Trading activities on the Jamaica Stock Exchange was again slow in the early morning session as buyers and sellers continue their stand-off. The market has so far traded 18 securities with a volume of 3,409,859 units, with only 1 stock declining and 9 rising.
Trading activity resulted small changes to the indices with the JSE Market Index rising 697.61 points to 98,878.63. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 779.62 points to 109,458.72 and the JSE combined index rose 725.77 points to be at 102,052.74. The junior market inched up 7.52 points to 973.90.
The main trades so far are, Desnoes & Geddes traded 3,095,177 units at $7.50 while gaining 50 cents, Mayberry Investments 178,500 units at $3 while gaining 19 cents and Proven Investments ordinary share trades 38,977 units at 19.9 US dollars.
9 stocks rise 1 fell on JSE – early Tuesday
D&G profit fell in Q4
Profit fell to $815 million for Desnoes & Geddes, the brewers of the famous Red Stripe beer, in the final quarter of the fiscal year to June, versus $1 billion in 2014. Earnings per share came in at 83 cents with $1.12 in 2014. The latter includes gain on sale of investments in Eastern Caribbean breweries, equal to 35 cents per share. IC Insider is forecasting $1.05 per share earnings, for the year to June 2016.
Revenues came in at $4.4 billion for the quarter versus $3.8 billion in 2014, for the full year $16 billion versus $14.3 billion. Sales growth was helped by a combination of increased volume, product mix and price increase, the company stated. Royalties earned amounted to $533 million in the year and $525 million in 2014.
General, selling and administrative expenses were virtually static for the year at $1.26 billion compared to $1.22 billion but marketing cost rose 37 percent to $1.37 billion against an increase of 15.7 percent to $5.46 billion in gross profit.
For 2015, the company paid a dividend of 13 cents in March while a dividend 27 cents was paid in December last year, providing a yield of 12 percent based on the stock price of $4.10 on August 21 last year. Based on the increased profit and past dividend payments, investors can expect to see an increase for the next dividend payment.
The company’s stock last traded at $7 on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange giving it a PE ratio of 8.4 and a 100 percent premium to net asset value.
The stock valuation may be on the high side just now compared with others in the market, there are a few things investors should focus on. These include the likelihood of increased sales that should occur in the period leading up to the next general elections, with the high dividend yield and falling interest rates the stock will become more attractive as an income generator in the not too distant future.
12 up 12 down on JSE Wednesday
Carreras fell $2.15 on Wednesday
The JSE Market Index lost 137.06 points to 97,315.35, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declining by 153.20 points to close at 107,711.34 but the JSE combined index declined 273.13 points to end at 99,982.34.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with offers that were lower.In trading, Caribbean Cement closed with 38,245 shares changing hands at $5.50, Carreras traded 12,000 shares but closed with a loss of $2.15 at $48.35, Desnoes & Geddes lost 45 cents in trading 21,600 shares to close at $7.55. Gleaner ended with 13,645 shares changing hands but gained 8 cents at the close to $1.08, Grace Kennedy had 26,700 units changing hands and fell 50 cents to $63.50, Jamaica Broilers remained firm in trading 94,000 units to end at $6.
Jamaica Stock Exchange in trading 17,135 shares ended with a gain of 1 cent at $6.81, at the close Stocks and Securities offered 982,865 units for sale at $6.80. Kingston Wharves traded 12,229 shares in closing at $7. The stock traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $7.01, Mayberry Investments traded 123,703 shares to dip 7 cents at $2.53, National Commercial Bank declined by just 1 cents in trading 144,522 shares to close at $29, Proven Investments traded 117,000 shares to close at 21.5 US cents up from the closing price of 19.01 US cents on Tuesday. Sagicor Group fell 10 cents with 1,510,308 units trading to end at $12.85, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed 1 cent down at $8 after 11,625 shares were exchanged and Scotia Group had 156,455 units trading 25 cents higher at $23.50.
JSE poised to rise on Wednesday
Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange picked up with one of the better trading days in terms of the number of securities being active. At the close there were 14 stocks rising, 8 declining as 39 securities changed hands, including 4 that closed at new 52 weeks’ high and ending in 4,671,007 units trading, valued at $73,832,092, in all market segments.
The changes in the market indices were very small with the JSE Market Index gaining just 13.43 points to 97,452.41, theJSE All Jamaican Composite index rising by 15.01 points to close at 107,864.54 but the JSE combined index declined by 4.07 points to end at 100,255.47.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 3 with offers that were lower, a suggestion that advancing stocks should have the upper hand again on Wednesday.
