The Jamaica Stock Exchange shed some of the gains accumulated over the past four days as the value of stocks trading rose well over Tuesday’s levels, but with lower volume.
All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 1,388.73 points to close at 536,548.26, at the close on Wednesday, the JSE Market Index dropped 1,256.86 points to 488,451.55 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.29 points to 132.56.
The market closed with 45 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 12 advancing, 18 declining and 15 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 42 securities accounting for 13,058,687 units valued at $207,850,962 in contrast to 17,938,463 units valued at $135,316,853 from 42 securities on Tuesday.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 4.1 million shares, and accounting for 31.5 percent of total volume, Wigton Windfarm followed with 2.45 million units for 18.8 percent of the day’s trade and QWI Investments with 1.8 million shares accounted for 14 percent of market share.
The Market closed with an average of 424,688 units valued at $5,069,536 for each security traded, in contrast to 427,106 units valued at an average of $3,221,830 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 633,300 units for $2,795,851 for each security changing hands compared to 649,717 units at $2,601,640 for each security traded. Trading in January resulted in an average of 626,134 units valued at $3,511,981 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 one closing with a lower offer. The PE ratio of the market ended at 20.5, while the Main Market ended at 19.8 times 2019 earnings.
In the prime market, Eppley added $1.30 to settle at $16.30 in trading 1,304 units, Grace Kennedy rose $1.38 to $69, with 3,825 shares changing hands, JMMB Group closed 79 cents lower to $45.40, after transferring 119,466 shares, Kingston Wharves dropped $4.99 to close at $55.01, in swapping 15,569 units. 138 Student Living added $1.28 to close at 52 weeks’ high of $6.66, with an exchange of 52,425 shares. PanJam Investment closed at $100.94, with gains of $1.74 trading 559,598 shares, Proven Investments lost 58 cents to end at $47.50, in transferring 4,456 units, Pulse Investments closed $1.15 higher to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $11, after swapping 134,751 shares. Salada Foods declined by $4.47 to $27.53 trading only 700 units, Scotia Group ended at $53.11, with a loss of 89 cents after transferring 771,557 shares. Seprod lost $1 and closed at $50, with 543,758 shares changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments shed $1.21 to settle at $24.70, in swapping 34,376 shares and Wisynco Group lost 30 cents exchanging 123,760 shares at $22.50.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 231,872 units valued at over US$205,111. The market index gained 0.14 points to close at 230.65. JMMB Group 5.75% preference share lost 10 cents trading 89,732 to end at US$2, Proven Investments transferred 27,032 units at 31 US cents, Sterling Investments traded 8,517 shares at 2.7 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments exchanged 106,591 units at 16 US cents.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Archives for February 2020
TTSE rise with one stock gaining – Wednesday
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange indices gained on Wednesday with just one rising and edged out by those declining.
The T&T Composite Index added 2.48 points to close at 1,511.15. The All T&T Index rose 2.42 points to 1,927.81, while the Cross Listed Index closed with a loss of gained 0.35 points to end at 148.27.
The market ended with 11 securities changing hands with the prices of one gaining, three declining while seven remained unchanged.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 452,688 shares for $13,232,899, compared to 291,062 shares for $6,574,500, with 14 securities trading 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 none with a lower offer.
Gains| Republic Holdings gained 75 cents and closed trading with 4,490 shares at 52 weeks’ high of $144.26.
Losses|JMMB Group fell 2 cents to end at $2.68, with investors trading 44,649 stock units, Massy Holdings lost 10 cents and exchanged 2,415 shares to finish at $62 and Trinidad & Tobago NGL shed 10 cents in transferring 11,955 shares to close at $20.89.
Firm Trades| Clico Investment closed at $28.50, with 313,709 units crossing the exchange, First Caribbean International Bank exchanged 14,245 units at $7.89, First Citizens Bank exchanged 43,777 stock units to settle at $50. NCB Financial exchanged 4,966 shares at $11.30 and Prestige Holdings traded 166 units to end at $8.99, Scotiabank traded 12,217 units to end at $62.50 and West Indian Tobacco closed at $39.49 while exchanging 99 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
4 for 1 stock split for Pulse Investment?
Investors in Pulse Investment can look forward to a stock split that is likely to see each existing stock split into four units when it becomes effective.The directors have not yet met to determine the exact amount of the split or the total number of shares that likely to be offered for sale later, but at Tuesday’s annual general meeting, the Chairman gave shareholders some sense as to what the outturn could be.
At the general meeting, shareholders approved a resolution “That the company be authorized to issue any or all of new shares pursuant to a Rights Issue or Stock Split or both, as the Directors may determine.” The company is not only planning to split the stock but is likely to come to the market for fresh capital to assist with its venture into residential development and investments into other companies. The meeting was told of the progress being made in the hospitality sector with occupancy said to range from 30 percent up to 100 percent at various times of the year. Rental of commercial space had very high occupancy rates. The modeling segment continues to add new talent with good demand coming from overseas for some of the models.
