West Indian Tobacco stock price dropped $3.51 to end at $85 and was the main reason for a big dip in the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange index on Wednesday.
Declining stocks had the upper hand over advancing ones five to one as the market index sank further for the week to date. The number of securities traded dropped to 10 against 17 on Tuesday as the market closed with just 1 stock advancing, 4 declining and 5 remaining unchanged. Trading ended with 351,112 shares at a value of $12,063,114 compared to 96,389 shares at a value of $1,565,623 on Friday.
At close of the market the, Composite Index shed 5 points on Wednesday to 1,231.00, the All T&T Index dropped 9.87 points to 1,687.52, while the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged to close at 104.30.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows the market continuing to be weak as it closed with 3 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling prices and 5 with lower offers, an indication of the continuation of a weak market currently.
Gains| Trinidad & Tobago NGL settled with a gain of 2 cents at $27.50, after exchanging 13,275 shares.
Losses| Guardian Holdings closed with a loss of 30 cents and completed trading at $15, after exchanging 59,627 shares, Scotiabank lost 14 cents in closing at $62.51 with 148,531 units changing hands, Trinidad Cement lost 27 cents and ended trading at $2.60, with 1,600 stock units changing hands West Indian Tobacco concluded trading with a loss of $3.51 to close at $85, after exchanging a mere 150 shares.
Firm Traded| Clico Investments traded 12,785 units at $20.16, First Caribbean International Bank completed trading at $8.90, after exchanging 33,030 shares, First Citizens settled at $32.55, after exchanging 1,850 shares, Republic Financial Holdings concluded market activity at $101.58, with 2,197 stock units changing hands and Sagicor Financial ended trading 10 cents lower and $7.70, trading 74,685 units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Witco heads falling TTSE prices – Wednesday
Modest gains for JSE majors – Tuesday
Carib Cinema, the flagship for Palace Amusement, the company’s stock climbed $29 on Tuesday.
There was just modest volume trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange main market on Tuesday with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index increased by 144.01 points to 320,433.17 and the JSE Index advanced by 131.21 points to 291,950.83.
At the close, 25 securities traded, compared to 28 on Monday and ended with the prices of 9 stocks rising, 11 falling and 5 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets.
At the close of trading Palace Amusement jumped $29 to $780 and Seprod fell $2.39 to $33.01 as only two securities with major price movements.
Main market activity ended with 3,313,428 units valued at $132,584,977 compared to 2,407,626 units valued at $18,652,792 on Monday. At the close of trading, NCB Financial Group closed trading with 1,244,263 units accounting for 37.55 percent of the volume traded and Ciboney Group with 962,000 units and 29 percent of the day’s volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 138,060 shares valued at $5,524,374, for each security traded, compared to 89,171 shares valued at $690,844 on Monday. The average for the month to date is 947,792 shares with a value of $4,897,207 and previously 1,015,505 shares with a value of $4,839,315. In contrast, March closed with an average of 626,526 units with an average value at $20,492,207 for each security traded.
The US dollar market closed on Tuesday with Proven Investments finishing trading at 20 US cents after trading 4,206 shares for US$841. Trading ended with an unchanged market index of 162.84.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 89stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with a lower offers.
For more details of market activities see – JSE main market trading climbs – Tuesday.
Junior Market consolidating – Tuesday
Stationery & Office Supplies traded at new record high on Tuesday.
At the close of Junior Market activities, 20 securities changed hands compared 24 securities on Monday leading to declines in the prices of 7, with 6 rising, while 7 remained unchanged and leading to the Junior Market Index declining 1.38 points to 2,904.57.
Trading ended with an exchange of 1,074,280 units valued at $4,821,468 compared with 1,793,298 units valued at $7,093,168.
