Year ends with 11 stocks up 7 down

day’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 11 stocks rising and 7 declining as 30 securities changed hands, ending in 1,626,438 units trading, valued at only $4,460,185, in all market segments.
JSE sum 31-12-14
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 18 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower. With this being the final trading day for the year, the high levels of higher bids may be due to portfolio managers trying to influence year-end values for their portfolios. The numbers have been rising, with the day before Christmas having a reading of 9 to 4, followed by Monday with 10 to 2 and Tuesday 14 to 2. This is a development worth watching, to see if it carries over with a strong reading into 2015.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 375.48 points to 76,353.39, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 419.80 points to close at 84,084.94 and the JSE combined index gained declined by 322.23 points to close at 78,223.45. The market closed out 2014 with the all Jamaica rising by 2.7 percent for the year, the JSE composite is down 5.3 percent and the junior market 9.2 percent.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Barita Investments concluded trading with 18,000 shares changing hands to close with a gain of 7 cents at $2.25. Berger Paints ended with 16,000 shares trading with a gain of 15 cents to a new 52 weeks’ high of $2, Jamaica Broilers finished with 5,000 shares trading with a gain of 3 cents to $4.04, Jamaica Producers ended with 30,000 shares changing hands to close 25 cents higher at $17.50, Mayberry Investments finished trading with 1,020 shares changing hands to close 2 cents up to $1.52, Proven Investments concluded trading with 35,639 ordinary shares changing hands and increased in price by 0.23 cents to close at 19 US cents, Sagicor Group ended with 41,000 shares with the price rising 25 cents to $10.25 and Supreme Ventures ended trading with 48,400 shares trading with a gain of 10 cents to $2.

Berger closed up 15 cents or 8% to $2, with no stock on offer at the end of trading

Berger closed up 15 cents or 8% to $2, with no stock on offer at the end of trading

Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless with 800,000 shares changing hands at 48 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers ended with 81,704 ordinary shares trading at $7.10. Kingston Wharves ended trading with 23,861 shares changing hands at $6, National Commercial Bank ended with 7,200 shares at $18.50 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed with 1,500 shares changing hands at $7.11.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras closed with a loss of 41 cents white trading 10,500 shares to close at $36.40, Desnoes & Geddes ended with 51,900 shares changing hands to close 5 cent down at $4.95, Grace Kennedy closed with 500 units, the price slipped $2 to $61, Pan Jamaican Investment finished with 433 units trading as the price slipped 95 cents $59 and Scotia Group closed the year with 800 shares trading lower by 39 cents to $20.01.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share finished with 428 units trading at $2 and Proven Investments 8% preference share ended with 41,011 shares changing hands to close at $5.10.

