MVL Stockbrokers are in the market early Monday with three significant bids to buy Carreras at $34, National Commercial Bank at $18.12 and Scotia at $20.
The bids are for 5 million units of each of the stock. So far they bought all but 1,700 of the 2,618,405 Scotia Bank Shares at $20.
Information gleaned recently is that a pension fund was in the market for large blocks of shares and the bids of such size could be connected with the pension fund needs.
On Friday, Scotia Investment bought all the Scotia shares to tradefor parties connected with the brokerage house.
5m share orders for Carreras, NCB & Scotia Group
July 28, 2014 by
CWJ revenues rise 37% push CWC Plc
July 26, 2014 by
Cable & Wireless Jamaica grew mobile customers with continued momentum from last year, by 37 percent, Cable & Wireless Communications PLC (CWC) said in a press release, in their first quarter interim management statement for the June 2014 quarter.
The Jamaican growth, pushed the mobile customers in Jamaica to around 750,000 at June, up from 705,000 at March this year and helped to move mobile subscribers was up 20 percent, for the overall CWC group on like-for-like basis, the statement indicated. “LIME growth was driven by continued strong subscriber additions in Jamaica, where revenue grew 34 percent at constant currency”. For the June 2013 quarter, the Jamaican operations saw growth of 22 percent in mobile customers and 10 percent increase in revenue. The growth last year came at a jump of 64 percent in subscriber acquisition cost, the company said last year after the completion of the June quarter.
Group Trading Performance| CWC said that mobile revenue which now represents 55 percent of Group revenue, was up 4 percent across the Group in the First Quarter, with increases in Cayman of 11 percent, following the successful introduction of LTE services; and in Panama 5 percent, where increased advertising drove mobile data 21 percent. Panama also achieved mobile ARPU growth for the first time in five quarters following increased focus on pricing.
Broadband and TV revenue, hampered by slower network speeds, grew only 3 percent and this is a key area where we expect to see improved performance over time as a result of the investments we are making under Project Marlin. The modest growth in Broadband and TV was more than offset by continued decline in fixed voice revenue.
Revenue in the B2B/B2G business – Managed Services – was impacted by reduced Government activity in Panama ahead of elections in May, but CWC management say they remain confident that the new management team and organisational focus will come to fruition later in the year. BTC in the Bahamas delivered solid financial performance alongside improved network reliability during the quarter.
Upgrade| CWCP said “we have upgraded 126 of our mobile sites in Jamaica since 1 April 2014 and expect to complete our 4G network later this year. The fibre build-out in Cayman is complete with over 11,000 homes passed. In Barbados we have now passed 26,000 homes with high-speed fibre. In Panama we successfully launched Direct-to-Home TV and ‘Movil Cash’ products, and, although it is early in the programme, we are exceeding our sales expectations”.
11 stocks rose as Market index jumps
July 25, 2014 by
Broker house, Scotia Investments was the only buyer of the 875,724 Scotia Group shares that change hands in Friday’s trading, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The prices of the stock rose, to close at $20, but traded as high as $20.99.
In the overall market, the prices of 11 stocks rose and 8 declined, as 26 securities changed hands, resulting in 5,240,852 shares trading, valued at $35,553,505.
Main Market| The main indices closed sharply higher in Friday’s trading as heavily weighted Scotia Group jumped to close higher by the end of trading. The JSE Market Index jumped by 1,598.01 points to 71,711.80 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index climbed 1,786.85 points to close at 78,895.01.
Gains| Stocks with gains, volume and last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market, are Cable & Wireless with 210,772 shares up 4 cents to 30 cents, Carreras 317,256 units, gaining 15 cents to $34, Jamaica Broilers 308 units, up 4 cents to $4.61, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 10,000 ordinary shares, up by 5 cents to $7, National Commercial Bank that released results after trading on Thursday, closed up by 6 cents at $18.06 while trading 51,599 shares. The stock closed with the bid of $18.11 to buy 116,978 units. Pan Jamaican Investment with 1,313 stock units, gained 8 cents to $48.10, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 10,000 units and gained 1 cent to $6.36 and Scotia Group gained $1.30 to $20.
