Inflows of foreign exchange for the week to Thursday netted US dollar equivalent of $28 million while in United States currency, the surplus is US$24.5 million. Dealers bought the US dollar from a high of J$127.81 to a low of J$127.02, the average selling rate only moved between J$128.50 to $128.44 for the week so far.
On Thursday, dealers sold the US dollar for an average which was 1 cent higher than on Wednesday, to close at $$128.45, only the second day the rate moved up, in more than a month. On Thursday, US$44.3 million entered the market with US$38.9 million leaving, of all currencies. On Wednesday, inflows into the market generated just US$58.7 million in all currencies, while US$42.25 million was sold to the public.
At the close, the Jamaican dollar value slipped, with the selling rate of J$128.45 for one US dollar, down from J$128.44 it ended at on Wednesday. Dealers bought the United States dollar at J$127.49 down from JS$127.81 previously.
In USA dollar trading, inflows into the system ended at US$30.9 million versus US$46.87 million on Wednesday while selling amounted to only US$25.4 million compared to US$34.3 million on Wednesday.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar climbed to J$99.63 compared to J$99.37 at the close on Wednesday, while the British Pound cost more at the close on Thursday with J$166.06 buying the British currency versus J$165.94 on Wednesday and the Jamaican dollar lost value against the euro, with it taking J$150.78 to buy the European common currency on Thursday versus Wednesday’s rate of J$147.8.
J$ lose in FX trading – Thursday
More declines for Juniors on Thursday
tTech, one of ICI Insider.com top selections for 2017, traded at arecord high of $9.50.
The Junior Market suffered more losses on Thursday with the market index slipping 12.11 points to end at 3,133.00 as advancing stocks were outnumbered by declining ones 9 to 5. Volume traded fell from Wednesday’s 2 million units to 1.27 million shares.
The junior Market closed with 19 securities versus 16 on Wednesday leading to 1,273,040 units valued at $6,292,991 trading, compared with 1,959778 units valued at $11,361,648 on Wednesday.
Trading closed with 4 stocks having higher bids than their last traded prices and 3 closing with lower offers as the short term desire to sell dominates the market currently.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 67,002 units for an average value of $331,210 compared to 122,383 units for an average value of $710,103 on Wednesday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 69,006 units valued at $384,639 compared with units 69,674 valued at $402,449 previously. In contrast, June closed with averages of 395,969 units valued at $1,799,200 for each security traded.
At the close of the market, Access Financial Services gained 50 cents to close at $47, trading 2,070 units AMG Packaging lost 4 cents and closed at $4 with 8,694 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream fell 15 cents in trading 150,867 units to end at $7.86, Caribbean Producers closed trading with 81,274 units but lost 29 cents to end at $3.40, Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents in trading 30,000 shares to close at $2.72, Eppley traded 4,009 shares to close at $12.95, General Accident closed trading with 203,693 shares and fell 10 cents to end at $2.90, Honey Bun lost 20 cents and closed with 41,767 units, changing hands at $5.50, 
Jamaican Teas lost 5 cents trading 114,265 shares, to end at $4.10, Jetcon Corporation rose 5 cents to $5.05 with 215,883 shares trading, KLE Group ended at $2.10 with 7,734 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express traded 8,798 shares and lost 80 cents to end at $15, Lasco Distributors rose 30 cents and closed at $6.80 after trading 16,000 units, Lasco Financial ended with 47,663 shares changing hands at $3.80 after rising 5 cents, Lasco Manufacturing fell 20 cents and ended with 305,377 shares trading to close at $4.70. Main Event ended trading 13,350 shares at $5, Medical Disposables closed at $6 with 15,166 units trading, Paramount Trading lost 1 cent to end at $2.99 with 3,350 units trading and tTech traded 3,000 units to gain 99 cents to close at record high of $9.50.
9 TTSE stocks trade with 3 rising
9 securities traded on Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday compared to 15 on Thursday, resulting in 3 stocks advancing and 6 holding firm and none falling in price.
At the close, 260,831 shares changed hands at a value of $1,442,039 compared to Wednesday’s trades of 191,141 valued at $5,051,742.
The Composite Index gained 0.02 points to 1,207.84, the All T&T Index rose 0.05 points to 1,790.11 and the Cross Listed Index closed unchanged at 83.82.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 4 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Clico Investment closed at $22.51, with a rise of 1 cent as 3,750 shares traded, 
Point Lisas gained 1 cent, to end at $3.88, with trades of 194,319 units valued at $753,958 and Trinidad Cement closed at $4.15, rising by 1 cent in exchanging 24,656 shares.
