Juniors inched higher – Friday

Junior market index moving higher gradually, but seems poised to surge higher by August as happened in 2017.

Trading on the Junior Market returned to more sedate levels on Friday with 1,704,155 units valued at $7,059,645, compared to 13,901,904 units valued at $65,220,930 on Thursday.
At the close, the market Index advanced by 8.27 points to close at 3,062.21 as the prices of 4 securities rose, 10 declined and 6 traded unchanged resulting from 20 securities changing hands, up from 25 on Thursday.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 5 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Trading ended with an average of 85,208 units for an average of $352,982 in contrast to 556,076 units for an average of $2,608,837 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 148,472 units valued at $848,065 and previously 210,982 units valued at $961,878. June closed with an average of 139,543 units, valued at $671,002 for each security traded.
At the close of trading in the Junior market, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 1 cent at $1.99, with 23,429 stock units, Caribbean Cream fell 16 cents to close at $4.84, with 21,756 shares, Consolidated Bakeries closed with 117,515 shares trading and lost 10 cents to end at $1.90, C2W Music ended at $1.30, with 29,999 shares changing hands, Derrimon Trading exchanged 23,136 shares and traded at an all-time intraday high of $20.50 but fell afterwards by 44 cents from Thursday’s close to end Friday at $19.16. Dolphin Cove finished at $15, with 1,400 stock units, Elite Diagnostic settled with a loss of 5 cents at $3 and trading 95,139 units, Express Catering traded 5 cents higher at $7.10, with 18,979 shares, FosRich Group finished trading with a loss of 30 cents at $2.65, in exchanging 6,242 shares. Honey Bun ended trading at $5, with 200 shares, Jetcon Corporation traded at $4, with 30,280 units changing hands, Knutsford Express ended 41 cents higher at $12.51, with 3,870 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 4 cents at $4.15, in exchanging 540,300 stock units. Lasco Financial finished 11 cents higher at $5.10, with 445,789 units, Lasco Manufacturing lost 20 cents to close at $4, with 103,771 shares, Medical Disposables traded 2,000 shares at $5, Paramount Trading closed 3 cents higher at $3, trading 4,200 stock units, Stationery and Office closed at $8, with 15,869 units changing owners and tTech declined 10 cents to $5.90, with 350 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.

JSE main market falters on low volume

Grace Kennedy traded at an intra-day high of $56 on Thursday.

Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday remained low, with an exchange of 4,036,088 units valued at $49,293,055 versus 3,503,975 units valued at $50,822,952 on Wednesday.
Trading levels fell below that of the Junior Market, a rare occurrence as two companies in that market dominated trading. Activities in the main and US dollar markets resulted in 27 securities trading including 2 from the US dollar market compared to 28 securities trading on Wednesday. At the close, the prices of 13 stocks advanced, 9 declined and 5 closed unchanged.
At the close of the market, the All Jamaican Composite Index fell 169.56 points to close at 335,057.54 while the JSE Index declined by 154.49 points to 305,275.25.
Wednesday’s volume was led by Ciboney with 1,075,072 units at 10 cents, accounting for 26.6 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Jamaica Broilers traded 798,007 stock units at $23.50, Mayberry Investments settled at $6.50, with 613,468 units and Pulse Investments jumping $1 to $3, with 460,835 shares.
Stocks with major price changes are, Caribbean Cement that dropped $2.57 to $42.43, Jamaica Broilers gaining 50 cents to end at $23.50, JMMB Group gaining 90 cents to $29.90, Kingston Wharves rising 85 cents to end at $47.25, NCB Financial dropping $2.50 to $95, Sagicor Group losing 75 cents to close at $38.25. Scotia Group fell 40 cents to close at $50.10, Seprod jumped $2.25 to $35.50, Supreme ventures lost 50 cents in closing at $14.50 and Productive Business Solution rose $2 to $105. Grace Kennedy traded at an intraday high of $56 but last traded at $51.61.
In the US dollar market, 8,800 units traded valued at $1,520 as Sterling Investments ended trading 800 shares at after rising 0.8 cent to 10 US cents and Proven Investments lost 0.5 cent to 18 US cents with 8,000 units changing hands. The JSE USD Equities Index declined 2.86 points to 153.15.
Trading resulted in an average of 161,444 units valued at an average of $1,971,722 for each security traded. In contrast to 134,768 units for an average of $1,954,729 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 183,396 units valued at $2,264,736 compared to 190,523 units at a cost of $2,359,871, on Wednesday. June closed with an average of 250,168 shares with a value of $5,895,281, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 3 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 closing with lower offers.

