Stocks surged on the last day of the year on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with the main market ending 2018 with a gain of 31.7 percent after rising over 10,000 points on Monday. Four stocks with gains of more than 100 percent contributed to the year’s performance.
The main market’s 2018 performance, fueled primarily by a 50 percent climb in the price of heavily weighted NCB Financial, fell below that of 2017, when the index rose 50.7 percent.
At the close of trading on Monday, the market rose sharply. The All Jamaican Composite Index surged 11,006.58 points to close at 416,842.73 and the JSE Index jumped 10,028.24 points to 379,790.86. Trading ended with 4,522,721 units valued at $121,494,950, compared to 38,390,816 units valued at $962,896,660 changing hands on Friday.
Sagicor Real Estate Fund led trading with 2,286,480 units and accounted for 50.6 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Jamaica Stock Exchange with 427,320 units or 9.5 percent of the volume changing hands and PanJam Investment with 413,486 units and 9 percent of the day’s volume.
The main and US dollar markets, had 31 securities changing hands with prices of 15 rising, 6 declining with 10 remaining unchanged, compared to 32 securities trading on Friday. 
Trading in the main market included Eppley ordinary share that has migrated from the Junior Market. Barita Investments moved to another record high, with the price moving to $56 but pulling back by the close to a record closing high of $52.
An average of 161,526 units valued at $4,339,105, in contrast to 1,279,694 shares valued at $32,096,555 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 835,037 units with a value of $25,906,477, compared to 871,027 units with a value of $27,121,540, previously. November closed, with an average of 405,528 valued at $7,755,942, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 closing with lower offers.
In main market activity, Barita Investments rose $2 and ended at an all-time closing high of $52, with an exchange of 14,240 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose $1 to close at $10.50 in trading 427,320 units, JMMB Group jumped $4.30 and ended at $32.56, with 71,004 shares trading. Kingston Wharves declined by $1 and finished trading of 1,147 
stock units at $76.50, NCB Financial Group gained $2 as 42,537 shares changed hands, to close at $150. PanJam Investment closed with 413,486 units trading with a gain of $2 to finish at $74, Sagicor Group lost $1 to end at $39, trading 48,381 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose $4.23 after trading 2,286,480 shares to end at $15.70. Seprod traded 41,618 shares and rose $1.49 to close at $31, Supreme Ventures rose $2 and closed at $18 trading 103,314 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments rose 60 cents and ended at $11 with 77,195 shares changing hands.
Trading in the US dollar market amounted to 111,418 units valued at $ $71,730. Eppley 5% preference share closed at $1 trading 1,374 shares, JMMB Group rose 6 cents and ended at US$2.06 with 5,244 shares changing hands and Productivity Business traded 104,800 stock units and increased 1 cent to 59 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index rose 0.12 points to close at 159.61.
Archives for December 2018
Junior Market ends 2018 with strong gain
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Index rose by a strong 64.45 points to close at 3,246.84, a rise of 18.8 percent above the close of 2017 as 5 stocks gained over 100 percent and 4 others gained between 50 to 73 percent for the year.
The year’s performance although not spectacular was far better than the meagre 5.8 percent rise in 2017.
Trading ended on Monday, with 27 securities changing hands, up from 21 securities trading on Friday as the prices of 10 rose, 8 declined and 9 remained unchanged.
Trading closed with 903,084 units valued at $3,238,816 compared to 1,160,581 shares valued at $4,535,714 on Friday. At the close of the market, the Jamaica Stock Exchange reported that Eppley opted to migrate to the exchange main market effective today with all securities now trading on that market.
The average trade ended at 33,448 units for an average of $119,956 in contrast to 55,266 units for an average of $215,986 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 136,222 units at a value of $737,367, versus 142,866 units at a value of $777,248, previously. November, ended with an average of 190,475 units valued at $653,358 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ended with higher bids than their last selling prices and just 1 with a lower offer.
