Bulls reign for now on JSE

D&G traded at a new  52 weeks' high of $7

D&G traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $7

Wednesday was another big day for the Jamaica Stock Exchange as buyers continue to put upward pressure on stock prices, resulting in the prices of 15 stocks rising, 7 declining and 5 stocks closing at 52 weeks’ high as 34 securities changed hands, ending in 10,246,151 units trading, valued at $38,557,910, in all market segments. Barita Investments traded 6.7 million units valued at $14.37 million with 4 million units being a crossed by Barita investments and Mayberry Investments picking just about all of the rest.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 1,258.19 points to 96,752.04, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 1,406.71 points to close at 106,891.56 and the JSE combined index put on 1,082.65 points to close at 98,682.46. The All Jamaica Index is now at the highest level since November 10, 2011.
JSE sum 6-5-15 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 3 with offers that were lower.
In trading, after a long period of drought, Barita Investments closed with 6,729,389 shares changing hands with as the price ended at $2.07 after trading as high as $2.25. Mayberry Investments bought 2,589.737 units from Barita’s clients for in house inventories and Barita bought 4 million units from the company’s clients for in house inventories. Caribbean Cement finished trading with 119,456 shares as the price ended unchanged at $5, Carreras concluded trading with 33,390 shares, $2.50 lower at $47.50. Ciboney ended trading 500,000 units and put on 1 cent to close at 10 cents, Desnoes & Geddes ended trading 330,611 shares to close higher by 49 cents at a 52 weeks high of $7, Grace Kennedy contributed 41,191 shares to close $1.38 higher, at a 52 weeks’ high of $65, after trading at $65.50. JSE fn qts -6-5-15Hardware & Lumber ended trading with 20,600 units to gain of 85 cents at $11, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished trading with 101,000 shares at $2.93 to record a 3 cents rise, National Commercial Bank while exchanged 193,050 units with a decline of 50 cents, to $30. Sagicor Group closed with 24,900 shares and fell 34 cents, to $11.86, Scotia Group had 52,719 shares trading, with the price ending unchanged at $25, Scotia Investments finished trading with 2,285 shares with a gain of 22 cents, to $24.50. Supreme Ventures closed with 120,624 units trading for 30 cents lower at $3.60, Proven Investments concluded trading with 97,144 ordinary shares at 21 US cents, after gaining moderately. IC Insider has confirmed that the company along with National Commercial Bank will be acquiring around 36 percent of Guardian Holdings a Trinidad Based Life assurance company. Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded with 87,000 shares at $2.10 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded closing with 45,000 units changing hands at $3.

JSE powering up to break resistance

JSE closed at a new 52 weeks' high of $2.90 by posting a gain of 89 cents

JSE closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $2.90 by posting a gain of 89 cents

The Jamaica Stock Exchange continued where it left off on Friday and posted another solid day of gains on Monday but with limited volume. The market ended with the prices of 13 stocks rising, 5 declining as indicated by the IC stock market indicator at the close on Friday.
Monday’s reading suggest a continuation of the bullish tone, although it suggest that there could be less stocks gaining in the main market than on Monday.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.
JSe sum 27-4-15 Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 1,055.74 points to 88,470.49, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 1,180.37 points to close at 97,632.41 and the JSE combined index increased by 953.26 points to close at 90,100.14. In all, 28 securities changed hands, ending in 1,437,587 units trading, valued at $28,055,047, in all market segments and 4 stocks closed at new 52 weeks’ high.
In trading, Barita Investments closed with 130,500 shares trading at $2.07, for a 12 cents gain, Caribbean Cement had 26,500 units changing hands 20 cents higher at $2.70. Carreras closed trading with 12,563 shares at $45 but traded as high as $46.50 for a new 52 weeks’ intraday high but lost $1 at the end. Grace Kennedy put through 26,573 units to gain 43 cents and end at $62.99, Jamaica Broilers put on 20 cents with 11,628 shares trading, at $4.80. Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with 37,512 units trading at $2.90, after putting on 89 cents gain, to end at a 52 weeks’ high, National Commercial Bank traded at a new 52 weeks’ intraday high of $28, with 840,067 JSE fn qts 27-4-15 shares changing hands, the stock closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $27.01 with an increase of 29 cents. Pan Jamaican Investment traded just 500 shares to close with a gain of 75 cents at $56.03, Sagicor Group traded 34,338 units at $10.61, to record a gain of 6 cents, Scotia Group had 30,477 shares trading, to close at $22.66 for a 66 cents gain, to close at a 52 weeks’ high. Supreme Ventures closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.10 with just 20,000 shares changing hands and put on 23 cents and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 76,000 units at $3.07 as the price slipped by 13 cents.

