Profit before tax at the Trinidad and Tobago based First Citizens group rose 7.2 percent to TT$876 million, the year to September 2017 over the similar period to 2016.
Profit after tax profits rose just $5 million to $642 million, with a hike in profit tax to 30 percent from 25 percent in 2016. The Group’s benefited from improved efficiency and growth in Investments and loans to customers. Citizens ended with a modest increase in earnings per share of $2.54 compared to $2.52 in 2016.
Investments grew 4.9 percent to $13.6 billion from $12.97 billion at the end of the 2016 fiscal year while loans and advances, rose 7.4 percent to $16.52 billion from $15.38 billion, resulted in an increase in the net interest margin of $135 million or 10.5 percent. Customer Deposits declined to $23.98 billion from $25 billion in 2016, while shareholders’ equity climbed to $6.75 billion from $6.68 billion
Board of Directors declared a final dividend of $0.71 per share, bringing the total dividend for the fiscal year to $1.40 per share, compared to $1.33 for 2016. The final dividend will be paid on December 29, 2017, to all shareholders on record as at December 20.
First Citizens traded at $32 on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday for a PE of 12.6.
Modest profit rise at First Citizens
Supreme Ventures dominant trade – Friday
Supreme Ventures traded the most shares on the JSE on Friday.
Volumes jumped on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday as Supreme Ventures captured 92 percent of the value of trades, while the market indices rose modestly by less than 1,000 points.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rose 824.75 points to 304,772.14 and the JSE Index advanced by 751.44 points to close at 277,681.88. Trading closed on Friday with 26 securities changing hands, with 13 advancing, 8 declining and 5 traded firm in the main and US dollar markets. Main market trading resulted in 52,433,941 units valued at $551,963,793 trading, compared to 3,826,874 units valued at $91,752,590 from 22 securities changing hands on Thursday and Palace Amusement closing at a record high of $560 trading a small volume.
Trading ended with an average of 2,097,358 units for an average of $22,078,552 in contrast to 182,232 units for an average of $4,369,171 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 317,967 units valued at $5,039,655 and previously, 132,613 units valued at $3,067,560. In contrast, November closed with average of 349,084 units at an average of $5,801,440 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and the US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Proven Investments US ordinary share traded in the US dollar market, with 2,000 units changing hands in closing at 23 US cents, with the JSE USD Equities Index closing unchanged at 174.66.
New contents at Palace Amusement this week end.
The major movers at the close, are Supreme Ventures with the largest volume amounting to 50.8 million units with a value of $508 million, Berger Paints dropping $1, while Caribbean Cement rose $2, JMMB Group dropped $2.40, PanJam Investment dropping $5, Palace Amusement rising $10 to a record $560, Sagicor Group rose $1.50, while Scotia Group lost $1.94 and Seprod climbed $2.50.
For more details of market activities see – “Supreme trades 51m shares – Friday.”
JSE main market falters on Thursday
PanJam Investment drops $5 in trading on Thursday.
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange pulled back at the close on Thursday with increased volume of shares trading, after rising strongly with very moderate trading on Wednesday.
Trading on the Main Market ended on Thursday with 21 securities changing hands, of which 9 advanced, 7 declined and 2 traded firm resulting in 3,826,874 shares valued at $91,752,590 changing hands, compared to 868,056 units valued at $20,860,689 from 22 securities changing hands on Wednesday.
The market activity resulted in The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declining 1,614.44 points to close at 303,947.39 and the JSE Index falling 1,470.94 points to 276,930.44 at the close. .
Trading ended with an average of 182,232 units for an average of $4,369,171 in contrast to 39,457 units for an average of $948,213 on Wednesday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 132,613 units valued at $3,067,560 and previously, 127,855 units valued at $2,927,387. In contrast, November closed with average of 349,084 units at an average of $5,801,440 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and the US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Proven Investments US ordinary share traded in the US dollar market, with 2,450 units changing hands in closing at 23 US cents, with the JSE USD Equities Index closing unchanged at 174.66. JMMB Group 6% US dollar preference share ended trading at US$1.20, with 290 units trading and resulted in value of US$912 traded in the market.
The major movers at the close, are Berger Paints rising $1.50, JMMB Group jumped $1.92 while trading 3,063,904 units, NCB Financial Group shedding 99 cents, PanJam Investments dropping $5 while Caribbean Cement rose 99 cents, Sagicor Group rose 85 cents, while Scotia Group rose $1.85.
For more details of market activities see – “Rising stocks edge out falling ones.”
Rising stocks edge out falling ones
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange pulled back at the close on Thursday leading the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index to drop by 1,614.44 points to 303,947.39 while the JSE Index fell 1,470.94 points to 276,930.44.
