Remittance inflows for the 2015 to September were affected by a slowdown in inflows in September ending with US$1.65 billion, for an increase of US$51 million or 3.2 per cent over the nine months to September 2014.
The slowdown is a continuation from August, when inflows increased marginally.
After allowing for in outflows of US$167.7 million for the nine months to September, this year compared to US$170.4 last year, net remittances for the year to September, were US$1.48 billion, an increase of US$48 million or just 3.3 per cent over the similar period of 2014.
Gross remittance inflows for September 2015 were US$184 million, an increase of US$1.4 million or 0.7 per cent versus the same month in 2014. Remittance inflows also slowed in August 2015, with inflows amounting to US$186 million, for an increase of just US$1.7 million over August 2014. Total Remittance Outflows amounted $19.9 million slightly higher than the US$19.7 for September 2014, leaving net inflows were US$163.7 million, an increase of US$1.5 million, relative to the corresponding period of 2014.
New record for JSE majors – Monday
Jamaican stock market closed at a new all-time high on Monday.
The number of shares changing hands ended at 13,211,348 units valued at $79,384,406.
A total 17 stocks in the combined markets gained and 5 declined. One stock traded at 52 weeks’ closing high and one at intraday 52 weeks’ high as the bull market continues to wind its way forward.
At the close the JSE Market Index climbed 1,012.93 points to 147,160.14, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 1,132.01 points to end at 163,416.05 and the JSE combined index gained 1,138.74 points to close at 154,128.91. The main market faces resistance test around the 165,000 points level, on the all Jamaica composite index.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.In trading, Barita Investments ended with a loss of 5 cents as 105,000 shares traded at $3.80, Berger Paints traded 143,510 shares at $3.15, Cable and Wireless had 92,427 units changing hands at $1.33, Caribbean Cement lost 10 cents to end at $18.10, with 2,979,782 shares trading, Carreras rose 75 cents to close at $60.75, with 610 units changing hands. Grace Kennedy gained 9 cents with 561 units changing hands, to finish at $80.11, Jamaica Broilers rose 20 cents to close at $10.05 with 32,000 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 20,000 shares to end at $32, JMMB Group rose 30 cents to close at $10.45 with 4,454 units changing hands.
Kingston Wharves gained just 1 cent to close at $11.35 with 40,200 shares changing hands, Mayberry Investments had 20.000 shares trading at $4.40 for a gain of 10 cents, National Commercial Bank lost 20 cents to end at $39.70, with 4,100 units changing hands, Pulse Investments traded 5,370 units with a gain of 25 cents at $2.75. Sagicor Group closed with 44,400 units changing hands with a gain of 90 cents to $18.50 for a new 52 weeks’ closing high, Scotia Group gained 30 cents with 36,408 shares changing hands at $30, Supreme Ventures ended at $4.66 with 15,000 units changing hands and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% preference share traded 50,000 units at $2.02.
Juniors hits new record on Monday
The junior market closed at an all-time high on Monday.
Trading ended with 12 securities trading of which 6 advanced and 1 declined. Volume changing hands amounted to 9,625,941 units, valued at $21,462,981.
At the close there was 1 security ending with no bid to buy and 5 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 7 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while one closed with a lower offer.
In trading, AMG Packaging closed with 1,000 units changing hands at $7, Caribbean Cream gained 8 cents with 211,685 shares changing hands at $3.88, Caribbean Producers rose 1 cent in trading 40,000 units to close at $4.58, Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents with 38,000 shares changing hands at $1.30, Derrimon Trading ended with 100,000 shares changing hands at $3.80.
General Accident lost 2 cents with 8,576,273 shares trading valued at $17,143,022 to close at $1.88. Knutsford Express ended at $9.60 with 970 shares changing hands. Lasco Distributors rose by 5 cents and closed with 283,883 shares changing hands at $4.95 for a 52 weeks’ high, after trading earlier at an all-time high of $5.08. Lasco Financial rose 3 cents to close at $3.53, with 22,000 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing gained 10 cents, to close at $3.50 with 259,030 shares trading, Medical Disposables closed with 9,100 shares trading at $3.55 and Eppley 9.5% preference share ended with 84,000 shares trading at $6.
J$ still 120.34 to US$1
Flows into the Jamaican foreign exchange market on Wednesday rose from Tuesday’s levels with dealers buying almost $8 million more than they sold with the value of the local currency holding steady versus the US dollar for the second day running.
Dealers bought the equivalent of US$56,579,543 and sold US$48,690,822, compared with US$48,162,961 and US$59,905,869 respectively on Tuesday.
Purchases of US dollars , exceeded the amount sold by dealers by US$6.4 million with dealers buying US$52,781,867 compared to US$42,736,857 on Tuesday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 1 cent to $119.83. A total of US$46,420,126 was sold versus US$56,287,373 on Tuesday as the selling rate held steady at $120.34.