Are JSE month end prices manipulated?

Grace shares gained $1.49 to end at $62.50 on Tuesday

Grace shares gained $1.49 to end at $62.50 on Tuesday

At the close of trading on the penultimate day of March, the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with one of the highest number of bids in excess of the last traded prices of stocks on the exchange. The closing prices of stocks on Tuesday, resulted in one of the highest number gaining in one day, for some time, and they were just over the number of higher bids at the close on Monday. On Tuesday, the bids that were higher than the last selling prices of stocks, fell back sharply at the close.
From as far back as the last full week before the month end, there were signs of closing bids and offers being posted with what appears an intent to maintain them at higher levels until month end or close thereto as possible. Tuesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 18 stocks rising, only 3 declining as 32 securities changed hands, ending in 3,268,722 units trading, valued at $28,664,047, in all market segments.
Main Market| At the close the JSE Market Index lost 441.41 points to 83,804.68, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 493.52 points to close at 92,415.82 and the JSE combined index declined 433.24 points to end at 85,404.60.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows just 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower in contrast with 14 to 4 at the end of trading on Monday.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading
Scotia Investments gained $1.50 to end at $23.50 on Tuesday

Scotia Investments gained $1.50 to end at $23.50 on Tuesday

in the main market are, Barita Investments with 500 shares trading with a gain of 3 cents to $2.22, Desnoes & Geddes closing with 28,800 shares, the price gained 1 cent to $5.41. Grace Kennedy finishing trading with 200,622 units as the price ended higher by $1.49 to $62.50, Mayberry Investments ending trading with 72,099 shares, 2 cents higher at $2.10, National Commercial Bank closing with 143,351 shares while gaining 30 cents to $25.18, Pan Jamaican Investment contributing 600 units and the price closing with a gain of 1 cent, at $57.02. Radio Jamaica completing trading with 96,791 shares and rising 12 cents to $1.50, Sagicor Group concluding trading with 661,549 units and put on 5 cent to $10.55, Scotia Investments had 16,450 shares changing hands to end with an increase of $1.50 at $23.50 and Supreme Ventures closing with 5,000 shares as the price climbed 11 cents to $2.40.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless finishing trading with 172,000 shares at 50 cents, Caribbean Cement in trading 1,500 shares while ending at $2.25. Carreras completed trading with 1,980 shares changing hands at $40, Jamaica Broilers with 2,000 shares changing hands closed at $4.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers while exchanging 17,572 ordinary shares closed at $7.06, Proven Investments ending trading with 6,300 units with the price remaining 18 US cents and Sagicor Real Estate Fund had 22,500 shares changing hands at $6.90.
JSE sum -31-3-15
Declines| There was only one stock that closed lower than the opening as Scotia Group finished trading with 79,892 units to close at $21.76, after losing 44 cents.
Preference| In the preference sector, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share closed with 500 shares changing hands, 1 cent higher at $3.05, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% preference share trading with 1,500 units at $2.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share concluding trading with 25,072 units at $2 and Eppley 9.5% preference share, closing with 22,676 shares changing hands at $6.