Volume surged on Junior Market – Thursday

Jamaican Teas traded the most shares on Thursday

Jamaican Teas CEO, John Mahfood – the company’s shares traded the most on the Junior market on Thursday.

Trading on Thursday surged more than 7 times Wednesday’s level on Junior Market with 13,901,904 units valued at $65,220,930 traded, compared to 1,732,089 units valued at $7,477,627 on Wednesday.
The day’s trading levels were boosted by Jamaican Teas with more than 9 million units and Lasco Distributors with nearly 3.5 million shares.
At the close, the market Index dropped 32.96 points to 3,053.94 as the prices of 6 securities rose, 10 declined and 9 traded unchanged resulting from 25 securities changing hands, up from 20 on Wednesday. Derrimon Trading ordinary as well as its preference share ended at 52 weeks’ high of $19.60 and $2.50 respectively. Derrimon posted a 45 percent rise in its first quarter profit and announced 10 to 1 stock split to be voted on at the company’s upcoming AGM.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Trading ended with an average of 556,076 units for an average of $2,608,837 in contrast to 86,604 units for an average of $373,881 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 210,982 units valued at $961,878 and previously 71,831 units valued at $297,781. June closed with an average of 139,543 units, valued at $671,002 for each security traded.
At the close of trading, Access Financial closed with a loss of 50 cents at $46.50, trading 500 shares, AMG Packaging price fell 8 cents to end at $2, with 11,775 stock units, Caribbean Cream ended trading 40 cents higher at $5, with 10,000 shares, Caribbean Producers finished trading with a loss of 35 cents at $5.25, in exchanging 140,555 units, Consolidated Bakeries closed with a loss of 5 cents at $2, with 116,600 shares. C2W Music ended at $1.30, with 27,566 shares, Derrimon Trading jumped $1.20 to a new high of $19.60, with 13,766 shares changing hands, Elite Diagnostic settled 8 cents higher at $3.05, with 32,097 units, FosRich Group finished trading 20 cents higher at $2.95, with 38,505 shares. General Accident closed with a loss of 1 cent at $2.95, after trading 106,177 stock units, Honey Bun concluded trading of 20,000 shares with a loss of 25 to $5, Iron Rock finished at $3, with 501 shares traded, ISP Finance settled at $15, with 904 shares. Jamaican Teas ended trading 1 cent higher at $5, with 9,332,829 stock units changing hands, Jetcon Corporation traded with a loss of 10 cents at $4, as 40,594 units were exchanged, KLE Group closed at $2.90, with 1,864 shares, Knutsford Express lost 41 cents to close at $12.10, with 2,000 shares. Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 1 cent at $4.19, as 3,477,500 stock units were exchanged, Lasco Manufacturing settled at $4.20, with 104,600 shares, Main Event ended trading at $7, with 26,189 shares, Medical Disposables traded 872 shares at $5 and Stationery and Office closed with a loss of 50 cents at $8, trading 107,942 units. In the junior market preference segment, Derrimon Trading 9% preference share ended 60 cents higher to an all-time high of $2.50, with 1,000 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.