Barita’s ugly Q4 results

Barita280X150Barita Investments had a decent nine months’ performance to June this year, with profit of $156 million versus $77 million in 2013. Profit had dipped for the June quarter from that of 2013 by just under 50 percent. The net result was earnings per share of 35 cents.
With those results investors would be forgiven if they felt that full year’s earnings would be closer to 50 cents per share than the 16 cents they reported. That company reported a loss in the September quarter of $66 million down from a profit of $24 million in 2013, pulling full year results to $71 million compared to $63 million in 2013.
Major contributors to the final quarter’s loss, are increased taxation of $26 million, with a loss before tax of $40 million. Investment impairment resulted in $42 million hit against profit while securities and foreign exchange trading ended up in losses and dividend income fell by $19 million. Net interest income dropped sharply as well, by 60 percent to $45 million while administrative cost was up 17 percent. Barita also picked up a loss of $10 million from an investment in an animated development company GSW Animated Ltd. Barita’s investment in the company is $28 million, for 11.84 percent interest.
For the full year interest expense rose 21 percent but income fell marginally, while income from fees, commission and securities trading were the only areas to show growth. Cost was kept pretty tight with only a 4 percent rise.
In 2013 Barita took a big hit on its investment portfolio when it swapped Government bonds for lower yielding ones, resulting in a write off of capital gains on their holdings. Interest rates rose between 2013 and mid 2014 resulting in a squeeze on interest margins. Some of the reduction on the interest income side was made for by a switch to foreign exchange holdings to benefit from the devaluation of the local dollar. Revaluation of the Jamaican dollar in the September quarter would have negatively affected return in this area. The local dollar slipped in the December quarter which should benefit them. Economic measures being pursued by the Jamaican government along with the sharp drop in oil prices will lead to greater stability or possible some revaluation of the local dollar in the months ahead. This will likely result in a portfolio shift that will improve net interest income. The local stock market is showing signs of improved interest and if this continues, trading income will improve for 2015 and the large investment impairment hit should not occur. The end result is that the company should enjoy better results in 2015.
BIL table 9-14Of import is the higher level of profitability, shown in comprehensive income statement, with gains of $242 million excluding revaluation gains on property. The increased comprehensive income resulted in the capital base of the company rising to $1.67 billion from $1.4 billion at the end of the 2013 fiscal year. Total assets being managed is $13.6 billion.
Barita should be seen a good play on the revival of the local stock market which is going to happen at some time in the near future, exactly when is unsure at this time, based on valuation and performance of companies it may not be far off.
The company’s stock is listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and last traded at $2.18 with net assets of $3.75 per share. Profit may have slipped in 2014 but that is not an indication of a permanent slippage as such the stock remains BUY RATED based on it low price and the potential for higher earnings ahead.

Scotia Group climbs to $20 pushes indices

Scotia hq 25 9-14After the big trade in Kingston Wharves shares on Wednesday worth over $3 billion, Thursday’s trading seem light in contrast. The main attraction in today’s trading, was the gain in Scotia Group share price, accompanied by more than 1.2 million shares, helping to push the index up, quite sharply. Market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 6 stocks rising and 6 declining as 17 securities changed hands, resulting in 12,983,655 units trading, valued at $63,224,180, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showed 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index jumped 1,007.75 points to 73,071.76 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 1,126.85 points to close at 80,415.69.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Berger Paints with 3,500 shares trading, rose of a cent to $1.66, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 10,212 ordinary shares, gained 5 cents to end at $7, Scotia Group rose 99 cents, as 1,230,365 shares changed hands at $20 and Scotia Investments increased 10 cents with 4,825 units to $21.80.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Carreras 13,736 units at $34.65, Jamaica Producers with 1,000,520 shares at $15.20 and Proven Investments with 8,639 shares, closing at 17.99 US cents.
JSE sum 25-9-14 Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Barita Investments with 6,777 shares, lost 1 cents to end at $2.18, Kingston Wharves traded just 5,000 units at $6.30, with the loss of 20 cents, National Commercial Bank had 17,500 shares changing hands, with a 25 cents cut in price to $17.95, Sagicor Group with 11,325 shares, closed 10 cents less at $9.65 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund had 306,147 units being active, the price fell 2 cents to $6.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.50% preference share traded 87,271 units at $3.45 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers down 7.50% preference share traded 8,660,000 units at $2.

