Volatility continues to hit the Jamaica stock market, with Sagicor Group jumping $10.95, Caribbean Cement rising $5.50, Eppley Carib Fund rising $4.53 and Scotia Group increasing by $1.70 on Friday, as the JSE Main Market continues to consolidate.
The Main Market of the continued to trek upward, with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advancing 1,739.78 points to close at 549,514.06, the JSE Market Index added 1,697.56 points to 500,463.33 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.78 points to 135.65.
The market closed with 45 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 18 advancing, 16 declining and 11 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 41 securities accounting for 25,178,696 units valued at $85,865,743 in contrast to 15,500,355 units valued at $47,239,549 from 38 securities on Thursday.
Wigton Windfarm dominated trading with 11.7 million shares for 47 percent of total volume. Sagicor Select Financial Fund followed with 7.1 million units for 28 percent of the day’s trade, and QWI Investments with 1.8 million shares for 7 percent of the market’s volume.
The Market closed with an average of 614,115 units valued at an average of $2,094,286 for each security traded, in contrast to 407,904 units at $1,243,146 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 626,134 units valued at $3,511,981 for each security changing hands, compared to 626,696 units valued at $3,584,638 for each security traded. 
Trading in December resulted in an average of 595,143 units valued at $9,344,514 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 16 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 20, while the Main Market ended at 19.3 times 2019 earnings.
In the Main Market, Barita Investments closed $1 lower to $71, with 24,067 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement advanced $5.50 to $74.50 trading 50,898 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $4.53 to $41.53 transferring 3,400 units, Jamaica Broilers jumped $3.75 to $38.75, in swapping 101,867 units, Jamaica Producers ended $1 higher to $26, with an exchange of 12,360 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained $1.50 to settle at $32 trading 14,194 shares. JMMB Group rose 50 cents to $46.50, in exchanging 60,083 shares, Kingston Wharves dropped $2 to end at $66, in transferring 4,310 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 70 cents to close at $11.20, with 749,858 shares changing hands. 
NCB Financial declined by 57 cents to $188.98, after with 55,928 shares changing hands, PanJam Investment lost 90 cents transferring 9,892 shares and closed at $100, Sagicor Group soared $10.95 to $79.95 in exchanging 61,692 shares. Scotia Group closed at $55.70, after gaining $1.70 after swapping 31,812 shares, Seprod lost 90 cents transferring 15,552 shares to end at $46.10, Sygnus Credit Investments closed 50 cents higher to $26.50, with an exchange of 37,121 shares and Victoria Mutual Investments ended the day’s at $10.70, after rising 92 cents and trading 207,567 units.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 235,954 units valued at over US$135,101. The market index slipped 1.73 points to close at 230.48. JMMB Group 5.75 % preference share lost 10 US cents to close at US$2 after trading 2,785 units, JMMB Group 6 % preference share ended 4 US cents lower after swapping 82,532 units and settled at US$1. Margaritaville traded 3,000 units at 31 US cents, after losing 1 cent and Proven Investments lost 1 cent to end at 32 US cents in transferring 147,637 units.
Archives for January 2020
JSE Junior Market hit by falling stocks
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange settled on Friday with the majority of prices falling three to one dragging the index down by 29.77 points to close at 3,087.77.
The market closed with 38 securities changing hands, with prices of 8 securities rising, 23 declining and seven remaining unchanged, resulting in an exchange of 2,050,342 units valued at $12,142,583 compared to 2,189,745 units valued at $8,061,287 from 35 securities on Thursday.
At the close of trading, the average PE ratio of the Junior Market stood at 13.3.