In trading, Cable & Wireless closed with 1,149,216 units trading to end at 45 cents, Carreras traded 321,462 shares and gained $2.19 to end at $50.50, Desnoes & Geddes gained 44 cents in trading 733,245 shares to close at $8. Gleaner ended with 108,114 shares changing hands but lost 8 cents at the close, Grace Kennedy had 26,700 units changing hands and put on 64 cents to $64, Jamaica Broilers gained 55 cents while trading 8,410 units to end at $6. JMMB Group ended with 20,085 shares trading unchanged at $7.50, Kingston Wharves put on 30 cents in closing at $7 having traded just 2,900 units. Mayberry Investments traded 252,867 shares to close at $2.60 after shedding 30 cents, National Commercial Bank lost 44 cents in trading 1,008,211 shares at $29.01 at the end. 
138 Student Living regained the 40 cents it lost recently to close at $4.40 with 20,000 units changing hands, Pan Jamaican dropped $2.70 with 59,230 units to close at $60.80, Proven Investments traded 305,252 shares between 22 US cents and the closing price of 19.01 US cents, for a slight gain at the end. Radio Jamaica closed with a gain of 30 cents to a new 52 weeks’ high of $3.50 with just 4,214 shares changing hands, Sagicor Group was up 55 cents with 191,448 units trading to end at $12.95, Sagicor Real Estate X Fund closed 1 cent higher at a new high of $8.01 after 4,000 shares were exchanged. Scotia Group had 95,808 units trading 10 cents higher at $23.25 and Scotia Investments traded 15,000 shares at $29.85 at the close.
AJ Index falls 3,000 points in 6 days
Scotia Group fell again on Friday to $23.10 from its recent 52 weeks’ high of $27, and is the major factor behind the 3,000 points fall in the market index.
Since last week Friday the main market has slipped 5 days out of the 6 trading days. The last three days recorded negative movements in the indices. The JSE Market Index lost 805.17 points to close at 96,528.19, and is down over 2,700 points from last week’s Thursday close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 899.97 points to close at 106,831.50 and has lost more 3,000 points since last week’s Thursday close. The JSE combined index dropped 989.73 points to end
at 99,230.69 on Friday and lost just over 2,600 points since Thursday, last week.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 8 with offers that were lower, a negative indicator for Monday’s trading.
In trading, Cable & Wireless ended with 77,630 shares changing hands and closed unchanged at 44 cents, Carreras traded 213,902 shares to close at $49 after losing 50 cents, Desnoes & Geddes ended with 106,421 shares changing hands with the price declining 45 cents to $7.55, Grace Kennedy traded 10,133 units to close at $63.95. Jamaica Broilers closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $5.75 to gain 35 cents, with 431,083 units changing hands,
Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with 15,415 shares trading and closed at $6.35, to lose 15 cents. JMMB Group gained 8 cents to end at $7.30 with 134,900 shares, Kingston Wharves lost 49 cents with 8,000 shares trading at the close at $6.51, National Commercial Bank had 36,290 units trading unchanged at $29.50. Sagicor Group traded only 31,267 shares, was quoted at $12.06 when trading ended, with a loss of 34 cents. The stock traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $12.50 during the day. Scotia Group had 301,432 shares changing hands at $23.10 with a loss of 50 cents, Sterling Investments saw 11,660 units trading at $13.40 and put on 5 cents, Supreme Ventures had 46,994 units changing hands at $3.65 for a 5 cents gain and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 127,800 units at $5.
138 Student Living big trades
138 Student Living ordinary share closed at a new low of $4
On a day the junior market reached a new all-time high with 7 stocks advancing and none losing, with 4 stocks closing at new highs, the main market slipped, with only 3 stocks advancing with all losses coming from this market. The markets closed with the prices of 10 stocks rising, 11 declining as 31 securities changed hands, ending in 28,982,879 units trading, valued at $131,346,625, and 7 new 52 weeks’ highs and 1 new low, in all market segments
TheJSE Market Index lost 310.43 points to 97,890.06, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 346.98 points to close at and the 108,353.72 JSE combined index dropped 220.38 points to end at 100,762.69.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with offers that were lower. The junior market that recorded all gains showed weakness at the end with 5 stocks closing with lower offers than the last sale and only 2 with bids that were higher.