Moderate day but JSE puts in nice gain

In Friday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of 7 stocks rose and 6 declined, as 20 securities changed hands, one stock closed at 52 weeks’ low. A total volume of 3,160,771 shares, valued at $13,089,114 traded.
JSE 12-9-14 Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 922.25 points to 72,825.40 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index, jumped 1,031.25 points to close at 80,140.22.
Gains| The volume and last traded prices of stocks with gains, at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 55,402 units changing hands, and gained 5 cents to $7, Kingston Wharves put through 40,914 shares at 1 cents more, to $5.01, Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 24,880 units, gained 10 cents to $7.10 and Scotia Group had 12,500 shares trading, to close with a gain of 95 cents at $20.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price, with volume and last traded prices are, Gleaner 1,000 shares, closing at $1.05, National Commercial Bank had 17,049 shares changing hands at $18 and Radio Jamaica with 9,585 shares, closed at $1.04.
Declines| The volume and last traded prices of stocks with losses at the at the end of trading in the main market are, Barita Investments with 43,000 shares, closed at $2.19 with a 1 cent fall, Cable & Wireless had 1,485,092 units changing hands, with 1 cent fall to 28 cents, Carreras put in 4,140 units and closed 5 cents lower at $34.75, Jamaica Broilers 1,000 shares ended with 1 cent decline at $4.52, Jamaica Producers had a sizable trade of 650,000 shares but the price shed 20 cents to $15.40 for a new 52 weeks’ low and Supreme Ventures 11,264 shares cost 1 cent less at $1.80.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 100,000 units at $3 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 2,000 units at $5.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index put on 2.65 points to close at 660.49 as only 4 stocks traded with 3 advancing and none declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market, are AMG Packaging with 17,767 shares to close with a 10 cents gain at $2.50, Lasco Financial 587,650 shares led to a gain of 1 cent to 98 cents and Lasco Manufacturing with 37,576 units, to close 3 cents higher, at $1.04
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are, Jamaican Teas with 2,952 units a $3.30 and Lasco Distributors with 57,000 shares at $1.12.
Declines| No stock 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 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.

Market inches up on Friday

In Friday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 8 stocks rose and 5 declined as 20 securities changed hands resulting in 1,746,200 shares trading valued at $24,040,907.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained just 56.60 points to 70,096.77 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite moved up a mere 63.30 points to end at 77,089.13.
JSE sum 27-6-14Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Jamaica Broilers with 1,229 units to close with a gain of 3 cents at $4.60, Pan Jamaican Investment 310,586 shares, gaining 5 cents to close at $48.06, Sagicor Group with 1,000 shares to close of 50 cents higher at $9, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 14,350 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents at $6.10, Scotia Group with 403,811 shares closed 1 cents higher at $19.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 15,900 shares closing at $6.70, Kingston Wharves 20,295 units changing hands to close at $5.02, Proven Investments 3,790 units to close at 18 US cents, Pulse Investments 60,000 units to close at 30 cents.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 35,500 units to close at $3.03 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 2,000 units to close at $5.08.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Barita Investments with 15,976 units as the price slipped 13 cents to close at $2.20, Cable & Wireless with 480,786 shares to lose 3 cents in closing at 31 cents, Caribbean Cement 22,040 units as the price lost 20 cents to close at $2.30 and National Commercial Bank ended at $18.01 for a 2 cents fall, as 21,322 units traded.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index edged up by 11.44 points to close at 720.30 with only 5 securities traded, with 3 advancing and 1 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Caribbean Producers with 1,000 units to close with a 5 cents increase at $2.70, Lasco Distributors with 48,000 units to gain 10 cents to end at $1.30 and Lasco Manufacturing with 276,875 shares as it gained 4 cents to end at $1.10.
Firm Trades| The only stock in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the previous trading day is Lasco Financial Services with 3,000 units to close at $1.
Declines| Dolphin Cove traded 8,740 units to close at $8.50 while shedding a cent, was the only stock in the junior market to decline.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.

