Advancing stocks shine – Wednesday

JMMB Group closed at a 52 weeks' high on Wednesday.

JMMB Group closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Wednesday.

The Jamaica Stock Exchange gave back some of the gains enjoyed on Tuesday with some small decline after the market surged close to 1,000 points early in the morning session but failed to hold these gains and ended down by 10:45 AM. Trading closed with 41 securities trading as the prices of 19 gained while 11 declined in the overall market, including 10 stocks rising and 4 falling, in the junior market.
At the close 4,936,602 units valued at $80,553,639, changed hands, compared to 1,458,426 units valued at just $21,510,810 changing hands on Tuesday. The junior market accounted for 1,995,508 units valued at $10,428,547 of the stocks traded.
At the close, the JSE Market Index lost 619.07 points to end at 166,445.68.ICI -JSE sum -5-10-16 The all Jamaica Composite Index fell 692.34 points to close at 184,978.75 and the JSE combined index slipped 28.68 points, to end at 179,348.16.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints traded 49,851 shares and gained 10 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.60, Cable & Wireless gained 3 cents to close at 90 cents with 18,516 units trading, Caribbean Cement rose 50 cents in trading 201,487 shares to close at $30.50, Carreras dropped $1 with 74,889 shares changing hands at $65. Trading in 1834 Investments ended with 31,636 shares changing hands to close at $1.24, Grace Kennedy closed with 11,459 shares changing hands at $42.45 after falling 5 cents, Jamaica Producers ended with 40,200 shares changing hands as the price gained 30 cents to close at $8.40. JMMB Group climbed $1.01 in trading 91,100 units to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $14.01, Mayberry Investments traded 973,100 shares to close at $3.70, ICI -JSE fn Qts -5-10-16National Commercial Bank traded 892,203 shares and declined 10 cents to end at $42, Pan Jamaican Investments lost 55 cents and closed at $23.40 after trading 11,215 shares. Radio Jamaica gained 30 cents in trading 52,835 shares to close at $1.70, Sagicor Group traded 6,291 shares and ended at $23.81, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 10,769 shares but fell 13 cents to close at $10.12, Scotia Group dropped $1.49 and closed at $30.01 with 4,228 shares changing hands. Scotia Investments jumped $3.50 with 11,920 units changing hands to close at $30, Proven Investments traded 49,063 shares at 20 US cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 388,250 units at $2.10 after falling 3 cents and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% preference share traded 9,675 units at $1,247 each.

Another record close for juniors – Wednesday

Caribbean Cream ended at a new closing high on Wednesday of $10 & is up 900% since listing in 2013..

Caribbean Cream ended at a new closing high on Wednesday of $10 & is up 900% since listing in 2013..

Trading on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange resulted in more than a 2 to 1 advance decline ratio. The market index hit a new high of 2,432.43, by climbing 2.23 percent to record an increase of 53.11 points. At the close, 10 stocks rose and 4 declined with 17 securities trading.
Trading volume rose strongly from Tuesday’s levels, ending with 1,995,508 units changing hands, 402 percent higher than on Tuesday, while value traded jumped 659 percent to $10,428,547 from $1,373,477, on Tuesday.
Market activities ended with 4 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 ending with a lower offer.
In market activity Cargo Handlers stock has not traded since it closed at $86.10 on September 12, the market closed today with the bid at $87 to buy 393 units, a total of ICI Jm sum 5-10-16 45,551 units were offered for sale at $90, the will be split 10 for 1 stock, effective from the close of business on October 21.
In trading activity, AMG Packaging closed with a fall of 45 cents at $17.55 with 615 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream gained 70 cents with 541,070 shares changing hands to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $10, Caribbean Producers gained 20 cents in trading 435,000 units to end at $3.50. Dolphin Cove gained 50 cents to end at $13 after trading 100 shares, General Accident Insurance rose 1 cent with 139,954 units changing hands at $2.65, Honey Bun traded 7,386 shares at $6.10, Iron Rock Insurance traded 313,700 shares and gained 5 cents to end at $3.35, Jamaican Teas lost 4 cents in trading 2,000 shares to close at $4.ICI Jm trd sht 5-10-16 Jetcon Corporation traded 108,111 shares and gained 8 cents to close at $4.59, Key Insurance closed down to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.25 with 27,266 units, for a loss of 5 cents, KLE Group ended at $2.05 with 3,760 shares changing. Lasco Distributors closed with rise of 45 cents as 41,072 units traded at $7.50, Lasco Financial ended with 72,300 shares changing hands at $3.35, after rising 5 cents, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5.10 with 60,135 shares trading to gain 5 cents. Medical Disposables traded 22,991 shares and gained 6 cents to close at $4.42, tTech climbed 28 cents and ended with 8,548 shares changing hands at $5.58 and Derrimon Trading preference share fell 10 cents and ended with 211,500 units changing hands at $2.10.