Market activity ended with an average of 53,714 units for an average of $241,073 compared to an average of 74,721 units for an average of $295,549 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 139,096 units at $564,194 compared to 147,346 units at $595,413 on the prior trading day. March closed with an average of 149,999 units valued at $623,819, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows just 9 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended at $2, with 22,875 stock units changing hands, 
Cargo Handlers settled with a loss of 48 cents at $9.55, with 4,340 shares, Caribbean Cream ended trading with a loss of $1.30 to $4.50, with 17,648 shares changing hands, Caribbean Flavours traded at $11, with 4,000 stock units, Caribbean Producers finished trading at $5, with 1,420 units. Elite Diagnostic settled with a loss of 24 cents at $3.19, with 97,662 units, Express Catering traded with a loss of 5 cents at $5.25, with 92,624 shares, FosRich Group finished trading 15 cents higher at $2.55, with 17,000 units, General Accident closed 5 cents higher at $3, with 167,500 stock units. Honey Bun concluded trading 2 cents higher at $4.42, with 5,895 shares, ISP Finance settled with a loss of 1 cent at $14.99, exchanging 933 shares, 
Jamaican Teas ended trading at $5, with 80,444 stock units, Jetcon Corporation traded at $4.15, with 35,793 units. Knutsford Express ended $1.52 higher at $14, with 4,907 shares, Lasco Financial finished with a loss of 8 cents at $5.20, trading 136,497 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled 1 cent higher at $4, with 137,622 shares, Main Event ended trading 5 cents higher at $6.05, with 11,963 shares. Paramount Trading ended at $3.10, with 47,094 stock units changing hands and Stationery and Office closed at $6, after trading at an intraday record high of $6.20 with 177,063 units. In the Junior Market preference segment, Eppley ended with a loss of 25 cents at $6, trading 11,000 stock shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
More Jamaican$ gains vs US – Tuesday
At the close of trading in the foreign currency market the Jamaica dollar continued to gain strength, with dealers selling the US$32.71 million for 8 cents less than on Monday with US dollar selling rate closing at J$125.05, compared to $39.54 million at J$125.13 at the close, on Monday.
Purchases of the US currency by dealers, amounted to US$30.62 million, with the average rate falling 21 cents to $123.72, compared to US$46.21 million, with the average rate of $123.93 on Monday.
The market closed with inflows of US$36.58 million of all currencies, versus US$53.39 million on Monday and dealers sold US$41.30 million in contrast to US$46.59 million, in previous trading.
At mid-day on Tuesday dealers purchased US$16.4 million at an average rate of J$124.33 and sold $10.84 million at an average of J$124.90. 
At mid-day on the previous trading day, dealers purchased US$25.27 million at an average rate of J$124.70 and sold $15.95 million at an average of J$125.15.
The Jamaican dollar closed trading, with the selling rate for the Canadian dollar, rising to J$102.46 from J$98.68 at the close on Monday. The selling rate for the British Pound increased to J$178.04 from J$177.56 previously and the euro fall against the Jamaican dollar to J$154.89 to buy the European common currency, versus the prior selling rate of J$154.93.
Falling prices dominate TTSE – Tuesday
Bearishness sentiments continued on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Tuesday, as declining stocks over powered advancing ones by a ratio of more than two to one, while 2 stocks closed at 52 weeks’ lows.
On Tuesday, the number of securities traded rose to 17 against 15 on Monday as the market closed with just 3 stocks advancing, 7 declining and 7 remaining unchanged. Trading ended with 96,389 shares at a value of $1,565,623 compared to 393,337 shares at a value of $2,153,910 on Friday.
At close of the market the, Composite Index shed 8.30 points on Tuesday to 1,236, the All T&T Index rose 0.45 points to 1,697.39, while the Cross Listed Index declined 2.37 points to close at 104.30.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows the market continuing to be weak as it closed with 3 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling prices and 4 with lower offers, an indication of the continuation of a weak market currently.
Ansa Mcal ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $59.90.
Gains| Massy Holdings added 4 cents and concluded trading at $47.44, with 2,014 stock units changing hands, National Enterprises increased 10 cents and ended at $9.75, with 2,688 units and Trinidad Cement rose 36 cents and ended trading at $2.87, with 3,000 stock units changing hands.
Losses|Ansa McAl traded with a loss of 5 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $59.90, with 50 units, First Caribbean International Bank fell 10 cents and completed trading at $8.90, after exchanging 120 shares, Guardian Holdings closed with a loss of 35 cents and completed trading at $15.30, after exchanging 1,000 shares, NCB Financial Group shed 15 cents and settled at $5.65, after trading 14,400 shares, Republic Financial Holdings lost 7 cents and concluded market activity at $101.58, with 6,543 stock units changing hands, Sagicor Financial ended trading 10 cents lower and closed at 52 weeks’ low of $7.70, with 4,000 units and West Indian Tobacco concluded trading with a loss of 4 cents at $88.51, after exchanging 55 shares.
Firm Traded| Angostura Holdings closed at $15.72, with 4,596 stock units changing hands, Clico Investments ended trading 844 units at $20.16, First Citizens settled at $32.55, after exchanging 3,004 shares, Grace Kennedy ended at $3.15, with 3,300 units, JMMB Group ended at $1.90, with 36,500 stock units changing hands, National Flour completed trading at $1.66, after exchanging 1,000 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL settled at $27.48, after exchanging 13,275 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
SOS writing book manufacturing starts May
Stationary and Office Supplies – Montego Bay offices.
Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) purchase of equipment used to manufacture various types of writing books as well as the brand name SEEK.