4 stocks rise 4 fall on TTSE – Thursday

The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange closed Thursday with trading in 17 securities against 11 on Wednesday, with 4 advancing, 4 declining and 9 remaining unchanged.
At close of the market the Composite Index lost 1.49 points on Wednesday to 1,231.99. The All T&T Index shed 1.73 points to 1,723.94, while the Cross Listed Index eased 0.17 points to close at 99.44.
Trading ended with 180,386 shares at a value of $2,780,395, compared to 65,926 shares on Wednesday valued at $2,117,827 changing hands on the previous trading day.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows market sentiment with 2 stocks ending with higher bids than the last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Gains| Calypso Macro Index Fund traded 2,850 shares and jumped 99 cents to close at $17.49, JMMB Group rose 1 cent and concluded trading at $1.76, after exchanging 3,000 shares, Massy Holdings added 1 cent and ended at $47.20, after exchanging 5,653 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL increased 14 cents to land at $29.74, with 3,924 stock units changing hands.
Losses| Grace Kennedy lost 7 cents and ended at $2.93, with 2,930 stock units changing hands, LJ Williams B Share ended trading 2 cents lower at a 52 weeks’ low of 68 cents, after exchanging 10,000 shares, Sagicor Financial concluded trading with a loss of 1 cent to end at $7.94, with 2,477 stock units changing hands and West Indian Tobacco fell 1 cent to $87, after exchanging 1,115 shares.
Firm Trades| Clico Investments ended at $20.50, with 85,608 stock units changing hands, First Citizens settled at $35, after exchanging 140 shares, Guardian Holdings completed trading at $16.99, with 405 units, National Flour closed at $1.75, with 7,456 units, NCB Financial Group settled at $5.37, after exchanging 50,503 shares, Point Lisas ended at $3.81, with 2,375 stock units changing hands, Republic Financial Holdings exchanging 1,150 shares at $102.76, Scotiabank completed trading at $65.01, with 300 units and Unilever Caribbean settled at $29.23, after 500 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.

Derrimon hikes profit 45%

Staff at Derrimon Trading.

Revenues for the Derrimon Trading first quarter March this year, climbed 27 percent to $1.94 billion above the $1.53 billion reported for the 2017 quarter and led to a big hike in profit.
The company reported a strong 45 percent jump in its first quarter results, from $35 million to $52 million or 21 cents per share to March this year, but profit could have been even higher had they not incurred finance cost which jumped 56 percent to $38 million from $25 million in 2017, in refinancing the preference shares they held previously at higher rates than the new ones. IC Insider.com is forecasting earnings per share of just over 80 cents for the current year.
This year is the last for profit to enjoy full tax free status, in 2019 profit will be taxed at half the usual 25 percent rate less payroll tax credits.
“The full quarter’s performance of the retail stores as well as the impact of the joint venture positively influenced the growth of the revenue during this reporting quarter,” Derrick Cotterell, the chairman reported to shareholders.
Gross profit for the period was $353 million representing 18 percent of revenues and was up from gross profit of $279 million in the 2017 period with a similar percentage of revenues. According to Cotterell there was improved margin in the core business resulting from “a combination of improvement in margins arising from strategies employed within both the distribution & retail segments of the business, the positive impact from the culled distribution portfolio and improved margins from growth of the supermarket portfolio.” Margins for the non-manufacturing arm rose to 17.2 percent from 16.94 percent in 2017.
The company’s equity position is $1.04 billion but borrowed funds stand at $1.22 billion, cash and investments amounts to $432 million thus negating some of the negative of the high leveraging of the group. With much of the cash and investments held by Caribbean Flavours, the larger portion is not readily available to Derrimon. Current assets amount to $2 billion and current liabilities at $413 million.
The company is proposing to do a major increase in the authorized share capital, with some being set aside to facilitate the 10 for 1 stock split. With the stock price having climbed to the $20 region, the company should take the opportunity to raise equity capital and retire some of the debt now being carried by the parent company.

