Heavy trading in Foreign currency which commenced on Friday last, continued into Tuesday with buying of more than US$51 million and selling of nearly $70 million. The Jamaican dollar gained value against the British Pound, the Canadian Dollar and the Euro, but slipped slightly against the US dollar.
Overall there was buying of the equivalent of US$51,072,479 versus US$67,262,829 on Monday, and selling of the equivalent of US$68,959,488 compared to US$54,210,527 on Monday. In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$45,621,979 compared to US$61,524,538 on Monday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 17 cents to $113.92, and US$66,949,150 was sold versus US$51,640,183 on Monday, with the selling rate rising 3 cents to $114.57. The Canadian dollar buying rate gained 11 cents to $95.98 with dealers buying C$2,121,251 and selling C$972,385, at an average selling rate that fell 30 cents, to $97.77. The rate for buying the British Pound declined 26 cents to $176.09 for the purchase of £2,198,952 while £664,324 was sold, the rate eased 74 cents to $177.64. At the end of trading it took J$140.40 to purchase the Euro, 12 cents less than on Monday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$139.85, for a decline of 7 cents. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$264,243 while the equivalent of US$150,558, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, remained unchanged at $114.85, the lowest buying rate closed 17 cents lower at $93.77 and highest selling was unchanged at $120.37. The lowest selling rate fell $16.06 to $93.94. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 30 cents to $99.80. The lowest buying rate fell 33 cents to $78.52. The highest selling rate rose 11 cents to $101.33 and the lowest selling rate was unchanged at $94.55. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, dropped $6.85 to $178.80. The lowest buying rate fell 8 cents to $144.01, highest selling rate increased 10 cents to $185.75 and the lowest selling rate was unchanged at $173.35.
Archives for December 2014
FX trading remains elevated on Tuesday
JSE at 7 months high with year-end rally
The JSE all Jamaica Index continues to move away from the resistance level at the yellow line as the market keeps on moving up from its 2014 low.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 694.35 points to 76,449.94, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 776.31 points to close at 84,192.88 and is at its highest level since April 28, this year when it closed at 84,734.87 points and the JSE combined index gained 705.54 points to close at 78,320.27.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless ending with 294,400 shares changing hands to close 4 cents higher, at 50 cents. Carreras completed trading with 13,964 shares changing hands to close with a 20 cents increase to $37, Grace Kennedy ended with 10,402 units and put on 1 cent to close at $62. Jamaica Money Market Brokers ended trading with 8,531 shares changing hands to close at 55 cents $7.10, Jamaica Producers ended with 12,898 shares with the price rising 1 cent to $17.51, National Commercial Bank had 1,337,635 shares changing hands to close with a gain of 49 cents to $18.50. Sagicor Group finished trading with 12,500 units changing hands to close 20 cents higher at $10.20, Sagicor Real Estate Fund concluded trading with 10,000 shares to gain 28 cents at $7.28, for a new 52 weeks’ high, Scotia Group ended with 8,300 shares changing hands to close 10 cents higher at $20.10 and its subsidiary Scotia Investments traded 20,040 shares with the price rising 40 cents to $23.40.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Caribbean Cement finished with 7,310 units trading at $2.40. Proven Investments ended trading with 3,320 shares at 19 US cents, Salada Foods closed with 5,000 shares trading at $8 and Supreme Ventures finished with 30,000 shares changing hands to close at $1.92.Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes closed with 11,185 units trading as the price slipped 10 cents to $4.80, Jamaica Broilers finished with 1,501,082 shares trading and ended 4 cents lower to $4.01
Preference| There was no trading in the preference sector.
Cargo Handlers at new high
Cargo Handlers closed at a new all-time high, on the junior market on Tuesday, but with only a small volume and Blue Power was by far the leading trade with a value of $3,370,500. Activity elsewhere saw trading in only 6 securities traded and ended with 739,790 units valued at $3,626,764.
At the close of the JSE Junior Market Index rose 5.63 points to close at 688.61 with the price of 2 advancing and 2declining. Trading ended with 3 stocks having bids higher than their last selling prices and only 1 with a lower offer. The junior market had only 4 securities closing without bids to buy. There were 9 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
The stock trading on the junior market on Tuesday are, Cargo Handlers that ended trading with 220 shares and jumped $1.40 to close at a new high of $16. Dolphin Cove closed with 2,000 shares, the price rose 50 cents to $9. Lasco Financial ended with 17,700 shares trading and lost 1 cent to 97 cents, Lasco Manufacturing closed 1 cent lower at $1.11 while trading 146,870 shares. Blue Power closed trading with 535,000 units, the price ended at $6.30 and Lasco Distributors closed with 38,000 shares at $1.45.
Massy Holdings profit jumps 23% in Q4
For the year to September, profit for Massy Holdings rose only 2 percent, to $555 million or $5.68 cents per share.