Stocks trading include, Cable & Wireless with 645,332 shares changing hands with a loss of 1 cent to close at 44 cents. Desnoes & Geddes closing with 870,000 stock units trading at $8, Grace Kennedy had 10,000 shares changing hands at $63.90 to lose 1 cent, Hardware & Lumber closed with 7,147 shares trading to end with a gain of $1 at a new 52 weeks’ high of $19. Investors continue to react to Jamaica Stock Exchange big jump in profits and announcement of a 53 cents dividend as they snapped up the 50,000 stock units on sale and still wanted more with bids at $6.00 to $6.55 to buy 162,000 units. The stock gained 25 cents for the day and closed at $6. JMMB Group saw 179,100 shares trading, to close at $7.26, down 24 cents, 138 Student Living traded 12,202,200 stock units and lost 40 cents to end at $4.
Sagicor Group had 16,457 shares trading with a gain of 24 cents to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $12.30, the stock closed with a bid of $13.20 to buy 1,000 shares, posted at 12:24 pm on Wednesday. Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 63,800 stock units at $7.60, Scotia Group had 31,000 shares trading, to close with a 10 cents loss at $24.40, Scotia Investments fell $3.57 with 6,300 stock units trading, to end at $26.28. Seprod lost 50 cents with 6,888 shares trading, to close at $15.49, Proven Investments traded 229,035 stock units at 21 US cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share trading 1,401,000 units at $2.03 while 138 Student Living preference share traded 12,000,000 units at $5 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 42,955 units at $5.
Rising stocks outnumber decliners
Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 16 stocks rising, 5 declining as 29 securities changed hands, ending in 2,166,650 units trading, valued at $9,438,928, and 8 stocks trading at new 52 weeks’ high, in all market segments. Trading was characterized by number of the stocks trading recorded relatively high levels of price movements.
TheJSE Market Index gained 411.58 points to 98,200.49, theJSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 460.04 points to close at 108,700.70 and the JSE combined index put on 519.16 points to end at 100,983.07.
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 4 with offers that were lower.
Stocks trading include, Barita Investments losing 14 cents with 334,867 shares trading to end at $2.51, Caribbean Cement with 365,811 shares closing at $5, Carreras ending with a 50 cents loss with 9,995 units to close at $49.50, Desnoes & Geddes traded 608 shares to rise cents to $8 having gained 45 cents. 
Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 37,000 units after the company announced a 53 cents dividend, payable in July and closed at $5.75 with a gain of 75 cents for a new high, National Commercial Bank ended with 42,811 shares changing hands $1 higher to end at $30. Pan Jamaican Investment traded 10,000 units to gain $1.50 and end at a 52 weeks’ high of $63.50, Sagicor Group ended with 121,095 shares trading at $12.06 for a 5 cents gain. Scotia Group had just 11,600 units trading to close $1.01 down at $24.50, Scotia Investments traded only 3,000 units to close up by $3.57 to $29.85, Supreme Ventures enjoyed trading in 21,700 shares at $3.60 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 113,120 units at $2.11 for a 19 cents dip.
Prices up prices down index gains
Sagicor traded 5.36 million shares on Friday
Hardware & Lumber closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $18, Jamaica Stocks Exchange closed at an all-time high of $4 and Scotia Investments also closed at a new high of $30 after jumping $3.70 but with limited volume and Palace Amusement traded at $60 for a new 52 weeks’ low.
TheJSE Market Index gained 451.19 points to 98,766.37, theJSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 504.32 points to close at 109,333.21 and the JSE combined index put on 439.21 points to end at 101,019.67.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator continues to reflect a market that has a upward bias with 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 2 with offers that were lower.
Barita Investments traded 134,024 shares at $2.50 but closed with the bid at $2.55 to buy 11,765 shares, Carreras traded 160,324 shares with the price rising to $50 from $49 on Thursday after the company announced a $2 dividend. The stock traded as high as $51.06 for an intraday 52 weeks’ high. Caribbean Cement slipped 40 cents to close at $4.60 with 12,000 units changing hands. Desnoes & Geddes had 62,181 shares trading, to close 12 cents lower at $7.38, Grace Kennedy with 20,682 units changing hands, closed with a loss of 50 cents at $63. Jamaica Broilers shared 1,284,333 units at 20 cents higher, than on
Thursday, at $5.50, Jamaica Stock Exchange had 1 million units changing hands in one trade, to close at $4, the stock closed without an offer. JMMB Group enjoyed trading in 171,384 shares to end at $9, Mayberry Investments had 37,164 units changing hands between $3.16 and the ending price, of $3. National Commercial Bank closed at $29.57 after losing 53 cents, Palace Amusement traded 566 shares and fell by $20 to $60, Sagicor Group had another heavy day of trading with 5,359,993 units changing hands and Scotia Group traded 14,391 units at $25.05 for a 45 cents decline.In the preference sector, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 429,000 units at $2.30, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference shares 370,000 units at $3.02.