JSE’s second day of gains Wednesday

Wednesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 6 stocks rising, 7 declining as 21 securities changed hands, ending in 1,996,047 units trading, valued at $15,520,825, in all market segments. the market recorded the second day with healthy gains in the main indices.
JSE sum 18-3-15strong> Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 377.14 points to 82,533.16, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 421.66 points to close at 90,994.20 and the JSE combined index gained 397.54 points to close at 84,294.53.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Berger Paints ended with 55,235 shares changing hands to close higher by 5 cents to $1.60, Cable & Wireless closed with 149,271 shares traded with a gain of 3 cents to 53 cents, Carreras finished trading with 101,000 shares changing hands at 5 cents to $38, Jamaica Broilers finishing with 149,600 shares while gaining 40 cents to end at $4.50 and Pan Jamaican Investment closing with 6,154 units to close with a gain of $1.01 to $55.01.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Caribbean Cement contributed 7,757 shares trading at $2.30, Desnoes & Geddes ending trading with 80,000 shares at $5.40, Grace Kennedy while exchanged 11,750 shares at $61 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers contributed 2,000 ordinary units at $7.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Barita Investments closing with 25,000 units as the price slipped 1 cent to $2.19, Mayberry Investments finishing trading with 9,523 units to close lower by 4 cents to $2.36 National Commercial Bank concluding trading with 64,013 units as the price slipped 85 cents$24.15, Sagicor Group in trading 557,479 shares trading lower for 3 cents to $10.50, Scotia Group finishing trading with 4,130 shares closed with a loss of 40 cents to $21.10 and Seprod had dealing in 23,069 units with a decline of 5 cents to $12.25.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share close at $2 after trading 503,126 units.

Carreras price hit by cigarette tax

Peter Phillips raised SCT  on cigarette by 11.4% to rake in $500m. Carreras announced a 15-20% price increase.

Peter Phillips raised SCT on cigarette by 11.4% to rake in $500m. Carreras announced a 15-20% price increase.

New tax measures announced on Thursday, hit the stock market on Friday, particularly, Carreras that had direct hit, with increased taxes on cigarettes. The company’s stock lost 7 percent at the end of trading and should set up a good buying opportunity for investors.
The day’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 9 stocks rising, 11 declining as 27 securities changed hands, ending in 4,388,191 units trading, valued at $41,075,686, in all market segments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 637.18 points to 81,881.33, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 712.40 points to 90,265.43 and the JSE combined index dropped 558.65 points to close at 83,731.11.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 stocks with offers that were lower, an indication of fluidity in price movements for a while.
Gains| Stocks gaining at the last traded prices in the main market are, Grace Kennedy closing with 5,694 shares rising 20 cents to $61, Jamaica Broilers finishing trading with 38,636 shares, while gaining 2 cents to $4.02. Mayberry Investments in trading 85,000 shares, closed with a gain of 1 cent at $2.37, Sagicor Group had dealing in 2,062,222 shares and rose 8 cents to $10.50 and Scotia Group contributed 271,347 shares while gaining 2 cents to $20.82.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Desnoes & Geddes contributing 2,500 shares to trading to close at $5.50. Jamaica Money Market Brokers closed with 2,597 ordinary shares changing hands, at $7.10, Kingston Wharves saw trading in 8,301 shares, to close at $6.40 and Supreme Ventures closed with 1,550 shares at $2.30.
JSE sum 13-3-15 Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Barita Investments finishing with 1,500 units, closed lower by 5 cents at $2.20. Cable & Wireless closing with 25,000 units as the price slipped 2 cents to 51 cents, Caribbean Cement finishing trading with 19,723 units, closing lower by 5 cents to $2.25. Carreras stock price was hit by the added tax announced by the government of Jamaica and in trading with 207,543 units slipped $3 to $40, but it traded as low as $38.01 before the close. Gleaner in trading 10,000 shares ended lower by 20 cents to 90 cents, Hardware & Lumber finishing trading in 900 shares, closed 35 cents lower to $7.05. Jamaica Producers had dealing in 1,381 units with a decline of 5 cents to $16.95, National Commercial Bank while exchanging 8,674 share, traded 50 cents down to $23.50 and Scotia Investments dealt in 10,000 shares with at $2 fall to $22.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share, traded 250,000 units at $2 and Proven Investments 8% preference had 274,200 shares changing hands at 5 cents to 5.05.

