The selling rate of US dollar rose against the Jamaican dollar by 51 cents on Friday, with the rate dealers bought US dollar for 16 cents more than the closing rate at the close of the previous trading day.
On Friday, inflows of all currencies, totaled US$36.25 million, versus US$27.16 million on Thursday with the selling of US$42.96 million in contrast to US$35.35 million previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers sold US$40.82 million at J$128.40 each, at the close, compared to US$34.20 million at an average of J$127.99 on Thursday. Purchases of the US currency by dealers, amounted to US$34.14 million at an average of $126.47 at the close, compared US$25.25 million at an average of $126.31.
The selling rate on Friday, for the Canadian dollar dropped to J$96.87 from J$99.41 at the close on Thursday, the selling rate for the British Pound rose to J$176.89 from J$175.27 previously and the euro gained against the Jamaican dollar at J$156.35 to buy the European common currency, versus the prior selling rate of J$154.30.
Archives for March 2018
Jamaican$ lost value on Friday
Some impressive profit results
The latest set of listed companies to report financials show an array of impressive profits for a number of them, turn around situation in one and flat results for a few.
C&W reported a small loss of $138M for 2017 before tax.
Cable and Wireless reported a very small loss for 2017 down sharply from a billion loss in 2016 and is about to break out into a highly profitable period starting in 2018. The company that has chalked up accumulated losses of more than $48 billion reported losses of only $138 million before tax for 2017, and just $383 million after tax, flowing from a 9 percent rise in revenues to $27 billion with a big rise in mobile revenues by 54 percent to $15 billion while interest cost at $5.2 billion the company lost the year, down from a loss of $1.4 billion in 2016. With the sharp fall in interest rates locally interest cost should drop by around $2 billion in 2018 and plunge the company into an excellent profit position with continued growth in revenues. Unfortunately, the parent company wants to take over the company at a low price, after local shareholders have suffered losses for many years at just the stage when good times seem to be returning.
Newly listed FosRich Group posted an 81 percent increase in profit to $55 million and earnings per share of 14 cents from revenues that fell 9.5 percent to $1.05 billion, but helped by other income of $42 million comprising mostly interest and foreign exchange gains.
Jamaica Producers enjoyed strong gains in operating profits with an increase of 77 percent to $662 million after adjusting the 2016 results for non-recurring gains of $3.7 billion. Operating income for the year was up an impressive 34 percent resulting in gross profit rising from $3.24 billion to $5.14 billion. Earnings per share came in at 59 cents.
Stationery and Office Supplies that listed in August last year enjoyed a 29 percent bounce in revenues for the full year and 37 percent rise in the December quarter to record full year revenues of $906 million and a 78 percent rise in profits to $83 or earnings per share of 38 cents.
Kingston Wharves profit climbed 18 percent from $1.29 billion to $1.63 billion for 2018 from revenues that moved from $5.41 billion to $6.37 billion for a rise of 28 percent and ended with earnings per share of $1.14.
Grace Kennedy continues to struggle to increase profits ended 2018 with flat results of $4.15 billion versus $4.12 billion in 2016. The 2016 figures and one off gains that makes the 2018 better that it appears on the surface. Revenues rose from $88.3 billion to $92 billion in 2018 and other revenues slipped from $2.38 billion to $2.1 billion. The group reports $4.15 in earnings per share.
FosRich profit rose 77% for 2017.
Supreme Ventures reports earnings per share at $44 cents from profits that are virtually flat with 2016 results coming from a 25 percent rise in revenues to $56.2 billion. Profit for the year ended at $1.197 billion from $1.178 billion. The 29017 suffered from write off of assets and impairment amounting to $484 million while repairs and maintenance rose by $110 million.
The 2017 listed Victoria Mutual Investments reports a 9 percent rise in profits to $346 million from a 19 percent rise in net income of $966 million and produced earnings per share of 29 cents.
Jamaican$ gains value on Thursday
The selling rate of US dollar declined against the Jamaican dollar by 16 cents on Thursday, with the rate dealers bought US dollar for 17 cents more than the closing rate at the close of the previous trading day.