9 stocks rose 12 declined on JSE
Pan Jam closed at $60 after gaining $1.19
The JSE Market Index gained 112.16 points to 98,382.51, theJSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 125.41 points to end at 108,714.51 and the JSE combined index declined by 12.53 points to close at 100,575.43.
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 13 with offers that were lower. 7 of the lower offers are in the junior market and 2 are preference shares, an indication that main market ordinary
shares strength remains fairly intact at this stage and may be one reason the main market indices, recorded gains at the end of trading.Trading included Berger Paints trading 5,000 shares to close with a loss of 40 cents at $2.60, Cable & Wireless ended with 438,117 shares at 46 cents, for a gain of 1 cent, Caribbean Cement slipped 4 cents with 48,850 shares trading, to close at $4.55, Carreras closed with 92,083 units trading at $49, by dropping $1. Desnoes & Geddes lost 44 cents in trading 5,000 shares in closing at $7.26, Grace Kennedy gained 35 cents with 9,905 units changing hands in closing at $62.50. Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped 15 cents with 43,700 shares trading at $3.35, JMMB Group had 73,345 shares trading with a gain of 44 cents to $8.89,
Margaritaville (Turks) ended with 100,000 shares trading at 10 US cents, Mayberry Investments traded just 1,020 units but lost 15 cents to end at $2.85. National Commercial Bank traded unchanged with 25,000 units at $30, Pan Jamaican traded only 1,700 shares to end with a gain of $1.19 at $60, Proven Investments closed with 17,700 units to gain almost a cent to 20.48 US cents. Radio Jamaica traded 50,000 shares unchanged at $2.58, Sagicor Group gained 50 cents in trading 135,347 units to close at $12, Scotia Group gained 36 cents with 2,190 shares trading, to end at $25.32. Scotia Investments traded only 176 units in gaining 35 cents to $25.85, Seprod lost 50 cents in trading 5,000 units at $17.50 and Supreme Ventures lost 30 cents with 10,727 units changing hands at $3.60.
JSE Markets up pace slowing
Grace fell $1 after reporting a decline in Q1 profits
Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 15 stocks rising, including 8 new 52 weeks’ high, 7 declining as 35 securities changed hands, ending in 4,079,019 units trading, valued at $46,667,393, in all market segments. The JSE Market Index gained 295.86 points to 99,287.96, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 330.79 points to close at 109,726.84 and the JSE combined index gained/ put on 321.05 points to close at 101,740.07. Stocks closing at new 52 weeks’ highs, in the main market are, Berger Paints, Desnoes and Geddes, Caribbean Cement, Jamaica Broilers and Radio Jamaica.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with offers that were lower.Stocks trading include, Berger Paints ended trading with 81,477 shares changing hands to close 20 cents higher at $2.55, Caribbean Cement closed with 240,866 shares trading, 89 cents higher, at $5.10, Carreras finished trading with 20,385 shares and lost 35 cents to close at $49, Desnoes & Geddes saw trading in 31,000 shares trading 5 cents higher at $7.25. Gleaner closed with 170,739 units trading, with the price unchanged at $1, Grace Kennedy finished trading with 42,032 shares and fell $1 to close at $63.50. Jamaica Stock Exchange concluded trading with 25,000 units trading with the last price unchanged at $3.50, JMMB Group completed trading in 11,506 shares changing hands and jumped $50 cents at $10,the stock closed with an offer at $9.49, Kingston Wharves had dealing in 34,221 units traded at 6 cents up to $6.26.
Mayberry Investments contributed 93,828 units to trading and close unchanged at $3, National Commercial Bank ended trading with 52,070 shares changing hands to close down by 50 cents at $30 and based on today’s trading which saw the bid that was at $30 for several days, to buy an undisclosed amount being pulled, it looks as if the price could fall back below $30, Radio Jamaica closed with 100,000 shares trading at $2.48 after adding 8 cents, Sagicor Group finished trading with 1,127,037 units but remained unchanged at $12, after it trading during the day at $11. Scotia Group ended trading 72,725 units to close 14 cents higher, at $25.30, Scotia Investments closed with 2,300 shares, 75 cents up at $25.50. Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share finished trading with 153,398 units changing hands to close 2 cents higher at $3.02 and Proven Investments 8% preference shares saw trading in 26,805 units with the price ending unchanged at $5, after gaining 50 cents earlier in the day before falling back.