BOJ buying pushed US$ rate

The official selling rate for the US dollar ended at J$130.47 on Wednesday, rising from $130.06 on Tuesday as sale to Bank of Jamaica under its foreign exchange auction, absorbed US$10 million at an average weighted rate of $131.17.
In Wednesday’s foreign currency trading, dealers bought just over US$27 million at an average rate of J$128.79 and sold over $35.4 million. Overall US$29.4 million of all currencies were bought by dealers and they sold US$38.2 million.
Dealers attempted to sell US$11.35 million to BOJ at rates as high as $134, for US$200,000 and as low as $126.80 for US$1 million. BOJ accepted all bids up to $132.93 and partially up to $133.
BOJ has been buying funds from the market from April when they started the buy side of the BFXITT auction.
On July 11, the central bank will sell US$5 million to the market and buy US$5 million on July 25. In April US$32 million was bought from the market, by BOJ, US$35 million was purchased in May and in June US$19 million. At the auction of Wednesday June 13, the central bank offered to purchase US$10 million buy only US$9 million was offered, the average rate ended at J$132.66 with the highest rate clearing at $133.50. On the June 13, the selling rate in the daily foreign exchange market jumped J$1.29 to JS$131.58 for US$1, a direct result of the BOJ buying, the rate moved even higher on the 14th even as inflows were more than sales on that day.
The central banks purchases helped to steer the Net International Reserves US$69 million higher in May to US$3.175 billion and also grew in April as well from US$3.075 billion at the end of March. At the end of February the NIR was US$3.18 billion.
July and August are two of the months with strong inflows of foreign exchange, but with summer being the prime time of Jamaicans to travel overseas demand tends to be high as well.

JSE main market climbs on low volume

Caribbean Cement ended at a new closing high of $45 on Wednesday.

The volume traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined on Wednesday to 3,503,975 units valued at $50,822,952 compared to 8,102,862 units valued $101,385,351 on Tuesday.
Market activities in the main and US dollar markets resulted in 28 securities trading including just 1 from the US dollar market. At the close, the prices of 14 stocks advanced, 8 declined and 6 closed unchanged, compared to 27 securities trading on Tuesday.
At the close of the market, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,170.17 points to 335,227.10 while the JSE Index advanced by 1,066.16 points to close at 305,429.74.
Tuesday’s volume was led by Ciboney with 1,230,196 units accounting for 35 percent of the day’s volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.25% preference share with 850,000 units or 24 percent of the day’s volume and PanJam Investment with 326,719 units.
Stocks with major price changes are, Caribbean Cement rising $1.50 to an all-time closing high of $45, Jamaica Broilers lost the $1 it added on Tuesday to end at $23, Kingston Wharves gained 43 cents to end at $46.40, NCB Financial rallied 50 cents to $97.50, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose $1.45 to close at $15.45, Scotia Group was up 40 cents to close at $50.50 and Seprod jumped $1.65 to $33.25.
In the US dollar market, 5,704 units traded valued at $921 as Proven Investments rose 1 cent to 18.50 with 3,704 units changing hands and Sygnus Credit trading 2,000 shares, with the price slipping 0.25 cent to end at 11.25 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index rose 1.30 points to 156.01.
Trading resulted in an average of 134,768 units valued at an average of $1,954,729 for each security traded. In contrast to 311,649 units for an average of $3,899,437 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 190,523 units at a cost of $2,359,871, compared to 218,947 units valued at $2,566,413 on Tuesday. June closed with an average of 250,168 shares with a value of $5,895,281, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 closing with lower offers.

Junior Market moves higher – Wednesday

Derrimon closed at new 52 weeks’ high on Wednesday.

