The Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday closed with main market indices recording big losses, cancelling out the gains made in yesterday’s trading. The market closed with a fairly high participation rate of 33 securities changing hands accounting for 3,862,624 units trading, valued at $45,895,747 with 9 stocks rising, 16 declining with 1 stock closing at 52 weeks high, in all market segments.
At the close, the JSE Market Index fell 2,316.03 points to 99,099.31, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index dived 2,588.67 points to close at 109,705.40 and the JSE combined index dropped 2,164.74 points to end at 102,674.88.
The eve of and the actual Treasury bill auction days, historically have not been good for the local stock market. Stockbrokers main focus is on the outcome of the auction and interest rates out turn as well as how successful their bidding was. Wednesday’s sluggishness and pull back in prices could be related to this development with today being the day when Treasury bill bids are opened. At the close of trading on Tuesday the signals were for a weaker market on Wednesday as such today’s declines should come as no great surprise.
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 that is better than Tuesday’s reading, with only of 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with offers that were lower. Today’s reading is 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with offers that were lower, a reading that still carries some negative undertone.
In trading, Cable and Wireless had 306,499 shares changing hands with a loss of 3 cents, to end at 40 cents, Caribbean Cement had 19,000 units changing hands at $8, Gleaner closed with 23,326 shares and fell 17 cents to $2. Grace Kennedy traded firm at $64 with 54,439 shares, Jamaica Broilers traded at $6.05 with 42,876 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded at $18.25 with 4,000 shares changing ownership with a loss of 25 cents. JMMB Group traded 5,909 shares at $7.95 to add 22 cents, with the company reporting strong increase in profit for the first quarter. Jamaica Stock Exchange lost altitude and traded with a decline of $1.50 to $7.50 with only 7,100 shares changing hands.
Mayberry Investments had 242,254 shares trading down 26 cents to $3.14, National Commercial Bank traded 421,180 shares to end at $30, Palace Amusement gained $10 in trading 2,500 shares to end at $75, Pan Jamaican Investment closed at $60.70 after trading 1,539 shares with a loss of $1.30. Sagicor Group with 1,077,602 shares changing hands, closed 50 cents up, at $13.50, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 95 cents to close at $8.75 while trading 10,095 units, Scotia Group traded 471,710 units to close at $23.70, down 80 cents, Supreme Ventures ended at $3.50 with 56,004 units to be down by $1 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 150,200 units at $2.
JSE up but looks weak at close
August 18, 2015 by
Jamaica Stock Exchange Traded at a new high of $9 on Tuesday.
At the close, the JSE Market Index jumped 687.52 points to 101,415.34, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 768.46 points to close at 112,294.07 and the JSE combined index gained 530.40 points to end at 104,839.62.
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 that was very negative with only of 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with offers that were lower.In trading, Cable and Wireless with 154,750 shares changing hands with a loss of 1 cent to end at 43 cents, Caribbean Cement had 50,227 units changing hands with a gain of 50 cents at $8, Carreras traded at $50 with 8,706 shares changing hands, Gleaner closed with 63,082 shares and fell 56 cents at $2.17. Grace Kennedy traded at $64 down $1 with 79,842 shares, Hardware & Lumber ended up at $17, after adding $1 with just 500 units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers traded at $6.05 with 8,300 shares changing ownership and lost 94 cents, Jamaica Producers traded at $18.40 with 4,198 shares changing ownership with a loss of 60 cents. JMMB Group traded 20,084 shares at $7.73 to lose 26 cents, with the company reporting strong increase in profit for the first quarter, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 70 cents up at a new high of $9 with only 9,990 shares changing hands. Mayberry Investments had 50,000 shares trading at $3.40, National Commercial Bank traded 62,888 shares at $30,
Palace Amusement gained $5 in trading 566 shares to end at $65, encouraged by the company reporting earnings of $26.56 per share for the year ended June. Pan Jamaican Investment closed at $62 after trading 27,303 shares to gain $1. Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 30 cents to close at $7.80 while trading 140,000 units, Salada Foods ended with 2,750 units trading at $8.50 with a loss of $1.90. Scotia Group traded 25,980 units to close at $24.50, up 50 cents, Supreme Ventures ended at $4.50, with 20,000 units to be up 50 cents but the bid at the end of the day was at $4 to sell 300,000 units and Proven Investments ordinary share traded 137,105 units at 19 US cents, up from 18.5 US cents.
Scotia Group fall hits JSE indices
August 14, 2015 by
Scotia lost $2 on Friday
At the close, the JSE Market Index dropped 1,377.83 points to 100,808.67, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index shed 1,540.03 points to close at 111,615.98 and the JSE combined index dipped 1,378.55 points to end at 104,363.81.