Trading ended with 21 securities changing hands, of which 9 advanced, 7 declined and 2 traded firm, resulting in 3,826,874 shares valued at $91,752,590 changing hands.
In the market activity, Cable & Wireless settled 1 cent higher at $1, with 62,773 shares, Caribbean Cement ended trading 99 cents higher at $31, with 300 stock units, Carreras traded 50 cents higher at $11, with 64,737 units, Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of 50 cents at $41.50, with 121,270 shares, Jamaica Broilers ended with a loss of 40 cents at $17.30, with 9,000 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange finished with a loss of 20 cents at $7, with 24,500 shares, JMMB Group settled $1.92 higher at $25.90, with 3,063,904 shares, Kingston Wharves traded 30 cents higher at $32.30, with 3,475 units, Mayberry Investments finished trading at $6, with 100,788 shares. NCB Financial Group closed with a loss of 99 cents at $99, with 42,547 shares, PanJam Investment concluded trading with a loss of $5 at $40, with 10,105 units, Pulse Investments settled 8 cents higher at $1.78, with 10,000 shares, Radio Jamaica ended trading with a loss of 2 cents at $1.03, as 33,567 stock units changed hands.
Sagicor Group traded 22,758 units and gained 85 cents to close at $35.50, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading at $15, with 200 shares, Scotia Group ended $1.85 higher at $51.95, with 117,552 stock units, Seprod concluded trading 50 cents higher at $27.50, with 485 units and Supreme Ventures settled with a loss of 26 cents at $10.30, with 105,825 shares. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% traded 150 units at $2.49 and the 7.5% closed at $1.85 with 19,937 shares and JMMB Group 7.5% ended trading at $1.15, with 13,001 units trading.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market falters on Thursday.”
Juniors climb in modest trading
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange gained moderately on Thursday, with the market index rising 16.60 points to close at 2,671.26 as the prices of 7 securities advanced, 4 declined and 4 remained unchanged.
At the close of market activities on a day with sharply lower trading levels than on Wednesday, only 15 securities changed hands, resulting in an exchange of 421,479 units valued at $1,639,472 compared to 2,224,289 units valued at $10,033,873 on Wednesday from 20 securities trading.
Trading ended with an average of 28,099 units for an average of $109,298 in contrast to 111,214 units for an average of $501,694 on Wednesday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to units 79,086 valued at $326,414 and previously, 83,407 shares valued at $344,814. In contrast, November closed with average of 107,477 units valued at $545,989 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed at $38, with 1,565 shares trading, CAC 2000 settled with a loss of 6 cents at $6.44, with 2,714 shares, Cargo Handlers ended trading 5 cents higher at $10.90, with 100 stock units, Caribbean Cream traded 14 cents higher at $5.75, with 1,099 units, Caribbean Producers closed with a loss of 39 cents at $3.61, with 42,543 shares. 
Express Catering ended trading 1 cent higher at $4.29, with 24,811 stock units, Jamaican Teas concluded trading 37 cents higher at $3.70, with 44,213 units, Jetcon Corporation finished at $4.30, with 67,551 shares, KLE Group ended trading 42 cents higher at $2.50, with 1,118 stock units. Lasco Distributors finished trading with a loss of 24 cents at $4.11, with 31,962 shares, Lasco Financial closed at $4.75, with 4,948 shares, Lasco Manufacturing ended with a loss of 15 cents at $3.30, with 81,530 stock units, Medical Disposables finished 5 cents higher at $5, with 965 shares, Paramount Trading settled 18 cents higher at $2.88, with 100,310 shares and tTech finished trading at $5.50, with 16,050 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
9 TTSE stock down in weak market
After a long drawn out period when investors were felling out each other to try and get the best price for stocks, finally, patience seems to have worn thin, as the prices of several stocks were finally allowed to trade lower than the asking prices a month or two ago.
By the look of trading and market quotes the downward correction is not yet over and with the Trinidad Economy still in deep recession the decline in market prices could go well into 2018 as the downward price adjustments take time to be fully reflected in trading.
Trading levels on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange closed on Thursday, fell below Wednesday’s volumes and values, and ended with 9 stocks declining, 7 holding firm and none gaining at the close.
At the end the Composite Index declined by 10.93 points to 1,269.95, the All T&T Index shed 12.64 points to 1,730.70 and the Cross Listed Index was down 1.25 points to close at 109.10.