Declines continue to dominate

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday saw the prices of only 3 stocks rose and 8 declined as 20 securities changing hands resulting in 1,417,573 shares trading valued at $12,223,034 as the market continues to remain soft.
JSE 2nd sum 24-6-14 Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell by 310.45 points to 69,430.63 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index lost 347.13 points to close at 76,344.27.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Caribbean Cement with only 747 shares to close with a gain of 50 cents at $2.75, Jamaica Broilers with 100 units gained 13 cents to close at $4.70 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 4,100 shares to close with a gain of a cent at$6.66.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Barita Investments with 1,780 shares closing at $2.34, Carreras with 5,000 units and closed at $33.50, Grace Kennedy with 11,646 units as the price closed at $54, Mayberry Investments 58,414 shares and closed at $1.45, Pan Jamaican Investment with a mere 377 shares at $48.01 and Proven Investments with 73,960 ordinary shares as the price closed at 18 US cents.
Declines| The number of stocks declining in the main market are Jamaica Producers with 15,287 shares as the price dropped $1.40 to end at $15.60, a new 52 weeks low, Kingston Wharves 135,850 shares while losing 10 cents to close at $4.90, a new 52 weeks low, National Commercial Bank only 10,100 units to close with a loss of $1.20 at $17.30, Sagicor Group with 395,701 shares changing hands for a 2 cent decline to $8.88 and Scotia Group with 76,490 shares as the price slipped by 51 cents to close at $18.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded with 370,000 units changing hands for a 2 cents decline to end at $3.03 and Jamaica Teas debenture note traded 10,000 units at par of $100.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 4.81 points to close at 714.54 as only 4 stocks traded with none advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| In a low trading market there were no stock recording gain at the end of trading in the junior market.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial 107,600 shares to close at $13.50 and Lasco Distributors with 127,598 units and closed at $1.20.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Lasco Manufacturing with 10,000 shares changing hands for a 2 cents decline to close at $1.10 and Lasco Financial with 12,823 shares closed 8 cents lower at $1.07
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 9 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.

Advancing stocks dominant

In Monday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange advancing stocks was most dominant as June started with price mostly up with the prices of 14 stocks recording gains and 5 declined as 30 securities traded resulting in 3,459,512 shares trading valued at $16,201,075. There was one new all-time high at the end of trading as Access Financial recorded a $1.50 increase.JSE 2-6-14sumMain Market| The price of 10 companies in the main market rose and only 3 declined as the indices moved up with the JSE Market Index rising by 312.54 points to 70,570.46 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved up by 349.47 points to close at 77,618.79.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Barita Investments 1,150,000 shares and rose 9 cents to close at $2.34, Carreras with 11,652 units trading closed with a gain of$1.05 at $35.25, Desnoes & Geddes gained 5 cents to close at $4.30 with 11,025 units changing hands, Gleaner with 20,000 shares closed up by 2 cents at $1.12, Jamaica Broilers 69,833 shares an d gained a cent to close at $4.71, Mayberry Investments 1,122 units and gained 6 cents to close at $1.76, National Commercial Bank had 17,894 shares trading up by 5 cents to close at $17.50 after trading as low as $16.55 before the close, Pan Jamaican Investment put in only 507 units to close at $48.42 for a 2 cents rise, Radio Jamaica had 3,500 shares changing hands with a cent gain to close at $1.30 and Sagicor Group traded 851,708 units to close at $9.30, up 35 cents.
Firm| There were only 4 ordinary stocks in the main market to close without a change in price as Berger Paints with 3,592 units and closed at $1.66, Cable & Wireless with 293,293 shares changing hands to close at 28 cents but traded as high as 32 cents during trading. Grace Kennedy traded 2,561 units and closed at $54, Scotia Investments had 700 shares trading and closed at $23 after profits results to April quarter showed a 12 percent increase to $415 million and Seprod with only 124 units and closed at $10.50.
Preference shares| There were a series of preference shares trading on the market with Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share having 50,000 units changing hands and closed at $2, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share 651,500 units and closed at $3.03, followed by Jamaica Public Service 5% C preference share, 500 units to close at 36 cents and Jamaica Public Service 5% D preference share, 8,945 units to close at 35 cents.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 1,500 to close at $2.70 with a decline of 15 cents, Jamaica Producers traded just 270 shares as the price eased by a cent to close at $18.24 and Scotia Group with 109,330 units to close at $19.07 after shedding 53 cents following the release of six months showing a 16 percent decline in profits to $2.28 billion for the in the April quarter from a one percent fall in revenues and a decline of profit after tax for the six months of $4.7 billion versus $5.3 billion in 2013.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index gained 11.60 points to close at 733.31 as 8 stocks traded with 4 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Access Financial traded 7,765 shares and gained $1.50 to close at $13.50 for a new all-time high, Caribbean Cream with 100,000 to close a cents higher at 75 cents, Caribbean Flavours put on a cent to close at $2.51 while trading 38,500 units and General Accident Insurance with 10,191 units gained 2 cents to close at $1.52.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before with AMG Packaging having 1,500 units trading to close at $3.30 and Lasco Financial 5,000 shares and closed at $1.15.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Honey Bun 2,000 units to close with a 3 cents fall to $3.02 and Lasco Manufacturing with 35,000 shares to close at $1.10 down 2 cents after full year results to March this year was down to $584.45 million or 14 cents per share compared with $640 million for 2013.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 stocks with offers that were lower