The Junior Market moved higher at the close of trading on Wednesday, with the market Index rising 15.88 points to 3,086.90, after the prices of 6 securities advanced and 9 declined.
At the close of market activity, the prices of 5 stocks that traded remained unchanged out of a total of 20 securities trading on Wednesday, with a similar number trading on Tuesday. At the close, one stock Derrimon Trading closed at 52 weeks’ high as investors seem to be responding to a combination of increased first quarter profit and a proposed 10 to 1 stock split to come. A total of 1,732,089 units valued at $7,477,627 traded compared to 1,064,377 units valued at $3,987,642 on Tuesday.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows7 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
Trading ended with an average of 86,604 units for an average of $373,881 in contrast to 53,219 units for an average of $199,382 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 71,831 units valued at $297,781 and previously 64,795 units valued at $261,543. June closed with an average of 139,543 units, valued at $671,002 for each security traded.
At the close of trading, Access Financial closed with a loss of 4 cents at $47, with 1,400 shares traded, AMG Packaging fell 2 cents to end at $2.08, with 27,000 stock units, Blue Power concluded trading at $48, with 1,178 units, Caribbean Flavours traded 60 cents higher at $11.60, with 3,905 stock units, Caribbean Producers finished trading after rising 5 cents to $5.60, with 1,521 units. Consolidated Bakeries closed with a loss of 5 cents at $2.05, with 96,800 shares, Derrimon Trading jumped $2.40 to a new all-time high of $18.40, with just 500 shares, Dolphin Cove finished with a loss of $1.80 at $15, while exchanging 20,000 stock units, Elite Diagnostic settled with a loss of 8 cents at $2.97 trading 65,477 units. Express Catering traded 4,427 shares with a loss of 45 cents to $7.05, GWest Corporation ended with a loss of 10 cents at $2.40, exchanging 10,919 units, Jamaican Teas eased down by 1 cent to $4.99, with 1,120 stock units, Jetcon Corporation traded 154,528 units. at $4.10, Lasco Distributors concluded trading 1 cent higher at $4.20, with 430,142 stock units, Lasco Financial finished at $4.99, trading 497,156 units. Lasco Manufacturing settled 20 cents higher at $4.20, with 223,000 shares, Paramount Trading traded 25,143 stock units and finished trading at $2.97, Stationery and Office closed 54 cents higher at $8.50, with 12,615 units trading and tTech concluded trading at $6, with 5,000 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.

1 TTSE stocks rise 5 fall – Tuesday

Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange Head Quarters

Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange ended on Wednesday with trading in 11 securities against 15 on Tuesday, with 1 advancing, 5 declining and 5 remaining unchanged.
At close of the market the Composite Index lost 0.66 points on Wednesday to 1,233.48. The All T&T Index shed 1.21 points to 1,725.67, while the Cross Listed Index gained 0.01 points to close at 99.61.
Trading ended with 65,926 shares at a value of $2,117,827, compared to 145,635 shares on Tuesday valued at $1,397,847 changing hands on the previous trading day
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows market sentiment with 3 stocks ending with higher bids than the last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
Gains| The sole stock trading with a gain on Wednesday is Grace Kennedy, with a 7 cents rise and ended at $3, with a mere 200 stock units changing hands.
Losses| Clico Investments closed with a loss of 1 cent at $20.50, with 21,752 stock units changing hands, First Citizens Bank fell 1 cent and settled at $35, after exchanging 14,564 shares, NCB Financial Group shed 3 cents and settled at $5.37, trading 100 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL lost 35 cents and ended at $29.60, with 11,230 stock units changing hands and West Indian Tobacco ended trading 49 cents lower at $88, after exchanging 100 shares.
Firm Trades| Guardian Holdings completed trading at $16.99, with 3,924 units, JMMB Group closed at $1.75, after exchanging 1,800 shares, Massy Holdings concluded market activity at $47.19, after exchanging 4,347 shares, Republic Financial Holdings exchanging 768 shares at $102.76 and Scotiabank completed trading at $65.01, with 7,141 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. Daily

10 to 1 stock split for Derrimon

Staff at Derrimon Trading.

Investors continue to be poorly served in a number of cases in the Jamaica Stock Market with inconsistent observance of rules and regulation.
Under the Jamaica Stock Exchange rules a listed company is to report to the JSE ahead of a meeting to consider a divined or changes to the share capital structure and to report within 48 hours of the meeting, the decision reached.
Derrimon Trading directors are recommending to shareholders a stock split but there has been no notice on the JSE website about the consideration at a board meeting or the results of the meeting. Yet in the annual report the company places a resolution to effect a split of the stock.
According to the annual report the company proposes to increase of authorised share capital from 800,400,000 shares to 8,200,400,000 shares by the creation of an additional 7.4 billion ordinary shares and to sub-divide the issued share capital of the Company into 10 ordinary shares with effect from the close of business on August 22, resulting in the total issued shares being increased from 273,336,067 to 2,733,360,670 ordinary shares. The company last traded at $16 with the bid closing at $18.40 on Tuesday.
Derrimon reported strong first quarter results gains from $35 million to $52 million or 21 cents per share to March this year.