Trading ended with an average of 53,956 units for $319,542 for each security, in contrast to 62,564 units for an average of $230,322 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 137,619 units valued at $521,935 and previously 142,385 units for $519,699. In contrast, December closed with an average of 521,319 units valued at $1,344,719 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows seven stock ending with bids higher than the last selling price and one with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial gained $5.60 to end at $36 after trading 134,272 stock units, AMG Packaging shed 14 cents in exchanging 3,524 units at $1.93, Blue Power lost 21 cents with 99,797 shares crossing the exchange, to close at $3.80. Caribbean Cream closed trading of 5,000 units with a gain of 35 cents to end at $4, Caribbean Flavours ended with a loss of $1 at $16 with just 100 stock units changing hands, Cargo Handlers traded 12,000 shares, after rising 15 cents to end at $8.25. Caribbean Producers shed 20 cents in trading of 55,390 units at $4.80, Consolidated Bakeries declined by 7 cents to settle at $1.75, in exchanging 6,196 shares, Dolphin Cove lost 50 cents in trading 2,583 stock units to close at $10. Elite Diagnostic declined by 50 cents to settle at $4 with 27,497 shares changing hands, Everything Fresh added 1 cent after exchanging 175,600 shares at $1.05. Express Catering lost 11 cents, trading 58,084 units at $5.95. Fontana lost 20 cents in trading of 60,065 units at $6.80, Fosrich closed with a loss of 10 cents at $4.20, after swapping 33,383 shares, General Accident fell 20 cents in trading of 23,349 units at $6. GWest Corporation fell 3 cents in exchanging 5,773 units at $1.03, Honey Bun dipped 50 cents in trading of 3,732 units at $7, iCreate fell 5 cents with 14,020 units crossing the exchange at 75 cents, Iron Rock Insurance declined by 54 cents to settle at $3.45 after 27,022 units crossed the market. Jamaican Teas climbed 9 cents and exchanged 39,366 shares at $6.69, Jetcon Corporation closed 3 cents higher at $1.45, with 2,700 stock units trading, 
Knutsford Express rose $1.50 to end at $11.50 with 94,602 stock units changing hands. Lasco Distributors ended market activity, exchanging 42,460 shares to close at $3.10 after falling 9 cents. Lasco Financial shed 40 cents in trading 14,091 units to close at $3.60, Lasco Manufacturing dipped 28 cents in exchanging 1,873 units at $4.02, Lumber Depot closed 3 cents higher at $1.53, with 130,061 stock units trading. Medical Disposables ended market activity, exchanging 250,940 shares to close at $6.50 after falling 70 cents. Paramount Trading shed 18 cents in trading 248,370 units at $1.55, SSL Venture ended with a loss of 1 cent at $1.08 with 120 stock units changing hands, Stationery and Office Supplies declined by 10 cents to settle at $9.80 after exchanging 12,059 units and tTech slipped 2 cents in trading of 200 units at $5.60.
CAC 2000 9.5% preference share closed at $1.20, while trading 1,421 stock units.
More gains for TTSE on Friday
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange market recorded gains on Friday following Thursday’s increases, even as declining ones outnumbered the number of stocks advancing.
The market closed with 18 securities changing hands, compared to 16 on Thursday, with two gaining, six declining with the prices of ten remaining unchanged. One stock closed at 52 weeks’ high and one at a low.
The T&T Composite Index gained 1.53 points on Friday to 1,495.18. The All T&T Index rose 4.63 points to 1,897.07, while the Cross Listed Index lost 0.22 points to close at 148.12.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 180,282 shares, amounting to $5,149,858 compared to $102,489 shares, at $2,231,866 on Thursday. 
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the bids of four stocks higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
Gains| Ansa Mcal closed with an increase of 7 cents and completed trading 3,313 units at $55.37 and First Citizens Bank gained 21 cents and settled at $47.01, with investors exchanging 245 shares.
Losses| Guardian Holdings closed with a loss of 5 cents at $21.95, after trading 1,801 shares, JMMB Group dropped 4 cents and closed at $2.70, with investors exchanging 20,133 stock units. Republic Financial lost $3.46 and ended at $136.54, after exchanging 13,840 shares, Scotiabank ended trading with 9,739 units after falling 9 cents to $61.40. Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 9 cents in trading 26,835 stock units to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $20.81 and Unilever Caribbean fell 18 cents and ended at $22.05, with investors exchanging 222 shares.
Firm Trades| Clico Investment closed market activity at $28.48, with 39,485 units crossing the exchange, First Caribbean International Bank completed trading at $7.85, with 90 units crossing the exchange, Republic Holdings on the rise since late 2018 and is set to move much higher in 2020.
Republic Holdings on the rise since late 2018 and is set to move much higher in 2020.
Grace Kennedy closed at $3.95, with investors exchanging 2,250 shares. Massy Holdings swapped 711 shares at $62, National Flour ended at $1.45, with investors exchanging 2,750 shares. NCB Financial settled at $11.29, after trading 2,304 stock units, One Caribbean Media ended at $8, in exchanging 8,000 shares, Prestige Holdings settled at $9, with 1,943 shares crossing the exchange. L.J Williams settled at $1.55, with 36,310 units changing hands and West Indian Tobacco settled at $40, with 10,311 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
NCB profit in a stunning 42% rise
NCB Financial Group blasted off its 2020 results with a stunning 42 percent increase in profit attributable to shareholders of the group. Shareholders were only rewarded, with a mere 11 percent increase in the quarterly dividend to $1.
