The Jamaica Stock Exchange, Main Market indices, climbed on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 47 percent and the value surging 434 percent above Tuesday’s activities, but it closed with declining stocks exceeding rising ones on a 3 to 2 basis.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 4,841.97 points to 443,103.96, the JSE Main Index popped 4,026.85 points to end at 388,150.21 and the JSE Financial Index rose 1.42 points to settle at 91.75.
Trading ended with 56 securities compared to 53 on Tuesday, with 18 rising, 26 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Some 13,218,682 shares were exchanged for $481,285,926 versus 8,858,814 units at $90,095,210 on Tuesday. Trading averages 236,048 units at $8,594,409, cup from 167,147 shares at $1,699,910 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 246,228 units at $2,954,224, compared to 248,355 units at $1,775,677 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 238,645 units at $3,561,016.
Productive Business Solutions 9.75% Preference share led trading with 3.62 million shares for 27.7 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 preference share, 2.5 million units for 18.1 percent of total trading, Transjamaican Highway closed with 1.69 million units for 12.9 percent market share and Supreme Ventures, 1.21 million units for 9.3 percent of the day’s trade.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.40 in closing at $72.60 with 19,225 shares clearing the market, Caribbean Producers shed $1 to end at $14, closing with 426,521 units changing hands, Eppley jumped $7.99 to $47 after trading 1,220 stock units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $1, ending at $44 in switching ownership of 2,785 stocks, First Rock Capital increased 40 cents to $13.05 in exchanging 40,657 units, GraceKennedy lost 50 cents to end at $107.50 in trading 10,091 shares. Guardian Holdings fell $21 to $512 after exchanging 2,783 stocks, Jamaica Broilers rose $1.07 to close at $27.07, with 10,986 stock units crossing the exchange, Jamaica Producers climbed 90 cents to $22.70 with an exchange of 8,526 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 60 cents in closing at $18.60 with the swapping of 2,450 stock units, Mayberry Investments gained 95 cents in ending at $10.40 after trading 5,583 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed $1 to close at $14, with 523 shares crossing the market. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied $2.95 in closing at $107.95 after exchanging 11 units, PanJam Investment dropped $1.50 to $64.50, trading 15,265 stock units, Portland JSX climbed $2.93 to $9.43 while exchanging 350 shares. Proven Investments fell 40 cents in closing at $37.05 in an exchange of 6,885 stocks, Sagicor Group lost $1 to $56, with 121,771 stocks changing hands, Scotia Group gained $1.14 to close at $37.15, with 60,571 stock units crossing the market. Seprod rose 98 cents to end at $72 in exchanging 29,674 units, Stanley Motta declined 45 cents ending at $5.50 in switching ownership of 2,067 shares and Wisynco Group fell 40 cents in closing at $19.50, clearing the market with 46,343 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share declined $2.75 to end at $107 in trading 3,622,980 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE US dollar market climbs
The Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market closed higher on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded dropping 98 percent, with a 90 percent slide in the value compared to Tuesday, with more stocks rising than falling at the close.
Seven securities traded, similar to Tuesday with three rising, two declining and two ending unchanged. The JSE US Denominated Equities Index gained 5.84 points to end at 221.96.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.4. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending, up to August 2023.
Overall, 57,904 shares traded, for US$8,144 compared to 2,380,018 units at US$85,715 on Tuesday. Trading averaged 8,272 units at US$1,163, compared to 340,003 shares at US$12,245 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 139,193 shares at US$5,089 versus 161,545 units at US$5,759 on the previous day. May ended with an average of 47,916 units for US$3,528.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share finished at 7.5 US cents after 2,085 shares were traded, Margaritaville ended unchanged at 15 US cents, with sis stock units changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed 18 cents to US$1.38 with a mere one stock units. Proven Investments declined 0.48 cents in ending at 26.01 US cents, with 21,053 units crossing the market, Sterling Investments popped 0.2 of a cent to end at 2.2 US cents, with 9,900 shares clearing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share rallied 1.19 cents in ending at 12.4 US cents, with an exchange of 17,237 stock units and Transjamaican Highway shed 0.01 of a cent to 0.99 of one US cent in exchanging 7,622 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading plunges on Trinidad stock market
The volume and value of stocks trading plunged 71 percent on Wednesday on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange compared to trading on Tuesday, resulting in more stocks losing value than gaining.
Twenty one securities traded compared to 23 on Tuesday, with six rising, five declining and 10 remaining unchanged. The Composite Index dropped 2.78 points to 1,420.39, the All T&T Index popped 2.74 points to end at 2,082.64 and the Cross-Listed Index shed 1.22 points to settle at 99.63.