At the close of the day’s activity, Access Financial closed $2 higher at $52.50, with an exchange of 12,356 shares, AMG Packaging ended 5 cents higher at $1.90, in trading 35,700 stock units, Blue Power concluded trading of 5,326 units with a loss of 34 cents at $4.85, CAC 2000 finished at $16.90, after 2,533 shares traded. Cargo Handlers rose 90 cents to $15, with 4,000 shares changing hands. Caribbean Cream ended trading a mere 382 shares at $5.82, Derrimon Trading ended at $2.50, with 26,690 shares being exchanged, Dolphin Cove concluded trading of just 100 shares after rising $1.50 to $16.50, Elite Diagnostic finished with a loss of 5 cents at $2.95, with an exchange of 35,000 stock units. Everything Fresh lost 7 cents in trading 200,000 shares to close at $1.53. Express Catering settled with a loss of 30 cents at $8.20, trading 2,664 units, FosRich Group ended trading of 19,432 shares, with a loss of 6 cents at $3.80, General Accident traded 45,193 shares at $3.60, GWest Corporation finished 
trading of 110,629 shares at $1.60. Iron Rock ended with a loss of 10 cents at $4.90, with 100 units changing hands, Indies Pharma rose 10 cents in trading 70,468 shares to close at $3.20, Jamaican Teas finished 50 cents higher at $4.50, in exchanging 2,000 shares, Jetcon Corporation settled with a loss of 41 cents at $3.04, with 82,400 shares changing hands. KLE Group traded 16,000 units with a loss of 20 cents to close at $3.20. Knutsford Express finished trading 1,500 shares and rose $1.20 to $13, Lasco Distributors closed at $3.99, with 135,566 shares being exchanged, Lasco Financial ended at $4.50, trading 46,204 shares, Lasco Manufacturing concluded trading 25 cents higher at $3.70, with 36,612 stock units. Main Event finished $1.10 higher at $7, with 4,700 units changing hands, Medical Disposables settled at $6.50, with 5,579 shares and Stationery and Office traded 25 cents higher at $8.35, with 1,950 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Trinidad stocks down for 5th year
Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange Head Quarters
Trading ended on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on the last day of 2018 with modest changes to the three main indices, leaving the All T&T Index down for the fifth year in a row.
At close of the market, the Composite Index fell 0.49 points to 1,302.48 and rose just 2.85 percent for the year. The All T&T Index gained 0.32 points to 1,705.17, but had a modest decline of 1.36 percent for the year, the market in 2017, closed down 4.08 percent, while the Cross Listed Index fell 0.18 points to close at 121.57 but rose 12.17 percent for the year, well off the 36 percent rise in 2017.
The market closed with 14 securities changing hands on Monday, against 13 on Friday and finished with 3 advancing, 4 declining and 7 remaining unchanged.
Trading ended with 140,142 units valued at $3,083,731 compared to 336,690 units valued at $6,885,454 on Friday.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 2 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
Stocks closing with gains| Guardian Holdings closed with a gain of 10 cents and settled at $18.10, in trading 665 units, Massy Holdings gained 10 cents and ended at $47.10, after exchanging 11,058 shares and Unilever Caribbean rose 5 cents and completed trading at $23, with 6,107 stock units changing hands.
Stocks closing with losses| Calypso Macro Index Fund lost 50 cents in trading 700 shares to close at $15, Clico Investments fell 16 cents and completed trading at $20 with 48,196 stock units changing hands, Sagicor Financial closed with a loss of 45 cents and completed trading of 7,516 stock units at $9 
and Trinidad & Tobago NGL shed 15 cents and ended at $29.10, after exchanging 25,660 shares.
Stocks closing firm| Agostini’s ended at $23.40, after exchanging 100 shares, Grace Kennedy completed trading at $2.90, with 2,551 stock units changing hands, National Enterprises completed trading at $8, trading 101 stock units, NCB Financial Group closed at $8.50, after exchanging 33,923 shares. Republic Financial Holdings ended at $107.26, after exchanging 1,073 shares, Scotiabank settled at $64.25, with 1,000 units changing hands and West Indian Tobacco settled at $95.25, after exchanging 1,492 units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Big gains for JSE Monday
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged 11,391.32 points on the All Jamaica Composite index (AJI) with nearly 2 hours of trading on Monday with the index at 417,227.47 points but pulled back from the day’s high of 421,063.54 points earlier after rising 15,227.39 points.
The JSE Index climbed 10,378.78 points to 380,141.40 but the Junior Market Index rose 47.45 points to 3,229.84.
NCB Financial traded at $150, Barita Investments traded at a new high of $55, Grace Kennedy at $68.50 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund jumped to $13.93.
What are right issues?
Companies requiring additional capital may offer shares for sale to their shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings, usually at a discount to the price in the market.
Such issues initially gives existing shareholders securities called rights. Shareholders get the right to purchase new shares at a discount to the market price on a stated future date.
Rights usually, have value, the difference between the current share price and the exercise price. Until the date at which the new shares are to be purchased, shareholders can trade the rights, similar to the trading of shares. Rights may be listed on a stock exchange, in many cases, they are not, but stockbrokers can usually arrange for sale and purchase of them, nevertheless.
Rights can be renounceable or not and that is determined by the company’s shareholders usually at a general meeting. If they are non-renounceable then shareholders will not be able to transfer the rights to a third party if they do not intend to exercise them.
Barita shareholders to vote on rights
Barita climbs to a new closing high of $50 on Friday.
As a result an Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders will be on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at the Terra Nova Hotel, at 10 am to consider the issue of increasing the issued shares by way of a rights issue.
