Jamaica’s Cable & Wireless seems to be making head ways with continued growth in some segment of the business but saw a small fall in their mobile customer base from June to September.
According to data provided by Liberty Global quarterly report, their Jamaican operations saw fixed lines rose 1,300 to 262,500 in September than at the end of June, internet grew by 5,500 customers to 153,700, Telephony subscribers moved by 10,400 to 206,600 customers but mobile customers fell 3,400 to 930,500.
What has not been mentioned, is that the local company introduced a series of rate increases starting in August 16th as their customers started paying sharp increases for calling to most overseas destinations, with calls to the United States, United Kingdom, China, India and Spain by up to fifty percent. Customers with the FamUltra, Post-Paid plan, will pay up to 50 percent more. Other affected packages will see increases of up to a third of their current charge prior to the increase. Subsequently, the company implemented increases of 6 to 10 percent on some landline services effective October local rates moved from 99 cents to $1.05 6 perform Call to Digicel line moved from $2.40 to $2.55 and other local operators fixed lines USS Canada and UK landlines moved from $10 to $11.
Cable & Wireless rose 4 cents to $1.07 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
More business for Cable & Wireless
Profit rise and fall at Mayberry
Profit at Mayberry Investments climbed 27 percent to $62 million, after tax for the quarter to September this year, up from $49 million in 2016 with earnings per share of just 5 cents. For the nine months to September, profit dropped to $66 million from $320 million in 2016.
While the profit performance for the year to date is mixed, the investment banker focus is the more robust comprehensive income, than the traditional profit outcome, but total comprehensive income slipped 22 percent, to $300 million, from $385 million, for the September quarter of 2016, due to a decline in the prices of some stocks held. Not factored into comprehensive income is the increased value of associated company share prices.
Net interest income climbed 28 percent to $30 million. Fees and commissions jumped 168 percent to $113 million for the quarter, compared to $42 million for the corresponding quarter in 2016. Fee income grew by increased transactions within the quarter and from Initial Public Offering whilst the increase in Net Interest Income was due to lower cost of funds. Dividend income declined 17 percent to $29 million, a reduction of $6 million compared to the similar period in 2016.
Net trading Gains fell to $68 million from $117 million for the corresponding period in 2016, a reduction of $49 million or 42 percent, due to decreased trading volumes for the quarter.
Net foreign exchange gains fell sharply to a mere $4 million, down from $58 million in 2016. Unrealized gains on investment revaluation amounted to $11 million or 37.6 percent less than the comparative period in 2016.
Operating expenses decreased by $34 million or 12.28 percent when compared to the corresponding quarter in 2016, with staff cost falling $21 million and investment impairment fell $29 million to zero. Profits from associates, increased $34 million or 199 percent, over the same quarter in 2016
Results for the nine months for 2017 is not as robust as in 2016. Net interest income is down from $135 million to only $52 million as interest cost rose by $68 million and income fell. Fees and commission income rose sharply from $142 million to $253 million, net trading gains fell from $385 million to $152 million and foreign exchange trading gains fell from $179 million to $57 million and unrealized investment gains fell to $44 million from $199 million.
The final quarter of the year is off to a robust start with a number of stocks Mayberry holds climbing these include NCB Financial, Caribbean Cement Cable & wireless to name a few. Longer term the company’s equity portfolio should rise sharply as all indicators point to a possible 60 percent rise in value of main market stocks over the next year.
Mayberry ended the quarter with total assets of $22 billion and shareholders’ equity of $7.9 billion, up from $7.24 billion at the end of 2016. Net book value stands at $6.54. The company’s stock closed trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $4.30, on Wednesday.
Jamaican$ resumes gaining vs US$ – Wednesday
Trading in the foreign market on Wednesday resulted in a slight slipping of the Jamaican dollar against the US dollar as US$42.5 million of the US dollar was sold by dealers at an average rate of $127.18 to the US dollar, compared to US$34.5 million at an average rate of $127.29 on Tuesday.
US currency purchases amounted to US$41 million on Wednesday, at an average rate of $126.29 compared to Tuesday, with US$37.9 million at $126.08.
Dealers purchased US$45.3 million, versus US$49.8 million on Tuesday in all currencies in Jamaica’s forex market and sold US$44.8 million compared with US$43.8 million previously.
At Midday, dealers bought US$17.9 million at J$126.84 and sold US$11.3 million at J$127.17 compared to the buying of US$16.17 million at J$126.49 and selling of US$13.2 million at J$127.20 at the same time on Tuesday.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar dropped to J$98.16 from J$99.38 at the close on Tuesday. The selling rate for the British Pound rose to J$168.48 versus J$168.29 on Tuesday and the euro gained value against the Jamaican dollar, to J$148.92 to buy the European common currency, versus J$146.72 previously.