Jamaican GDP doubles 2015 growth

Image courtesy of arztsamui/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of arztsamui/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Jamaican economy is growing in 2016 at twice the pace it grew in 2015 up to June, according to data released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, the entity that has the final say on the economic performance.
The economy that rose by 0.8 percent in the March quarter over the similar period in 2015 is up by 1.4 percent for the second quarter of 2016, compared to the similar quarter of 2015. If the trend were to continue, growth for the full year could hit 2 percent, the fastest pace of growth since 2006 with growth of 2.9 percent. The only other time since 2004 that the economy grew close the 2016 pace is 2007 when the economy grew by 1.45 percent and 1.43 percent in 2011.
Growth in 2015 over 2014 reflected an increase of 0.4 percent in the March quarter and 0.8 percent for the second quarter.
Agriculture added the most to GDP in Q2

Agriculture added the most to GDP in Q2

The 2016 second quarter increase, is attributed to improved performances in the Goods Producing industries 3.3 percent and the Services industries 0.8 percent but Mining & Quarrying industry declined by 1.9 percent. Increased outputs were recorded for Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 9.4 percent, Manufacturing 0.6 percent and Construction 1.6 percent.Major growth in the service sector came from, Electricity & Water Supply grew by 5.0 percent, Hotels & Restaurants 1.3 percent, Finance & Insurance Services 1.4 percent.

AJ Index surges 2,888 points to record close – Tuesday

JSE frnt 12-15 The Jamaica Stock Exchange all Jamaica composite Index and the JSE index surged to close at record levels, erasing the record of 183,366.39 reached in February 4, for the former, this year and beating the previous high of 165,011.89 on the same day, for the JSE Market Index. The JSE Combined index also hit a new closing record, bettering the level of 177,090.44 it closed at last week Friday.
Trading ended with the prices of 14 securities gaining out of a total of 35 trading, while 7 declined in the overall market, including 6 stocks rising and 4 falling, in the junior market.
At the close 1,458,426 units valued at just $21,510,810, changed hands, compared to 43,448,695 units ICI -JSE sum rv-4-10-16valued at $912,734,040 changing hands on Friday. The junior market accounted for 397,764 units valued at $1,373,477 of the stocks traded.
At the close, the JSE Market Index jumped 2,582.50 points to end at 167,064.75. The all Jamaica Composite Index surged 2,888.12 points to close at 185,671.09 and the JSE combined index climbed 2,286.40 points, to end at 179,376.84 for a new record high.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments traded 30,000 shares to close at $4.20, Carreras gained 15 cents with 4,783 shares changing hands at $66, trading in 1834 Investments ended with 9,600 shares changing hands and gained of 2 cents to close at $1.24, ICI -JSE fn Qts -4-10-16Grace Kennedy closed with 116,206 shares changing hands at $42.50. Jamaica Producers traded 9,200 shares and ended with a loss of 30 cents at $8.10, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with a gain of 40 cents at $27.40 with 1,108 units trading, JMMB Group traded 180,232 units to close at $13 after trading earlier at $13.95, Kingston Wharves lost 10 cents in trading 561,770 shares to close at $17.50. National Commercial Bank traded just 9,986 shares and gained 60 cents to end at $42.10. Pan Jamaican Investments added 45 cents and closed at $23.95 after trading 4,462 shares. Sagicor Group traded 3,700 shares to close at $23.81, Scotia Group closed at $31.50 with 34,840 shares changing hands, but closed with an offer at $30.50 to sell 74,380 units and JMMB Group 7.50% preference share traded 63,000 units at $1.10.

BUY RATED Jetcon & Paramount jump 52%

Paramount Trading gained 52% in September and is up 622% since BUY RATED.