Portfolio adjustment pressure prices

A realignment of pension portfolio following the merger of Sagicor Investments with Sagicor Group In placed pressure on the prices of some stocks as the pension fund disposed of shares to bring the portfolio in line with the pension requirement. The realignment was not completed at the end of trading IC Insider sources advised.
JSE 26-5-14sumIn trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of a mere 3 stocks rose and 10 declined as 23 securities traded resulting in 8,747,969 shares trading valued at $91,511,864.
Main Market| Only 2 companies in the main market rose and 8 declined as the indices lost altitude for yet another day with the JSE Market Index inching fell by 925.16 points to 71,355.85 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index erased 1,034.48 points to close at 78,497, this is the lower the index has reached since December 20 last year went it closed at 78,575.66.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Barita Investments with 3,780 shares to close with a gain of a cent to end at $2.30 followed by Seprod with 98,565 units changing hands as the price closed with a 20 cents gain at $11.
Firm| There were only 5 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with Berger Paints trading 65,394 shares as the price closed at $1.67, Grace Kennedy with 56,859 units and closed at $55, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share 128,400 units to close at $3.03, Kingston Wharves 5,000 shares to close at $5 and Mayberry Investments with 66,992 units in closing at $1.71.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Cable & Wireless 62,277 shares while losing 4 cents to close at 35 cents, Carreras traded 1,329 units at $35.26 while losing 54 cents, Hardware & Lumber 20,000 shares to close down 20 cents at $10, Jamaica Broilers 1,486,786 units in closing at $4.70 for a 5 cents fall, National Commercial Bank 2,614,665 units to close down 56 cents at $17, Sagicor Group 3,508,391 as the price lost 30 cents to end at $9, Scotia Group with 95,460 shares with the price closing down by 30 cents at $19.30 and Scotia Investments 28,235 units to close at $23.10 with a 40 cents fall.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.74 points to close at 730.97 as 8 stocks traded with 1 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| The only stock recording gain at the end of trading in the junior market is General Accident with 10,000 units to close at $1.50 with a 2 cents rise.
Firm Trades| 5 stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before with Caribbean Producers exchanging 540 shares to close at $2.75, Consolidated Bakeries 301,953 shares to end at 80 cents, Knutsford Express Services 37,868 shares at $5.16, Lasco Financial Services 2,500 units to close at $1.15 and Paramount Trading 2,575 units to close at $2.68.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Caribbean Cream traded 100,000 units to close at 70 cents with a 3 cents fall and Lasco Manufacturing with 50,400 units lost 2 cents to close at $1.12.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.