“This purchase will allow SOS to enter the manufacturing industry in Jamaica starting with books and a plan to continue to manufacture other stationery products in the future”, SOS states.
Machinery purchased includes the following: Ruling machines, Guillotines, Gluing Machines, Stapling Machines and Book Presses.
The total value of the purchase is $60 million and is being financed through a bond with Jamaica National amounting to $80 million at an interest rate of 8 percent, and a duration for repayment of 7 years. The company expects that the total investment including machinery, raw materials and renovations will exceed $80 million. The Company said with this expansion, SOS initially be employing an additional 25 persons with production expected to start during the first week of May 2018. Prior to the acquisition a compliment of 40 persons were employed with a mixture of full time and part timers. Revenues expected in the first twelve months is estimated at $130 million but could rise beyond this, as the business maintains most of the customers for books and SOS leverage their existing customers base and others for more business. According to 
Allan McDaniel, Deputy Managing Director & Director of Warehousing and Logistics, the previous owner operated for about six months per year, but SOS will be able to operate full time and at less cost. The operation will be housed in the adjoining building they acquired last year and effectively fills out the space with their expanded inventories occupying about half. Profit margin is attractive and will almost ensure that the company will profit from it, this year, with growth estimated by them to likely be in the 30 percent region coming from both local and export sales. The new operation could deliver around $40 million to profit in 2018 and around $70 million in 2019, IC Insider.com estimates. Speaking about SOS operations, McDaniel would only say they are happy with the first quarter, that was helped by an increased inventory, now around $170 million compared to $117 million in March last year, just ahead of the public share offer. McDaniel said that while some of the fellow businesspersons are talking about a weak first quarter, SOS expects to report continued growth.
The company’s stock ended at a record close of $6 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday gaining 200 percent since it was listed in August last year.
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Modest fall for JSE majors – Monday
There was just modest volume trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange main market on Monday, with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declining 763.81 points to 320,289.16 and the JSE Index declined by 695.92 points to 291,819.62.
At the close, 28 securities traded, compared to 27 on Friday and ended with the prices of 9 stocks rising, 13 falling and 6 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets.
At the close of trading only NCB Financial Group ended trading with sizable price change having fallen by $1.08 to $95.50.
Main market activity ended with 2,407,626 units valued at $18,652,792 compared to 8,083,593 units valued at $186,825,752 on Friday. At the close of trading, Ciboney Group closed trading with 1,349,330 units amounting to 56 percent of the volume traded and JMMB Group with 7.50 percent with 240,686 units and 10 percent of the day’s volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 89,171 shares valued at $690,844, for each security traded, compared to 384,933 shares valued at $8,896,464 on Friday. The average for the month to date is 1,015,505 shares with a value of $4,839,315 and previously 1,111,701 shares with a value of $5,320,039. In contrast, March closed with an average of 626,526 units with an average value at $20,492,207 for each security traded.
The US dollar market closed on Monday with Productivity Business finished trading at 56 US cents after trading 3,000 shares. Trading ended with an unchanged market index of 162.84.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with a lower offers.
For more details of market activities see – JSE main market trading drops sharply – Monday.
Stationery & Office at record close – Monday
SOS ended at a record close on Monday & poised to go higher.
Stationery and Office (SOS) ended trading at a record closing high of $6 on Monday, even as Investors cut the prices of the majority of Junior Market stocks.
SOS price hit $6 for the second time since listing in August last year but it is the first time that it closed at the high. The stock has broken out of a narrow trading channel that is was in since November last year. New resistance is just above the latest closing price. The move higher was greeted by aggressive buying shortly after the market opened on Monday and ended with a bid at $6.
At the close of market activities, 24 securities changed hands compared 19 securities changing hands on Friday leading to declines in the prices of 15 and gains in only 4, while 5 remained unchanged. The Junior Market Index dropped 49.71 points to close at 2,905.95. Trading ended with an exchange of 1,793,298 units valued at $7,093,168 compared with 1,167,347 units valued at $4,190,359.
Market activity ended with an average of 74,721 units for an average of $295,549 compared to an average of 61,439 units for an average of $220,545 on Friday.
