Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) has obtained approval as a Designated Stock Exchange under the Income Tax Act of Canada. The approval was authourised by Canada’s Finance Minister Joe Oliver. A Designated Exchange provides that persons in Canada who purchase stocks on the Main JSE market will be exempt from taxes on income derived from these purchases in that country. The stocks on the JSE’s Main Market will become more attractive to Canadian Pension Fund, Investment Managers and Investors on a whole as a result of the tax exemption. If Jamaican Diaspora Bonds are listed on the JSE Main Market it will now be more attractive to the Jamaicans in Canada as they will not be required to pay income tax when trading these bond, a release from the Jamaica Stock Exchange suggest.
The JSE had to meet certain standards to have been recognized as a Designated Exchange, including adherence to rules and regulations, maintain a reasonable level of liquidity and offer a range of product on the Exchange.
“This is a significant milestone in our history, when the Canadian Government recognized the JSE as a Designated Exchange. This seeks to further solidify the relationship between Jamaica and Canada, a country which was instrumental in assisting the JSE with its first sets of Rules and the JSE’s Securities Course” Marlene Street Forrest, General Manager of the JSE, stated.
JSE gets Canadian tax exemption
Declining stocks more than advancing
In Friday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 5 stocks rose and 7 declined as 19 securities changed hands resulting in 8,662,257 shares trading, valued at $48,043,196 sparking a moderate gain in the main indices as well as the Junior market Index.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index inched up 78.18 points to 69,741.08 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved up by 87.42 points to close at 76,691.40.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Desnoes & Geddes with 304,463 units changing hands and the price gained 20 cents to close at $4.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 4,600 shares to close with a gain of 4 cents to close at $6.65, Proven Investments with 7,700 ordinary shares to close with a gain of 0.0001 US cents to close at 18 US cents and Sagicor Group with 18,919 shares to close with a gain of 10 cents at $8.90.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Cable & Wireless which traded 609,766 shares to close at 30 cents, Gleaner with 3,759,161 shares to close at $1.10, Grace Kennedy traded 464,183 units valued at $25 million, just over half of the value of trade in the market, to close at $54, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share, traded 14,400 units to close at $2 and Seprod with 234,532 units to close at $10.50.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Carreras with 141,077 shares, declined by 1 cent to end at $33.50, Pan Jamaican Investment 2,000 units to decline by 4 cents to end at $48.01, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 30,000 shares as the price fell by a cent to close at $6.0, Scotia Group with 11,365 units as the price drifted down by 19 cents to end at $19.01, Scotia Investments with only 2,750 units to close with a 50 cents loss at $21.50, a new 52 weeks low and Supreme Ventures with 3,051,100 shares as the price slipped 9 cents to end at $1.90.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index gained 1.25 points to close at 719.35 as 3 stocks traded with 1 advancing and 1 declining and a debenture.
Gains| The only stock recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market was Lasco Distributors with a mere 1,490 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents at $1.20.
Firm Trades| Jamaican debenture notes traded 34,000 units at par of $100 each, valued at $3,400,000 and Medical Disposables 2,000 units to close at $1.95 were the only securities in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the prior trading day.
Declines| The only stock declining in the junior market at the end of trading is AMG Packaging with 2,751 shares to close with a loss of 20 cents at $3.10, for a new 52 weeks low.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower. This suggest continued sideways movement for the market in the short term.
Grace, Sagicor & NCB dominate trades
On another day when stock broker Scotia Investment was involved in the sale of large trades in Grace Kennedy valued at $82,709,830, National Commercial Bank with a value of $43,035,978 and Sagicor Group with a value of $41,176,293, the volume continues on a high note. In today’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Mayberry Investments and Scotia Investments hit new 52 weeks lows at $1.45 and $22 respectively, for Mayberry it also it is the lowest price since it was listed on the exchange back in 2005. In trading activities elsewhere the prices of 5 stocks rose and 7 declined with only 16 securities changing hands resulting in 9,181,583 shares trading valued at $172,160,099.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell by 277.89 points to 69,662.9 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index lost 310.73 points to close at 76,603.98.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 145,500 units changing hands gained 3 cents to close at 30 cents, Caribbean Cement 3,386 to close with an increase of 15 cents to close at $2.25 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 5,000 shares to gain a cent in closing at $6.61.