Low trading on JSE Monday

Monday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange was moderate, resulting in the prices of 6 stocks rising, 4 declining as only 14 securities changed hands, ending in 2,002,875 units trading, valued at $10,729,312 in all market segments. Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 314.15 points to 82,702.20, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 351.23 points to close at 91,183.19 and the JSE combined index gained 329.13 points to close at 84,405.68.
JSE sum 9-3-15 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator is indicating a sideward movement for the market, with 8 stocks having bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 309,275 ordinary shares changing hands, closing higher by 15 cents at $7.15. Radio Jamaica in conducting trading with 7,025 shares, gained 1 cent to $1.38, Sagicor Group while exchanging 519,047 shares ended gaining 10 cents to close at $10.41 and Scotia Group had dealing in 24,576 shares and added $1 in closing at $22.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Barita Investments in trading 2,159 shares closed at $2.25, Caribbean Cement trading 8,900 shares ended at $2.31 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund in dealing with 7,220 shares closed at $6.70.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless finishing with 701,220 units to close lower by 1 cent to 54 cents, Grace Kennedy closing with 2,400 units as the price slipped $1 $61, Jamaica Broilers ending trading with 288,969 shares and lost 5 cents to $4 and Mayberry Investments concluded trading with 1,470 shares and suffered a loss of 13 cents to $2.36.

Moderate trading greets the week

Grace traded over 2 million shares on Monday

Grace traded over 2 million shares on Monday

Monday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange saw moderate trading taking place, for the second consecutive trading day, resulting in the prices of 5 stocks rising, 8 declining as just 16 securities changed hands, ending in 115,617,230 units trading, valued at $1,209,811,786, in all market segments. Access Financial accounted for 112.4 million units of the stocks trading and Grace Kennedy over 2 million units.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 300.42 points to close at 80,807.53, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 335.88 points to 89,064.88 and the JSE combined index declined by 260.87 points to 82,541.05.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator is showing a fluidity in price movements with 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Grace Kennedy finishing with 2,011,264 shares, put on 99 cents to close at $61.50, Jamaica Broilers ending with 6,034 shares changing hands to close $4.10 after adding 5 cents. Mayberry Investments finished trading with 50,000 units to end with an increase of 20 cents to at a new 52 weeks’ high of $2.20 and National Commercial Bank saw trading in 9,000 shares while gaining 9 cents, to close at $22.09.
JSE sum 2-3-15 Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Barita Investments trading in 1,000 units to close at $2.25 and Sterling Investments with 150 shares closing at $134.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement closing with 500,000 shares changing hands and lost 30 cents to end at $2.30, Carreras lost 40 cents to $44.10 with 22,900 units trading, Desnoes & Geddes ending with 2,300 units traded at $5.40, after dropping 10 cents. Jamaica Money Market Brokers in trading 102,117 ordinary shares and ending 1 cent lower at $6.90, Jamaica Producers finished with 5,002 units trading, declined by $1.30 to $15.70, Sagicor Group closed with 228,167 shares trading at $10.45, having declined by 5 cents and Scotia Group 41,274 shares as the price fell 50 cents to $21.50.

Kremi trades 10.5M shares

Kremi ice cont Activity on the Junior Market closed with 7 securities traded and ending with 11,322,313 units changing hands valued at $8,890,752 as Caribbean Cream was the dominant stock trading. Stocks and Securities sold 10,516,480 of the Caribbean Cream’s shares as the selling broker. Barita Investments bought 10 million of the shares at 74 cents, on behalf of client.
The JSE Junior Market Index declined 2.21 points to close at 713.54. No stock gained on Wednesday, while only 1 declined. At the close of the market, there were 2 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with the offer that was lower. The junior market ended with 4 securities closing with no bids to buy and 5 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Jm 25-2-15Stocks trading in the junior market are, Caribbean Producers closing with 97,396 units trading, the price slipped 5 cents to $2.10, Caribbean Cream ending with 10,517,782 units trading to close at 76 cents, General Accident ending with 55,705 shares changing hands to close at $1.70. Lasco Distributors finished with 129,060 shares trading at $1.50, Lasco Financial ended trading with 1,900 units at $1.15, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 500,470 units to close at $1.15 and Medical Disposables finished with 20,000 shares at $1.80.