Firm Trades| Ansa McAL traded 4,250 shares at $66, Guardian Holdings exchanged 6,112 units at $16.09, Massy Holdings closed at $49.99, with 25 units. NCB Financial Group closed at $4.05, with 26,926 shares changing hands, Prestige Holdings closed at $10.70, with an exchange of 711 shares and Scotiabank traded 82 units at $58.03.
SOS solidly BUY RATED
Stationery and Office Supplies reported earnings of 26 cents per share for 2016 and IC Insider.com forecast 40 cents pretax for the current year from just over $90 million in pretax profit, a near doubling in profits over the $53 million reported in 2016.
Revenues increased 11 percent in 2013, just 5 percent in next year, 14 percent in 2015 and 12 percent in 2016 and 20 percent for the first six months of 2017, hitting $702 million in 2016 and seems on target to get to around $850 million for 2017.
Pre-tax Profit in 2016, pre-tax profits jumped 279.5 percent to end at $53 million compared to only $14 million in 2015, and $8 million in 2014.
Improvement in the Company’s revenues has been attributable to organic expansion driven by the achievement of deeper penetration in the market for the Company’s products and services but inflation and devaluation of the Jamaican dollar versus the United States currency would also play roles. Improved profit and cash flow generated in the last two years helped to fund increased inventory making more choices available to customers and that is reflected in a noticeable pick-up in sales. The Company has expanded its product offerings, adding to the list of brands it distributes and venturing into manufacturing its own brands of furniture – Image and Torch.
Gross profit as a percentage of sales was a strong 48 percent in 2016, coming from 43 percent in 2015 and 44.55 percent in 2014. Lower cost of sales led to an improved gross profit position of $339 million in 2016, which 26.09 percent increase over that earned in 2015 and 10 percent more in 2015 over 2014.
As at the 31 March 2017, SOS reported first quarter revenues of $220 million, 20.7 percent more than the $182 million reported in the corresponding period for 2016. Cost of sales as a proportion of revenue remained in line with the FY 2016 representing 50.66 percent of total revenue; this percentage was however slightly higher than the 48.75 percent for all of 2016. The company reported pretax profits of $30 million compared to $29.5 million in Q1 2016. A number of factors impacted the 2016 results that resulted in higher profits than would normally be the case as such the 2017 profit are better than the figures suggest. In effect the 2016 first quarter could be around $20 million from normal ongoing operation.
Gross profit for the three month period ended 31 March 2017 was $108.64 million or 16.2 percent more than the $93 million reported in 2016. SOS also reported an increase in administrative costs of 21 percent to $53 million and selling expenses climbed 37.5 percent to $18 million.
Total assets were valued at J$498 million at the March this year comprising current assets of $243 million. Inventories stood at $117 million, receivables $93 million and cash of J$12 million. Total liabilities amounted to J$231 million, with trade and other payables of J$78 million. Shareholders equity stood at $270 million or $1.35 per share.
The company will benefit greatly from listing and sales to climb above recent levels form the increased exposure that will be gained from listing on an ongoing basis as well as the increased working capital that will provide additional choices for customers and help fuel increased sales. IC Insider.com accords the stock BUY RATED with the price to rise sharply after the stock list.
Express Catering stock a fair buy
Ian Dear, Chief Executive Officer of Express Catering
The 100 percent shareholder of Express Catering, Margaritaville St Lucia, are offering up to 327,500,000 of existing shares for sale at $1.50 each, to raise approximately J$490 million from the public. Most of the shares are reserved for special interest groups.
The issue opens at 9 am on Wednesday 12 July and is scheduled to close at 4 pm, Wednesday 19 July 2017.
Up to 16,500,000 shares are Company Reserved Shares, 32,750,000 are Mayberry Reserved Shares, 245,625,000 shares are Key Partner Reserved Shares with 32,625,000 slated for the General Public Shares. The company has 1,637,500,000 issued and this will not change with the issue. The stock will be listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Mayberry Investments are the broker to the offer.
The stock appears to be a fair buy with growth to come from expansion into the Starbucks franchise to be located at the Sangster Airport and continued growth in visitor arrivals through that airport going forward as the sector expands.