Paramount Trading gained 52% in September and is up 622% since BUY RATED.


Jetcon Corporation and Paramount Trading were the top performing BUY RATED stocks in September, jumping 52% in the month, followed by Medical Disposables up by 39 percent. In the main market, Barita Investments with a gain of 35 percent leads the majors.
JMMB Group is the second best main market performer with a rise of 31 percent, following IC Insider listing the stock as one of the Top 5 selection on September 9 and recent announcement of it getting a commercial banking license.
Berger Paints is now IC Insider’s BUY RATED listed, with the company benefiting from an improving environment that will keep cost down and encourage increased revenues and profit. IC Insider’s forecast is for earnings of $1 per share for the current year ending March 2017. For the full year to March 2016, revenues grew by 11 percent and material cost input fell as a percentage of sales to 46 percent versus 48 percent in 2015 while profit climbed 82 percent from 31 cents per share to 57 cents.
Performance to date. Jamaica Stock Exchange with gains of 1,250 percent since entering the BUY RATED list, is the top performing stock, followed by Caribbean Cement with gains of 1,067 percent. JSE will be splitting the stock into 5 shares and that could move the price up a bit in the short term, buying at these levels could be risky in the short term, not so for Caribbean Cement, that could easily double in a few months. The next highest main market selection is Jamaica Broilers Group with 186 percent gain and is now expected to market perform. Sagicor Group gained 163 percent and seems heading higher with no supply to sell now visible in the market that now has just one offer to sell.
For top all round gains, the junior market that is up 33.4 percent in 2016 to date is the place to have been, with 15 of the 18 selections gaining over 100 percent and one with 77 percent. Buy Rated upd 30-9-16The top performer is Caribbean Cream with gains of 793 percent overall and 28 percent in September and seems heading higher with $15 seems a likely target over the next few months. Paramount Trading gained 622 percent, with expansion taking place and a stock split to be approved at the October AGM, there is much more room for growth. AMG Packaging is up 472 percent and will head higher with expansion into tissue paper production. The company is adding more brands to its tissue operations and plans on adding more tissue production machines as well upgrading carton box machines, to improve efficiency. In the junior market, recent additions ISP Finance and Jetcon have gained 166 percent and 100 percent respectively, both have room for more growth. Knutsford Express Hold rating, has been lifted with prospects of long-term growth baked into its profit performance.
Prices are consolidating on the Trinidad & Tobago Market with few compelling buys currently.

Shaw’s tax-take jumps sharply

Minister of Finance Audley Shaw is raking in a big up tick in revenues to August ahead of forecast.

Minister of Finance Audley Shaw is raking in a big up tick in revenues to August ahead of forecast.

Excluding divestment proceeds of nearly $15 billion government revenues from taxes, fees and grants are ahead of budget by $13 billion to August this year and are ahead of the same period in 2015, by 18 percent or $20 billion.
The big increase over 2015, includes very little new taxes imposed in the budget presentation in May, this year. The increase over 2016 fiscal year annualises out at $48 billion and $60 billion when the new taxes are included. Compared to budget, revenues are running at $31 billion ahead of forecast on an annualised basis.
It means that Minister Shaw has fully funded the revenues given up by increasing the PAYE tax threshold, well ahead of the year-end and just around the time the reduced PAYE taxation takes effect to affect tax revenues with August being the first month that the reduced payment would be effected. PAYE enjoyed inflows of $1.9 billion more than planned, bringing in $29 billion to August. In 2015 for the same period, a total of $28.45 was generated from this item.
Collector of Taxes office, Constant Spring, Kingston.

Collector of Taxes office, Constant Spring, Kingston.

While revenues climbed sharply, expenditure so far is well below forecast by $13.8 billion. Employees’ compensation is down by $2.7 billion, interest cost shaved $2.5 billion off forecast, capital spend so far, is under spent by $7 billion and other expenses are down by $2.5 billion. The net effect higher revenues and reduced cost is a reduction of the fiscal deficit that was projected at $46.2 billion and ended at $19.5 billion, $26.7 billion less than planned. The primary surplus is running well ahead of plan with an out turn of $41.65 billion up from $17.5 billion budgeted.