The market closed with 16 securities changing hands compared to 15 on Wednesday leading to 513,696 shares trading, valued at $5,023,038 compared to Wednesday’s trades of 750,792 valued at $10,300,305.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 2 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Losses| The last traded prices of the securities declining at the close of the market are, Ansa McAL losing 2 cents to close at $63 trading 12,000 shares valued at $756,000, Guardian Holdings closed 98 cents lower to $17, with 2,000 shares exchanged and JMMB Group ended at $1.50, losing 9 cents exchanging 273,754 shares valued at $410,631. Massy Holdings declined by $1, closing at $48 with 1,146 units, National Enterprises ended with a loss of 20 cents at $9.80 with a mere 25 units trading, NCB Financial Group settled at $6.30, losing 20 cents, exchanging 40,850 shares, but only after it traded at a new high of $6.75 befoe pulling back by the close. Scotiabank traded 90 cents lower to $60.10 with 100 units changing hands, West Indian Tobacco fell by $1.05 to a new 52 weeks’ low of $101.80 trading 13,000 shares valued at $1,323,400 and Trinidad & Tobago NGL dropped 30 cents, in closing at $26.20 with 5,462 shares changing hands.
West Indian Tobacco hit another 52 weeks’ low on Thursday.
Firm Trades| The last traded prices of securities closing unchanged are, Clico Investment closing at $21 with 17,680 shares valued at $371,280, First Citizens remaining at $32 with 1,100 units changing hands, National Flour Mills closing at $1.90 with 1,747 shares. Republic Financial Holdings closed at $100 trading 5,657 shares valued at $565,700, Sagicor Financial remained at $7.95 with 123,670 shares valued at $982,164, Trinidad Cement closed at $3.95 with trades of 15,005 shares and Unilever Caribbean traded 500 units at $30.
Big jump in JSE main market – Wednesday
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with a big rise in the market indices as investors continue shaking off the sell-off leading up to the four Initial Public Offers that were on the market and closed last week and earlier this week.
The market activity resulted in a surge of 2,953.90 points in the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index to close at 305,561.83 while the JSE Index jumped 2,691.33 points 278,401.38 at the close of a moderate day of market activity.
At the close of the market, 22 securities changing hands, securities changing hands, 11 advanced, 5 declined and 5 traded firm with 868,056 units valued at $20,860,689 compared to 1,747,498 units valued at $52,030,701 from 22 securities changing hands on Tuesday.
Trading ended with an average of 39,457 units for an average of $948,213 in contrast to 79,432 units for an average of $2,365,032 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 127,855 units valued at $2,927,387 and previously, 137,727 units valued at $3,179,073. In contrast, November closed with average of 349,084 units at an average of $5,801,440 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and the US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
Proven Investments US ordinary share was the sole trade in the US dollar market, with 3,925 units valued at over US$903 changing hands in closing at 23 US cents, with the JSE USD Equities Index closing unchanged at 174.66.
The major movers at the close, are Berger Paints rising $1.50, JMMB Group rising 97 cents, Mayberry Investments rising 82 cents, PanJam Investment jumping $3.50 while Caribbean Cement fell $1.21, Grace Kennedy with a loss of $1, Sagicor Group falling $1.85, while Scotia Group lost 90 cents.
For more details of market activities see – “Stocks rise in moderate trading.”
JSE stocks rise in moderate trading
Bulls pushing Jamaican stocks.
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with 22 securities changing hands, of which 11 advanced, 5 declined and 5 traded firm with just 868,056 units valued at a mere $20,860,689.
Trading resulted in the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 2,953.90 points to close at 305,561.83 and the JSE Index advanced by 2,691.33 points to close at 278,401.38.
In the market activity, Berger Paints finished $1.50 higher at $17, with 8,715 shares, Caribbean Cement ended trading with a loss of $1.21 at $30.01, with 5,500 stock units, Carreras traded 15 cents higher at $10.50, with 168,396 units, Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of $1 at $42, with 31,693 shares. Jamaica Broilers ended at $17.70, with 11,221 stock units, Jamaica Producers concluded trading with a loss of 1 cent at $15.09, with 5,239 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished 20 cents higher at $7.20, with 31,833 shares, JMMB Group settled 97 cents higher at $23.98, with 44,686 shares. Kingston Wharves traded at $32, with 3,927 units, Mayberry Investments finished trading 82 cents higher at $6, with 150,597 shares, NCB Financial Group closed at $99.99, with 96,102 shares, 1834 Investments ended at $1.20, with 336 stock units, PanJam Investment closed trading with a rise of $3.50 to $45, with 4,959 units. Pulse Investments settled 20 cents higher at $1.70, with 47,159 shares, Radio Jamaica ended trading 5 cents higher at $1.05, with 20,362 stock units, 
Sagicor Group traded with a loss of $1.85 at $34.65, with 52,540 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading 51 cents higher at $15, with 6,698 shares. Salada Foods Jamaica closed 24 cents higher at $9.85, with 5,450 shares, Scotia Group ended with a loss of 90 cents at $50.10, with 25,560 stock units, Sterling Investments finished at $12, with 14,527 shares and Supreme Ventures settled 31 cents higher at $10.56, with 130,956 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% ended trading at $1.15, with 1,600 units trading.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “Big jump in JSE main market – Wednesday.”