Barita Faces challenges but..

Barita280X150Barita Investments profit after tax dropped 21 percent to $46 million for the quarter ending December 2014 compared to the similar period in 2013, from total revenues of $345 million and net operating revenues of $177 million. In 2013, the company that is involved in stockbroker and fund management reported net operating profit of $165 million but increase expenses helped to pull down profit for the quarter.
Interest Income contributed $230 million to revenues, 15 percent below the prior year, while related interest expense remained flat at $168 million.
Barita is suffering from a mixture of assets priced for shorter periods than the funds clients’ invest with them. According to Chairman Rita Humphreys, “in an environment where interest rates have decreased, our liability costs have been similarly reduced resulting in our interest expense decreasing to prior year levels. However, with our investment portfolio comprising of approximately fifty percent variable instruments, our interest income has decreased at a faster rate. This has resulted in a significant contraction in our margins resulting in a recorded net interest income of $62 million, approximately 36 percent down from prior year.”
Fees and Commission income rose 65 percent above prior year to $38 million, with improvement coming from the subsidiary Barita Unit Trusts. Additionally, trading gains were 600 percent above prior year at $48 million compared to only $8 million in 2013. Depreciation of the Jamaican resulted in translation gains of $21 million down from $29 million prior year.
“Staff and administrative expenses contributed to a 16 percent increase in operational costs when compared to the same period last year. Staff costs increased by 10 percent which was triggered primarily by additional human resources and remuneration adjustments. Administrative costs were 25 percent higher than last year, with the main contributors being financial support for our charity arm the Barita Education Foundation and client support expenses,” the report to shareholders stated.
Interest rate developments, with Treasury bill rates continuing to fall and the change in the method relating to the repo business could put further pressure on income for a while. At the end of the quarter fair value reserve amounted to $107 million which could be realised in subsequent quarters and thus boost earnings. Falling T-Bill rates should result in gains in longer term Jamaican fixed interest rates securities and pickup in interest now seen in the Jamaica stock exchange is likely to hand Barita increased fee income during the balance of 2014.

More stocks rise than fall on JSE

Tuesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 5 stocks rising and 3 declining as 24 securities changed hands, ending in 1,476,405 units trading, valued at $13,434,336, in all market segments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell 185.93 points to 76,514.50, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 207.87 points to close at 84,265.07 and the JSE combined index declined by 180.94 points to close at 78,453.71.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
JSE sum 20-1-15 Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes ending with 130,300 shares trading, with a gain of 5 cents to $4.85. Jamaica Broilers closed with 10,368 units changing hands to close 10 cents up to $4.10, Mayberry Investments ending with 8,800 shares with the price gaining 2 cents to $2 and Proven Investments finished with 379,550 shares changing hands to close 0.05 cents to 21 US cents, a new 52 weeks’ high.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Barita Investments ended with 2,350 units trading at $2.25, Cable & Wireless closed with 36,903 shares trading at 50 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers ending with 106,535 ordinary shares changing hands at $6.50. Kingston Wharves finishing with 693 shares changing hands at $6, National Commercial Bank closed with 15,655 units traded at $19. Pan Jamaican Investment finished with 4,493 units at $53, Radio Jamaica ended with 56,739 shares trading at $1.30, Sagicor Group closed with 43,610 units trading at $10.20, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finishing with 20,000 shares changing hands at $6.95 and Scotia Investments traded 1,580 shares changing hands to close at $23.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Berger Paints finished with 2,512 units trading, the price slipped 15 cents to $1.55, Scotia Group ended trading with 11,262 shares changing hands to close lower by 306 cents to $20.20.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 14,000 shares changing hands to close at $3, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 100,000 units trading at $2 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded finished with 20,500 units trading at $5.