NCB Financial Group Q1 profit surges.
Operating income for the group’s shareholders surged 42 percent from $4.15 billion to $5.9 billion in the first quarter to December.
Net interest income jumped from $9.8 billion to $13.9 billion, net fee and commission income rose from $4.3 billion to $6.4 billion. Other income, net of credit impairment losses, climbed to $4.9 billion from $3.3 billion in 2018, even as credit impairment losses rose from $1.16 billion to $1.57 billion. Net results from banking and investment activities climbed from $17.4 billion to $25.3 billion, while results from insurance activities surged from $1.5 billion to $8 billion. The consolidation of Guardian Holdings (GHL) impacted the segment in a significant way and resulted in net operating income jumping from $18.9 billion in 2018 to $33.3 billion. Operating expenses rose from $14 billion to $23.3 billion and resulted in an operating profit of $9.95 billion compared with $4.85 billion in 2018.
Segment results show progress in most areas and stagnation in others. The Consumer Banking reflects flat results with revenues coming in at just over $8 billion and profit before internal charges of $1.8 billion in both the 2019 and 2018 quarters. Payment Services enjoyed a bounce in both revenues and profit, with the former rising from $4 billion to $4.56 billion in 2019, with profit rising from $1.2 billion to $1.68 billion. Corporate and Commercial Banking saw revenues rising from $2.67 to $3.1 billion in 2019, with profit rising from $1.25 billion to $1.86 billion. Revenues in the Treasury and Correspondent Banking segment slipped from $4.87 billion to $4.44 billion in 2019, with profit easing from $1.87 billion to $1.8 billion.
Guardian Holdings contributed to NCB Financial growth in the December quarter.
Income at Wealth, Asset Management and Investment Banking segment moved from $4.26 billion to $5.4 billion in 2019, with profit increasing from $1.69 billion to $2.67 billion. Revenues for the Life Insurance and Pension segment jumped sharply to $28 billion, from $2.58 billion in 2018, while profit ended at $5.9 billion from just $1.69 billion in 2018, with the acquisition of majority ownership of Guardian Holdings playing a major role in the increase. The General Insurance segment jumped sharply to $16 billion from $1.47 billion in 2018, with profit rising to $1.5 billion from just $227 million in 2018. Other operations generated revenues of $1.57 billion in 2018 and saw a big jump to $14.7 billion in the December 2019 quarter, with profit falling from $319 million to a loss of $1.2 billion.
The group experienced a 17.4 percent increase in its loan portfolio to $438.4 billion from $373.5 billion in 2018, with growth since September, of 3.6 percent, or 14.5 percent annualized. Customer deposits grew from $461 billion to $499 billion, year over year. NCB now boasts total assets of $1.6 billion up from $941 billion in 2018, with shareholders’ equity of $148 billion.
Earnings for the quarter ended at $2.46 and is distorted by booking the asset tax of more than $1.8 billion for the year, in the quarter. Earnings for the full year to September should end at around $13 per share and put the share price over $250 by the end of the year. The stock remains a good long-term buy with growth coming from normal operations driven by strong loan demand and increased efficiency to flow from a restructuring of the group to eliminate areas of duplication. The group last traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday before the results at $189.55 at a PE ratio of 14.6 and on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange at TT$11.29 for a PE of 18.
JSE Main Market volume drops
Volume trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange fell sharply to half of Wednesday’s level while the value of all stocks trading fell to just 15 percent of that on Wednesday.
The JSE Main Market activity ended with 38 securities accounting for 15,500,355 units valued at just $47,239,549 in contrast to 31,689,008 units valued at $315,401,563 from 37 securities on Wednesday.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,193.77 points to 547,774.28, the JSE Market Index added 1,969.79 points to close at 498,765.77 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.22 points to end at 134.87.
Trading closed with 42 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 8 advancing, 26 declining and eight trading firm.
Wigton Windfarm dominated trading with 7.6 million shares for 49 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 3.7 million units for 24 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Manufacturing and Distribution Fund with 1.2 million shares for 7.6 percent of market volume. QWI Investments, with 1.015 million shares, was the only other stock trading more than one million units.
The market closed with an average of 407,904 units at $1,243,146 for each security traded, in contrast to 856,460 units valued at an average of $8,524,367 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 626,696 units valued at $3,584,638for each security changing hands, compared to 636,606 units valued at $3,530,001 for each security traded. Trading in December resulted in an average of 595,143 units valued at $9,344,514 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows eleven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.5, while the Main Market ended at 18.7 times the 2019 earnings.
