The market indices of the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose at the end of trading on Tuesday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 1,689.91 points to 425,346.65 and the JSE Index advancing 1,535.64 points to 387,517.20.
At the close of market, the main and US markets traded 40 securities, compared to 39 trading on Monday as 11 advanced, 14 declined and 15 traded without changes in prices.
Main market activity ended with 13,672,324 units valued at $88,199,433 trading, compared to 36,767,031 units valued at $321,823,355 changing hands, on Monday.
JMMB Group 7.5% preference share led trading with 8.38 million shares for 61 percent of the day’s volume, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share ended with 1.9 million units, for 14 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Mayberry Jamaican Equities ended with 1.42 million units, for just 10 percent of the day’s volume.
Market activity ended with an average of 402,127 units valued at $2,594,101, in contrast to 1,081,383 units valued at $9,465,393 shares on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 432,940 shares at $5,776,063 shares, in contrast to 437,535 shares at $6,330,866 on the prior trading day. Trading for February resulted in an average of 281,016 shares with a value of $11,715,160, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 5 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 closing with a lower offer.
In main market activity, Caribbean Cement closed with a gain of $1.40 to finish at $53.40, with 23,970 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers lost 30 cents and finished trading 8,681 units at $32. Jamaica Producers shed 65 cents and closed at $22.50, with 35,000 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves rose $1 to settle at $76, with an exchange of 6,247 units, Mayberry Investments lost 50 cents and ended trading of 135,556 shares, to close at $9, Sagicor Group fell 50 cents in trading 25,221 shares, to close at $39.50. Salada Foods dropped $3.70 in trading 14,000 units to close at $29, Scotia Group gained $1.09 and finished trading 7,720 shares at $51.90, Seprod slipped 35 cents to close at $43.55, with 42,959 shares trading and Wisynco Group gained 30 cents and ended trading 511,306 shares at $12.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 77,607 units valued at US$30,017 changing hands. JMMB Group 5.75% preference share ended trading of 6,000 stock units at $2, JMMB Group 6% preference share traded 7,150 units at US$1.04, Margaritaville lost 3 us cents and ended trading 10,347 shares at 21 US cents. Productivity Business traded 100 stock units at 58 US cents, Proven Investments closed trading with 20,310 units changing hands after rising by 0.5 cents to close at 22 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments Jamaican ordinary share traded 33,700 but lost 0.1 cent to close at 10 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index rose 0.78 points to close at 175.66.
Market Watch still on Scotia
Scotia Group did not released this past week as was done in 2018. The 2019 result is expected this week, this is one that is to be watched keenly and investors would be smart to keep an eye on the most critical signal that it will send for increased profits for this year. It must show meaningful growth in the loan portfolio, to start pumping up profit. Caribbean Cement closed at $51.02 and should move higher with limited supply on offer and an analysis of the audited 2018 results suggesting that cost should decline sharply in some areas and revenues rise in the current year. IC Insider.com again revised earnings, this time to to $7 for the year. Last year, cement import cost more than $1 billion, that cost will not recur this year, they will also benefit from a full year of the removal of the expensive lease cost resulting full year’s saving from the $2 billion annual savings, resulting from owning the kilns rather than leasing. Radio Jamaica climbed to $1.15 late last week but there is not much selling at these levels.
Jamaica Stock Exchange pulled back during the week to $14.80 and seems poised to slip some more before settling down, ahead of the 2019 first quarter results that is expected to show a big increase in profit if the data of trading values are anything to go for 2019 to date. Grace Kennedy reported improved results with earnings per share of $5, helped by a big increase in investment income and foreign exchange should be priced higher than the $60.80 it last traded at.
Buying came in for Fontana last week pushing the price the price to $4 on Friday and could move higher during the coming week. Wisynco continues to trade around the current price just below $12 and seems poised to continue to move side wards for a while. Watch Elite Diagnostic that has been steady around $3.20 but with good buying interest at the current price level but sellers are reluctant to come off the $3.40 offer price.
Buying for General Accident continues to trade around $4.50 level with no clear signs when it will the break out to a higher price level as there have been selling around these levels and that may well continue for a while.
Lasco Financial remains stuck around $4.60 price level with some selling taking place at $4.60, but buying is not strong enough to move the price in the short term. Medical Disposables bounced last week but the price may bounce around for some time in the medium term. Caribean Cream seems poised to move higher with a gap that has developed between buying and selling interest. Express Catering this one could see huge benefits from the big double digit increase in tourist arrival this year so far, with January up 11.3 percent islandwide. Stationery and Office Supplies dropped to $7 from more than $8 but there are signs of a bounce. Barita Investments announced an interim dividend of 82 cents per share, this news could well lift demand for the stock.
Market Watch on Scotia
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange moved within less than 5,000 points of the record close in November last year as investors pushed the prices of some stocks higher during the past week.
Based on the date the first quarter results for Scotia Group was released in 2018, the 2019 results should be released on Thursday but so far the company has not posted the date of dividend consideration that is normally the date of announcing the results. Caribbean Cement closed at $55 and should move higher with limited supply on offer and an analysis of the audited 2018n results suggesting that cost should decline and revenues rise in the current year. IC Insider.com raised earnings to $6 for the year with the expensive $1 billion cement import last year not recurring this year and the benefit of a full year of removal of lease cost with added saving this year from the $2 billion annual savings from resulting from owning the kilns rather than leasing. Keep on watching this one for a break out in price.
Radio Jamaica pulled back to $1 late last week but there is buying at those levels and above.
The Junior Market is consolidating with a slight negative bias, even as this market seems far more undervalued than the main market, the release of quarterly profit results is not helping this market currently as investors wait to see what 2019 results will look like.
Last week, a number of results were released but they showed that investors may have pushed prices to their limit already. Jamaica Stock Exchange report big increase in profit for 2018 of $413 million versus $221 million in 2017 with earnings per share of 59 cents and thus pushing the PE ratio to a rich 30. Berger Paints profits were flat but the company had a blowout final quarter with revenues jumping 155 percent from the poor 2017 quarter and profits of $130 million versus just $30 million in 2017. Grace Kennedy reported improved results with earnings per share of $5, helped
Fontana’s and Wisynco continues to trade around their current prices just below $4 and $12 respectively and seem poised to continue to move side wards for a while.
Elite Diagnostic moved up to $3.20 last week with good demand at that level continues to trade around $3.10 with a gap developing between the bids at $3.10 and sellers at $3.40. Will buyers move higher or will sellers come down where the majority of buyers are? Watch to see how this develops.
Buying for General Accident continues to trade around $4.50 level with no clear signs when it will the break out to a higher price level.
Lasco Financial remains stuck around $4.60 price level with some selling taking place at $4.60, but buying is not strong enough to move the price in the short term. Medical Disposables bounced last week but the price may bounce around for some time in the medium term.