A total of 387,257 shares traded for $2,396,957 compared to 1,338,190 units at $8,147,069 on Tuesday. An average of 18,441 units traded at $114,141 compared to 58,182 shares at $354,220 on Tuesday, with trading month to date averaging 22,993 units at $231,806 versus 23,958 units at $256,765. The average trade for May amounts to 45,890 units at $370,328.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s fell 5 cents to end at $47.20 in trading 50 shares, Angostura Holdings remained at $23, with 81 units clearing the market, Ansa McAl rose 45 cents to $56.95 after trading 160 stock units. Calypso Macro Investment Fund rallied 50 cents after ending at $19.50 in exchanging 268 stocks, Clico Investment Fund climbed $1 to close at $29 after 4,065 stock units changed hands, Endeavour Holdings ended at $7.50, with 362 units crossing the exchange. FirstCaribbean International Bank dropped 3 cents to end at $5.22 after exchanging 35,509 stocks, GraceKennedy increased 5 cents to $5.95 with an exchange of 57,076 shares, Guardian Holdings ended unchanged at $27.25 after the trading of 1,309 stock units. JMMB Group shed 7 cents to end at $2.35 while exchanging 123,991 stocks, Massy Holdings declined 3 cents to $5.20, with 73,059 shares crossing the market, National Enterprises ended at $3.24, with 15 units changing hands. National Flour Mills finished at $1.80, with 27,790 stock units crossing the market, NCB Financial Group remained at $5.66 after exchanging 44,794 units, One Caribbean Media finished at $4.17 with the swapping of 55 stocks. Prestige Holdings gained 8 cents to close at $7.08 in switching ownership of 5 shares, Republic Financial Holdings ended at $141 in exchanging 1,602 shares, Scotiabank remained at $78 trading 2,739 stocks. Trinidad & Tobago NGL advanced 80 cents to $21, with 5,601 stock units passing through the exchange, Unilever Caribbean lost $2.68 after ending at $17.07 in trading 6,586 units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $23.40 with the swapping of 2,140 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Abysmal reporting continues at MPC for Q1
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy’s financial wellbeing continues to be clouded in secrecy, with investors not being provided with a full set of financial reports showing the full financial status of the company and the group.
The last year’s interim reports for the first three quarters and the first quarter this year, defiles logic. Those reports show the group operating at a break even for four quarters, three in 2021 and one in 2022. The fourth quarter results ends up with a profit from unrealized investment gains of US$1.347 million. The same situation occurred in 2020. How is this possible, when the directors’ report shows varying levels of EBITDA per quarter?
The directors reported to shareholders that “In the first quarter of the year, the commercial and technical development of the Company’s underlying assets were within the expected range. The weather conditions have had a negative impact on revenues due to lower electrical energy production than initially forecasted, which has been reflected in the financial results. Technically, there was a high system availability.”
The report also shows that in the quarter EBITDA was US$2,206,018. In 2021 first quarter EBITDA was US$1.81 million. The first quarter statements show no income but from its three projects, it is invested in similar to 2021.
There are questions that need answering. Is the valuation that results in a fourth quarter surplus done quarterly or not for the subsidiary that holds the direct investments in the energy projects and if not why not? Regardless, what is the net position for each quarter and why is it not included in the quarterly report to the Jamaica Stock Exchange so that shareholders can see what is happening to their investment?
Investors in publicly listed companies should expect full disclosure as to what is happening to their investments. This is not the case with MPC Caribbean Clean Energy Fund LLC and there is no good reason for it.
Some investors may recall the story of Enron that went busted but shareholders were unaware of the true status of the group as financial statements of some subsidiaries were not included in the group report. Unfortunately, MPC reporting is akin to Enron as the quarterly results fail to meet the minimum standards for continued listing. When will the Jamaica Stock Exchange and the Financial Services Commission take action to protect investors in this company?
Caribbean Cement and poor management
Investors entrust capital to public companies with the expectation that their interests will be properly protected, but that does not appear to be the case with local investors at Caribbean Cement Company. Last year against to outcry of local investors the company rammed through fees for royalty to be paid in addition to management fees already be paid to Cemex, the ultimate parent company.
Last month, the company proposed a meeting to consider the payment of a dividend that was not managed appropriately by the company, neither before nor after the meeting.
The Board of Directors Caribbean Cement Company advised shareholders that a meeting of the board that was held on May 26, 2022, recommended presenting an ordinary resolution to shareholders to declare a final dividend of $1.5032 per share payable on August 15, 2022.
That is a great development, considering the company last paid a dividend in 2004, but the wider public was deprived of such price sensitive information. To compound the problem, the company haled the meeting and kept the information for a week before communicating the decision to the exchange, even though the rules require immediate release of the decision immediately after the meeting.
In an article reporting the decision of the board, the company through its secretarial department took issue with the article stating that they seem to have breached the JSE rules that require that any meeting to consider the payment of a dividend must be communicated to the JSE at least 7 days ahead of the meeting. So far no such notification was posted on the Stock Exchange’s website up to Tuesday evening.
The company provides the evidence of two letters addressed to the Jamaica Stock Exchange notifying that a meeting would be held initially on May 23 another dated May 20 indicates a change in the date to May 26. None of these letters are yet on the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s website.
A spokesperson at the JSE confirms that the letters were in fact received but that it is the responsibility of the respective companies to ensure that the notice is uploaded to the JSE portal from which the relevant staff would approve the same to be uploaded to the website.