Firm| The stocks with volume and last traded prices in the main market to close without a price change, are Caribbean Cement with 1,600 shares at $2.50, Desnoes & Geddes 646 shares at $4, Jamaica Producers with 5,367 shares at $17.51, Sagicor Group 121,247 units at $9, Seprod 1,276 shares at $10.50 and Supreme Ventures 12,020 units at $1.95.
Declines| The stocks with losses, volume and last traded prices at the end of trading in the main market, are Gleaner with 10,300 shares, down a cent at $1.11, Grace Kennedy with 5,000 shares, lost $1.05 to end at $55, Hardware & Lumber 800 units, down 15 cents at $9, Mayberry Investments 4,080 units at $1.55, for a 1 cent fall.
Preference| Jamaica Public Service 5% C preference share traded 42,102 units and was up by a cent to $3.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 21.99 points to close at 627.28 as 7 stocks traded with 2 advancing and 4 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market, with the closing prices, are Blue Power 5,320 shares and the price was up by 5 cents to $9.10 and Lasco Manufacturing with 3,091,640 shares the price gained 10 cents to $1 but it traded at a 52 weeks low of 85 cents before recovering by the end of trading.
Firm Trades| The stock in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before is General Accident with 99,982 shares at $1.46.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading with the closing prices are, Caribbean Producers with 430,000 shares with a 5 cents loss to $2.45, Honey Bun with only 100 shares to fall by 60 cents to $2.30. This stock was poised to fall sharply after it released disappointing third quarter results and the offer gradually melted away, as bids were at very low levels. Lasco Distributors with 25,000 shares lost 9 cents to end at a new 52 weeks low of $1.10 and Lasco Financial with 7,400 units was down 8 cent to 92 cents, after the company posted a 20 percent increase in its first quarter results to June.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Scotia Group pushes All Jamaica Index by 1,786.85
July 25, 2014 by
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Broker house Scotia Investments was the only buyer of the 875,724 Scotia Group shares that change hands in Friday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The prices of the stocks rose to close at $20, but traded as high as $20.99.
For the overall market, the prices of 11 stocks rose and 8 declined as 26 securities changed hands, resulting in 5,240,852 shares trading, valued at $35,553,505.
Main Market indices| The main indices closed sharply higher in Friday’s trading as heavily weighted Scotia Group, jumped to close at $20 by the end of trading. The JSE Market Index surged 1,598.01 points to 71,711.80 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index exploded by 1,786.85 points to close at 78,895.01.
National Commercial Bank that released results after trading on Thursday, closed up by 6 cents to $18.06 while trading 51,599 shares and closed with a bid of $18.11 to buy 116,978 units.
Lasco companies dominant in JSE trades
July 24, 2014 by
In Thursday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the three Lasco companies dominated trading accounting 9,346,942 or 86 percent of the volume traded and nearly 37 percent of the value.
Elsewhere the prices of 6 stocks rose and 11 declined as 27 securities changed hands, resulting in 10,814,964 shares trading, valued at $25,066,008. Three stocks closed at new 52 weeks low, at the end of trading.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index rose by 165.72 points to 70,113.79 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved up 185.31 points to close at 77,108.16.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market, are Caribbean Cement with 10,000 shares, to close with a gain of 10 cents at $2.50, Gleaner with 3,000 units changing hands, gained 2 cents to close $1.12, Grace Kennedy with 4,575 shares, gained 5 cents to close at $56.05, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 7,800 units, to close 30 cents up at $6.35 and Scotia Group exchanged 99,000 shares, to close up 20 cents at $18.70.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a price change, are Berger Paints 3,799 shares to close at $1.62, Jamaica Broilers 2,200 units traded, to close at $4.57, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 112,700 shares closed at $6.95, Jamaica Producers, with 309 shares closed at $17.51 and Sagicor Group 67,700 units closed at $9.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market, are Cable & Wireless with only 6,494 units, closed at 26 cents with a 3 cents decline, Carreras lost 5 cents in trading 188,550 shares to close at $33.85, Desnoes & Geddes with 250,000 units closed with a decline of 25 cents, to end at $4, a new 52 weeks low, National Commercial Bank exchanged 45,564 shares and closed with a one cent loss at $18, Radio Jamaica traded 2,550 units in losing 6 cents, to end at $1.22, Scotia Investments traded at a new 52 weeks low of $21 as 9,310 shares were exchanged, with a 10 cents decline and Supreme Ventures traded only 680 shares in losing 2 cents off the price, to close at $1.95.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) 8.50% preference share traded 57,000 units and closed at $3.50 and the JMMB 8.75% preference share traded 16,695 units, to lose 2 cents and closed at $2.99.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 14.07 points to close at 649.27 as 7 stocks traded with one advancing and 4 declining.