“The purpose of the meeting is to ensure that BIL’s minority shareholders will have an opportunity to contribute to the decision for a Rights Issue,” the directors stated in their release to the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
The resolutions to be put to the extraordinary general meeting, include one for the issue of 262.28 million shares, as a rights issue. Each shareholder will be entitled to 10 shares for each 17 held, at the record date. The price for each share of the rights, is expected to remain at $15.50, as originally approved by the directors, unless varied at the upcoming meeting. The resolution is also asking that the terms of the issue are to be determined by the directors.
The rights in the original directors release were to be non-renounceable, if this condition remains after the vote at the meeting, it will mean that shareholders will not be able to sell their rights to a third party, as such if they decide not to take them up they will not be able to benefit directly from the issue.
The directors had previously voted to offer the rights to shareholders without calling a general meeting but after consultations, decided to put the matter to a general meeting of shareholders where it properly belongs.
Since announcing the rights in early December, the stock price has risen more than 56 percent to $50 and is up 567 percent for 2018 to be the stock exchange’s best performing stock.
IC Top 10 delivered rich 2018 gains
Barita Investments set to be 2018 best performing JSE stock.
With just one trading day left to go, before the 2018 ends, IC Insider.com TOP 10 selections enjoyed some healthy gains during the year, with former top tenner Barita Investments set to top the year with stunning gains of 567 percent. Palace Amusement moved up 159 percent to $1,450 and Salada Foods with 218 percent gain.
In the Junior Market, CAC2000 climbed 160 percent, Caribbean Flavours rose 73 percent and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 64 percent. The TOP 10 also saw others with lesser gains than the above ones. The list includes Caribbean Cement, NCB Financial, Pan Jam Investments, Grace Kennedy, Sterling Investments, with all of them trading at record highs during the year, Iron Rock, Key Insurance and General Accident. The outstanding performer in the Junior Market for 2018, 
Derrimon Trading was on the TOP 10 list on November 17, last year, but moved to $8 from $6.50 at the end of the following week and then exited the list and climbed in 2018 after a stock split and acquisition of new business.
Lasco Financial is back in the Junior Market list, having fallen to $4.50, so too is Consolidated Bakeries with the price down to $1.75 and Stationery and Office Supplies with a price mow at $8.10. Out goes Medical Disposables, with the price at $7.50 along with Iron Rock and Jamaican Teas. In the main market TOP 10, Sagicor Group returns to the list replacing Sterling Investments that closed the week at $4.09.
The main market and the Junior Market closed the week with the overall PE at 15.9. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks average 9.2 and the main market PE is now 10. The top Junior Market stocks continue to sell at a discount to main market stocks even as the overall average PE for both markets are equal. This is an indication that there may be more gains to be had from these Junior market stocks than those in the main market.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 42 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings. The main market stocks trade at a discount of 37 percent to the overall market.
TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns within a 12 months period. Stocks are selected based on projected earnings
for each company’s current fiscal year. Based on an assumed PE for each, the likely gains are determined and then ranked, with the stocks with the highest potential gains ranked first followed by the rest, in descending order. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis based on new information received that can result in changes in and out of the list as well.
Another block of JMMB shares go
JMMB Group accounted for 71% of volume traded.
Following on from Thursday when NCB Financial sold 327 million JMMB Group’s shares, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, Friday’s market activity was dominated by trading in JMMB Group’s shares, but with a reduced 27 million units, changing hands.
At the close of trading, the market rose sharply, as the All Jamaican Composite Index surged 8,520.67 points to 405,836.15 and the JSE Index jumped 7,763.29 points to close at 369,762.62. Trading ended with 38,390,816 units valued at $962,896,660 compared to 329,919,002 units valued at $9,327,532,031 changing hands on Monday.
JMMB Group led trading for the second consecutive day with 27,208,371 units and accounted for 71 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 5,278,788 units or 13.75 percent of the volume changing hands and Wisynco Group with 2,625,261 units and 6.84 percent of the day’s volume.
The main and US dollar markets, had 32 securities changing hands with prices of 14 rising, 8 declining with 10 remaining unchanged, compared to 30 securities trading on Monday. Barita Investments ended at record high with the price moving to $50 at the close while Salada Foods closed at a record high of $35.
An average of 1,279,694 units valued at over $32,096,555, in contrast to 11,782,822 shares valued at $333,126,144 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 871,027 units with a value of $27,121,540, compared to 846,209 units with a value of $26,801,946, previously. November closed, with an average of 405,528 valued at $7,755,942, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 closing with lower offers.
