Jamaica Stock Exchange prime market continues to experience buoyant levels ended with 38 securities accounting for 14,106,882 units valued at $179,446,025, in contrast to 19,155,083 units valued at $180,757,266 from 38 companies trading on Wednesday.
By contrast, for the same period last year, 32 securities traded and resulted in investments of $158,769,688 and on the Wednesday 27 securities changed hands accounting to $136,855,615.
The market closed on Thursday, with 40 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 17 advancing, 12 declining and 11 trading firm. Trading resulted in the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index inching 7.67 points higher to 553,475.31, the JSE Market Index rose 102.37 points to 503,962.66 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.11 points to close at 137.15.
Wigton Windfarm dominated trading with 5.3 million shares for 38 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Funds with 3.4 million units and 24 percent and QWI Investments with 2 million shares and 14 percent. Barita Investments was the only other stock trading more than 1 million shares ending with 1.48 million units amounting to 11 percent of the day’s trade but with $104 million accounting for 58 percent of the total value in the min market.
The market closed with an average of 371,234 units at $4,722,264 for each security traded, in contrast to 504,081 units for an average of 4,756,770 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 638,084 units for $8,537,415 and previously, an average of 652,346 units valued at $8,751,876 for each security changing hands. The market closed out October with an average of 957,488 units for $13,947,047 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 13 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 18.0 with the main market ending at 18.9 times 2019 current year’s earnings.
In the premier market, Barita Investments closed $1 lower to $71, in exchanging 1,477,914 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $2.90 to end at $35.90, with 2,900 stock units changing hands, Grace Kennedy added 56 cents to close at $65.0, in exchanging 372,028 units, Jamaica Broilers lost 99 cents to settle at $37..01 trading 35,432 shares. Jamaica Producers gained $1 to end at $24, after swapping 11,992 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 49 cents in trading 51,320 units to close at $26.51, JMMB Group dropped $1.65 to settle at $46.20, with 287,342 units changing hands. Kingston Wharves climbed $2 to $57 trading just 250 units, Mayberry Investments gained $1 to close at $10, with 46,680 shares changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities ended at $12.20, after gaining $1.20 in swapping 181,769 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy closed 50 cents higher to $230, after 797 units changed hands. 138 Student Living lost 72 cents and ended at $3.90 with 100,000 shares trading, Palace Amusement surged $800 higher to a record high of $2,900 in trading a mere 100 units, PanJam Investment traded 1,300 shares and settled at $101, after losing $1. Portland JSX rose 40 cents to $8.50, after exchanging 2,203 stock units, Proven Investments closed $1.50 higher to $48, in an exchange of 10,336 shares. Sagicor Group lost 40 cents to settle at $66.60, with 40,625 stock units changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at $23 with gains of 65 cents trading 26,000 shares and Wisynco Group closed 99 cents higher, ending the day at $24 with 101,734 units changing hands.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 307,111 units valued at US$103,211 with the market index declining 3.21 points to close at 211.87. Proven Investments closed at 32 US cents, after gaining 1.8 US cents trading 302,111 shares and JMMB Group 5.75% preference share gained 2 US cents to end at US$2.02 with 5,000 shares changing hands.
No selling of Witco stock
The number of West Indian Tobacco (WITCO) shares that were posted on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday to purchase rose to 3,065 units, but the stock has failed to trade even with the bid being at $40 well up on the adjusted last sale price of $34.98.
The market closed with no Witco stocks being offered for sale after the stock started trading ex split on Tuesday.
In the overall market, investors traded 183,089 shares at $4,447,289 from an exchange of 13 securities, against 15 on Wednesday, when 633,013 units were traded for $4,629,584.
At the close of the market, the prices of 6 stocks rose, 2 declined while 5 remained unchanged, leading the Composite Index to rise 3.49 points to 1,420.29. The All T&T Index rose 5.80 points to 1,769.67, while the Cross Listed Index added 0.16 points to end at 145.15.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended at 6 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund concluded trading with 400 units and rose 1 cent to close at $24.36, First Caribbean International Bank added 1 cent and completed trading at $8.23, with 10,059 stock units changing hands. First Citizens Bank jumped 95 cents and settled at a 52 weeks’ high of $43, with 9,649 units crossing the exchange. Grace Kennedy rose 4 cents and closed at $3.48, with 7,200 stock units trading, Republic Financial closed with a gain of 19 cents at $125.99, after exchanging 16,212 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose 25 cents and ended trading of 23,566 shares at $21.
Losses| JMMB Group fell 4 cents and ended at $2.46, after exchanging 9,000 shares and One Caribbean Media lost 15 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.75, with 100 stock units changing hands.
Firm Trades| Guardian Holdings ended at $18.50, with investors exchanging 300 shares, National Enterprises closed at $5.50, trading 1,880 units, Sagicor Financial completed trading at $11, after exchanging 94,111 shares, Scotiabank settled at $59.75, after 1,500 shares crossed the exchange and Unilever Caribbean settled at $23.50, with investors exchanging 9,112 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
Still no trading in Witco stock
After the three for one stock split of West Indian Tobacco shares took effect on Tuesday, there is no trading in the stock so far, although there is buying interest.