Gains| Dolphin Cove was the sole stock, recording a gain at the end of trading in the junior market, it traded 304,625 shares and climbed 10 cents to $8.40.
Firm Trades| The actives stocks in the junior market that closed at the same price as the day before are, Caribbean Producers with 75,000 units to close at $2.50 and Lasco Financial 1,446,904 units to close at $1.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading, are Access Financial with 34,680 shares at $8.97, down a cent $1.03, General Accident 3,000 units traded with decline of 4 cents to close $1.46, Lasco Distributors had 762,355 shares changing hands and declined by a cent to $1.19 and its sister company, Lasco Manufacturing with a large volume of 7,137,683 shares, closed at a new 52 weeks low of 90 cents, after falling 10 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
JSE slips slightly on Wednesday
July 23, 2014 by
In Wednesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of 3 stocks rose, 4 declined as 18 securities changed hands, resulting in 4,500,373 shares trading, valued at $18,301,213.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell by 32.60 points to 69,948.07 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index lost 36.46 points to close at 76,922.85.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market, are Carreras with 1,348 shares and gained 30 cents to close at $33.90 followed by Ciboney with 510,000 shares to close one cent higher at 9 cents and National Commercial Bank 138,815 units gained 1 cent and closed at $18.01.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price, are Gleaner with 3,102 units and closed at $1.10, Grace Kennedy traded 2,500 units to close at $56, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 6,100 ordinary shares closed at $6.95, Pan Jamaican Investment had 6,030 units trading, to close at $48.02, Sagicor Group 87,408 shares closed with the price at $9 and Scotia Investments traded only 2,625 units to close at $21.10.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 30,000 units to close unchanged at $2.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market, are Jamaica Broilers with only 3,101 shares and closed with a decline of 4 cents at $4.57, Proven Investments with 4,000 ordinary shares, closed with a decline of 0.0095 cent to end at 17 US cents, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed with a decline of 25 cents, to end at $6.05 with 211,930 units changing hands and Scotia Group with 97,601 shares closed with a decline of 11 cents at $18.50.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 6.52 points to close at 663.34 as 4 stocks traded with none advancing nor declining.
Gains| No stocks gained in the junior market at the end of trading.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before, are KLE Group with 9,424 shares to close at 95 cents, Buy Rated Knutsford Express had 1,812,228 units changing hands to close at $5.17, Lasco Distributors with 1,148,711 units, closed at $1.20 and Lasco Manufacturing with 425,450 shares closed at $1.
Declines| No stocks declined in the junior market at the end of trading.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Carreras to consider another dividend payment
July 23, 2014 by
Carreras advised the stock exchange that a dividend payment will be considered at a meeting to be held on July 30, 2014 by the board. This should be the regular quarterly dividend which is usually paid in August.
Carreras last declared a special capital cash distribution of $1.34 per stock unit to be paid on July 31, 2014 to stockholders on July 18, 2014 with the Ex-dividend date July 16, 2014. The funds are out of proceeds received from the liquidation of a subsidiary, pending the granting of a transfer tax exemption pursuant to the Transfer Tax Act the company said in a release to the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The special capital cash distribution will brings the total payments the company made to shareholders since August last year to $8.89.
A special capital cash distribution of $1.18 was paid in January this year, the company also paid an interim dividend of $1.75 per stock unit on June 26, $1.62 per share. On March 13 they paid a dollar per share as well as in August and November last year.