On Thursday, Inflows of all currencies, totaled US$27.16 million, versus US$53.61 million on Wednesday with the selling of US$35.35 million in contrast to US$47.22 million previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers sold US$34.2 at J$127.99 at the close, compared to US$45.20 million at an average of J$128.15 on Wednesday. Purchases of the US currency by dealers, amounted to US$25.25 million at an average of $126.31 at the close, compared US$46.63 million at an average of J$126.14.
The selling rate on Thursday, for the Canadian dollar dipped to J$99.41 from J$101.52 at the close on Wednesday, the selling rate for the British Pound declined to J$175.27 from J$177.28 previously and the euro fell in value against the Jamaican dollar at J$154.30 to buy the European common currency, versus the prior selling rate of J$156.24.
JSE main market in sharp drop – Thursday
Carreras traded most shares on Thursday, with more than 7M units changing hands.
Fresh from vested interest hiking some prices at the close of the previous month the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed the first day of March with a big fall as prices returned to more normal levels on Thursday.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dived sharply by 3,876.54 points to 317,331.11 and the JSE Index sank 3,531.97 points to end at 289,124.52.
Trading on Thursday closed 28 securities changing hands with 9 advancing, 13 declining and 5 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets.
The securities with the largest price changes include, Berger Paints rising $1.35 to $21.35, Caribbean Cement falling $2.99 to $33.01, Jamaica Producers rising $1.90 to $17, JMMB Group that dropped by $1.99 to $24.01, Sagicor Group with a fall of 99 cents to $36.51 and Salada Foods with a decline of $1 to $10.50.
Main market activity ended with 22,773,292 units valued at $377,866,606 compared to 5,402,156 units valued at$66,110,510 on Thursday. Carreras accounted for 7,029,473 units changing hands, or 30.87 percent of the total volume traded, followed by Ciboney Group with 4,963,048 units representing 21.79 percent of the market volume and JMMB Group with 4,190,962 units or 18.40 percent of units traded and Grace Kennedy with 4,047,260 shares.
Trading results in an average of 875,896 shares valued at $14,533,331 for each security traded, in contrast to 200,080 shares valued at $2,448,537 on Wednesday. In contrast, February closed with average of 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with Margaritaville concluded trading added 1 cent and settled at 20 US cents with 2,322 units and Sterling Investments fell 3 cents and ended at closed a 52 weeks’ low of 9 US cents with 1,000 shares. Overall, trading closed with just 3,322 shares with a value of US$554 as the market index slipped 0.94 points to 171.61.
For more details of market activities see – JSE volume jump sharply on Thursday.
Trading down on TTSE – Thursday
Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange sank sharply on Thursday with just 8 securities trading down from 14 on Wednesday. The market closed with 218,720 shares valued at $2,790,805 trading, compared to 374,321 shares valued at $3,174,202 on Wednesday.
The market closed with the prices of 2 stocks rising, 1 declining and 5 remaining unchanged. At close, the Composite Index lost 0.09 points to 1,268.73, the All T&T Index closed without change at 1,700.23, while the Cross Listed Index shed 0.03 points to close at 112.97.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, on Wednesday, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
Gains| Clico Investments closed with an increase of 15 cents to $19.90, trading 105,225 units and JMMB Group rose 4 cents and completed trading at $1.95, with 50,000 stock units changing hands.
Losses| NCB Financial Group was the sole loser for the day ended with a loss of 3 cents to close at $6.50, trading 22,866 shares.
Firm Traded| First Caribbean International Bank closed at $9.30, trading 35,824 shares, First Citizens ended at $32.11, trading 2,050 shares, Sagicor Financial settled at $7.82, with 1,132 units, Scotiabank concluded at $61.90, trading 20 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $27.11, trading 1,603 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE volume jumped sharply on Thursday
Main Market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped sharply on Thursday, ending trading on with 22,773,292 units valued at $377,866,606 changing hands versus 5,402,156 units valued at $66,110,510 on Wednesday.
Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market activity ended with 26 securities traded ending with 10 securities rising, 12 falling, 5 trading firm, leading to market indices to a huge fall. The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,876.54 points to 317,331.11 and the JSE Index collapsed 3,531.97 points to 289,124.52.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments closed 50 cents higher at $7.50, with 5,708 shares, Berger Paints jumped $1.35 to close at $21.35, with 32,521 stock units, Cable & Wireless concluded trading with a loss of 20 cents at $1.01, with 288,269 units, Carreras finished at $10.95, with 7,029,473 shares, Caribbean Cement settled with a loss of $2.99 at $33.01, while exchanging 39,375 shares. Ciboney Group ended trading at 10 cents, with 4,963,048 shares, Grace Kennedy traded with a loss of 25 cents at $44, with 4,047,260 stock units, Jamaica Broilers finished trading 2 cents higher at $19, with 11,908 units, Jamaica Producers closed $1.90 higher at $17, with 32,106 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with a loss of 45 cents at $6.55, trading 3,000 shares, JMMB Group concluded trading with a loss of $1.99 at $24.01, after 4,190,962 shares were swapped, Kingston Properties finished at $6.65, with 384 stock units, Kingston Wharves settled at $42, trading 1,908 units. Mayberry Investments ended trading 44 cents higher at $5.45, with 2,000 shares, NCB Financial Group traded with a loss of 50 cents at $99.50, with 69,631 shares, PanJam Investment rose 30 cents to $41.30, with 49,336 units, Pulse Investments finished with a loss of 14 cents at $1.85, with 200,000 shares changing hands. Radio Jamaica settled 1 cent higher at $1.10, with 580 shares, 
Sagicor Group ended with a loss of 99 cents at $36.51, trading 41,250 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading at $16, with 59,513 shares Salada Foods fell $1 to $10.50, with 687,500 units, Scotia Group finished trading at $52, with 27,741 shares. Supreme Ventures concluded trading with a loss of 19 cents at $11.76, with 34,690 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments finished with a loss of 1 cent at $4.45, with 454,250 units and Wisynco Group settled with a loss of 79 cents at $10.70, with 456,979 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% rose 14 cents and closed at 99 US cents with 43,900 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market in sharp drop – Thursday.”
Big drop in Junior Market – Thursday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange index dropped sharply on Thursday with 64.06 points fall to close at 2,860.87 as the prices of 7 securities advanced, 11 declined and 10 remained unchanged from 26 securities changing hands, the same number changing hands on Wednesday.
Market activity resulted in an exchange of 3,574,111 units valued at $13,735,257 versus an exchange of 33,681,650 units valued at $100,532,367 on Wednesday. Trading ended with an average of 137,466 units for an average of $528,279 compared to an average of 1,295,448 units for an average of $3,866,630 on Wednesday. February closed with an average of 338,697 units at an average value of $1,495,774 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed at $50, with 15,366 shares, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 3 cents at $2.03, with 600,000 stock units, Blue Power concluded trading with a loss of 4.99 cents at $35, with 2,000 units, Caribbean Cream ended trading with a loss of 30 cents at $6, with 26,844 shares, Caribbean Flavours traded with a loss of 70 cents at $10, with 18,827 stock units. Consolidated Bakeries closed at $1.90, with 11,700 shares, Derrimon Trading concluded trading at $7, with 53,928 shares, Elite Diagnostic settled with a loss of 17 cents at $2.73, with 317,840 units, Express Catering traded 6 cents higher at $4.34, with 13,842 shares. FosRich Group finished trading 10 cents higher at $2.61, with 72,592 shares, General Accident closed at $2.90, with 423,294 stock units, GWest Corporation ended at $3, with 147,526 units, Honey Bun concluded trading with a loss of 1.14 cents at $4, with 605,300 shares. Iron Rock finished at $3, with 3,600 shares, ISP Finance settled $1 higher at $12.05, with 7,773 shares, 
Jamaican Teas ended trading 29 cents higher at $4.99, with 15,600 stock units, Jetcon Corporation traded at $4.60, with 176 units. Knutsford Express ended at $15, with 4,651 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 30 cents at $4, with 432,046 stock units, Lasco Financial finished 22 cents higher at $4.72, with 339,866 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled with a loss of 49 cents at $3.75, with 199,371 shares. Main Event ended trading with a loss of 10 cents at $5.90, with 3,995 shares, Medical Disposables traded with a loss of 4 cents at $4.85, with 59,680 shares, Paramount Trading finished trading 5 cents higher at $3.35, with 32,500 stock units, Stationery and Office closed 24 cents higher at $5.30, with 147,287 units and tTech concluded trading with a loss of 1 cent at $5, with 18,507 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