The number of stocks on the bid to buy is up to 1,065 units at $40 compared with the adjusted last traded price of $34.98. There were no stocks on offer posted sell at the close.
Investors exchanged 633,013 shares for $4,629,584 from an exchange of 15 securities against 12 on Tuesday, when 174,546 shares for $2,851,630 traded.
At the close of the market, the prices of 3 stocks rose, 5 declined while 7 remained unchanged, leading the Composite Index to rise 3.43 points on Wednesday to 1,416.80. The All T&T Index rose 0.55 points to 1,763.87, while the Cross Listed Index gained 0.86 points to close at 144.99.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended at 5 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| First Citizens Bank ended trading with 5 cents and completed trading at $42.05, with investors exchanging 150 shares, JMMB Group added 20 cents to close at $2.50, after exchanging 426,753 shares and Republic Financial increased 30 cents and settled at $125.80, with 760 stock units changing hands.
Losses| Ansa Mcal closed with a loss of 1 cent at a 52 weeks’ low of $53.99, with 500 stock units trading, First Caribbean International Bank fell 1 cent and ended at $8.22, after exchanging 840 shares, Guardian Media dropped 45 cents and completed trading at a 52 weeks’ low of $7.80, after exchanging 3,549 shares. Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 25 cents and ended trading of 64,472 shares at a 52 weeks’ low of $20.75 and Unilever Caribbean shed 25 cents and completed trading at $23.50 after exchanging 900 shares.
Firm Trades| Agostini’s traded 20,630 shares unchanged at $24, Clico Investment Fund settled at $24.35, with 2,680 units, Guardian Holdings closed at $18.50, with investors exchanging 34,752 shares, NCB Financial settled at $11, with 54,890 stock units changing hands, Point Lisas ended at $3.60, after swapping of 360 shares. Prestige Holdings completed trading at $8.40 in exchanging 2,185 shares and Sagicor Financial concluded trading at $11, with 19,592 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
Republic’s Monday’s gains reversed
The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange dropped sharply at the close on Tuesday as investors pushed back Republic Holdings down to $125 at the end along with others, including three that hit five years’ lows.
Investors exchanged 174,546 shares for $2,851,630 from an exchange of 12 securities against 15 on Monday, when 473,189 shares for $9,463,769 traded. The big news of the day is the three for one stock split of West Indian Tobacco stock and the closing bid at $40 compared with the adjusted last traded price of $34.98, suggesting a big boost to the market indices when next it trades.
At the close of the market, the prices of 4 stocks rose, 5 declined while 3 remained unchanged, leading the Composite Index to drop 8.60 points to end at 1,413.37. The All T&T Index dived 19.37 points to 1,763.32, while the Cross Listed Index rose 0.32 points to close at 144.13.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended at 5 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund rose 25 cents and ended at $24.35, after exchanging 30,000 shares, JMMB Group rose 5 cents to close at $2.30, after trading 44,106 stock units. LJ Williams B shares gained 5 cents and ended at five years record high of $1.20, with 5,000 units crossing the exchange and Sagicor Financial gained 25 cents and ended at 52 weeks high of $11, with 12,034 stock units changing hands.
Losses| Ansa Merchant Bank fell 25 cents and settled at $35.50, after exchanging 50 shares, Guardian Holdings closed with a loss of 5 cents at $18.50, after trading 9,690 shares, National Enterprises shed 26 cents and ended at a 5 years’ low of $5.50, with 5,000 stock units crossing the exchange. Republic Financial dropped $4.50 to finish $125.50, with 650 units changing hands and Trinidad Cement ended trading of 4,089 shares and lost 10 cents to close at a five years’ low of $1.80.
Firm Trades| Massy Holdings completed trading of 7,776 units at $58, Point Lisas closed at $3.60, with 2,640 stock units changing hands and Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended trading 53,511 shares to close at $21.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
Shocking 1 year wait for stock split
After shareholders approved a three for one stock split of West Indian Tobacco Company shares, the government of Trinidad and Tobago has just recently granted approval for the company to proceed, in a matter that should have been automatic.
The company in its September quarterly report states, “immediately following the shareholders’ approval of the share split in October 2018, applications for all regulatory requirements were made. However, we continue to experience delay in obtaining licenses for the current Foreign Investors/ Shareholders to hold the additional shares in the Company”.
A Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange website posting, on November 15 states West Indian Tobacco board of directors, fixed November 28 as the effective date on which the share split will be effected and the determination of shareholders who are entitled to have each existing share converted into three shares.
The stock split would result in an increase in the number of ordinary shares from 84,240,000 to 252,720,000 with the price of the stock price being adjusted from the closing price of $104.94 on November 25th to $34.98 per share effective Tuesday, 26th November.
There was no trading in the shares on Tuesday but the closing bid was $40 to buy 500 units if the stock trades at this price or higher it would be at a 52 weeks’ high the equivalent of $120 well above the previous high of $112, earlier this year and not far from the record high of $127 set in 2016.