In the Main Market, Barita Investments climbed $2 to $72 in transferring 42,496 shares, Berger Paints lost 50 cents to close at $16.50, with an exchange of just 90 units, Caribbean Cement settled at $69, having lost $1 in trading 2,432 shares. Grace Kennedy lost 39 cents to close at $74.61, with 5,584 units changing hands, Jamaica Producers gained 50 cents to end at $25, after transferring 3,024 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped $2.30 to settle at $30.50 trading 98,732 shares. 
JMMB Group slipped $1 to $46, with an exchange of 86,252 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities closed $1 lower to $10.50 transferring 21,350 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell $6 to end at $202, after swapping 106 units. NCB Financial Group declined by 25 cents to $189.55, after exchanging 20,814 shares, Sagicor Group ended at $69, after a loss of $1, in trading 71,403 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 80 cents to settle at $9.80, with 204,747 shares changing hands. Seprod lost $1 transferring 10,826 shares to close at $47, Sygnus Credit Investments closed 50 cents lower to $26, with an exchange of 2,474 shares and Victoria Mutual Investments ended the day’s trade at $9.78, after losing 75 cents in trading 329,895 units.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 34,345 units valued at over US$11,249. The market index declined 5.47 points to close at 232.21. JMMB Group 5.75% preference share closed at US$2.10, with 1,600 units changing hands. Margaritaville Turks traded 14,000 units at 32 US cents, Proven Investments lost 2 US cents to settle at 31 US cents after transferring 3,745 units and Sygnus Credit Investments gained just under 1 US cent in trading 15,000 units to end at 16 US cents.
JSE Junior Market breaks losing streak
Junior Market stocks broke the losing streak in trading on Thursday with the market index advancing 19.38 points to close at 3,117.54 as 35 securities changed hands, resulting in gains for 16 and losses for 8 leaving 11 unchanged.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 2,189,745 units valued at $8,061,287 compared to 1,878,404 units valued at $6,417,405 from 30 securities on Wednesday. At the close of trading, the average PE ratio of the Junior Market stood at 13.1.
Trading ended with an average of 62,564 units for an average of $230,322 in contrast to 62,613 units for an average of $213,914 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 142,385 units valued at $519,699 and previously 146,806 units for $535,724. In contrast, December closed with an average of 568,732 units valued at $3,447,957 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows no stock ending with bids higher than the last selling price and 5 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial Services ended trading with 5,342 shares, after rising 9 cents to end at $30.40, AMG Packaging climbed 7 cents and exchanged 152,861 stock units at $2.07, Blue Power added 1 cent and traded 17,174 units at $4.01. Consolidated Bakeries closed 13 cents higher at $1.82, with 1,200 stock units changing hands, Derrimon Trading closed with a loss of 45 cents at $2, in swapping 83,005 shares, Dolphin Cove gained $1.30 to end at $10.50 in trading 8,000 units. Everything Fresh closed 4 cents higher at $1.04, with 56,606 stock units trading, Express Catering fell 6 cents in trading 66,943 units at $6.06, General Accident climbed 30 cents in exchanging 2,000 shares at $6.20. GWest Corporation rose 4 cents and traded 5,000 shares at $1.06, Honey Bun declined 50 cents in trading of 304 units at $7.50, Indies Pharma fell 10 cents exchanging 24,392 units at $2.95, Jamaican Teas ended transferring 34,233 shares, after rising 5 cents to close at $6.60. Jetcon Corporation fell 8 cents in trading 26,782 units at $1.42, Key Insurance lost 12 cents in closing at $3.68 after transferring 76,407 shares, 
Knutsford Express rose 35 cents to close at $10, with 115 stock units traded, Lasco Distributors gained 4 cents and closed at $3.19, with 15,274 stock units changing hands. Lasco Financial climbed 12 cents and exchanged 53,794 shares at $4, Lasco Manufacturing swapped 4,000 units and gained 12 cents to end at $4.30, Lumber Depot lost 3 cents in trading 188,056 stock units at $1.50, MailPac shed 2 cents while exchanging 515,822 units at $2.08. SSL Venture Capital closed trading of 1,000 units with a rise of 1 cent to end at $1.09 and Stationery and Office Supplies closed with 760 units crossing the exchange and gained 89 cents to end at $9.90.