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 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.In trading, Cable and Wireless ended with 636,069 units changing hands to close 5 cents higher at 45 cents, Caribbean Cement stock rose 35 cents to close at $7.50 with 353,986 units traded, Gleaner closed with 127,400 shares traded to close at $2.71 for a loss of 1 cent, Jamaica Broilers traded at $7 with 18,345 shares changing ownership. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 14,875 shares at a new all-time high of $8.30 to gain $1.29, JMMB Group
traded 6,545 units with the price rising 30 cents to end at $7.80, National Commercial Bank traded only 7,843 shares at $30.10. Pan Jamaican Investment closed at $61 after trading 5,484 shares, 9 cents higher, Proven Investments closed at 18.55 US cents after declining 0.45 US cents with 40,884 shares changing hand. Pulse Investments lost 15 cents in trading 62,750 shares to end at 45 cents, Radio Jamaica traded just 20,296 shares to end at $3.95, for a 5 cents fall, Sagicor Group ended trading with 46,300 units at $13 to fall by 10 cents. Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed at $8.30 while trading 15,274 units, Scotia Group lost $2 and ended with 89,612 units trading at $24 and Jamaica Money Market 7.5% preference ended at $2 with 54,500 units changing hands.
12 stocks up 15 down as JSE indices jump
August 13, 2015 by
JSE main market pierced resistance at 108,000 points & is heading to the next resistance level at 115,000 points.
At the close, the JSE Market Index gained 676.72 points to 102,186.50, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 756.39 points to close at 113,156.01 and the JSE combined index climbed 660.25 points to end at 105,742.36.
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 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 10 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless ended with 990,000 units changing hands at 40 cents, Caribbean Cement stock fell $1.35 to close at $7.15 but traded as high as $8.60 with 669,805 units traded, Carreras traded 3,200 units to close 50 cents off at $51.50, Desnoes & Geddes had 43,637 shares changing hands at $6.80, up 29 cents. Gleaner closed with 377,400 shares traded at new closing 52 weeks’ high of $2.72 for a gain of 21 cents. Grace Kennedy traded 138,893 shares to end at $64.01, Jamaica Producers gained 20 cents to end at $19 with 3,160 units trading. JP yesterday reported earnings for the second quarter attributable to shareholders of $414 million but the bulk of that it, $319 million came from gain on sale of fixed assets and investments. The year-to-date to June net profit attributable to JP shareholders was $589 million compared to $138 million in 2014 of which $429 million came from gains on disposal of fixed assets and investments. JMMB Group traded 
30,000 units and fell 10 cents to end at $7.50, Mayberry Investments had 149,575 shares trading at $3.15, National Commercial Bank traded 109,682 shares at $30.10 with a decline of 90 cents. Radio Jamaica traded just 59,325 shares to end at $4, for a 30 cents decline, Proven Investments closed at 19 US cents after gaining 1.50 US cents with 255,000 shares changing hands, Sagicor Group ended trading with 30,528 units at $13.10 to add 5 cents. Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed at $8.30 while trading 27,548 units, Scotia Group lost 45 cents and ended with 61,898 units trading at $26, and Supreme Ventures traded 27,997 shares at $4 after shedding 50 cents and Proven Investments 8% preference ended at a new 52 weeks’ low of $4.96 with 418,000 units changing hands after losing 2 cents.
Employment rate up with less employed
August 13, 2015 by
Jamaica’s unemployment rate slipped in March this year to 13.2 percent versus 13.6 percent in March 2014, but with less persons employed in the 2015 period versus 2014.
According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica the government body charged with collecting and collating economic data on the country, the Employed Labour Force for April 2015 was 1,129,100, a total of 3,900 less than the 1,133,000 recorded in April 2014.
The Employment Rate rose to 86.8 per cent in April 2015 for an increase of 0.4 percentage point compared with 86.4 percent in April 2014 as a result of more persons classified as not being in the labour force, an increase of 15,000 persons. The bulk of the increase in areas where there was employment, was in the clerical category, but the growth here seems to have replaced persons in the lowest area: “Elementary Occupations,” that lost 16,800 workers.
Tourism employed more persons
20 stocks rose to 6 falling on JSE
August 12, 2015 by
RJR closed at a new 52 weeks high of $4.30.