The selling shareholder will use the funds raised in the Invitation for the purposes of the Group’s liquidity inclusive of the continued improvement and expansion of the Company’s operations, working capital and general corporate purposes. The proceeds of sale will also be used to pay the expenses of the Invitation out of the fundraising, which the Directors expect will not exceed J$27.5 million.
Franchises operated include; Quiznos Subs and Salads, Dairy Queen, Nathans Famous Hot Dogs, Domino’s Pizza, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Wendy’s, Cinnabon, Moe’s South Western Grill, Island Deli, Viva Fresh Market Grab & Go, Cricket Sports Bar, Connections Bar, Air Margaritaville Arrivals Bar, Jamaican Bobsled Cafe and The Groovy Grouper The Bar.
The Company achieved revenue of US$14.1 million in the financial year ended May 2016, an increase of US$460,000 or 3.4 percent over the previous financial year’s Revenue of US$13.6 million. Revenue for financial years 2013 and 2014 was US$10 million and US$12.2 million respectively. While the financial show gross margins stable around 73 percent of revenue, while administrative and other costs as reported accounts for 58 percent of revenue for 2016 and slightly more for the comparative period in 201. Administrative costs include some items that should be included in cost of sales as they are not administrative expenses. Included here for the 2017 figures in US dollars are; Franchise fee $1,264,282 fuel $39,098, bar and restaurant supplies $373,127, staff cost of $1.39 million and rent of $2.8 million as well as electricity.
Net Profit of US$1.1 million was realized in 2016 up from US$590,000 in 2015. For 10 months of financial year to March 2017 revenue grew to US$11.54 million with net profit before tax of US$1.15 million from revenues of US$11.52 million in the 10 months of the prior year and profit of US$904,144 in the same period the prior year. Profit before tax should end the 2017 fiscal year around $1.25 million for earnings per share of .076 US cents or 9.7 cents Jamaican.
In the period to March 2017 launched a 7 year preference share to raise US$3.5 million. Proceeds from this issue was earmarked for the construction of the Starbucks Coffee outlets at Sangster International Airport, and to settle certain Group obligations.
The board of directors comprises, Winston Dear, Ian Dear, Roland Clarke, John Byles, Tania Waldron-Gooden.
The stock is being sold at a big premium to net asset value of $0.36 with equity valued at US$4.6 million, but at a PE of 15 based on 2017 earnings. Earnings for the May 2018 period could rise to $1.65 million or earnings per share of US 1 cents per share or J$0.13, excluding the new franchise operation. The average of the Junior Market of approximately 12.5.
Juniors drop again on Wednesday
The Junior Market lost further ground on Wednesday as the market index slipped 31.33 points to end at 3,145.11 as advancing stocks just edged out declining ones 6 to 5. Volume traded increased from Tuesday’s 1 million unit level to just under 2 million units.
The junior Market closed with 16 securities versus 18 on Tuesday leading to 1,959,778 units valued at $11,361,648 trading, compared with 1,057,031 units valued at $6,029,750 on Tuesday.
Trading closed with 4 stocks having higher bids than their last traded prices and 3 closing with lower offers as the short term desire to sell dominates the market currently.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 122,383 units for an average value of $710,103 compared to 58,724 units for an average value of $334,986 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to just 69,674 units valued at $402,449 compared with 43,268 units valued at $248,622, previously. In contrast, June closed with averages of 395,969 units valued at $1,799,200 for each security traded.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded price are: AMG Packaging closed at $4.10 with 10,000 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream added 56 cents in trading 2,000 units to end at $8.01, Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents in trading 14,096 shares to close at $2.72, C2W Music lost 2 cents in trading 1,350 shares to close at 40 cents, Dolphin Cove lost $2 and ended at $18 with 2,979 shares trading, 
General Accident closed trading with 1,000 shares at $3, Honey Bun lost 17 cents and closed with 1,000 units, changing hands at $5.70 Jamaican Teas lost 5 cents trading 24,538 shares, to end at $4.15, Jetcon Corporation lost 48 cents and ended at $5 with 1,280,719 shares trading, Knutsford Express traded 9,454 shares to end at $15.80, Lasco Distributors fell 48 cents and closed at $6.50 after trading 15,575 units, Lasco Financial ended with 2,000 shares changing hands at $3.75 after losing 5 cents, Lasco Manufacturing ended with 69,398 shares trading closed at $4.90 after rising 2 cents. Main Event dropped 30 cents and ended trading 140,248 shares at $5, Paramount Trading lost 2 cents to end at $3 with 10,000 units trading and tTech traded 374,621 units for 71 cents more to $8.51.