The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 147,346 units at $595,413 compared to 156,870 units at $634,740 on the prior trading day. March closed with an average of 149,999 units valued at $623,819, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows just 7 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Caribbean Cream ended trading with a loss of 15 cents at $5.80, with 8,400 shares, Caribbean Flavours traded with a loss of 50 cents at $11, with 9,100 stock units, Caribbean Producers finished trading with a loss of 50 cents at $5, with 137,779 units, Consolidated Bakeries closed with a loss of 5 cents at $1.95, with 19,158 shares, Derrimon Trading concluded trading 7 cents higher at $9, with 9,343 shares. Elite Diagnostic settled 4 cents higher at $3.43, with 303,573 units,
Eppley ended trading with a loss of 9 cents at $9.51, with 288 shares, Express Catering traded at $5.30, with 2,639 shares, FosRich Group finished trading at $2.40, with 11,040 shares. General Accident closed with a loss of 5 cents at $2.95, with 229,895 stock units, GWest Corporation ended with a loss of 59 cents at $2.50, with 179,700 units, Honey Bun concluded trading with a loss of 35 cents at $4.40, with 6,500 shares, Iron Rock finished at $3, with 109,700 shares. Jamaican Teas ended trading with a loss of 16 cents at $5, with 750 stock units, Jetcon Corporation traded at $4.15, with 18,938 units, KLE Group closed with a loss of 5 cents at $2.45, with 11,500 shares, Knutsford Express ended with a loss of 1.52 cents at $12.48, with 850 shares. Lasco Distributors concluded trading $4.02 higher at $4.02, with 160,040 stock units, Lasco Financial finished with a loss of 2 cents at $5.28, with 8,970 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled with a loss of 1 cent at $3.99, with 271,118 shares, Main Event ended trading with a loss of 4 cents at $6, with 14,067 shares. Medical Disposables traded at $5.10, with 7,400 shares, Stationery and Office closed 48 cents to a record closing high of $6, with 267,550 units and tTech concluded trading 5 cents higher at $5.80, with 5,000 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Trading picks up on TTSE – Monday
Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange Head Quarters
Bearishness sentiments continue to dominate trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange with decline in all three indices on Monday, but with increased trading volume and value.
On Monday, the number of securities traded rose to 15 against 12 on Friday as the market closed with 4 stocks advancing, 3 declining and 8 remaining unchanged. Trading ended with 393,337 shares at a value of $2,153,910 compared to 159,389 shares at a value of $998,772 on Friday.
At close of the market the, Composite Index declined 1.14 points on Monday to 1,244.30, the All T&T Index lost 0.26 points to 1,696.94, while the Cross Listed Index shed 0.28 points to close at 106.67.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows the market continuing to be weak as it closed with only 3 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling prices and 7 with lower offers, an indication of the continuation of a weak market currently.
Gains| Clico Investments closed with an increase of 1 cent and ended at $20.16, with 2,290 units trading, First Citizens finished 3 cents higher and completed trading at $32.55, after exchanging 2,237 shares, Massy Holdings concluded trading and rose 40 cents and settled at $47.40, with 1,062 stock units changing hands and Trinidad & Tobago NGL added 3 cents and completed trading at $27.48, after exchanging 2,425 shares.
Losses| National Enterprises shares fell 10 cents and ended at $9.65, with 835 units, NCB Financial Group closed with a loss of 14 cents and completed trading at $5.80, after exchanging 75,400 shares and Scotiabank shed 5 cents and ended at $62.65, trading 1,900 shares.
Firm Traded| Angostura Holdings closed at $15.72, with 12,000 stock units changing hands, First Caribbean International Bank ended at $9, after exchanging 100 shares, Grace Kennedy concluded market activities at $3.15, with 270,678 units traded, JMMB Group settled at $1.90, with 2,262 stock units changing hands, Point Lisas concluded trading at $3.81, with 660 units, Republic Financial Holdings settled at $101.65, with 488 stock units changing hands, Sagicor Financial ended trading at $7.80, with 20,000 units and West Indian Tobacco ended at $88.55, with 1,000 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Jamaica$ gains vs US on Monday
In US dollar trading, dealers sold US$39.54 million at a rate that fell by 15 cents to J$125.13 at the close, compared to $37.73 million at J$125.28 at the close, on Friday.
Purchases of the US currency by dealers, amounted to US$46.21 million, with the average rate rising 18 cents to $123.93, compared to US$28.76 million, with the average rate of $123.75 on Friday.
The market closed with inflows of US$53.39 million of all currencies, versus US$32.29 million on Friday and dealers sold US$46.59 million in contrast to US$39.25 million, in previous trading.
At mid-day on Monday dealers purchased US$25.27 million at an average rate of J$124.70 and sold $15.95 million at an average of J$125.15. At mid-day on the previous trading day, dealers purchased US$12.16 million at an average rate of J$124.45 and sold $15.18 million at an average of J$125.32.
The Jamaican dollar closed trading, with the selling rate for the Canadian dollar, rising to J$99.68 from J$98.67 at the close on Friday. The selling rate for the British Pound increased to J$177.56 from J$177.27 previously and the euro fall against the Jamaican dollar to J$154.93 to buy the European common currency, versus the prior selling rate of J$156.62.