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell by 43 cents to end at $83.13 with dealers buying C$1,908,607 and selling C$849,866, at an average rate that dropped $1.75 to $84.73. The rate for buying the British Pound declined by $1.83 to $174.98 for the purchase of £1,541,375, while £1,028,127 was sold, with the rate putting on 19 cents to $177.47. At the end of trading, it took J$131.97 to purchase the Euro, for a rise of 59 cents on Tuesday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$129.45 for a gain of 69 cents over Tuesday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$222,847 being bought, while US$156,094 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, fell 5 cents to $120.55,
the lowest buying rate slipped by 16 cents to $98.70 and the highest and lowest selling rates were unchanged and $126.69 and $117, respectively. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 40 cents to $87, the lowest buying rate dropped 33 cents to $68.81, the highest selling rate ended 10 cents higher at $90.10 and the lowest selling rate lost $3 to end at $79. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, rose 6 cents to end at $179. The lowest buying rate fell $1.17 to $142.84, while the highest selling rate dipped $2.95 to end at $182.70 and the lowest selling rate declined by $1.60 to $170.50.
Another new record for juniors
The junior market closed at a record high on Monday
Trading ended with 11 securities trading of with 3 advanced and 3 declined with 1,290,587 units, valued at $4,845,099 changing hands as 2 stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs. At the close there was 1 security ending with no bid to buy and 7 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while one closed with a lower offer.
In trading, AMG Packaging closed with 26,378 units changing hands at $7, Blue Power had 646 units changing hands to close at $13.10, Caribbean Producers closed at $4.45 to gain 5 cents with 290,856 units changing hands, Derrimon Trading ended with 10,000 shares changing hands at $3.80. Dolphin Cove closed at $17 with only 100 shares trading,
Honey Bun finished with 1,000 shares changing hands to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $6 after rising by 50 cents, KLE Group gained 15 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.15, as 37,000 units changed hands. Lasco Distributors closed with 17,855 shares changing hands at $4.35 after declining by 15 cents, but it traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $4.70. Lasco Financial fell 21 cents to closed at $3.12 with 461,995 shares changing hands as high as $3.50, Lasco Manufacturing rose 25 cents and closed at $3.55, with 443,813 shares trading and Sweet River ended with 944 units changing hands at $3.95.
Record Friday for JSE stocks
138 Student Living led the majors with 59m shares on Friday.
The junior market accounted for 55,544,624 units, valued at $296,776,261 as 13 stocks in the combined markets gained, 6 declined, 4 stocks closed at 52 weeks’ high.
138 Student Living had the largest trade in the main market with 58,949,590 units valued at $265,273,155 to close 10 cents up at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.50 while Honey Bun traded 55.2 million units valued at $295,438,307 in the junior market.
At the close the JSE Market Index climbed 2,213.58 points to 146,623.79, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 2,473.80 points to end at 162,816.65 and the JSE combined index added 2,381.16 points to close at 153,343.26. The main market continues to face a test at the 165,000 points resistance level, on the all Jamaica composite index, but based on the churning of price movements in recent weeks, it is likely to take some more trading days to break through that level if the break takes place.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.In trading, Berger Paints ended with 19,344 units trading at $3.15, Cable and Wireless lost 10 cents with 266,406 units changing hands to close at $1.30, at the close, there were over 1.84 million units on the offer at $1.40 with bids not looking particularly strong at $1.30 and below. Caribbean Cement closed with a rise of 20 cents to end at $18.20, with 19,955 shares changing hands, Carreras gained 99 cents in closing at $60 with 18,184 units trading, Ciboney traded at 27 cents with 54,500 units changing hands, Grace Kennedy gained 50 cents, with 77,778 units changing hands, to finish at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $80. Jamaica Broilers price fell $1.86 to $8.64, with 32,234 shares changing hands, the stock was offered for sale at $9.90 at the close, Jamaica Producers traded 13,000 shares at $31.90,
The Jamaica Stock Exchange share traded 5,000 units to close at $18.95, Kingston Wharves saw trading in 10,000 shares at $11.35 as the price slipped 5 cents. National Commercial Bank rose 30 cents and ended at $39 with 22,500 units changing hands, Pan Jamaican Investment had 20,000 units changing hands at $92.50, having risen 39 cents, Sagicor Group closed with 50,628 units changing hands but the price gained 69 cents to end at $17.50 for a new 52 weeks’ closing high. Scotia Group gained $1.99 with 73,780 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $30.99 and Supreme Ventures fell 50 cents to end at $4, with 2,300,000 units changing hands.
Treasury bill rates drop
Rates of Government of Jamaica Treasury bills fell on the 91 day and 192 days instruments the government have been auctioning for some time, but rose slightly on the 28 days tenner as the amount applied for was well below the amount of $400 million offered.