While the JSE was informed by letter technically, the company is in breach as they did not follow up to ensure the information was received and in fact posted to the website what was very sensitive information considering this is the first time that the company would be considering a dividend payment since 2004 when they last paid one amounting to 7 cents per share amounting to $60 million.
Based on the price movement in the market last week it appears that the information was already in the market.
While Caribbean Cement cannot escape responsibility for the matter not being communicated to its shareholders on a timely basis, The JSE cannot escape some blame either. Once the letters were received they should have followed up with the company since it was not on the portal.
No one seems to be following up on electronic communication in this modern era. The handling above, epitomizes, what seems like today’s communication practice that assumes once an email is sent, the other party must have read it, and therefore there is no need to follow up.
Cement traded at $67 on the 16 of May, the next day the last price fell to $64.80 and then to $61.50 on the 18, bouncing to $63 on May 19, but back to $60.51 on the May 24. On the 26 and the 27, the price moved up to $63 and moved to $69.70 on the first of June and traded at $66 on June 6, and jumped to $74 on the 7th.
Sharp jump in trading on the JSEUSD market
Trading picked up sharply on Tuesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, with the volume of stocks traded surging 1,022 percent and the value climbing 644 percent more than on Monday and resulting in seven securities trading, down from nine on Monday, with two rising, one declining and four ending unchanged.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index gained 1.18 points to end at 216.12.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.1. The PE ratio is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending, between November this year and August 2023.
A total of, 2,380,018 shares traded for US$85,715 versus 212,103 units at US$11,513 on Monday. Trading averaged 340,00 units at US$12,245, compared to 23,567 shares at US$1,279 on Monday, with month to date average of 161,545 shares at US$5,759 versus 124,804 units at US$4,424 on the previous day. May ended with an average of 47,916 units for US$3,528.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three ended with a bid higher than the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share finished at 7.5 US cents while exchanging 35 shares, Margaritaville ended unchanged at 15 US cents with the swapping of 207 stock units, Proven Investments shed 0.01 cents to end at 26.49 US cents, with 235,369 stocks crossing the market. Sterling Investments remained at 2 US cents trading 29,028 units, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share gained 0.11 of a cent in closing at 11.21 US cents after an exchange of 37,602 units and Transjamaican Highway popped 0.1 of a cent to 1 US cent in exchanging 2,077,677 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% finished at US$2.30 after the trading of 100 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for TTSE market
The volume of stocks traded surged 684 percent on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with a modest increase in value over trading on Monday, with sharp jump in the number of securities trading.
Some 23 securities traded up from 16 on Monday, with eight rising, seven declining and eight unchanged. The Composite Index popped 9.09 points to 1,423.17, the All T&T Index rallied 8.35 points to 2,079.90 and the Cross-Listed Index climbed 1.38 points to settle at 100.85.
A total of 1,338,190 shares traded for $8,140,410 compared to 170,637 units at $7,974,540 on Monday. An average of 58,182 units traded at $353,931 versus 10,665 shares at $498,409 on Monday, with trading month to date averaging 23,958 units at $256,801 versus 13,601 units at $227,269. The average trade for May amounts to 45,890 units at $370,328.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s finished at $47.25 with an exchange of 100 shares, Angostura Holdings remained at $23 and closed with trading of 4,854 units, Calypso Macro Investment Fund advanced 14 cents to close at $19, with 1,074 stocks crossing the market. CinemaOne increased 50 cents in closing at $3.95 after trading 110 stock units, Clico Investment Fund slipped $1 to $28 after 291 stocks crossed the exchange, Endeavour Holdings popped 1 cent to $7.50 trading 830 stock units. First Citizens Group climbed $1.33 to $54.33, with 1,264 units clearing the market, FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $5.25 in exchanging 6,061 shares, GraceKennedy gained 10 cents to end at $5.90 in an exchange of 1,920 shares. Guardian Holdings dropped 5 cents in closing at $27.25, with 3,382 units crossing the market, JMMB Group shed 2 cents to close at $2.42 while exchanging 5,000 stock units, Massy Holdings fell 1 cent to end at $5.23 after trading 1,259,149 stocks. National Enterprises remained at $3.24 in switching ownership of 301 units, National Flour Mills finished at $1.80 in exchanging 40 stocks, NCB Financial Group rallied 6 cents to $5.66 in trading 3,676 stock units. One Caribbean Media ended unchanged at $4.17, with 5,000 shares changing hands, Point Lisas rose 35 cents to $3.40 with the swapping of 10,000 stock units, and Republic Financial Holdings remained at $141 in trading 343 shares. Scotiabank ended at $78 in switching ownership of 6,040 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL declined 80 cents to close at $20.20 in exchanging 11,048 units, Trinidad Cement increased 28 cents in ending at $3.88 trading eight stocks. Unilever Caribbean shed 10 cents in closing at $19.75 while exchanging 16,959 stock units and West Indian Tobacco declined 10 cents to close at $23.40 after 740 units changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.