Trading on the Main and US dollar markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange finished on Tuesday with 26 securities changing hands, 7 advanced, 13 declined and 6 traded firm as the main market indices dropped.
The market suffered declines of a dollar or more in Grace Kennedy, NCB Financial, PanJam Investment, Sagicor Group, Scotia Group and Seprod.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 2,137.38 points to close at 321,469.52 and is up 54 percent for 2017 to date. The JSE Index declined by 1,947.39 points to close at 292,895.09 and is up 53 percent for the year to date and the US dollar index rose 2.14 points to 185.27, up 12.6 percent for the year so far.
Trading ended with 7,565,517 units valued at $85,572,923 compared to 1,993,979 units valued at $25,589,860 on Monday in the main market. Three securities traded in the US dollar market accounting for 437,702 units for $115,825. The trades brought the total value of trading in both markets to $100,282,636.
The average of 328,936 units changed hands for an average of $3,720,562, in contrast to 99,699 units for an average of $1,279,493 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,185,251 units valued at $16,528,582 and 1,228,254 units valued at $17,171,780, previously. In contrast, September closed with average of $283,480 units at $3,630,990 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the main and US dollar markets shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Jamaican $ slips slightly vs US dollar – Tuesday
Trading in the foreign market on Tuesday resulted in a slight slipping of the Jamaican dollar against the US dollar as US$34.49 million of the US dollar was sold by dealers at an average rate of $127.29 to the US dollar.
On Monday US$43.91 million was sold at an average rate of $127.21. US currency purchases amounted to US$37.86 million on Tuesday, at an average rate of $126.08 compared to Monday, with US$40.76 million at $126.14.
Dealers purchased US$49.81 million, versus US$53.29 million on Monday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$43.80 million compared with US$54.67 million previously.
At Midday, dealers bought US$16.17 million at J$126.49 and sold US$13.2 million at J$127.20 compared to the buying of US$22.9 million at J$126.81 and selling of US$16.4 million at J$126.99 at the same time on Monday.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar dropped to J$99.38 from J$101.81 at the close on Monday. The selling rate for the British Pound climbed to J$168.29 versus J$165.89 on Monday and the euro fell in value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$146.72 to buy the European common currency, versus J$147.64 previously.
JMMB at J$39 NCB at J$117 on TTSE
JMMB Group and NCB Financial Group surpassed previous highs to close at $2.05 or J$39 compared to a close of $28 in Kingston and $6.15 or the equivalent for $117 on the Jamaica Stock exchange respectively in Tuesday’s trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange.
Market activity resulted in 16 securities changing hands compared to 9 on Monday as 4 stocks advanced, 3 declined and 9 held firm as 290,111 shares traded at a value of $3,885,729 compared to Monday’s trades of 401,886 valued at $3,227,519.
The Composite Index climbed 12.56 points to 1,274.29, up a mere 5.35 percent for 2017, the All T&T Index fell 0.65 points to 1,759.33 and is down slightly by 4 percent for the year and the Cross Listed Index trended higher by 3.53 points to 106.31, up 36 percent for the year to date.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 3 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
Gains| Trading ended as First Caribbean International Bank closed at $8.50, after rising 25 cents with 5,000 shares changing hands, JMMB Group advanced 20 cents to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $2.05, while trading 41,736 stock units, NCB Financial Group rose 15 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $6.15 exchanging 25,000 units and Trinidad & Tobago NGL added 1 cent to close at $23.50 with 19,487 shares valued at $457,831 changing hands.
Losses| At the close of market activities, Ansa McAL ended at $63, with a loss of 1 cent trading 37,552 shares valued at $2,365,776, Guardian Holdings slid 10 cents to close at $15 with 10,537 stock units and National Flour Mills closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.98, losing 2 cents with 6,700 shares traded.
Firm Trades| At the end of trading Clico Investment closed at $21.46 exchanging 5 units, First Citizens remained at $31.80 with 2,322 shares and Grace Kennedy exchanged 117,461 shares at $2.90, valued at $340,637. Massy Holdings traded just 9 stock units at $50. National Enterprises ended at $10 with 785 units, One Caribbean Media closed at $14 with 800 shares trading. Point Lisas settled at $4 with 3,442 stock units changing hands, Sagicor Financial held firm at $7.95 exchanging 19,115 shares and Scotiabank closed at $58.10 with 160 units trading.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Jamaica’s unemployment chopped to 11.3%
More Jamaicans were employment in July this year, than those that did a year ago, accordingly 29,200 or 2.5 percent more persons gained employment by July, raising the total persons employed to 1,216,200 up from 1,187,000, recorded in July 2016.
Increased employment, resulted in the unemployment rate for July 2017 declining to 11.3 percent, 1.6 percentage points lower than the rate of 12.9 per cent for July 2016 and is also down from the 12.2 percent achieved in April this year, The decrease was driven by a decline in the unemployment rate for both males and females.