JSE inch up on Wednesday
Carreras climbed to a 52 weeks’ high of $92 on Wednesdaay.
Big movements in a number of main market stocks were mixed at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, leaving the market indices with moderate gains with one stock climbing to a new high.
The All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 126.62 points to 259,635.75, the JSE Market Index gained 115.36 points to 236,557.57 and the JSE US dollar market index dropped 2.64 points to close at 171.83. At the close of trading, 26 securities changed hands in the main market with 2 trading in the US dollar market and one bond traded, leading to 7 stocks advancing and 13 declining. Carreras closed at a new 52 weeks’ high at the conclusion of trading. The main market ended with 5,512,413 units valued at $131,703,756 changing hands compared to 3,076,517 units valued at $75,479,037 at the close on Tuesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 1,886,641 units valued at US$414,205, bringing the total value to J$184,887,663.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 212,016 units valued at $5,065,529 for each security traded, compared to an average of 133,762 units valued at $3,281,697. 
The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 155,508 units with an average value of $3,821,656 compared with an average of 127,255 units with an average of $3,199,719 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for June ended at 218,951 units with an average value of $3,871,959.
In market activity, Berger Paints closed at $15.50, losing $1, trading 3,486 shares, Cable and Wireless gained 3 cents and closed at $1.13, with 70,616 stock units switching owners, Carreras jumped $1.99 higher, in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $92 with 84,094 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy closed at $40.50, with a loss of $1.50, trading 24,428 units. Jamaica Broilers gained 30 cents, closing at $18, with an exchange of 137,347 shares, Jamaica Producers closed at $15, losing 70 cents with 6,700 shares trading. Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 15 cents to close at $6.95, trading 46,311 shares, JMMB Group closed at $19, with a loss of $1 exchanging 9,377 units, 
Kingston Properties traded 95 cents lower to close at $9, with 4,000 units changing hands, Kingston Wharves closed at $29, losing 50 cents while trading 5,165 shares, Mayberry Investments closed at $4.60, with 3,000 shares changing hands. NCB Financial Group climbed $1.45 to close at $70, after exchanging 768,259 shares, 1834 Investments added 15 cents, in closing at $1.50 with 30,292 shares traded, PanJam Investment closed at $34.50, losing 70 cents with trades of 18,348 shares, Proven Investments lost 1 cent to close at $24 exchanging 2,439,750 shares, Pulse Investments closed at $3.50, with a loss of 85 cents and 22,500 shares changing hands, Radio Jamaica traded 86,675 shares at $1.60. Sagicor Group closed at $33.50, with gains of 40 cents trading 28,638 shares, Sagicor Real Estate gained 14 cents to close at $12.24 exchanging 1,015 units. Scotia Group traded $2.45 lower, closing at $42.55 with an exchange of 10,927 shares, Scotia Investments closed at $36.01, losing $1.99 with 42,553 shares changing hands, Seprod traded 29,647 shares at $30 while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.77, with an exchange of 73,630 shares. Margaritaville Turks US ordinary share closed at 32 US cents, with trades of 34,800 units, Proven Investments US ordinary share closed at 22 US cents trading 1,833,841 units, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share lost 1 cent, closing at $1.10 with 1,309,213 units exchanged and JMMB 7.5% preference share closed at $1.85, with 171,442 units traded.
Big increase in FX trading – Wednesday
Trading levels, picked up sharply from the low levels on Tuesday, with US$58.7 million entering the market and US$42.25 million leaving. On Tuesday, inflows into the market generated just US$23.84 million in all currencies while US$22.52 million was sold to the public.
At the close of the market on Wednesday, the Jamaican dollar recorded moderate gains, with the selling rate of J$128.44 for one US dollar, down from J$128.46 it ended at on Tuesday. Dealers bought the United States dollar at J$127.81 up from JS$127.02.
In USA dollar trading, inflows into the system ended at US$46.87 million versus US$21.54 million on Tuesday while selling amounted to only US$34.3 million compared to US$20.36 million on Tuesday.
