Kingston Properties buys Cayman

One of Kingston Properties units at Red Hills Rd, Kingston

Kingston Properties (KPREIT) completed the acquisition of a fully tenanted, mixed use building located in the West Bay Beach South area in the capital of the Cayman Islands.
“The building comprises offices, retail outlets and residences along the famous Seven Mile Beach corridor, an area that has seen significant infrastructure improvements, as well as new luxury resort and condo developments over the last three years,” KPREIT disclosed.
“This acquisition represents KPREIT’s first foray into the Cayman Islands, which is a country with a per capita GDP of USD58,856 and one of the leading financial centres of the world, offering a tax free environment with no property, income, corporation or capital gains taxes. GDP growth for the first half of 2016 is put at 3% on an annualized basis with unemployment of 3.9%.
KPREIT in their release to the Jamaica Stock Exchange indicated that “The fundamentals in Cayman are expected to continue to improve based on the growth in the Special Economic Zone near the South Sound, planned expansion of the International Airport, construction of a new cruise ship pier in Georgetown, expansion of the highway in the general West Bay Road area, along with continued resort and condo developments along the Seven Mile Beach corridor”.
“This acquisition is part of our strategy to continue to broaden our geographic reach as well as diversify the mix of property types in our portfolio. In addition, this continues KPREIT’s philosophy of multi-tenant rental properties as a means to mitigate vacancy risk, as well as hard currency rentals as a hedge against devaluation,” the KPREIT release stated.

C&W CEO Gary Sinclair and also chairman of Kingston Properties

For the nine months ended September 2016, KPREIT posted profit after-tax and comprehensive income of $131 million and $180 million, respectively. In the previous year, losses of $51 million and a loss in comprehensive income of $28 million, were incurred respectively, for the same period. The
For the third quarter 2016, group profit amounted to $14.0 million compared with a loss of $4.5 million for the similar period in 2015. Total comprehensive income for the quarter increased from $5.8 million in 2015 to $25.4 million in 2016. Higher rentals, net finance income and foreign currency translation gains in 2016 were primary drivers of the improved performance.
The group’s Investment Properties valued increased 56 percent to $1.93 billion at September last year, but mostly from acquisitions.
Kingston Properties which trades on the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Tuesday at $9 with 11,779 shares trading.

Trinidad Cement investors saying no deal

TCL closed at $5.05 on Tuesday but bid and offer suggest no deal.

Trinidad Cement share price soared on the Trinidad market on Tuesday following an announcement by Sierra Trading that the offer to acquire majority shares is increased to TT$5.07 from TT$4.50. The stock advanced 38 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.05 with 6,000 shares changing hands.
The market seems to be sending a message about the offered price with 94,000 units on the bid at $5.05 with the lowest offer at $5.22 with only 1,000 units, suggesting the price could shoot past the offered price of $5.07.
Trading ended with 2 stocks closing at 52 weeks’ high as 13 securities changed hands compared to 14 on Monday. 3 stocks advanced, 4 declined and 6 were unchanged with 270,371 units valued at $2,062,449 compared to Monday’s 225,197 shares valued at $4,965,442.
Market activity resulted in the Composite Index advanced 2.21 points to 1,215.09, the All T & T Index rose 3.77 points to 1,837.30. The Cross Listed Index gained 0.08 points to 79.27.
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.
Gains| Republic Financial Holdings closed at $108.44, a 1 cent gain with 1,030 units trading, Sagicor Financial added 10 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $8.01 with an exchange of 1,288 shares in addition to the gains in Trinidad Cement.
Losses| First Citizens Bank closed at $34.97, for a loss of 1 cent with 509 shares changing owners, Massy Holdings was down 1 cent, closing trading at $51.99 with 472units traded. Scotiabank lost 2 cents to $58.75 with 2,519 shares changing ownership and Trinidad & Tobago NGL closed at $20.49, falling 1 cent with 108 units trading.
Firm Trades| Clico Investments closed trading at $22.60 with 44,075 units changing hands, valued at $996,049, Grace Kennedy traded 518 shares and closed at $2.67, Guardian Holdings exchanged 8,873 units, closing at $13. JMMB Group was unchanged at 92 cents with an exchange of 18,072 shares, National Commercial Bank, with 173,407 shares traded, valued at $537,562, closed at $3.10 and Point Lisas closed at $3.75 with 13,500 shares changing ownership.