Record close for 3 Jamaican stocks
Grace Kennedy, JMMB Group and NCB Financial ended trading at record closing highs of $2.95, $2.10 and $6.20 respectively on Wednesday on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange, while Trinidad & Tobago NGL accounted for 80 percent of the value of securities exchanged.
Market activities ended with 12 securities changing hands compared to 16 on Tuesday and closed with 6 stocks advancing, 6 holding firm and no losses as 382,785 shares traded at a value of $4,215,303 compared to Tuesday’s trades of 290,111 valued at $3,885,729.
The Composite Index rose 12.04 points to 1,286.33, the All T&T Index advanced 2.40 points to 1,761.73 and the Cross Listed Index added 2.97 points to 109.28.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| The securities recording gains at the end of trading are First Caribbean International Bank that gained 50 cents to close at $9, in exchanging 1,225 shares, Grace Kennedy gained 5 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.95, with 3,300 units, Guardian Holdings advanced 50 cents to $15.50, with 2,143 shares. JMMB Group climbed to a 52 weeks’ high of $2.10, after rising 5 cents and the trading of 224,110 shares valued at $471,767, NCB Financial Group added 5 cents, closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.20 with 1,000 units changing hands and Republic Financial Holdings gained 3 cents and closed at $101.79, with 31 units.
Firm Trades| Securities that closed with unchanged prices are First Citizens closing at $31.80 with 1,894 shares, Massy Holdings trading 5,000 shares at $50 and National Enterprises exchanging 30 units at $10. Prestige Holdings trading 26 stock units at $10.75, Sagicor Financial that remained at $7.95 with trades of 1,070 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL closed at $23.50 trading 142,956 units valued at $3,360,895.
Pulse Investments cans Rights Issue
Pulse Investments (PULS) has canned their previously proposed rights issue of ordinary shares, instead the company has resorted to bonds financing, the preferred approached minority shareholders had recommended at the 2016 annual General meeting.
The proposed debt financing did not find favour with the directors hence their attempt to seek equity funding. According a release of the company, “the Board decided that the Company will not pursue the previously announced rights issue, as it has now secured funding from a related party as well as a bond from NCB Capital Markets. The Directors decided, on reflection, that the funding now secured, is a less expensive alternative for the company than the rights issue would have been. Further, no shareholders run the risk of dilution of their Pulse shareholding as a result of the current course of action.”
PULS further states that it wishes to clearly indicate that the rights issue, which would have been arranged and brokered by NCB Capital Markets, had been approved, with sufficient commitments made to ensure that the issue would have been fully subscribed.
Superheroes, scares & laughs at the movies
It is a good time to be a superhero fan as Jamaica Stock Exchange listed, Palace Amusement releases this Wednesday, the highly anticipated, Thor: Ragnarok, along with Jigsaw and the funfilled, A Bad Mom’s Christmas, to kick start the 2017 Christmas celebrations.
In the latest version on Marvel film, Thor is Imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his powerful hammer ‘Mjolnir’. He must survive a race against time to get back to Asgard, to stop the destruction of his home world at the hands of the all-powerful and ruthless Hela. But first he must battle his way to freedom in a lethal duel against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk! Determined to return home and unseat the usurper, Thor recruits his friends Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) for an epic confrontation against the most powerful force he has ever faced. Thor: Ragnarok is directed by Academy
Award® nominee Taika Waititi and returns Chris Hemsworth starring as Thor and Golden Globe Award® winner Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Loki. They are joined by Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett, Golden Globe Award® winner Idris Elba, Oscar® nominated Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson and, Academy Award® nominee Mark Ruffalo.
You know his name, you know his voice and he knows your sins. Although he is not considered a super hero, the infamous Jigsaw returns in Jigsaw the final installment of the Saw franchise and he is pulling more deadly tricks on the cast. Bodies are surfacing bearing all the markings of the Jigsaw killer and law enforcement jostles about to fathom the return of the grisly being, after being dead for over a decade. They find themselves chasing the ghost of a dead man while being entangled in a new game that’s only just begun. Is John Kramer back from the dead to remind the world to be grateful for the gift of life? Or is this a trap set by a killer with designs of his own? This slasher film stars: Tobin Bell as John
Kramer (Jigsaw) Matt Passmore, Callum Keith Rennie, Laura Vandervoort and Mandela Van Peebles.
Adding a little light to the line-up while stirring our holiday spirit is A Bad Mom’s Christmas. This comedy features three under-appreciated and over-burdened moms who rebel against the challenges and expectations of moms during Christmas. With kids to please, endless amounts of shopping and nagging families to contend with, Christmas is one of the most complex time of the year for these moms. The arrival of their own moms who are staying over for the holidays marks the final fuse as far as their own personal enjoyment is concerned. Golden Globe® nominee Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell (Frozen 2) and Kathryn Hahn (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) all reprise their roles as the disgruntled mother’s in A Bad Mom’s Christmas, a follow up to the hit 2016 comedy – Bad Moms.