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 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless ended with 1,182,806 units changing hands at 40 cents, Caribbean Cement stock gained 51 cents to close at $8.50, Carreras traded 6,834 units to close at $52, Desnoes & Geddes had 43,637 shares changing hands at $6.80, up 29 cents. Gleaner closed with 250,132 shares traded at new closing 52 weeks’ high of $2.51 for a gain of 36 cents. The stock had traded as high as $2.70 during trading. Grace Kennedy traded 72,578 shares to end at $64, Jamaica Broilers had 11,419 shares changing hands, in closing at $7 for a gain of 30 cents. Jamaica Producers (JP)dropped $1.20 to $18.80 with 986,248 units trading. JP reported earnings for the second quarter attributable to shareholders of $414 million but the bulk of that it, $319 million came from gain on sale of fixed assets and investments. The year-to-date to June net profit attributable to JP shareholders was $589 million compared to $138 million in 2014 of which $429 million came from gains on disposal of fixed assets and investments. JMMB Group traded 10,600 units and fell 39 cents to end at $7.60, 
Mayberry Investments had 219,866 shares trading at $3.15 for a loss of 35 cents, National Commercial Bank traded 44,926 shares at $31 with a gain of 50 cents. Radio Jamaica traded just 8,132 shares to end at $4.30, a new 52 weeks’ high, Sagicor Group ended trading with 17,790 units at $13.05, and lost 15 cents. Proven Investments closed at 17.5 US cents after falling 0.50 US cents with 200,000 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed at $8.30 while trading 295,742 units, Scotia Group gained 44 cents and ended with 109,216 units trading at $26.45, Scotia Investments ended with 15,000 shares changing hands at $27.99, up 99 cents and Supreme Ventures traded 1,974,455 shares at $4.50, a new all-time high by adding 92 cents.
Bulls & bears jostling for control on JSE
August 11, 2015 by
The Jamaica stock market closed with 7 stocks rising, 10 declining as 27 securities changed hands with 2,264,841 units trading, valued at $15,471,105 and 6 stocks closed at new 52 weeks’ high in all market segments.
At the close, the JSE Market Index gained 638.23 points to 101,233.39, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 713.37 points to close at 112,090.69 and the JSE combined index climbed 601.76 points to end at 104,875.03.
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 6 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless ended with 286,500 units changing hands to end at 39 cents, Caribbean Cement stock gained 74 cents to close at $7.99, Carreras traded 11,949 units to close at $52 after trading at a 52 weeks, intraday high of $52.50, Desnoes & Geddes had 21,400 shares changing hands at $6.51, down 4 cents. Gleaner traded at $2.15, and gained 26 cents after 386,946 shares changed hands. At the close, Gleaner closed with the bids above the last traded price at $2.20 to buy 1,000 shares. Grace Kennedy traded 8,000 shares to end at $63, Jamaica Broilers had 61,000 shares changing hands, in closing at $6.70 for a fall 
of 30 cents. National Commercial Bank traded just 89,384 shares at $30.50 with a gain of 49 cents, at the close the stock was offered at $30.50 to sell 51,623 shares and then after that the bid is at $32.50 to sell 245 units, the only other offers posted are, at $33 to sell 503 units and at $60 to sell 2,000 shares. Radio Jamaica traded just 25,185 shares to end at $4, Sagicor Group ended trading with 195,878 units at $13.20, and lost 30 cents. Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed at $8.30 while trading 155,507 units, Scotia Group ended with 138,986 units trading at $26.01, Scotia Investments ended with 44,735 shares changing hands at $27 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference traded 46,000 units at $2.
Big jump at JSE on Friday
August 7, 2015 by
Scotia Group pushes market sharply up on Friday
At the close, the JSE Market Index jumped 1,849.21 points to 100,992.53, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index climbed 2,066.95 points to close at 111,821.48 and the JSE combined index rose 1,994.84 points to end at 104,636.95.
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 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with offers that were lower.In trading, Cable and Wireless ended with only 5,877 units changing hands and lost 4 cents to end at 40 cents, Caribbean Cement traded 47,000 shares to close at $7.10 after gaining 10 cents, Gleaner traded at $1.52, up 22 cents after 28,300 shares changed hands, in response the merger of the company’s media operations with that of Radio Jamaica. At the close, Gleaner closed with ten bids above the last traded price with the highest at $1.72, during the day the bid was as high as $2.22. Grace Kennedy traded 13,372 shares at $64, Hardware & Lumber lost $2.25 to close at $12.75 with just 2,006 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers had 11,888 shares changing hands, in closing at $6.37, to record a loss of 63 cents.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange stock traded 67,824 units at $6.80, for a loss of 20 cents, Mayberry Investments had 292,002 shares trading at $3.10 to gain 10 cents. National Commercial Bank had 35,410 shares trading to close with a 49 cents loss at $30, Radio Jamaica traded just 1,200 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.90 as the price gained 45 cents. Sagicor Group ended trading with 1,017,852 units at $12.96, down 4 cents, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed at $8.50 while trading 34,000 units, Scotia Group ended with 794,735 units trading as high as $26 but ended at $24, Scotia Investments traded 10,000 shares at $27.08 for an 8 cents rise and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference traded 166,500 units at $2.01..