Majors retreat again – Tuesday

The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, lost more grounds on Tuesday, following Monday’s fall, even as advancing stocks beat out declining ones, 3 to 2.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index , slipped 414.61 points to close at 212,817.38. The JSE Market Index fell 370.75 points to finish at 194,671.14. Thanks to moderate gains in the junior market, the JSE combined index fell 244.89 points to close at 208,674.85.
The market closed with 43 securities changing hands. 18 stocks gained and 13 declined in the overall market, including 10 stocks rising and 6 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 7,603,225 units valued at just $132,166,453 changed hands, compared to 2,566,885 units valued at $17,585,399 changing hands on Monday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 1,095,189 units, changing hands, valued at $6,212,985.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 282,958 shares compared to an average of 76,614 units traded on Monday. The average for the month to date, is 224,468 versus 165,979 units on the previous trading day, well below the average of 549,379 units, December ended with.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints ended trading 6,077 shares to close at $6, Cable & Wireless gained 2 cents to close at 87 cents with 693,453 units trading, Caribbean Cement ended with a fall of $3 while trading just 8,453 shares to close at $33.50. Carreras lost 16 cents and closed at $66.59 with 14,968 shares changing hands, Investors traded 2,415,247 shares of 1834 Investments to close at $1.26 after rising 6 cents. Grace Kennedy had 55,485 units trading with the price falling 49 cents to close at $40.01, Jamaica Broilers closed at $14.60 with 17,847 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 3 cents in trading 41,393 shares, to end at $5.57, JMMB Group traded 2,788 units and lost 35 cents to end at $15.10. Kingston Properties rose 94 cents in trading 11,779 units to close at $9, Mayberry Investments lost 5 cents and ended at $4.75 with 13,796 shares changing hands, National Commercial Bank traded 2,001,100 shares with a gain of $1.79 to close at $52. Pan Jam Investment traded 1,447 shares and rose 2 cents to close at $26.52, Radio Jamaica climbed 13 cents to close at $1.35 after 14,479 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group closed with 105,859 shares changing hands with a loss of 4 cents at $29, Sagicor X Fund ended with 33,019 units trading at $10.50 and gained 29 cents. Scotia Group with 3,595 shares changing hands and closed at $38, Scotia Investments gained 3 cents with 4,906 units trading, to end at $31.05. Supreme Ventures ended at $5.10, with 10,049 units changing hands, Trinidad Cement had 150,000 units changing hands at $63, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 136,778 units at 22 US cents and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 765,000 units to close at $1.08.

4 new highs push juniors to record close

Add your HTML code here...

Derrimon Trading closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.30 on Tuesday.

The junior market closed higher than on Monday, but gave up most of its early morning gains that pushed the index up by 33.74 points to 2,739.37. The market index closed with an increase of 9.63 points, to end at a record close of 2,715.26 on Tuesday as 5 securities ended closing all-time highs.
At the close of trading on Tuesday the prices of 10 stocks rose, 6 declined with 20 securities trading, compared to 21 trading on Monday. Volume of stocks traded rose 50 percent, from Monday’s low level, ending with a volume of just 1,095,189 units, changing hands, valued at $6,212,985, up by 41 percent from $4,409,716 on Monday.
An average of 54,759 units with an average value of $310,649 traded, compared to 34,673 units with an average value of $209,986 on the preceding trading day. The average for the month to date is 61,744 units with an average value of $314,508 versus 63,141 units with an average value of $315,280 on Monday. The average for December is 131,147 units, at an average of $672,488.
The market closed with 7 stocks with bids higher than their last sale and 3 with offers lower than their last sales.
At the close of trading, Access Financial Services traded 909 units to close at $25, Cargo Handlers climbed to a new high of $20 after gaining 30 cents with 27,765 shares trading, Caribbean Cream fell 10 cents with 27,068 units being exchanged to end at $7.90, Caribbean Flavours added 20 cents while trading 4,166 shares to close at $12. Caribbean Producers fell 30 cents in trading 2,000 units at $3.45, Consolidated Bakeries ended trading with 193,390 units changing hands with the price rising 45 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.60, C2W Music had 31,000 units changing hands to close with a gain of 1 cent at 35 cents. Derrimon Trading ended at 52 weeks’ high of $6.30 with 7,500 shares changing hands, after rising by 30 cents, Dolphin Cove closed at $14.99 with 1,249 shares changing hands, after slipping by 1 cent, Honey Bun had 95,162 shares changing hands to close at $5.95 after losing 10 cents. Iron Rock Insurance traded 100 units and gained 5 cents to end at $4.10, Jamaican Teas ended at $4.85 with 17,854 shares trading, Jetcon Corporation rose 50 cents, to close at a new all-time high of $7, with 15,647 shares being exchanged by investors. KLE Group ended with 50,200 units changing hands at $2.20, Lasco Distributors lost 21 cents and ended with 431,350 units trading to close at $7, Lasco Financial lost 27 cents and closed with 46,000 shares changing hands at $3.67. Lasco Manufacturing rose 6 cents to end at $5.10, with 138,933 units trading, Paramount Trading ended with 722 shares changing hands at $3 and tTech ended with 4,000 units changing hands at $5.50 after rising 20 cents.