Junior Market down on Wednesday
Access traded with a rise of $2.10 on the junior market.
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange lost grounds on Wednesday, with the market index dropping 28.86 points to close at 2,654.66 as 5 securities advanced, 8 declined and 7 remained unchanged, with Access Financial rising by $3.50 and Blue power by $2.10.
Trading closed with 20 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 2,224,289 units valued at $10,033,873 compared to 888,134 units valued at $3,977,999 from 26 securities on Tuesday.
Trading ended with an average of 111,214 units for an average of $501,694 in contrast to 34,159 units for an average of $153,000 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to units 83,407 valued at $344,814 and previously 79,865 units valued at $324,829. In contrast, November closed with average of 107,477 units valued at $545,989 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 3 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed $3.50 higher at $38, with 2,000 shares changing hands, AMG Packaging ended at $2.90, with 7,000 stock units, trading after dipping to a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $2.70. Blue Power concluded trading $2.10 higher at $44, with 10,000 units, Cargo Handlers ended trading at $10.85, with 2,790 stock units, Caribbean Cream traded with a loss of 20 cents at $5.61, with 55,000 units trading. Caribbean Producers closed 1 cent higher at $4, with 11,114 shares, Consolidated Bakeries ended with a loss of 40 cents at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.40, with 1,500 stock units, Derrimon Trading concluded trading at $7, with 1,000 units, Dolphin Cove finished at $17, with 1,568 shares. 
Express Catering ended trading 8 cents higher at $4.28, with 5,189 stock units, General Accident traded with a loss of 38 cents at $3, with 10,335 units, Honey Bun finished trading at $3.99, with 1,516 shares, Jamaican Teas lost 17 cents to close at $3.33, with 229,800 units. Jetcon Corporation finished with a loss of 40 cents at $4.30, with 1,063,400 shares, Knutsford Express traded with a loss of 5 cents at $14.75, with 5,530 units, Lasco Distributors finished trading 10 cents higher at $4.35, with 516,274 shares, Lasco Financial closed with a loss of 65 cents at $4.75, with 43,798 shares. Lasco Manufacturing ended with a loss of 7 cents at $3.45, with 14,461 stock units, Main Event concluded trading at $5.09, with 169,788 units and Stationery and Office ended trading at $4.80, with 72,226 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
TTSE close in calmer waters – Wednesday
Republic Bank drops to 52 weeks’ low.
Price movements were calmer at the close of trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday with 2 stocks advancing, 4 declining and 9 unchanged as 15 securities traded for the third consecutive day.
The market closed as 750,792 shares traded at a value of $10,300,305 compared to Tuesday’s trades of 652,922 shares valued at $9,971,563.
The Composite Index gained 1.48 points to 1,280.88, the All T&T Index advanced by 3.27 points to 1,743.34 and the Cross Listed Index lost 0.04 points to close at 110.35.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 2 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| At the close of trading on Wednesday, National Enterprises gained 25 cents to end at $10 trading 242,340 shares valued at $2,423,050 and Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose 50 cents to close at $26.50 exchanging 24,334 shares valued at $641,925.
Losses| The last traded prices of the securities declining are, First Citizens with a loss of 1 cent, in closing at $32 with 134,288 shares valued at $4,298,539, Guardian Holdings trading at $17.98, with a loss of 1 cent swapping 500 units, JMMB Group ending at $1.59, after losing 1 cent with 83,033 shares changing hands and Republic Financial Holdings that closed 25 cents lower to a new 52 weeks’ low of $100 with 549 units changing hands.
Firm Trades| The last prices of securities at the close on Wednesday unchanged are, Angostura Holdings that closed at $15 with 42,437 units valued at $636,555 trading, while Clico Investment remained at $21 with 10,400 shares and First Caribbean International Bank ending trading at $9.30, with 127,150 stock units valued at $1,182,495 being exchanged. Massy Holdings closed at $49 with a mere 10 units traded, NCB Financial Group held firm at $6.50, exchanging 12,561 shares while One Caribbean Media closed at $14 with 1,000 units. Sagicor Financial settled at $7.95 with 71,288 shares valued at $566,740, Scotiabank closed at $61 with 436 units trading and Unilever Caribbean remained flat at $30 with of 466 units trading