Juniors market at a another high
August 7, 2015 by
Lasco Manufacturing new “I Cool” drinks – the stock closed at an all time high on Friday at $2.10.
gain at $2.60, Derrimon Trading ended with 19,007 shares changing hands, with a gain of 10 cents to end at $2.35. Lasco Distributors traded 65,500 shares to close at $1.76, Lasco Financial Services traded 1,845,506 units to close at $1.90 after shedding 10 cents. Lasco Manufacturing with just 679,674 units changing hands, gained 39 cents to close at $2.10, for a new 52 week’s high and Derrimon Trading ended with 75,549 shares changing hands to end at $2.40.
RJR Gleaner a formidable political force
August 6, 2015 by
The Gleaner Company has been feared by the political forces of Jamaica for decades, as they know the pressure that the entity can wheel. The most telling evidence is the battle of socialism versus capitalism in the 1970’s when the paper relentlessly stood up against the then government of the day and won. If the political forces were fearful of the power of the Gleaner, combine the Gleaner with the other news media powerhouse in the country, RJR and the fear levels must have gone up several degrees since Wednesday’s announcement of the merger of the media business of the Gleaner Company, with that of RJR.
Oliver Clarke Gleaner chairman
The transaction, is to be pursued through a court approved scheme of amalgamation and will be a stock for stock deal. Radio Jamaica will issue 1.2 billion shares on a one for one basis to shareholders of The Gleaner Company in exchange for 100 percent of a newly formed subsidiary Gleaner Company (Media) Limited (GCML) which will hold the assets of the media entities of the Gleaner Company.
Simultaneous with the transaction, the remaining publicly traded Gleaner Company, with non-media assets comprising mainly real estate and other investments will be renamed. This will result in the shareholders of the Gleaner Company Limited owning 50 percent of Radio Jamaica’s stock and existing RJR shareholders owning the remaining 50-percent of the combined business.
The coming together will create the country’s leading Media Company, providing, print, online, radio, television, cable television and new media products and services.
The combined entity will have revenues of J$5.2 billion and assets of just under $4 billion. RJR had profit of $113 million for the year to March this year and Gleaner had a loss of $57 million for the year to December 2014. RJR had total assets of J$1.66 billion and the media segment of the Gleaner had assets of $2.17 billion.
“This combination creates a stronger company that delivers maximum value for our shareholders, greater career opportunities for our employees and superior experience for our customers,” said Christopher Barnes, Managing Director of Gleaner Company Limited. ”Both management teams have built industry-leading suites of products and services, and we’re excited to be part of delivering all of the possibilities to Jamaican consumers,” He added.
The expanded media group which will be renamed once the transaction is complete, is to be led by Chief Executive Officer, Gary Allen with Christopher Barnes as Chief Operating Officer. Lester Spaulding is to be Chairman with Hon. Oliver Clarke as Deputy Chairman.
“The current market, with the amount of existing players, is saturated; especially where there is low economic growth. When added to the recent moves by local telecoms to enter the media space, heightened competition is sure to put increased pressure on the industry. It is therefore very important that Jamaican media look also to shore up their resources in order to engage in the fast changing landscape, as well as to preserve the independence required for our media to do its work on behalf of the Jamaican people” Lester Spaulding stated.
The transaction close, subject to shareholder and court approval along with regulatory review and other customary procedures, is expected by the end of 2015.Radio Jamaica was listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) in 1994. The company is the parent entity in the RJR Communications Group. The members of the Group are RJR 94FM, FAME 95FM, HITZ 92FM, Television Jamaica (TVJ) and TVJ-Sports Network, Reggae Entertainment Television, RETV, and Jamaica News Network, JNN.
The Gleaner Company Limited, established in 1897, is the parent company of a group comprising media operations and investments in Jamaica, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Publications include the 180 year old Gleaner Newspaper in continuous publication since 1834, The Sunday Gleaner, The Star and Weekend Star, the UK Weekly Gleaner, the Weekly Gleaner and Star in USA and Canada, Gleaner Online, Independent Radio Company (Power 106FM, Music 99FM), other print publications, websites and the Gleaner Archives.
This is a big merger and one that will require lots of skills to ensure that the mix of people who are involved can be brought together with little fall out and fall out there will be, if the full benefit is to be achieved from the merger. The greatest benefit will come from a large staff cut as areas of duplication in the newsroom and administration are eliminated.
Initially, the big winners will be the Gleaner shareholders who will be getting over $3 in value for sale of the Gleaner assets to RJR, in addition they will still have shares in the remnant of the Gleaner.