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.
JSE slips slightly on Wednesday
Carreras to consider another dividend payment
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
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
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
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
.
Lousy Monday trading on JSE
Monday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange was very moderate, as the prices of 3 stocks rose, 6 declined and 18 securities changed hands, resulting in 1,001,293 shares trading valued at a mere $4,627,847.
Main Market| By the close of trading the JSE Market Index inched up by 71.70 points to 70,259.21 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved up 80.17 points to close at 77,270.76.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market, are Grace Kennedy with 7,725 units as the price gained 99 cents to $55, Pan Jamaican Investment traded only 1,558 shares but gained 25 cents, to land at $48.26 and Scotia Group with 94,278 units changing hands, gained a cent to close at $18.51.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price, are Carreras with 10,224 shares closing at $33.60. Mayberry Investments traded 3,943 units and closed at $1.55, Seprod traded 5,000 units and ended at $10.50 and Supreme Ventures traded 11,500 units to close at $1.95.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 2,000 units at $2.
Declines| The number of stocks declining in the main market, are Cable & Wireless with 502,916 shares, while losing 2 cents to end at 25 cents, Jamaica Broilers with 76,626 shares, lost 3 cents to close at $4.57, National Commercial Bank with 8,475 units, closed with a 2 cents loss at $18, Sagicor Group in trading 115,510 shares lost 5 cents to close at $9.05 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund, exchanged 4,500 units for 10 cents lower at $6.30.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 8.99 points to close at 679.40 as 5 securities traded, with none advancing and one declining.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before, are Caribbean Cream with 38,240 shares to close at 70 cents, Jamaican Teas with only 698 units at $3.25, Lasco Financial Services with 29,100 shares to close at $1 and Medical Disposables & Supplies with 86,000 shares at $2.
Declines| The only stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading is Lasco Distributors with 3,000 units to close down 10 cents at $1.20.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Moderate price changes on JSE Friday
In Friday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 5 stocks rose, 7 declined as 20 securities changed hands, resulting in 2,619,479 shares trading, valued at $11,003,465.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index declined by 346.05 points to 70,187.51 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 386.94 points, to close at 77,190.59.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market, are Grace Kennedy with 21,000 shares as the price improved by a cent to close at $54.01, Jamaica Producers traded 233 shares to close with a cent gain, at $17.51 and Sagicor Group traded 73,000 shares in closing at $9.10, for a 3 cents gain.
Declines| The stocks that declined in the main market, are Cable & Wireless with 2 cents loss while trading 697,629 units, to close at 27 cents, Carreras with 7,535 shares closed 30 cents lower at $33.60, Hardware & Lumber traded 600 shares to close with a 35 cents loss at $9.15, Kingston Wharves with 100,000 units closed with a 25
NCB & Paramount plan dividend payments
Times may be tough for many Jamaicans but the majority of listed companies continue to distribute dividends to their shareholders.
The latest announcement of plans for dividends are from National Commercial Bank (NCB) and Paramount Trading.
NCB advises that the Board of Directors will consider the payment of an interim dividend to stockholders at a meeting to be held on Thursday, July 24, 2014. National Commercial Bank approved an increase dividend payment of 35 cents per share paid on May 22 and a dividend of 32 cents per ordinary stock was paid on February 20 this year.
Paramount advised that Board Meeting to be held at 8 Bell Road East on Thursday, July 24, 2014 receive the audited financials and consider a dividend. Paramount paid an interim dividend of 13.5 cents per share payable on December 10, 2013.
Insiders buy more shares
Inside trades continue apace with the latest once more in Sagicor Group Jamaica who advised that an Executive purchased 571,696 shares under the group’s Executive Long Term Incentive Scheme on July 16, 2014.
Pan-Jamaican Investment that owns more than 30 percent of Sagicor also advised that a director purchased 5,000 shares on July 14, 2014.
Blue Power Group advised that a Director sold 687,285 ordinary shares to a connected party of Guardsman Group on July 11, 2014.
Grace Kennedy has advised that on June 26, 2014 GK Capital Management acquired by way of a trade across the floor of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), 10,200,000 ordinary stock units in the JSE from PWL Transition Ltd (formerly First Global Financial Services (FGFS)). The transfer of the stock units in the JSE was part of the larger transaction whereby all the shares in FGFS were sold by First Global Holdings a subsidiary of Grace to Proven Investments Limited and the price agreed took into account the overall deal.
More stocks fall than rise but main indices up
In Thursday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 4 stocks rose, 7 declined as 16 securities changed hands, resulting in 2,965,442 shares trading, valued at $16,295,528.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 168.74 points to 70,533.56 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved up 188.68 points, to close at 77,577.53.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Berger Paints trading 2,955 shares to close with a 2 cents gain at $1.62, Carreras 7,535 shares closed 10 cents higher at $33.90, Desnoes & Geddes 21,750 units traded to close 5 cents higher, at $4.25, National Commercial Bank gained 5 cents to close at $18.20, with 900 units changing hands, Sagicor Group traded 1,137,827 shares in closing at $9.07 for a 2 cents gain and Scotia Group traded 11,881 units to close 9 cents up, at $18.60
Firm| Kingston Wharves with 511 units closing at $5.25 was the only stocks in the main market to close without a change in price.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 439,700 units to close at $2,
Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share with 523,950 units closed at $3.01 and Jamaica Public Service 5% D preference share with 23,675 units closed at 35 cents.
Declines| The stocks that declined in the main market are Cable & Wireless that lost a cent with 6,758 units to close at 29 cents and Grace Kennedy with 25,000 shares as the price slipped $1 to close at $54.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 15.40 points to close at 670.67, only 4 stocks traded with none advancing and 3 declining.
Firm Trades| Only one stock in the junior market that traded, close at the same price as the day before with Lasco Financial Services trading 10,000 shares as the price closed at $1.
Declines| Junior market stocks declining at the end of trading are Caribbean Producers with 505,000 shares, declining by 5 cents to close at $2.50, Lasco Distributors with 129,000 shares changed hands for 5 cents higher at $1.20 and Lasco Manufacturing 119,000 shares, closed with a loss of 8 cents at $1.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.