Firm| There were only stocks in the main market to close without a change in price as Grace Kennedy saw trading in 1,531,645 shares valued and closed at $54, Jamaica Broilers with only 1,864 units to end at $4.57, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 40,765 units to close at $6.09 and Scotia Group with 132,799 shares valued at $2,543,287, closed at $19.20.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Carreras with 11,958 while losing 44 cents to end at $33.51, Kingston Wharves with 6,802 shares to close 5 cents down at $5, Mayberry Investments with 25,000 units closed with a 5 cents fall at $1.45, National Commercial Bank with 2,487,460 units and closed 5 cents down at $18.50 with the vast majority trading around $17.20, Sagicor Group traded 4,672,227 units to close with a loss of 10 cents at $8.80 and Scotia Investments with 83,647 shares with a $1.10 loss at $22.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index advanced by 7.95 points to close at 718.10 as only 3 stocks traded with2 advancing and 1declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Lasco Financial traded 1,530 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents at $1.15 and Lasco Manufacturing gained 7 cents to close at $1.12 with 30,000 units.
Firm Trades| There were no stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Medical Disposables with only 2,000 closed with a 5 cents loss at $1.95, the lowest price since it was listed but still above the IPO price of $1.83.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Inside trades at Sagicor & General Accident
A senior manager sold 1,820,000 shares of Sagicor Group under the group’s Executive Long Term Incentive Scheme on June 17, 2014. A director and a connected party of General Accident Insurance Company purchased 200,198 of the company’s shares on May 26, 2014.
Dividend at Kingston Wharves
Kingston Wharves approved the an interim dividend of 10 cents per stock unit payable on July 30, 2014, to shareholders on record at July 16 and the ex dividend date is July 14.
The company paid an interim dividend of 8 cents per share payable on December 20, last year. The company also paid a final dividend of 2 cents per share in respect of the financial year ended December 2012 and an interim dividend of 8 cents per share in respect of the 2013, on March 28 last year.
More stocks decline as volumes jump
In Wednesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 6 stocks rose and 9 declined as 29 securities traded, resulting in 22,241,794 shares changing hands valued at $382,726,202.Scotia Investments was one of the brokers that was heavily involved in sales of some of the high volume trades while Pan Caribbean was involved in major crosses for a large portion of the Sagicor Group shares that traded but Scotia Investments was also involved in selling of this stock. Proven Wealth was the broker trading the block of Proven ordinary shares that was crossed. Mayberry Investments closed at a new 52 weeks low at the end of trading.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell by 320.97 points to 69,940.79 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved down by 358.91 points to close at 76,914.71.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Ciboney with only 4,000 units to gain a cent and closed at 8 cents, National Commercial Bank with 2,072,226 shares valued at $35,858,252, closed with a 5 cents gain to $18.55, Pan Jamaican Investment with 745,000 shares with a value of $35,797,2500 closed at $48.05 for a 5 cents rise, Sagicor Group saw 9,543,413 shares changing hands worth $84,556,781 as the price closed up by 10 cents at $8.90 and Supreme Ventures with only 1,150 unis, gained 3 cents to $1.99.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Cable & Wireless with only 10,000 shares and closed at 27 cents, Caribbean Cement 10,050 units to close at $2.10, Desnoes & Geddes had 846 shares trading, to close at $4.30, Gleaner with 201,732 shares closed at $1.10, Grace Kennedy 1,561,330 shares valued at $84,411,820 to close at $54, Jamaica Broilers 838 shares closed at $4.57, Jamaica Money Market Brokers traded 99,448 units to close at $6.60, Kingston Wharves had 63,082 units changing hands as it closed at $5.05 and Radio Jamaica with 10,292 ended at $1.29.
Preference share| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share with 306,100 units closed unchanged at $3.05.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Berger Paints with 7,863 shares as the price closed down 4 cents at $1.66, Carreras with 100 shares, closed with a decline of 5 cents to $33.95, Mayberry Investments 10,000 units, to close at $1.50, down by 15 cents for a new 52 weeks low, Proven Investments with 5,661,425 units losing 0.0001 US cents to end at 0.1799 US cents. Sagicor Real Estate Fund had only 2,100 units as the price dropped a cents to close at $6.09, Scotia Group had a big trade of 1,251,830 shares valued at $24,171,166, the price lost 10 cents to close at $19.20 and Scotia Investments with 16,353 units ended down by 90 cents, at $23.10
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.63 points to close at 710.15 as 7 stocks traded with only one advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| General Accident Insurance was the only stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market with 40,000 units as the price was up a cent at $1.37.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial with 30,000 shares traded to close at $13.50, Blue Power with 2,452 units closed at $9.01, Medical Disposables with 3,000 shares to close at $2 and Paramount Trading 387,085 units to end at $2.68.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Caribbean Cream with 174,079 and closed with a decline of 5 cents to close at 70 cents and Consolidated Bakeries traded 26,000 units to close with a 2 cents fall to 80 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 8 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Inside trades – Director buys into D&G
Trade by insiders can be a good indicator about the future prospects of a company’s performance but not every inside trade will be informative and can be relied on. The latest insider trades include a relative big purchase that of 1,971,000 Desnoes & Geddes shares by a Director of the company that was carried out on June 13, 2014.