Devaluation pushed by NIR build out

Ja$5000Net inflows into Jamaica’s foreign exchange market amounted to US$167.5 million in September, in a month that usually results net outflows with the ending of the peak tourism summer months.
The heavy net inflows did not prevent the value of the Jamaican dollar from slipping during the month from a selling rate of J$127.57 to the US dollar to J$128.27 at the end of September.
For the entire month, there was only one trading day when there was less foreign exchange bought by dealers than the amount they sold with net sales of US$5 million. In contrast, for September 2015, net inflows amounted to just $6.5 million with 11 trading days of negative flows.
The net purchases for September bring the surplus from July to date to US$436 million.
In July and August, the NIR grew by $250 million to US$2.5 billion, well ahead of the target agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but the IMF is saying the central bank must continue to build up the NIR which is well off the target of the IMF.
The IMF states “Net international reserves (NIR) stood at US$2.4 billion at end-July, nearly US$500 million above the program target, while gross reserves stood at nearly 80 percent of the IMF’s reserve adequacy metric at end-2015. The BoJ’s FX market sales have declined in recent months, and the net FX purchases including the surrender requirement has been about US$388 million in 2016 (up to end-July).”

BOJ reserves climbs by US$250M in early August.

BOJ reserves climbs by US$250M in early August.

“International reserves remain somewhat below recommended prudential needs. Reserves are expected to reach around 85 percent of the IMF’s reserve adequacy (ARA) metric by end-2016, still below the recommended range of 100-150 percent. Moreover, a substantial share of the reserves accumulation was driven by international bond and central bank US dollar CD issuances. The BoJ should continue to steadily purchase FX from the market and limit FX sales to periods of high currency market volatility, while maintaining a market-determined and flexible exchange rate. To further develop the FX market and promote price discovery, the BoJ is working (with the help of IMF TA) on introducing a standard multiple price-auction mechanism for FX sales and purchases with the goal of eventually phasing out FX surrender requirements and using market-based auctions for FX sales and purchases.”
In October 2014 and January 2015 Bank of Jamaica required commercial banks to surrender, in total between thirty percent (30%) to thirty-five percent (35%) up from 25% to £0 percent of foreign currency purchases daily. The surrender requirement to the BOJ for cambios was increased by 5 percentage points to twenty-five percent (25%) of their daily gross foreign exchange purchases from commercial

Another record close for juniors – Friday

Paramount ended at a new all-time high of $19.50 with a rise of $2.

Paramount ended at a new all-time high of $19.50 with a rise of $2, after the company announced splitting the stock.

Trading on the Junior market ended with a fourth consecutive record at the close on Friday. The index measuring the emerging companies ended at a new high of 2,389.90 for a gain of 16.01 points but traded above the 2,400 points level for the first time, to 2,408.56 in the morning session.
At the close of trading, 7 stocks rose and 8 declined with 18 securities trading. Trading volume rose strongly from Thursday’s levels, ending with 3,440,359 units changing hands, 97 percent more than on Thursday, while the value traded declined by just 2 percent to $12,272,247 from $12,530,207, on Thursday.
Market activities ended with 8 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 ending with lower offers as month window dressing may be at play.
ICI Jm sum 30-09-16In market activity, Cargo Handlers stock has not traded since it closed at $86.10 on September 12, the market closed with the bid at $87.05 to buy 105 units, next in line to buy is 393 shares at $87,with the next at $76.55, there were stocks offered for sale at the close. Shareholders at a recent extraordinary meeting approved a 10 for 1 stock split, to take effect from the close of business on October 21. Key Insurance remains under pressure with the offer at $2.20 to sell 1,000 units compared with the last sale of $2.49. There were no bids to buy the stock at the close.
In trading activity, CAC 2000 closed at $6.40 with 7,000 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream gained 2 cents with 285,819 shares changing hands to close at $9.29, Caribbean Flavours traded 640 units to end at $8.99 with a rise of 99 cents, Derrimon Trading lost 50 cents and closed with 10,000 shares at $3.50. Dolphin Cove dropped $1.20 to end at $12.50 after trading 10,000 shares, General Accident Insurance rose by 20 cents with 2,610,000 units changing hands at $2.40, Honey Bun traded 66,969 shares at $6.10 after falling 9 cents. Iron Rock Insurance traded 10,938 shares at $3.30, Jamaican Teas fell 10 cents in trading 23,874 shares to close at $3.90, Jetcon Corporation fell 19 cents with 30,651 units changing hands, to end at $4.51, ISP Finance rose 61 cents to end at an all-time high of $6.61 with just 200 shares changing hands. ICI jm trade 30-09-16Lasco Distributors closed with a loss of 14 cents as 229,084 units traded at $7.10, Lasco Financial ended with 8,000 shares changing hands at $3.30, after rising 12 cents, Lasco Manufacturing rose 5 cents and closed at $5.05 with 105,000 shares trading. Medical Disposables traded 1,500 shares to close at $4.36, Paramount Trading jumped $2 to a new all-time high of $19.50 with just 2,000 shares changing hands, Sweet River Abattoir fell 35 cents with 700 units trading to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.50 and tTech dropped $1.20 and ended with 37,984 shares changing hands at $5.30.