Cemex hikes offer for TCl shares

Trinidad Cement shares in play.

CEMEX today announced that its indirect subsidiary, Sierra Trading (Sierra) is amending the offer that was presented on December 5, 2016 to shareholders of Trinidad Cement (TCL), to acquire up to 132,616,942 ordinary shares in TCL.
If acquired together with Sierra’s existing share ownership in TCL of approximately 39.5 percent, would, result in Sierra holding up to 74.9 percent of the equity share capital in TCL.
Sierra will increase the offer to TT$5.07 in cash for each TCL’s share from $4.50 previously, a price that Ernst & Young said was inadequate and rejected by the directors. It is unclear if the revised offer will be found to be palatable to the directors and shareholders. The prospects for the company appear to be such that a much higher price may well be warranted.
Among other conditions, the Offer, as amended by the Amended Offer, will be conditional on Sierra acquiring at least an amount of TCL shares that would allow CEMEX, for financial reporting purposes, to consolidate TCL. Unless extended, the Offer period, as amended by the Amended Offer, is expected to close on January 24, 2017 at 3.00 p.m. Trinidad and Tobago time. Sierra does not currently expect to extend the Offer period after January 24, 2017. All other terms and conditions of the Offer not modified by the Amended Offer remain unchanged.
If the Offer, as amended by the Amended Offer, is successful, TCL will continue operating as usual. Additionally, TCL will be maintained as a publicly listed company on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange with the benefit of a strong local shareholding together with the enhanced benefit of proven management and operational expertise from CEMEX.
TCL’s main operations are in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados. TCL is the majority shareholder of Caribbean Cement Company Limited (“CCCL”), a main cement producer in Jamaica.
As of September 30, 2016, TCL and its subsidiaries had EBITDA of approximately US$77 million for the last twelve months, net debt of approximately US$113 million, representing a net financial leverage of approximately 1.5x the Cemex release stated.
CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products and reliable services to customers and communities in more than 50 countries. CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future.

Junior stocks surge in early trading – Tuesday

The junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged sharply on Tuesday morning, putting the years’ gains to 5.7 percent, as three juniors stocks traded at new highs. The main market fell appreciably with the All Jamaica composite index falling by nearly 1,000 points, with the other major indices declining as well.
Market activity has been moderate so far and resulted in 33 securities traded at 10:45 am, compared to 31 on Monday. A total of 13 securities advanced and 9 declined, resulting in a volume of 1,528,996 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $12,730,951, compared of 842,68 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $7,961,875 on Monday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 46,333 units versus 27,183 units on Monday.
Market activity was helped by Cargo Handlers trading at a new high of $20 with 27,765 units changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries traded 193,390 at a new high of $2.60 and Derrimon Trading had just 2,500 units trading at a new high of $6.
The all Jamaica Composite Index lost 851.92 points to 212,380.07, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index fell 761.78 points 194,280.11 the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index dipped 562.69 points to 208,112.16 and the junior market index rose 33.74 points to 2,739.37.

Jamaican$ made gains on Monday

On Monday the Jamaica’s central bank reported net inflows US$13 million with the buying and selling rates for the main currencies for the Jamaican dollar gaining but for the euro.
At the close of the market, dealers bought the equivalent of US$46,846,024 of all currencies and sold US$33,710,044, compared to US$73,405,937 purchased and US$70,539,453 sold on Friday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$41,767,700 compared to US$70,170,675 on Friday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 57 cents to close at $127.52. A total of US$31,452,380 was sold versus US$69,102,218 on Friday, with the selling rate falling by 11 cents to $128.44. The Canadian dollar buying rate fell 36 cents to $93.18, with dealers buying C$2,332,284 and selling C$1,056,715 at an average rate that slipped 41 cents to end at $95.89. The average rate for buying the British Pound declined 99 cents to $154.85 for the purchase of £2,235,899 while £939,607 was sold with a decline of 47 cents to end at $156.46.
At the end of trading on Monday, dealers sold €287,843, with the selling rate for the Euro, closing with a rise of 3 cents to $135.18, according to data from Bank of Jamaica. Dealers purchased €596,051 of the European common currency at $133.20 after rising $3.78. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$36,122 being bought and selling of US$21,146.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates for the regularly traded foreign currencies on Monday, include a fall in the lowest selling rate of the US dollar by $16.88 to $103.12. A fall of $3.10 in the highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar to end at $96.90 while the lowest selling rate declined by $2.30 to $90. The lowest selling rate for the British Pound dropped $3 to $150.50 while the highest buying rate for the Euro put on $6.70 to close at $140 and the lowest selling rate lost $3 to $126.80.