An Executive of Scotia Group purchased 239,106 shares under the company’s Executive Long Term Incentive Scheme on June 9, 2014 for settlement on June 12, 2014. Over at Pan-Jam Investment Trust a Director purchased 10,000 Pan-Jamaican Trust shares on June 10, 2014.
JSE closes with10 down 3 up
In Tuesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of only 3 stocks rose while 10 declined, as 22 securities traded, resulting in 9,334,640 shares changing hands valued at $118,822,240. The increased trading over Monday’s level is due to trades mostly executed by Scotia Investments in Pan Jamaican Investment, Sagicor Group and Scotia Group. At the end of trading the IC bid-offer Indicator was strongly positive with 3 to 1 ratio.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index declined by 918.77 points to 70,261.76 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved dropped by 1,027.34 points to close at 77,273.62.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Caribbean Cement in trading 1,935 units to close 10 cents up at $2.10, National Commercial Bank with 46,675 units changing hands with a 50 cents gain to close at $18.50 and Supreme Ventures with 316,731 shares closing at $1.96 for a 1 cent gain.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Grace Kennedy with 15,000 units and closed at $54, Mayberry Investments with 21,928 units, closed at $1.65, Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 28,480 units, closed at $6.10 and Seprod 500 units, closed at $10.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 28,000 units and closed at $2 and the 8.75% preference shares had 134,000 units trading to close at $3.05.
Declines| The number of stocks to decline in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 1,700,951 units while losing 1 cent to end at 27 cents, Carreras with 100,652 shares, declined by 50 cents to close at $34, Desnoes & Geddes 500 shares, declined by 30 cents to close at $4.30, Hardware & Lumber with 4,000 shares, dropped 50 cents to close at $9.50, Pan Jamaican Investment 1,000,859 shares, declined by 5 cents to close at $48, Sagicor Group exchanged 3,447,684 shares to fall by 30 cents and closed at $8.80 and Scotia Group with 1,692,397 shares to decline by 20 cents to close at $19.30.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 3.98 points to 710.78 as 6 stocks traded with none advancing and 3 declining.
Gains| None.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial 1,000 shares to close at $13.50, Lasco Financial 3,087 units and closed at $1.13 and Lasco Manufacturing 157,000 units while closing at $1.05.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Caribbean Cream with 12,500 shares, declined by 8 cents to close at 75 cents, Consolidated Bakeries 458,761 units, declined by 8 cents to close at 82 cents and Lasco Distributors with 162,000 shares, fell 3 cents to close at $1.18.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 13 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Carreras & NCB up $1

Carreras and National Commercial Bank gained $1 each in moderate trading Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange as the prices of 4 stocks rose and 4 declined with 19 securities traded, resulting in 4,229,295 shares trading valued at $47,344,274, both the volume and value of traded were higher than on Friday but the number of securities traded were down from 25 previously.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 683.89 points to 71,180.53 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved 764.72 points to close at 78,300.96.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Carreras had 28,057 units changing hands with a gain of $1 in closing at $34.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 93,767 ordinary shares closing at 10 higher at $6.60, National Commercial Bank with 15,940 shares, gained a $1 to end at $18 and Scotia Group saw 1,599,574 units changing hands to close 20 cents higher at $19.50.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Grace Kennedy 15,000 units to close at $54, Hardware & Lumber 300 shares to close at $10, Jamaica Broilers with 34,000 units to close at $4.57, Radio Jamaica 5,370 shares to close at $1.29, Sagicor Group with 958,732 units to close at $9.10 and Seprod 61,832 shares to close at $10.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% share traded 1,157,770 units to close at $3.05.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement 141,566 units to close 5 cents lower at $2, Mayberry Investments with 2,522 units to close at 8 cents at $1.65, Pan Jamaican Investment 250 shares to close 5 cents lower at $48.05.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.66 points to close at 714.76 as only 5 stocks traded with none advancing and 1 declining.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the previous trading day are Consolidated Bakeries with 10,100 shares to close 90 cents, General Accident 16,640 units to close at $1.36, Lasco Distributors with 83,465 shares to close $1.21 and Lasco Manufacturing 1,410 units to close at $1.05
Declines| The stock declining in the junior market at the end of trading is Lasco Financial with only 3,000 units to close at $1.13 with a 2 cents loss.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Carreras up $1,NCB up $1top movers
Carreras was up $1 to $34.50 while trading 28,057 shares, NCB gained $1 to $18 with 4,140 units trading and Sagicor Group with 958,732 units and Scotia Group with 1,597,476 units trading were the top stocks with 15 minutes of trading to go in Mondays trading on the Jamaican Stock Exchange.