Main market closes week up slightly

In Friday’s trading on the Stock Exchange, the prices of 4 stocks rose and 8 declined as 24 securities traded resulting in 6,969,870 shares changing hands, valued at $58,489,956. Main Market| Only 4 companies in the main market advanced in price and 3 declined as the indices closed up with the JSE Market Index rising by 319 points to 73,381.97 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gaining 356.70 points to close at 80,762.55.
JSE sum 16-5-14Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 17,115 units changing hands to close at 31 cents with a one cent gain, Caribbean Cement with 16,500 stock units to close at $3.55, up by 4 cents, Kingston Wharves 8,396 shares to close at$5.50 for a 50 cents gain and Scotia Investments with 2,200 shares to close up by $1 at $25.50.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Berger Paints with 50,444 shares to close at $1.67, Carreras with 3,650 stock units to close at $34.75, Grace Kennedy 2,000 stock units to close at $55, Hardware & Lumber 4,000 shares to close at $10.20, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share, 145,400 units to end at $3.03, Mayberry Investments 2,761 units to close at $1.80, Pan Jamaican Investment 1,000 shares to close at $48.60, Proven Investments 900 ordinary shares to close at 18 US cents and Proven Investments 8% preference share with 5,000 units to end at $5.09.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Barita Investments with 52,500 shares while closing at $2 with a 30 cents fall, Jamaica Broilers 3,000,000 units and closed at $4.70 with a one cent loss and Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 231,503 ordinary shares to close at $7.30 down by 11 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 5.06 points to close at 728.25 with only 6 stocks traded, none advanced and 3 declined.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial with 4,900 shares to end at $11.50, Dolphin Cove with 5,529 units and closed at $8.10, Paramount Trading 32,722 units to close at $2.68.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Caribbean Producers that traded 220,900 units to close at $2.73 down 2 cents, General Accident with 19,798 shares to close at $1.49 with a loss of a cent and Lasco Manufacturing with 16,800 stock units to close at $1.15 with a 1 cent fall.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.

New year, new dividends

IC Insider’s tracking of the latest announcements on dividends for the New Year to February 28th 2014.

Sagicor Group ups dividend and approved the payment of an interim dividend of 35 per share payable on March 31, 2014 to shareholders on record as at March 21, 2014. The ex-dividend date is March 19, 2014. The company paid a dividend of 21 cents per share on October 31, 2013 and brought dividends paid in 2013 to 40 cents per share with a dividend of 19 cents per share paid on March 28, 2013. In 2012 the company paid two dividends of 28 cents each.

Jamaica Broilers Group has declared an interim dividend of 8 cents per share payable on April 9, 2014 to shareholders on record as at March 13. The ex-dividend date is March 11. The 2013 dividend represents an increase of 33.33 percent on the amount paid in 2012. The company paid an interim dividend of 6 cents per share on March 28, last year and 8 cents per share on December 2.

Pan-Jamaican Investment Trust will pay its first interim dividend for the year 2014 of 60 cents per share on March 31, 2014 to shareholders on record as at March 17, 2014. The ex-dividend date is March 13, 2014. Dividends per share paid in 2013 amounts to 45 cents on September 20, $1.10 in March and 50 cents on December 20.

Scotia Investments approved an interim dividend of 45 cents per stock unit, payable on April 10, 2014, to stockholders on record as at March 20, 2014. The company pays four dividends per annum and have paid 45 cents each for the prior four quarters

Scotia Group approved an interim dividend of 4o cents per stock unit, payable on April 10, 2014, to stockholders on record as at March 20, 2014. The company pays four dividends per annum and have paid 40 cents each for the prior four quarters.

Supreme Ventures declared a dividend of 3 cents per share payable on March 26, 2014 to shareholders on record as at March 12, 2014. The stock traded ex-dividend on March 10, 2014. The company paid a dividend of 3 cents per share on January 8, 2014.  In 2013 dividends per share were paid as follows –  3 cents on September 2, 8 cents on June 17 and 10 cents on March 28.

Eppley Limited declared an ordinary interim dividend of $9 per share payable on February 28, 2014 to shareholders on record as at February 21, 2014. The ex-dividend date is February 19, 2014. This is the first dividend the company is paying on its ordinary shares since listing in 2013.