More securities actively traded Monday

Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago stock market on Monday ended with 14 securities changing hands compared to 11 on Friday. The market closed as 3 stocks advanced, 4 declined and 7 were unchanged with 225,197 units being traded at a value of $4,965,442 compared to Friday’s 222,518 shares valued at $4,418,139.
The Composite Index advanced 1.13 points to 1,212.88 points, the All T&T Index lost of 0.56 points to close at 1,833.53 points and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.39 points to 79.19 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator |The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 4 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
Gains| National Commercial Bank exchanged 8,087 shares advancing 5 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.10, Scotia Investments rose 5 cents, with 11,041 units trading, and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.10 and Trinidad Cement added 22 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.67 while exchanging of 121,560 shares, valued at $551,785.
< Strong> Losses| Angostura Holdings closed at $14.70, falling 5 cents with 2,221 shares changing owners, Ansa McAL lost 25 cents, closing trading at $66.25 with only 150 units traded,. Scotiabank was down 3 cents to $58.77 with 26,839 shares changing ownership, valued at $1,577,378 and Unilever Caribbean closed at $59.80, with a loss of 3 cents and a mere 40 units trading.
Firm Trades| Clico Investments closed trading at $22.60 with 7,025 units being exchanged, First Caribbean International traded 25,716 shares and closed at $8.50, Guardian Media traded 408 units, to close at $19, JMMB Group was unchanged at 92 cents with an exchange of 3,300 shares. National Enterprises with 200 shares traded, closed at $10.68, Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended the day at $20.50 with an exchange of 100 units and West Indian Tobacco with 18,510 shares valued at $2,350,770 changing ownership, closed at $127.

Jamaica’s FX Reserves jump in December

Jamaica’s Net International Reserves shot up by US$163 million in December to hit US$2.72 billion with gross reserves climbing to US$3.29 billion.
The increase for December is just US$15 million less that the net inflows of foreign exchange, the financial system generated in the month. The reserves represent 38.40 weeks of imports of goods and 22.27 weeks of goods and services. Data of daily trading of foreign exchange collated by IC Insider.com show that net inflows of all currencies, amounted to a surplus of US$178 million in December last year.
Jamaica started 2016 with net reserves of US$2.437 billion, strong demand between April and May saw the amount dipping to a low of US$2.265 billion in June, as the country’s central bank sold funds into the market to meet demand.

Majors failed to hold early gains – Monday

The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, surged 3,247 points on Friday, cooled its heels on Monday as it failed to hang to decent gains at the start of trading of more than 1,000 points.
The early gains gradually melted away, as trading aged during the day to close down.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index , slipped 416.58 points to close at 213,231.99. The JSE Market Index fell 372.49 points to finish at 195,041.89. Thanks to strong gains in the junior market the JSE combined index climbed 490.49 points to close at new record close of 208,674.85.
The market closed with 45 securities changing hands. 22 stocks gained and 11 declined in the overall market, including 13 stocks rising and 3 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 2,566,885 units valued at just $17,585,399 changed hands, compared to 10,710,157 units valued at $359,865,498 changing hands on Friday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 728,143 units changing hands, valued at $4,409,716.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 76,614 shares compared to an average of 378,453 units traded on Thursday. The average for the month to date, is 165,979 versus 235,343 units on the previous trading day, well below the average of 549,379 units, December ended with.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints ended trading 19,503 shares to close at $6, Cable & Wireless fell 4 cents to close at 85 cents with 861,983 units trading, Caribbean Cement ended with a fall of $3.50 while trading just 55,850 shares to close at $30.50. Carreras closed at $66.75 with 8,460 shares changing hands, Ciboney traded 100,000 units to end at 20 cents, Investors traded 30,000 shares of 1834 Investments to close at $1.26 after rising 6 cents. Grace Kennedy had just 5,576 units trading with the price falling 49 cents to close at $40.50. Jamaica Broilers gained 10 cents and closed at $14.60 with 235,468 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers lost 15 cents to end trading at $9.70 with 63,005 units changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 4 cents in trading 20,973 shares, to end at $5.60. JMMB Group traded 60,705 units and added 45 cents to end at $15.45, Kingston Wharves jumped by $3.18 in trading 67,970 shares at a 52 closing high of $24.99, National Commercial Bank traded 14,858 shares with a fall of 80 cents to close at $50.21. Pan Jam Investment traded 13,614 shares at $26.50, Pulse Investments gained 30 cents in trading 43,803 shares at $4, Radio Jamaica fell 13 cents to close at $1.22 after 177,017 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group closed with 9,282 shares changing hands at $29.04. Sagicor X Fund ended with 9,981 units trading at $10.21 lost 29 cents, Scotia Group with 23,409 shares changing hands and closed with a fall of 1 cent at $38, Scotia Investments gained 3 cents with 4,906 units trading, to end at $31.05. Seprod closed at $30 with 4,642 units changing hands and Proven Investments ordinary share traded 6,555 units at 21.97 US cents.