CAC 2000 9.5% preference share closed 17 cents higher at $1.20, while trading 37,033 stock units.
TTSE record gains on Thursday
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange market recorded gains on Thursday, with Republic Holdings climbing $3 to $140 and seems poised to move much higher.
Republic Holdings hits a 52 weeks’ high of $140.
The T&T Composite Index gained 3.23 to close at 1,493.65. The All T&T Index rose 6.41 points to 1,892.44 while the Cross Listed Index remained at 148.34. Trading resulted in an exchange of 102,489 shares, amounting to $2,231,866 compared to 53,255 shares at $2,164,720 on Wednesday.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the bids of five stocks higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
Gains| Guardian Holdings gained 5 cents and closed at $22, with 55,749 stock units changing hands, National Flour ended trading 250 stock units with a rise of 5 cents to $1.45. Prestige Holdings rose 10 cents to $9, with investors exchanging ten shares, Republic Financial climbed $3 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $140, with 200 units crossing the exchange and L.J Williams added at 5 cents to close at $1.55, with 8,150 units changing hands.
Losses| One Caribbean Media fell 25 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $8, after exchanging 8,110 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL lost 5 cents in trading 4,372 shares to close at $20.90 after trading at a 52 weeks’ low of $20.88 earlier in the day.
Firm Trades| Ansa McAl settled at $55.30, after exchanging 4,000 shares, Clico Investment traded 2,138 shares at $28.48, First Caribbean International Bank ended at $7.85, with 100 stock units changing hands, Grace Kennedy closed at $3.95, with investors exchanging 828 shares. JMMB Group exchanged 7,000 shares to settle at $2.74, while Massy Holdings traded 2,343 shares at $62. National Enterprises ended at $5.50, with 20 stock units changing hands, NCB Financial ended at $11.29, with investors exchanging 300 shares and West Indian Tobacco concluded the trading 8,919 shares at $40.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
Gains for JSE Main Market
Market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday resulted in the primary indices regaining some of the ground lost on Tuesday.
JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 3,933.74 points to close at 545,580.51, the JSE Market Index rose 3,479.77 points to 496,795.98 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.13 points to 134.65.
The market closed with 40 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 18 advancing, 15 declining and 7 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 37 securities accounting 31,689,008 units valued at $315,401,563 in contrast to 59,431,667 units valued at $248,389,025 from 39 securities on Tuesday.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund dominated trading with 10.6 million shares 34 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Manufacturing and Distribution with 9.2 million units for 29 percent of the day’s trade, and JMMB Group with 4.3 million shares for 14 percent of the market’s volume. Stocks trading more than one million units were Carreras with 1.1 million shares, QWI Investments with 1.6 million and Wigton Windfarm with 2.6 million.
The Market closed with an average of 856,460 units valued at an average of $8,524,367 for each security traded, in contrast to 1,606,261 units at an average of $6,713,217 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 636,606 units valued at $3,530,001 for each security changing hands, compared to 626,463 units valued at $3,287,493 for each security traded. 
Trading in December resulted in an average of 595,143 units valued at $9,344,514 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.7, while the Main Market ended at 18.9 times 2019 earnings.
In the prime market, Barita Investments closed 50 cents lower to $70, with 59,808 units changing hands, Berger gained 45 cents to settle at $17 trading 600 stock units, Caribbean Cement ended $1 higher at $70, in transferring 1,921 shares. Carreras closed at $8, after gaining 50 cents exchanging 1,126,500 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $1.03 to $37, in swapping 19,450 stock units, Grace Kennedy climbed to $75, after gaining $5 trading 7,756 units, Jamaica Producers lost 50 cents to end at $24.50, with an exchange of 1,600 shares. Kingston Wharves rose by $2 to $68 after transferring 1,318 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dived $22 to settle at $208, with 291 stock units changing hands, NCB Financial rose by $3.90 to $189.80, after swapping 212,529 shares, PanJam Investment lost $1 to end at $101 trading 3,401 stock units. 
Proven Investments added 60 cents to close at $49.60, in an exchange of 30,331 shares, Scotia Group ended the day’s trade at $54, after losing $2.10 and trading 70,606 units, Seprod gained $2 in transferring 13,957 stock units to end at $48. Supreme Ventures closed $1.99 higher at $23, with an exchange of 14,810 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments climbed $1.50 to $26.50, in swapping 6,031 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments closed 99 cents lower to $10.53, after exchanging 331,360 units and Wisynco Group added $1.65 to settle at $23.50 trading 251,469 shares. Productivity Business Solution preference share, fell $20 to a 52 weeks’ low of $80 with 10,000 shares trading.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 6,663 units valued at over US$1,170. The market index advanced 7.18 points to close at 237.68. Proven Investments gained 2 US cents to close at 33 US cents, with an exchange of 1,000 units, Sterling Investments exchanged 500 units at 3 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.6 of a cent in trading 5,163 units to end at 15.4 US cents.