General Accident Insurance approved an ordinary dividend of 7.64 cents per stock unit payable on April 1, 2014, to shareholders on record as at March 6, 2014. The stock traded ex-dividend on March 3, 2014. General Accident Insurance paid an interim dividend of 8.728 cents per share on October 14, 2013 and also paid an interim dividend of 4.85 cents per share on March 28, 2013. In 2012 they made two payments of 4.85 cents each.

Dolphin ups dividend up 50% | Dolphin Cove has declared an interim dividend of $0.15 per share payable on April 9, 2014 to shareholders on record as at March 21, 2014. The ex-dividend date is March 19, 2014. Interim dividends were paid as follows by the company, 10 cents per share on December 4, 2013, 10 cents per share on September 16, 2013, 10 cents per share on June 6, 2013 and 10 in March 28 last year.

Gleaner Company declared an interim dividend of $0.04 per share payable on March 13, 2014 to shareholders on record as at February 27, 2013. The ex-dividend date is February 25, 2014.

PROVEN declared a dividend of US$0.0015 per ordinary share payable on March 13, 2014 to shareholders on record as at February 26, 2014. The ex-dividend date is February 24, 2014.

Carreras declared an interim dividend of $1.62 per share payable on March 13, 2014 to shareholders on record as at February 20, 2014. The ex-dividend date is February 18, 2014. This is the fourth regular dividend being paid for the year. An interim dividend of $1.30 per share and a special dividend of $0.94 per share were paid on June 20, 2013. Interim dividends of a dollar per share each were paid in August and November last year. A special capital cash distribution of $1.18 was also paid on January 30, 2014.

Cargo Handlers declared a dividend of 50 cents per share payable on March 6, 2014 to shareholders on record at February 18, 2014. The ex-dividend date is February 14, 2014. In 2013 ahead of the change in the tax rate on dividends from 5 percent to 15 percent the company paid a dividend of $1.00 per share on March 28, 2013.

AMG Packaging declared a dividend payment of 20 cents payable on March 28, 2014 to shareholders on record as at February 17, the Ex-dividend date is February 13. At the current stock price of $3.48 the yield is 5.7 percent. This is the first dividend the company has paid since listing in 2011.

The Board of Directors of Kingston Properties Limited has declared its first dividend for the year 2014 in the amount of US$0.0025 per stock unit payable on February 28, 2014 to stockholders on record as at February 10, 2014. The ex-dividend date is February 6, 2014.

Caribbean Producers (Jamaica) Limited | declared an interim dividend of 3 cents per stock unit payable on January 31, 2014 to shareholders on record as at January 16, 2014. The ex-dividend date is January 14, 2014. An interim dividend of 4.5 cents per stock unit was paid on March 28, 2013, previously an interim dividend of five cents per share paid on June 20, 2012.

Barita cuts dividend to 3 cents | Stung with a big drop in reported profits from $255 million in 2012 to only $70 million for the year ended September 2013, Barita Investments’ board approved the payment for an interim dividend of 3 cents per stock unit to be paid on January 27, 2014 to shareholders on record as at January 10, 2014.  The ex-dividend date is January 8, 2014. In January 2013 a dividend of 11.4 cents per share was paid.

Dividends delayed | Sagicor Group has moved the dividend consideration from February 28 to March 6th.

Not announced | The Board of Caribbean Flavours and Fragrances who had indicated that they will consider a dividend declaration at a meeting to be held on February 5, 2014 has not yet reported the decision to the Jamaica Stock exchange nor has Jamaica Broilers who should have met on February 26.

The Board of Directors of Grace Kennedy will consider a resolution for the declaration of an interim dividend at a meeting to be held on Friday, February 28, 2014. Grace last paid an interim dividend of $0.70 per share paid on December 11, 2013, an interim dividend of $0.78 per share paid on September 30, 2013 and an interim dividend of 70 cents per stock unit was paid on March 27, 2013.