Positive FX inflows for Jamaica – Friday

FX_USPound2 Flows in and out of the Jamaican foreign exchange market ended with a surplus of US$10 million on Friday, bringing the net take for September to US$168 million. The impact on rates was mixed, with slippage in the value of the Jamaican dollar against the United States dollar, the British Pound and euro, while it gained against the Canadian dollar.
At the end of trading, the equivalent of all currencies bought by dealers amount US$36,697,304, while US$26,244,697 was sold compared to US$29,696,401 purchased and US$29,483,135 sold on Thursday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$33,292,037 compared to US$26,609,238 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 9 cents to close at $127.59.ICI Fx sum 30-09-16 A total of US$25,030,676 was sold versus US$27,286,685 on Thursday, with the selling rate rising 7 cents to end at $128.27. The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped $1.77 to $95.08, with dealers buying C$985,077 and selling C$404,100 at an average rate that fell 60 cents to $97.31. The average rate for buying the British Pound rose 38 cents to $163.15 for the purchase of £1,534,021 while £481,891 was sold as the rate climbed 55 cents to end at $166.78.
At the end of trading, dealers sold €208,606 as the selling rate for the Euro, closed at $144.95 for rise of $1.03 from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica. Dealers purchased €557,430 of the European common currency at $142.19 after rising $3.88 from the rate on Thursday. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$88,347 being bought and the selling of US$45,171.
ICI Fx h&l 30-09-16Highs & Lows| Changes to the highest and lowest traded rates for the US Dollar remain moderate but notable changes to rates for the three other regularly traded currencies in the foreign exchange market on Friday, include a fall of $2.40 in the highest buying rate of the Canadian dollar to $97.70. The highest buying rate of the British Pound jumped $1.58 to $168.18. Trading in the Euro resulted in a jump of $3.50 in the highest buying rate to $145 while the lowest selling rate fell $22.55 to $114.53.

Medical Disposables out Jetcon in – Top 5

Jetcon 03-16Medical Disposables fell out of the Top 5 junior market selection during the past week, based on price movement, with the bid at $4.95 and Jetcon Corporation with the price at $4.51 returns, making it back into the top list by just inching ahead of General Accident.
The insurance company enjoyed strong buying during the past week and could slip out in the coming week. Medical Disposables still has more room for growth with the company expanding its product range. Derrimon Trading moved up to third spot after the stock traded at $4 during the week but pulled back to $3.50 by the close. Knocking at the Top 5 position in the junior market are tTech now that the price slipped to $5.30, Caribbean Flavours and Caribbean Cream with Paramount Trading just below.
Top 5 stks 30-9-16Stocks in the main market all remained in the Top 5 but positions have changed, the top attraction for the week is JMMB Group that climbed to $13 and sits just and now sits at number 5 spot having entered at the top spot last week. With the news of the group obtaining a banking license, the way may be clear for the price to surge a bit more in the coming week and most likely push it out of the top 5. Stocks peeping in at the Top 5 in the main market are Grace Kennedy, National Commercial Bank and Sterling Investments.
With the junior market trading at new records this past week, the attractive gains that were evident a few weeks ago are receding in the junior market with IC Insider data showing just 7 junior market stocks that could double by early 2017. That is in contrast to the main market that shows 15 stocks that could double or more than double. All that is reflected in the fact that the junior market is up 33 percent year to date, while the main market is up just 9 percent.