Profit for the September quarter amounted to $190 million and is up a strong 23 percent over the 2013 results. The yearly profit is negatively affected by a $58 million cost incurred in relating to the company changing its name and form Neal and Massy to Massy Holdings along with other rebranding expenses. Earnings per share for 2015 should end up around the $6 levels, on the assumption that measures needed in the Trinidad economy to deal with the fall in oil price will not have any serious negative effect on the Group’s operations in that country. The PE for the stock will be around 11 times 2015 earnings and should provide a basis for the price to increase during next year as the target should be around 15.
Total revenues for the year is up 14 percent to $10.7 billion, and up 18 percent in the September quarter to $2.77 billion, the latter benefitted from the acquisitions in Columbia that contributed $123 million in revenues and $2.5 million in segment profit. Additionally, the group acquired majority interest in a supermarket business in St Lucia in late December last year. The income form that operation is included in the October quarter but would not be there in 2013.
Segment profit before rebranding cost saw growth in Automotive and Industrial Equipment increasing by 5 percent, Integrated Retail gaining a mere 2.5 percent, Insurance up by 17.6 percent, Energy and Industrial Gases 52.4 percent, Information Technology Communications 10.3 percent and Other Investments down 21.5 percent. Jamaica contributed 37 percent more in profits to the group in 2014 than in 2013, Trinidad from which the bulk of profit comes saw a 6.7 percent increase and Guyana 4.7 percent.
Massy Holdings is listed on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange and is involved in a wide range of products and services.
8 stocks up 8 down on JSE Monday
strong>day’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 8 stocks rising and 8 declining as 26 securities changed hands, ending in 1,862,567 units trading, valued at $8,769,262, 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 showed 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 52.27 points to 75,755.59, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 58.45 points to close at 83,416.57 and the JSE combined index declined by 17.19 points to close at 77,614.73.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes ended trading 555,750 shares with a gain of 19 cents to $4.90, Jamaica Money Market Brokers saw trading in 88,443 shares with the price rising 5 cents at $6.55. Sagicor Group traded 97,914 shares with the price rising 3 cents $10 Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed with 2,400 shares changing hands to close 15 cents higher at $7.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Grace Kennedy finishing with 2,340 shares at $61. Kingston Wharves ended with 829 shares trading at $6, Mayberry Investments ended with 6,732 shares changing hands to close at $1.50, Proven Investments closed trading with 69,580 shares at 19 US cents and Supreme Ventures completed trading with 4,200 shares at $1.92.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless closing with 700,127 units trading as the price slipped 4 cents 46 cents. Caribbean Cement finished with 11,000 shares trading lower by 10 cents to $2.40, Carreras ended with 11,595 shares trading with a loss of 45 cents to $36.80, Jamaica Broilers ended trading with 5,114 shares changing hands to close 5 cents down at $4.05. National Commercial Bank closed trading with 48,986 units as the price slipped 24 cents to $18.01, Pan Jamaican Investment had 1,100 units trading with the price falling $3.50 to $56.50, Scotia Group traded 23,901 shares, the price closed 10 cents lower to $20 and Scotia Investments ended with 4,000 shares trading lower by 20 cents to $23.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 900 shares at $2 and Proven Investments 8% preference share closed with 40,550 units at $5.10.
Activity picks up on junior market
Dolphin Cove was one of the stocks gaining on the junior market on Monday
Trading on the Junior Market closed with only 7 securities traded and ended with 187,106 units valued at $207,965. The JSE Junior Market Index rose 3.44 points to close at 682.98, with the price 4 advancing. At the close of the market, there was 1 stock with the bid higher than the last selling price and 2 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to show improvement in sentiment with only 4 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 5 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
The stocks trading in the junior market on Monday are, Cargo Handlers that ended with 754 shares changing hands, to close with a gain of 40 cents at $14.60. Dolphin Cove ended with 2,475 trading to close 40 cents higher at $8.50, Lasco Manufacturing finished trading 32,500 units for 2 cents more at $1.12, Medical Disposables concluded trading with 7,000 shares changing hands, to close 5 cents up at $1.75. AMG Packaging closed with 23,300 units trading as the price remained at $2.15, Lasco Distributors closed with 15,000 shares changing hands at $1.45 and Lasco Financial finished with 106,077 shares at 98 cents.
FX Trading levels elevated on Monday
The Jamaican dollar gained value against the three main currencies it normally trades against, in Monday’s foreign exchange trading. The total value of currencies traded was elevated to $67 million, being bought by dealers and selling of $54 million.