In main market activity, Barita Investments rose $1.40 and ended at an all-time closing high of $50, with an exchange of 31,044 shares, Jamaica Broilers rose $3.49 in exchanging 26,686 o close shares at $29.49, JMMB Group dropped $4.54 and ended at $28.26, with 27,208,371 shares trading. Kingston Wharves gained 50 cents and finished trading 1,147 stock units at $77.50, NCB Financial Group gained $1.20 as 174,838 shares changed hands, to close at $148, Sagicor Group rose $2 to $40, trading 274,101 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 47 cents after trading 5,278,788 stock units to end at
$11.47. Salada Foods jumped $5 and ended trading of 25,000 stock units at $35, Scotia Group rose $2.99 to close at $55, with 7,727 units changing hands, Seprod finished trading 19,742 shares, with a loss of $1.29 to close at $29.51. Supreme Ventures rose 40 cents and closed at $16 trading 1,841,957 shares and Wisynco Group rose 39 cents to finish at $10.99, with 2,625,261 units changing hands.Trading in the US dollar market amounted to 38,308 units valued at $9,537 with JMMB Group 6% preference share ending trading at $1.05 with 2,400 stock units and Proven Investments declining 1 cent ended trading 35,908 shares at 18 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index rose 2.14 points to close at 159.49.
Junior Market slips on Friday
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange remained subdued on Friday, with trading with 21 securities changing hands, down from 27 securities that trading on Thursday.
The market closed with the prices of 5 rising, 6 falling and 10 remaining unchanged and leading the Junior Market Index to fall 7.37 points to close at 3,182.39.
Trading closed with 1,160,581 units valued at $4,535,714 changing hands, compared to 678,952 shares, valued at $3,223,519.
The average trade ended at 55,266 units for an average of $215,986 in contrast to 25,146 units for an average of $119,390 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 142,866 units at a value of $777,248, versus 147,500 units at a value of $806,936, previously. November, ended with an average of 190,475 units valued at $653,358 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ended with higher bids than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the close of the day’s activity, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 5 cents at $1.85, with 24,274 stock units changing hands, Blue Power concluded trading of 11,330 units with a loss of 31 cents to close at $5.19, Caribbean Cream ended trading at $5.82, with 1,066 shares. Caribbean Producers traded 66,714 units with a loss of 69 cents at $4.75, Derrimon Trading ended at $2.50, in exchanging 104,228 shares, Eppley settled at $9, with 2,452 units changing hands, Everything Fresh rose 20 cents in trading 307,076 shares to close at $1.60. Express Catering ended trading 50 cents higher at $8.50, with an exchange of 203,021 shares, FosRich Group traded 6,000 shares, with a loss of 9 cents to end at $3.86, General Accident rose 10 cents in trading 42,600 shares at $3.60. GWest Corporation closed at $1.60, with 43,187 stock units trading, Honey Bun ended 70 cents 
higher at $3.90, with an exchange of 3,100 units, Indies Pharma lost 10 cents in trading 21,209 shares to close at $3.10, Jamaican Teas settled with a loss of 70 cents at $4, trading 29,126 shares. Jetcon Corporation ended trading with 172,189 stock units, and rose 5 cents to $3.45, Key Insurance traded 14,000 units at $4, Lasco Distributors ended at $3.99, with 9,700 shares trading, Lasco Financial concluded trading at $4.50, with 19,325 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing finished at $3.45, with an exchange of 11,100 units. Main Event settled at $5.90, with 45,484 shares trading and Stationery and Office finished trading at $8.10, with 23,400 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
More TTSE stocks fall than rise – Friday
Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange Head Quarters
Trading ended after closing for the Christmas break with 13 securities changing hands on Friday, against 13 on Thursday and finished with 2 advancing, 4 declining and 7 remaining unchanged.
At close of the market, the Composite Index fell 0.37 points to 1,302.97, the All T&T Index gained 1.61 points to 1,704.85, while the Cross Listed Index fell 0.33 points to close at 121.75. Trading ended with 336,690 units valued at $6,885,454 compared to 101,149 units valued at $3,433,867 on Thursday.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Stocks closing with gains| Calypso Macro Index Fund rose 50 cents and ended at $15.50, with 20 stock units changing hands and First Citizens gained 34 cents to close at $33.97 after exchanging 100 shares.
Stocks closing with Losses| Clico Investments concluded trading with a loss of 4 cents and ended at $20.16, with 43,504 stock units changing hands, JMMB Group traded with a loss of 1 cent at $1.75, after exchanging 151,652 shares. NCB Financial Group fell 4 cents to $8.50, after exchanging just 123 shares and One Caribbean Media closed with a loss of 25 cents at a 52 weeks’ low of $10.25, exchanging 1,242 shares.
Stocks closing firm| First Caribbean International Bank completed trading of 4,965 units at $8.30, Massy Holdings closed at $47, after exchanging 117,610 shares, National Enterprises ended at $8 with 50 stock units changing hands. Republic Financial Holdings concluded at $107.26, after exchanging 412 shares, Sagicor Financial ended at $9.45, with 500 stock units changing hands, Trinidad & Tobago NGL settled at $29.25, after trading 2,350 shares and Trinidad Cement concluded trading at $2.72, after exchanging 14,162 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