The unemployment rate for males decreased from 9.5 per cent to 8.0 percent while that of the female decreased from 16.9 per cent to 15.2 per cent. The size of the July 2017 labour force increased over the corresponding period in 2016 with the number of persons in the Labour Force being 1,371,200 persons, an increase of 8,000 (0.6 percent) compared with the 1,363,200 recorded in July 2016.
This report presents the key findings of the July 2017 Labour Force Survey which was conducted during the period July – September 2017 with the reference week being June 18 -24, 2017.
The industry group “Hotels & Restaurants Services” increased by 11,000 (11.4 percent) moving from 96,400 in July 2016 to 107,400 in July 2017. The largest increase in the number of males employed (6,800) was in the industry group “Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing” moving from 145,200 to 152,000 representing a 4.7 per cent over the period. For females, the industry group “Hotels & Restaurants Services” accounted for the largest increase of 8,300 (14.9 percent) over the period, moving from 55,700 in July 2016 to 64,000 in July 2017.
Can NCB ignore compelling Guardian buy?
NCB Financial acquisition of 29.99 percent stake in Guardian Holdings cost $28 billion 2016. Make it the largest shareholder in an attempt to return it to majority ownership to which it previously belong.
If NCB were to increase their holdings to more than 50 percent it would strengthen their hands in greater integration of the group with the focus on cost reduction and income enhancement. Two areas would be, a possible merger of the two general insurance companies that would increase the muscle in the market and cut out lots of duplicated cost, the life insurance could also generate savings and increase potential income. An on the capital market side there is much to be gained with an increased financial strength that could become a real powerhouse in raising and providing capital within the region. But there at least one more compelling reason, Guardian’s profit for the six months to June is 83 Trinidad cents per share and is ahead of the 70 cents earned in 2016, earnings for 2018 should end up around TT$1.90 up from $1.61 last year. NCB currently trades in
Jamaica at a PE of 12 times 2017 earnings while Guardian earnings is below 7, any acquisition around the current price would be a huge steal for NCB and would be a big boost to the growth in 2018 earnings and by extension the stock price. That is far too attractive a deal for NCB to forego at this time. Raising the shareholder to 75 percent would create increased profits around J$2 billion and add about $12 to the stock price and that is without any group synergies.
At the time the acquisition, some 36 percent of the company was available for sale not including International Financial Corporation block which NCB acquired. Had they gone for the full amount, it would have triggered the takeover rule of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and would have required the group to have much more funds available, to swallow a much larger amount. A year and half having elapsed since that acquisition NCB has amassed more of its own funds by way of retained earnings and lately, from a floatation of bonds on the local market that initially raised $18 billion, the equivalent of US$138 million in September and a further attempt to raise US$105 million at attractive interest rates.
The funds raised was said to be used for regional and local expansion and acquisitions by the group. Acquisition of more Guardian shares seems to most logical more, along with more JMMB Group shares.
market capital is TT$3,538,793,786, a 20 percent stake that would take NCB’s stake to just under 50 percent, could cost around US$105 million, an amount that is well below the amounts raised recently and with the amounts they went to the market for giving them the financial muscle to acquire an additional 45 percent at current prices, that could take the ownership to 75 percent.
The case of acquiring JMB shares is compelling NCB with 26.3 percent of the issued ordinary shares is by far the largest shareholder with next being JMMB ESOP with 9.6 percent but Trinidad’s Colonial Life Insurance with a block of 6.3 percent can no longer be seen as long term holder and these shares may well become available for sale which NCB maybe best suited to acquire. The reality is that the Duncan’s family no longer holds a commanding interest in the group and based on the top 10 listing may just be able to muster votes of about 23 percent.
Appalling corporate action
Monetgo Freeport was previously listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange but dumb politically appointed directors made a stupid decision to have the company delisted on the basis that it would save money and the assets would be sold off and the company liquidated.
Several years have so far elapsed and the company is yet to be wound up but the more than 1,600 shareholders cannot trade their shares as there is no organized market to do so, thanks to the poor decision made by former board members, but the current board don’t seem to be leading the company any better than the previous one.
The company has $327 million worth of property being held for sale so it will be some time for the winding up to take place. Amounts held on deposit for the purchase of property is $399 million, backed by funds held in escrow. The current board rather than pay more dividend from the excess cash the company holds, is recommending that no payment be made, another poor decision. The funds have not been invested for maximum returns, as they just sit in bank deposits earning under 6 percent interest per annum and now even less with fall in interest rates, being paid on deposits. That makes no sense, when there are other assets that could enhance shareholder’s value.
Freeport should be returned to the Stock Exchange with a new mandate and UDC could cash out their shares by the company buying them back.
The financial statement up to March this year, shows profit of $10.5 million down from $45 million in 2016 with income falling in 2017 to $40 million from $92 million in 2016.
The question to be answered is why would a company that is virtually inactive need to have 10 directors that is another indication of poor management. There seems no need to be more than 6 but the company needs to have management refocus their attention in a different direction than they are current on.