Gains more than losses but indices fall on JSE
July 22, 2014 by
In Tuesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of 8 stocks rose, 5 declined as 23 securities changed hands, culminating in 3,304,455 shares trading, valued at $12,238,376.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index dropped by 278.54 points to 69,980.67 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 311.45points to close at 76,959.31.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market, are Cable & Wireless with 331,127 units as the price closed 4 cents higher at 29 cents, Caribbean Cement with 15,180 shares, closed with a 15 cents gain at $2.40, Grace Kennedy traded just 1,140 units and gained $1 to end at $56, Jamaica Broilers had 107,554 shares changing hands with a 4 cents gain, to end at $4.61, Mayberry Investments had 9,000 units trading, with a 2 cents gain to close at $1.57, Scotia Group traded only 12,450 shares with a gain of 10 cents as the price closed at $18.61 and Supreme Ventures 8,000 units, resulted in a 2 cents rise to $1.97.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price, are Berger Paints with 14,787 to close at $1.62, Ciboney 6,000 shares to close at 8 cents, Desnoes & Geddes 1,959,606 shares to close at $4.25, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 2,235 ordinary shares to close at $6.95, Kingston Wharves traded 68,182 shares to close at $5, National Commercial Bank traded 15,557 shares to close at $18, Radio Jamaica with 135,998 shares closed at $1.28 and Salada Foods 30,000 shares changed hands, to close at $7.90.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market, are Gleaner with 3,696 units to close at $1.10, after shedding a cent, Pan Jamaican Investment with 18,740 shares as the price slipped 24 cents to $48.02, Sagicor Group 15,168 shares traded with a loss of 5 cents to end at $9 and Scotia Investments closed at $21.10 with a loss of 20 cents, as 3,000 shares were traded.
Preference| Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 5,000 units to close unchanged at $5.04.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 9.54 points to close at 669.86 as only 3 securities traded, with one advancing and one declining.
Gains| The only stock to gain at the end of trading in the junior market is General Accident with 440,040 units as the price closed up 5 cents to $1.50.
Firm Trades| The active stock in the junior market to close at the same price as the day before, is Dolphin Cove with 1,000 shares at $8.30.
Declines| Lasco Manufacturing was the sole stock declining in the junior market at the end of trading, as 100,995 shares changed hands at $1 for a 4 cents fall.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Allan Lewis new chairman – Jamaica Stock Exchnage
July 22, 2014 by
Alan Lewis – Chairman JSE
Ian McNaughton, Managing Director, Barita Investments was elected Deputy Chairman. Donovan Perkins, the former Chairman had previously indicated to the shareholders that he was stepping down as the Chairman of the Company, due his appointment as the CEO of the newly acquired RBC Bank by Sagicor Group Jamaica.
Ian McNaughton
Grace acquires US$80M US food company
July 21, 2014 by
Jamaica’s Grace Kennedy continues its overseas expansion in what it says is a continuation of its strategy of becoming a Global Consumer Group. The company through one of its subsidiaries entered into an agreement to purchase the operating assets and business of La Fe Foods Inc., including its brand.
Grace Kennedy accounted for 82% of Monday’s volume.
La Fe is said to be the top Hispanic Brand in the frozen food category in Northeast USA. The company was established in 1968 and currently has revenues of approximately US$80 million. Grace expects the acquired business will be the platform for the growth of Grace Kennedy’s North American business going forward. The purchase price is US$26 million.
This acquisition is a major step in achieving our vision of being a Global Consumer Group,” said Grace Kennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby. “La Fe was attractive to us for several reasons, including its distribution channels across the East Coast USA and its strong relationships with blue-chip retailers across the US. The company has operations in Moonachie, New Jersey; Miami, Florida and Raleigh, North Carolina, with brand and distribution presence in the New York/Tri-state area, Florida, Georgia and the East Coast. Our international business started with the Jamaican diaspora. We have served them proudly for a very long time, and we will now be able to serve them even better while catering to a new market for Grace Kennedy as well. We are very excited about this acquisition, which we anticipate will be a serious game-changer for our Food Distribution Network,” he said.
Grace Kennedy products
The La Fe transaction is the second major acquisition for Grace Kennedy outside of Jamaica for the Foods Division with the first being the acquisition of WT Foods (now Grace Foods UK) in the UK in 2007. Grace Foods UK has shown improved profits and revenue since the 2007 acquisition.
The acquisition comes on the heels of Grace finalising the divestment of a part of its financial arm, to Proven Investments for US$18.6 million or J$2.05 billion for
.