The selling rate for the Canadian dollar inched up to J$99.37 compared to J$98.01 at the close on Tuesday, while the British Pound cost less at the close on Wednesday with J$165.94 buying the British currency versus J$166.91 on Tuesday and the Jamaican dollar lost value against the euro, with it taking J$147.8 to buy the European common currency on Wednesday versus Tuesday’s rate of J$145.42.
8 stocks declined on TTSE
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with 8 stock declining with very small changes and none rising. Trading closed with 191,141 securities changing hands at a value of $5,051,742 compared to Tuesday’s trades of 450,749 valued at $7,406,212.
A total of 15 securities changed hands compared to 13 on Tuesday, with 8 stocks declining and 7 holding firm while three closed at 52 weeks’ lows.
In spite of the relatively large number of stocks falling the movement of the market indices were moderate with the Composite Index declined 0.23 points to 1,207.82, the All T&T Index lost 0.39 points to 1,790.06 and the Cross Listed Index was down 0.01 point to close at 83.82.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Losses| Ansa McAL lost 1 cent to close at $66 trading 110 shares, First Citizens closed at $31.60, with a loss of 5 cents exchanging 100 shares, Massy Holdings lost 1 cent, in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $49.99 with 516 shares changing hands, 
One Caribbean Media closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $15, losing 1 cent with 300 shares trading. Point Lisas traded at $3.87, with a loss of 1 cent and 51,000 shares switching owners, Prestige Holdings closed 4 cents lower to a 52 weeks’ low of $10.70 trading 3,934 shares, Sagicor Financial lost 2 cents to close at $8.48, with an exchange of 5,211 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL closed at $21.89 with a loss of 1 cent and an exchange of 12,768 shares.
Firm Trades| Ansa Merchant Bank exchanged 1,100 shares at $40, Clico Investment closed at $22.50, with trades of 19,355 units valued at $435,488 and Guardian Holdings traded 16,601 units at $16.09. L.J. Williams A exchanged 500 units at 25 cents, NCB Financial Group closed at $4.05, with 41,140 shares trading, Republic Financial Holdings closed at $101.90, with an exchange of 29,622 shares valued at $3,018,481 and Scotiabank traded 8,884 units at $58.03 valued at $515,539.
Juniors drop again on Tuesday
The Junior Market lost further ground on Tuesday with the market index slipping 19.51 points, to end at 3,176.44, as advancing stocks just edged out declining ones 7 to 6. Volume traded recovered somewhat from Monday’s low level, to just over 1 million units.
The junior Market closed with 18 securities versus the same number on Monday leading to only 1,057,031 units valued at $6,029,750 trading, compared with 500,614 units valued at $2,920,659 on Monday.
Trading closed with 4 stocks having higher bids than their last traded prices and 6 closing with lower offers as the short term desire to sell dominates the market currently.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of just 58,724 units for an average value of $334,986 compared to 28,812 units for an average value of $162,259 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to just 43,268 units valued at $248,622 compared with 162,259 units valued at $162,259, previously.
In contrast, June closed with averages of 395,969 units valued at $1,799,200 for each security traded.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded price are: Blue Power closed at $50 with a mere 800 units changing hands, Cargo Handlers dropped $1.40 in trading 500 shares to end at $14.50, Caribbean Cream dropped 56 cents in trading 168,533 units to end at $7.45, Caribbean Flavours gained 10 cents in trading 560 units to end at $12.10, Caribbean Producers ended trading with 25,160 shares to close at $3.69, C2W Music lost 1 cents in trading 17,385 shares to close at 42 cents, Dolphin Cove recovered the $3 it dropped on Monday and ended at $20 with 5,037 shares trading, Honey Bun gained 27 cents and closed with 5,000 units, changing hands at $5.87, 
Jamaican Teas traded 24.400 shares, to end at $4.20, Jetcon Corporation rose 13 cents and ended at $5.48 with 713,635 shares trading, Key Insurance traded 1,035 shares to end at $3.05. Knutsford Express traded 4,570 shares and rose 80 cents to end at $15.80, Lasco Distributors fell 2 cents and closed at $6.98 after trading 24,253 units, Lasco Financial ended with 1,622 shares changing hands at $3.80, Lasco Manufacturing ended with 4,925 shares trading closed at $4.88 after falling 12 cents. Main Event dropped 70 cents and ended trading 26,572 shares at $5.30, Medical Disposables rose 0 cents and ended at $6 with 30,544 units trading and Paramount Trading rose 2 cents to end at $3.02 with 100 units trading.
