Archives for March 2017
Readymix jumps on takeover offer
Trading closed with 12 securities changing hands compared to 11 on Wednesday, with the market having been closed on Thursday. The prices of 3 stocks gained 7 fell and 2 remained unchanged.
Trading volume fell to a low of 67,974 shares valued at $1,375,038 compared to Wednesday’s 90,080 shares valued at $621,874 as the prices of 3 stocks rose, 7 declined and 2 traded with the price unchanged.
The Composite Index fell 0.72 points to 1,233.79, the All T&T Index declined 1.09 points to 1,811.54 and the Cross Listed Index lost 0.05 points to 87.98.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Clico Investment rose 1 cent in exchanging 4,327 units at $22.51, Readymix gained 71 cents in trading 1,400 shares to close at a 52 weeks high of $11.51 after the parent company made an offer $11 for the minority shares and Trinidad Cement closed with 5,000 shares trading at $4.21 after rising by 4 cents.
Losses| Angostura Holdings lost 1 cent and closed at $15 with 10 shares traded, First Citizens closed with a loss of 35 cents to end at $31.65 trading 3,335 shares, Guardian Holdings lost 2 cents in trading 2,365 units at $15.98, JMMB Group fell 2 cents and exchanged 5,455 shares at $1.20, National Enterprises lost 6 cents to close at $10.82 trading 2,110 shares, Republic Financial Holdings dropped $3.49 in exchanging 17 shares to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $101.99 and Trinidad & Tobago NGL dropped $1.21 to close at $21.50 with an exchange of 42,739 units valued at $918,889.
Firm Trades| Massy closed at $53 with 100 units changing hands and West Indian Tobacco closed at $127.01 with trading in 1,116 units.
Golding hands over Caricom report
Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding handing over the report of the finding and recommendations relating to Jamaica and its relationship with Caricom to current Prime Minister Andrew Holness at Jamaica House on Thursday.
The report was concluded after interviews with several former Prime Ministers and current ones from within the region, along with other interested persons from institutions such as Trade Unions and senior members of political parties and input from the general public were received over the internet.
Modest rise in junior market
Trading on the junior market fell off sharply on Thursday from Wednesday’s levels, as demand declined below the previous day leaving the market index inching up by just 1.16 points to end at 2,991.64.
Market activity ended with only 15 securities trading, similar to the total on Wednesday with advancing and declining stocks ending at a 5 each. A total of 243,100 units valued at $4,441,436 passed through the market, compared to 699,545 units valued at $3,810,910 on Wednesday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 16,207 units for an average value of $296,096 traded, compared to 46,636 units for an average value of $254,061 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 138,835 units and $1,338,271. On the immediate preceding trading day, the average volume and value for the month to date, were 144,675 units and $1,385,643. The average volume and value for February, ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
Trading ended with 10 stocks had bids higher than their last sale prices and 4 ended with lower offers, than the last sale.
At the close of the market on Thursday, AMG Packaging climbed $1 and closed at $6 with 27,916 units changing hands, CAC 2000 lost 5 cents and closed at $7.80 with 31,239 shares trading, Caribbean Cream dropped 8 cents in trading 1,733 units to end at $7.90, Derrimon Trading ended at $8.50 with 3,994 shares changing hands, Honey Bun had 3,952 shares changing hands, rose 70 cents and closed at $7.30. Iron Rock Insurance traded 7,256 shares to end at $3.84, Jamaican Teas traded just 320 shares to close at $7.99, Jetcon Corporation dropped $1 and closed trading with 21,970 shares being exchanged, to end at $11, Knutsford Express lost 11 cents to end at $42 with 80,146 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors ended with 22,522 units trading at $6.70, Lasco Financial fell 40 cents, with 20,000 shares changing hands, to end at $3.60, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 2,420 units changing hands at $5, after falling 5 cents, Main Event closed at $5 with 11,724 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables climbed 75 cents to $6 with 4,808 units trading and Paramount Trading had 3,100 shares changing hands, to close with a rise of 20 cents at $3.80.
Sagicor caught in JSE ownership restriction
The article sets a 10 percent limitation for ownership by any one shareholder. The restriction is meant to prevent anyone shareholder from dominating management of the company. The prospectus when the company sold ordinary shares to the public in June 2103 stated: Ordinary Shares – Special Provisions to Prevent Unacceptable Control Situations. Article 48 of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company contains provisions that are designed to prevent any Shareholder (including a Member Dealer) from holding Shares above the “Prescribed Percentage”, being over 10 percent of the issued share capital of the Company. If the voting power of any person (either alone or together with others) is more than the Prescribed Percentage, the Articles deem that an unacceptable control situation exists. In those circumstances, the same Article also deems that any Shares above the Prescribed Percentage are default shares that no longer carry rights to vote at general meetings of the Company. The Company has a power to give notice to the holder to dispose of any default shares, failing which the Company may dispose of them.
On March 3, a total of 35.3 million units of Jamaica Stock Exchange shares were trading through the market.
Iron Rock underperforms in year 1
Iron Rock came to the general insurance market just about when premium rates for catastrophe coverage is under pressure with consumers enjoying some of the lowest rates in years and with one element of good revenue losing it sting.
Iron Rock ended 2016, their first full year of operations, with a loss of $50 million, before fair value gains on investments of $5.5 million, taking the net position to a loss of $45 million, up from the forecast in the prospectus of $30 million as the company underperformed on most fronts, compared to forecast. Gross premiums written projected at $170 million ended well down, with $127 million generated in the year. Profit before operating expenses came in at $9 million versus $20 million forecasted. Investment income ended at $17 million versus $39 million while foreign exchange gains ended at $15 million with forecast being $7 million. Operating expenses ended at $91 million, lower than the $96 million projected. Underwriting loss before other income ended at $82 million versus $76 million after a lower loss claim of $6 million than the $12 million projected.
On the plus side, the big expansion on the way in the hotel and BPO sectors and other areas will provide an expanded market going forward and thus provide a base that they can expand their income from.
In spite of the loss, the company ended with a capital base of $560 million and holds investments of $366 million with $85 million in quoted equities. There is also an additional $70 million in short term investments. With growth in local equities the company should enjoy above average returns from this area that will boost the overall investment performance that could push them into an overall profit in 2017, but they are unlikely to see the same levels of foreign exchange gains enjoyed in 2016. Overall investment income realized or accrued could end up around $50 million in 2017 and would be well ahead of forecast.