182 days T-bill rates are down more than 50% since March 2014
Treasury bill rates have declined by 50.78 percent since peaking in March 2014 for the 182 day instrument based on the average rate on the latest offering. At the December auction, the average rate on the 91 days bills fell 18.8 basis points compared to the November rate. The 182 days instrument enjoyed only a 0.5 basis point fall and the 28 day instrument rose by 5.5 basis points.
A total of only $347,996,800 chased the $400 million on offer for the 28 days bills, $717 million went after the $400 million on offer for the 90 days instruments and $557 million went after the $400 million offered for 182 days.
Over 300% over the top for tTech
The latest entrant to seek junior market listing, tTech Limited is reporting a successful initial public offering. The issue officially opened at 9 on Wednesday morning and should have closed on December 18, 2015.
Edward Alexander CEO of the company informed the IC Insider that at 8 am the report from NCB Capital Markets the brokers to the deal had the level of over subscription at more than 300 percent with more applications coming in after. Reports to IC Insider indicated that the level of subscription was in excess of the offering at mid-day on Tuesday. The offering was for 25.65 million shares to raise $50,263,900.
Alexander disclosed that tTech picked up additional clients and garnered more business from existing ones after the IPO was priced.
At the same time the offering of CAC 2000 Limited was still open around 3 pm on the opening day but our informed source suggests that it could well be closed off before the day ends or by Thursday. The feedback is that the 2016 fiscal year should see increased revenues and profits from ongoing contracts and new ones. The issue is expected to raise $120,545,327 from 29 million shares on offer up $4.85 each. VM Wealth Management are the brokers to the CAC issue.
JSE gains over 1,000 points on Monday
The JSE stock traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $19 on Monday and gained over 1,100% for 2015
The JSE Market Index climbed 1,000.11 points to 143,358.95, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 1,117.69 points to end at 159,168.01 and the JSE combined index recovered 1,122.82 points to close at 149,895.32. Notwithstanding today’s gains, the main market faces the next test at 165,000 points level, on the all Jamaica composite index.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.In trading, Barita Investments traded 14,770 units at $3.80, Cable and Wireless gained 5 cents and closed with 627,319 units changing hands at $1.33, after trading as high as $1.45, Caribbean Cement gained 60 cents and closed trading at $18.60, with 22,709 shares changing hands. Carreras rose 90 cents and closed at $57 with 208 units trading, Ciboney traded at 22 cents at the close with 459,210 units changing hands after losing 4 cents. The stock traded at an intraday high of 29 cents. Gleaner traded 30,760 units at $1.40, Grace Kennedy ended with 91,743 units changing hands, to finish with a fall of $1.50 at $76.50, Jamaica Broilers jumped $1.49 in trading 146,083 shares, to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $9.99.
Jamaica Producers lost $2 in trading 16,022 units at $28, Jamaica Stock Exchange shares traded 12,050 units at $18.99 for a new closing 52 weeks’ high, with 1,110 percent gain since the start of the year. National Commercial Bank rose 5 cents and ended at $38.05 with just 4,637 units changing hands, Pulse Investments traded 39,414 shares with a rise of 4 cents to close at $2.30, Radio Jamaica lost 26 cents and landed at $3.80 with 2,342 shares trading, Sagicor Group with 51,550 units changing hands ended at $17 after rising 46 cents. Scotia Group lost 50 cents with 27,248 shares changing hands and ended at $28.50, Scotia Investments climbed $3 with 20,242 units trading and closed at $30 and Supreme Ventures fell 20 cents and ended at $4.65 with 83,530 units changing hands.
8 junior stocks rose on Monday
Dolphin Cove closed at a new high of $17 on Monday’s .
At the close there was 1 security ending with no bid to buy and 8 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, AMG Packaging traded 662 units at $7 for the first time, to record an increase of $1, Cargo Handlers closed at $36 while 110 units changed hands, Caribbean Cream ended with 5,288 shares changing hands at $3.80, to gain 40 cents, Consolidated Bakeries gained 4 cents in trading 30,000 units and closed at $1.10 after trading at $1.17. Derrimon Trading ended with 1,015,290 shares changing hands at a new 52 weeks’ high of $3.78, for a gain of 12 cents, Dolphin Cove jumped to $17 with a rise of $1 to close at a new high with only 300 shares changing hands. KLE Group traded 10,000 units after rising 10 cents to 85 cents, Knutsford Express ended at $10.50 with 989,069 shares changing hands after the price high an all-time high of $11.30 earlier in the day.
Lasco Distributors closed with 67,426 shares changing hands at $4.50, the price rose to a new 52 weeks’ intraday high of $4.65, Lasco Financial rose 2 cents ended at $3.12, with 33,060 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing (LASM) rose 11 cents and closed at $3.10, with 1,534,857 shares trading. At the close there were 2,536,706 units of LASM offered for sale by Stocks and Securities as broker for a client at $3.30 and Eppley cumulative preference share 2019, ended with 5,000 units changing hands at $6.08 after falling 1 cent.