Junior Market continues to slide
The Junior Market continued its downward trend, falling 12.88 points to close at 3,098.16, with 30 securities changing hands and the price of 10 securities advancing, 10 declining and 10 remaining unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 1,878,404 units valued at $6,417,405 compared to 2,469,369 units valued at $7,388,636 from 35 securities on Tuesday.
Trading ended with an average of 62,613 units at $213,914 for each security traded in contrast to 70,553 units for an average of $211,104 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 146,806 units valued at $535,724 and previously 151,001 units at $551,762 for each security. In contrast, December closed with an average of 521,319 shares at $1,344,719 for each security traded. The average PE Ratio of the market ended at 13.1 based on earnings for 2019.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging shed 10 cents in trading of 9,600 units at $2, Caribbean Producers climbed 20 cents and exchanged 2,400 shares at $5, Derrimon Trading closed 20 cents higher at $2.45, with 542,601 stock units changing hands. Dolphin Cove ended with a loss of $1.59, in swapping 27,600 shares at $9.20, Everything Fresh declined 4 cents in trading of 18,919 units at $1, Express Catering exchanged 20,500 units and gained 2 cents to end at $6.12. Fontana lost 5 cents to settle at $7 with 231,946 units changing hands, General Accident transferred 363 shares and fell 10 cents to finish at $5.90, GWest Corporation dropped 10 cents in trading 61,838 units at $1.02. Honey Bun gained 70 cents to end at $8 with 104,968 shares changing hands, 
KLE Group shed 50 cents in trading of 3,300 units at $2.30, Knutsford Express fell 35 cents in exchanging 12,823 units at $9.65. Lasco Manufacturing lost 7 cents to close at $4.18 with 17,645 crossing the exchange, Limners and Bards gained 1 cent to settle at $2.90, after trading 13,610 shares, Lumber Depot ended swapping 80,966 shares, after rising 2 cents to close at $1.53. MailPac Group closed 14 cents higher at $2.10, with 353,900 stock units trading, Medical Disposables climbed 50 cents and exchanged 1,000 shares at $7.20, Paramount Trading closed 3 cents higher at $1.73, with 2,812 stock units trading. Stationery and Office Supplies ended with a loss of 1 cent at $9.01 with 40,711 stock units changing hands and tTech closed trading of 932 units and gained 2 cents to end at $5.62.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
TTSE slips moderately on Wednesday
First Citizens Bank closed at 52 weeks’ high on Wednesday.
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange market indices closed on Wednesday with minor declines with advancing stocks outnumbering declining ones.
The market closed with 13 securities changing hands, compared to 18 on Tuesday, with five gaining, two declining and the prices of six remained unchanged. One stock closed at 52 weeks’ high.
The T&T Composite Index slipped 0.67 to close at 1,490.42. The All T&T Index shed 1.22 points to 1,886.03 while the Cross Listed Index inched just 0.02 points lower to 148.34. Trading resulted in an exchange of 53,255 shares, for $2,164,720 compared to 248,341 shares, amounting to $4,079,099 on Tuesday.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the bids of five stocks higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Gains| First Citizens Bank added 30 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $46.80, with 5,974 stock units trading, JMMB Group gained 4 cents and ended at $2.70, with investors exchanging 2,503 shares. 
Massy Holdings ended trading 11 cents higher at $62, after a transfer of 18,201 shares, Scotiabank increased 27 cents to $61.49, with 3,923 units changing hands and Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose 5 cents in trading 6,977 shares to close at $20.95.
Losses| NCB Financial slipped 1 cent to end at $11.29, with 101 stock units changing hands and West Indian Tobacco lost 65 cents to close at $40, with an exchange of 7,661 units.
Firm Trades| Clico Investment traded 103 shares at $28.48, First Caribbean International Bank ended at $7.85, with investors exchanging 1,000 shares, Grace Kennedy completed trading at $3.95, with 2,000 units crossing the exchange. Guardian Holdings settled at $21.95, with 175 stock units changing hands. National Enterprises traded 1,200 shares at $5.50, and Prestige Holdings ended at $8.90, with 3,437 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