Overall there was buying of the equivalent of US$67,262,829 versus US$52,174,458 on Friday, and selling of the equivalent of US$54,210,527 compared to US$44,651,307 on Friday. In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$61,524,538 compared to US$46,132,454 on Friday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 1 cent to $114.09 and US$51,640,183 was sold versus US$41,961,857 on Friday with the selling rate falling 5 cents to $114.54. The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped $1.21 to $95.87 with dealers buying C$2,284,502 and selling C$1,182,905, at an average selling rate that fell 70 cents, to $98.07. The rate for buying the British Pound declined $1.29 to $176.35 for the purchase of £2,231,964, while £781,835 was sold, the rate eased 68 cents to $178.38. At the end of trading it took J$140.52 to purchase the Euro, $1.30 less than on Friday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$139.92, for an increase of 82 cents. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$368,867 while the equivalent of US$339,934, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, closed 5 cents higher at $114.85, the lowest buying and highest selling rates closed unchanged at $93.94 and $120.37 respectively, the lowest selling rate fell $1 to $110. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 20 cents to $99.50. The lowest buying rate rose 33 cents to $78.85. The highest selling rate declined 78 cents to $101.22 and the lowest selling rate eased 5 cents to end at $94.55. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, climbed $5.65 to $185.65. The lowest buying rate rose 8 cents to $144.09, highest selling rate increased $2.81 to $185.65 and the lowest selling rate lost 15 cents to $173.35.
5 stocks gained on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange started the week with 16 securities changing hands of which 5 advanced, 2 declined and 9 traded firm as a total of 178,776 units, valued at $1,420,739 traded.
At the close of the market, the Composite Indexrose 0.13 points to close at 1,145.01, the All T&T Index advanced by 0.09 points to close at 1,978.63 and the Cross Listed Index increased by 0.02 points to end at 40.76.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, ANSA McAL with 920 shares changing hands and closed with a gain of a cent, at $66.40, Clico Investment Fund had 5,429 shares valued at $124,917 trading, and advanced by 1 cent to end at $23.01. First Citizens Bank added 4,194 shares valued at $155,275 to close at $37.03 with a gain of 1 cent, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 73,000 shares changing hands, gained 2 cents to end at 44 cents and Scotiabank gained 3 cents to end the day at $60.54 after trading 673 shares.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, One Caribbean Media which had 1,000 shares traded, 1 cent down at $25.05 and Republic Bank traded 114 shares and ended at $119.74 after shedding just 1 cent.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings trading 1,998 shares to close at $13.26, Firstcaribbean International Bank with 200 shares ended at $4.75, Guardian Holdings with 55,793 shares traded for $739,257, closed at $13.25. Massy Holdings traded 143 shares to close at $68, National Commercial Bank traded only 3,000 shares to close at $1.16, National Flour Mills traded 1,000 units at $1.15, Prestige Holdings traded 215 shares at $9.56, Sagicor Financial Corporation contributed 31,032 shares with a value of $184,640 but closed at $5.95 and Trinidad Cement traded 65 shares, to close at $2.50.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Ethanol losses & loan cost hit JBG profit
Profit fell 30 percent, for the six months ending October this year and a whopping 43 percent for the October quarter at Jamaica Broilers (JBG). With chicken processing being their main product line, the company reported profit of $210 million in the six months to October, down from $301 million for the similar period last year.
JBG reported a net profit of $99 million for the October quarter down from $173 million in 2013. The fall in profit is due to three main factors. Interest cost climbed 106 percent in the latest quarter and 68 percent in the six months period and corporation tax jumped 180 percent in the quarter and 58 percent for the six months against revenue growth of 15 percent in the quarter and 14 percent year to date. The ethanol operations contributed considerably to the lower profit with a loss of $144 million versus $27 million profit in 2013, the loss made in the October quarter was $55 million. Rising profit in the US segment accounted for the bulk of the tax increase.
On a positive note management indicates that “new business in the Ethanol division looks promising with income already received in October and November.”
Administrative expenses climbed 11 percent in the quarter and 21 percent for the nine months to October, with the latter growing faster than revenue increase.
The United States segment has done exceedingly well, with segment profit moving from $202 million in 2013 to $572 million this year. Ethanol is a concern especially with world oil prices having fallen sharply this year. Other areas have just kept pace with the prior period, the increased debt cost is weighting down on profit and needs to be put on firmer and more cost effective footing. The company makes the bulk of it profit in the second half of the year and with ethanol seems to be generating added revenues things could be looking up in the second half.
Jamaica Broilers borrowed $800 million more since the year-end at the end of April pushing borrowed funds to $7 billion this was used to fund increased inventories that rose by $800 million over the same period.
H&L ups dividend slightly
Rapid True Value one of the Companies owned by Hardware & Lumber
The stock will trade Ex-dividend on January 5, 2015. An interim dividend 30 cents per stock unit was paid on January 17, 2014 in connection with the 2013 profit. The increased dividend comes in the wake of Hardware and Lumber reporting profit after tax for the nine months to September of $113 million, or 26 percent more than the $90 million, for the same period in 2013. Earnings per stock unit for the nine months, is $1.40, up from $1.11 for the comparative period in 2013.
