The Group experienced an increase in the asset, premium and minimum business taxes of $861 million as a result of the increased rates implemented earlier in the year.
Loans, after allowance for impairment losses amount to $145.7 billion as at the year-end is only up by just over $1 billion from the $144.6 billion at the end of the July quarter but increased 8 percent from $134.8 billion in October 2013.
Non-performing loans (NPLs) at October 31, 2014 totaled $4.9 billion, reflecting an increase of $411 million from prior year. Total NPLs now represent 3.32 percent of total gross loans compared to 3.29 percent last year and 3.31 percent as at July 31, 2014.Interest rates are falling on the deposit side that shows up in lower interest cost in the October quarter over that of the July quarter.
Looking ahead|Scotia should be able to manage the net interest income to their benefit going forward as Treasury bill rate continue to fall. The lower foreign exchange earnings in the last quarter is tied up in the revaluation of the Jamaican dollar during the quarter and should show improvement in the January 2015 quarter with some moderate slippage in the value of the Jamaican dollar. The slow growth in lending is likely to continue for a while longer and will act as a drag of accelerated income and profit growth. Investors should be looking for a gradual growth in profit rather than a big spurt, at any rate earnings should be climbing towards the $3.50 level in 2015.
The Board of Directors approved a final dividend of 40 cents per stock unit payable on January 13, 2015. The stock closed at $20, at the end of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday.
More stocks added to buy rated list
Mayberry Investments is one of the latest stocks to be added to the buy rated list based on stability in earnings, but mostly based on what seem likely to be improvement in the Jamaican stock market going forward and the gains that could accrue to the company if trading levels and stock values pick up.
Scotia Trinidad and West Indian Tobacco were restored to the list with expected higher earnings in 2015 than in 2014 as well as Scotiabank’s fall in price below $60 per share.
Jamaica’s junior market stocks get expanded, partially based on where prices are now and reasonable profits generated for 2014 so far, with increased earnings likely in 2015. Paramount and Medical Disposables were elevated to BUY RATED and Access was restored to the list.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange is being watched for a possible upgrade form Market Watch to Buy Rated.