The Chairman explained to shareholders that the sum of $377 million shown in the financial statement as income represents amounts covering production expenses relating to TV shows and advertising entitlement sold or used by the company. For the 2019 fiscal year, Pulse reported profit of $688 million up from $315 million in 2018. For the six months to December 2019, the company reported profit of $230 million for the quarter versus $102 million and $473 million for the six months compared with $229 million in 2018. Operating revenues were $163 million for the December quarter and $312 million for the half-year. Fair value gains on investment property contributing $145 million to profit in the second quarter and $291 million for the half-year. Earnings per share ended at 14 cents for the quarter and 29 cents for the six months. Pulse is trading at $11.30 on Wednesday morning on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
TTSE stocks close down – Tuesday
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange closed down on Tuesday with rising stocks edging out those falling, but the major market indices slipped at the end of trading.
The T&T Composite Index lost 5.92 points to close at 1,508.67. The All T&T Index dropped 8.86 points to 1,925.39, while the Cross Listed Index closed with a loss of 0.40 points to end at 147.92.
The market ended with 14 securities changing hands with the prices of three gaining, two declining while nine remained unchanged.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 291,062 shares for $6,574,500, compared to 370,249 shares for $3,025,869, with 19 securities trading on Monday.
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 none with a lower offer.
Gains| Clico Investment gained 4 cents and closed at $28.50, with 92,662 units crossing the exchange, Republic Holdings gained 26 cents and closed trading with 8,715 shares at $143.26. Scotiabank traded 10 units and gained 50 cents to end at $62.50, Trinidad & Tobago NGL added 10 cents transferring 93,042 shares to close at $20.99.
Losses| Guardian Holdings had 3,707 units crossing the exchange, with a fall of one cent, to close at $22 and West Indian Tobacco lost 1 cent and closed at $39.49 while trading 1,572 stock units.
Firm Trades| First Caribbean International Bank exchanged 1,000 units at $7.89, First Citizens Bank exchanged 1,817 stock units to settle at $50, JMMB Group ended at $2.70, with investors trading 58,351 stock units. Massy Holdings exchanged 1,085 shares to finish at $62.10. National Enterprises ended at $5.51 after swapping 7,060 stock units changing hands, National Flour exchanged 1,152 stock units at $1.49. NCB Financial exchanged 20,449 shares at $11.30 and Prestige Holdings traded 440 units to end at $8.99.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
Caribbean Assurance oversubscribed
Caribbean Assurance Brokers Initial Public Offer of shares to the public closed shortly after opening on Tuesday, February 18, with the issue oversubscribed, Mayberry Investments, brokers for the issue announced.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers offered 52.5 million ordinary shares at the price of $1.91 per share to the general public and selected group of subscribers. Mayberry will advise Applicants of the preliminary basis of allotment of the shares by Friday, February 21, under the Junior Market Rules of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (“JSE”). The Company has made an application to list the shares on the Junior Market of the JSE.
The stock is attractively priced and is likely to surge sharply after the issue opens for trading.
2020 IPOs offer opportunities but
Investors can look forward to 20 new listings for the Jamaica Stock Exchange in 2020, split equally between Junior and Main Market stocks, information from the Jamaica Stock Exchange indicates.
The final number could be more, or it could end being less than the above number. Over the past two years, offers of new shares on the market affected demand for stocks already listed on the exchange at the time of the offering, as some investors disposed of exiting stocks to raise funds to invest in the new offerings. Switching stocks had more impact in the Junior Market than the Main Market. Investors can expect more volatility this year if the new offers come close to the number mentioned above. The sell-off of existing stocks offers investor opportunities to pick up some good quality stocks at bargain prices.
First Rock is the first issue to come to the market to take up a large sum to expand its operation with more real estate acquisitions. Government-owned Trans-Jamaican Highway comes to market and could pull $14 billion from the market, and could add several thousand new investors to the market as the publicity associated with the issue attracts new investors. Caribbean Assurance Brokers is the third for 2020 and as they seek $100 million in new capital. Alliance Financial Services’ initial public offer is scheduled to come in February or early March, with the broker being JMMB Securities.
Others that expressed an interest in 2019, to list include, Tropical Battery, AJAS, Marathon Insurance Brokers, ARC Manufacturing, Express Fitness. Government of Jamaica’s ownership in the Jamaica Public Service Company, Jamaica Mortgage Bank, Factories Corporation, while UDC should have some entities that should go as well.
Grace Kennedy Capital Market has five issues working on to come to market during the year; one is said to be in the food flavouring business.