More records fell in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the early morning session on Thursday with very low volumes passing through the market as Grace Kennedy hit $95 with a rise of $3 following strong first quarterly results and Palace Amusement jumped $55 to $150 while trading 1,950 units.
Elsewhere, Caribbean Cream rose 53 cents in trading 200,000 shares at $5, with the stock being offered just below 150,000 units to sell. Lasco Manufacturing fell to $4 with 41,100 shares traded and Honey Bun dropped $3.95 to $18 with 10,000 shares.
Trading resulted in activity in 31 securities, accounting for a small volume of 561,740 units as 10 stocks gained and 9 declined. The average number of shares traded is just 18,121 units compared to an average of a mere 21,557 units on Wednesday.
After 75 minutes of trading in the early morning session, on Thursday, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 1,075.15 points to 171,357.47, the JSE Market Index rose 961.36 points to 154,265.97, the JSE combined index gained 410.07 points, to 164,423.18 and the junior market index dropped 46.97 points to 2,078.93.
More records fall on JSE – Thursday
21 JSE stocks rose 8 declined on Wednesday
Jamaica Producers jumped $5.01 to a new high on Wednesday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market ended with two new 52 weeks’ high as Grace Kennedy closed at $92 and Jamaica Producers traded up to $40 with the announcement of a 5 for stock bonus to be considered at its upcoming annual General meeting. The junior market saw Cargo Handlers trading at a new all-time high at the close. The market closed with 39 securities changing hands, accounting for just 4,021,654 units valued at $52,808,843, in all market segments.
The junior market accounted for 2,139,183 shares valued at $12,635,596 of the total level traded.
Investors pushed the price of 21 stocks in the overall market up, 8 down, including 5 stocks rising and 4 declining, from the junior market as two stocks in the main market hit new highs.
The JSE Market Index moved up 1,243.66 points to end at 153,304.61. The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 1,390.88 points to close at 170,282.32 and the JSE combined index climbed 1,481.01 points, to close at 164,013.11.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded only 431 shares but rose 12 cents to close at $4.50, Cable & Wireless closed with a 9 cents gain at $1.37 after trading 52,700 units, Caribbean Cement traded 12,575 shares and gained 99 cents and closed at $24.99, Carreras fell 20 cents with 32,147 units trading to close at $65. Ciboney traded 98,000 units and gained 2 cents to close at 18 cents. The price of 1834 Investments gained 9 cents to close at $1.10, with 25,886 units trading, Grace Kennedy traded 1,022 units and gained $1 closed at $92, Hardware and Lumber traded 10,704 shares to rise by $2.50 to $18.50, Jamaica Broilers lost 20 cents to end at $14.40 while trading 26,842 shares. Jamaica Producers jumped $5.01 in trading 76,138 shares at $40, Kingston Wharves closed with a rise of 28 cents to close at $11.80, after trading 2,728 units. National Commercial Bank traded 14,487 shares, to close at $40.25.
Pan Jamaican Investment closed trading at $121 as 18,273 shares changed hands, Radio Jamaica lost 1 cent in trading 5,000 shares at $1.31, Sagicor Group rose by 20 cents and ended with 1,270,216 shares changing hands at $22.50. Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 15,542 shares and ended at $10, Scotia Group rose 50 cents to close at $30.50, while 43,041 units changed hands, Seprod traded 14,202 shares with the price rising 15 cents to $16.90. Supreme Ventures closed at $5.15 with 112,186 shares changing hands, after losing 9 cents and Proven Investments preference share, traded 24,509 units at $5, with a loss of 2 cents.
JSE makes early trading gains
In Jamaica Stock Exchange trading in the early morning session on Wednesday all main market indices rose robustly as investors started trading across a wide number of securities but with muted volumes but with two main market stocks trading at new 52 weeks’ high.
Trading resulted in activity in 28 securities, accounting for a mere 603,583 units as 17 stocks gained and 5 declined. The average number of shares traded is just 21,557 units compared to an average of 40,087 units on Tuesday.
Grace Kennedy traded just 522 shares at a 52 weeks’ high of $91.66 and so did Jamaica Producers Group that traded 76,038 shares up to a new 52 weeks’ high of $40. Palace Amusement could also trade at a new high with the bid at $140 to buy 500 shares. Elsewhere, Supreme Ventures traded 104,250 shares at $5, Caribbean Cream traded 80,555 shares at $4.47 and Lasco manufacturing traded 72,600 shares at $4.35.
After 75 minutes of trading in the early morning session, on Wednesday, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 775.66 points to 169,667.10, the JSE Market Index rose 693.56 points to 152,754.51, the JSE combined index gained 942.52 points, to 163,474.62 and the junior market index rose 29.17 points to 2,123.15.
JSE loses ground on Tuesday
Grace traded at a new 52 weeks’ high on the JSE Tuesday.
Investors pushed the price of 13 stocks in the overall market up, 13 down, including 4 stocks rising and 6 declining, from the junior market as two stocks in the main market hit new highs.
The JSE Market Index moved down by 1,629.32 points to end at 152,050.95. The all Jamaica Composite Index declined by 1,822.18 points to close at 168,891.44 and the JSE combined index dropped 1,945.68 points, to close at 162,532.10.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 17 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.At the end of market activities, Cable & Wireless closed at $1.28 after trading 14,655 units, Caribbean Cement traded 100,000 shares and fell $2 and close at $24, Carreras gained 69 cents with 69,370 units trading to close at $65.20. The price of 1834 Investments gained 2 cents to close at $1.01 with 89,139 units, Grace Kennedy traded 12,167 units to gain $1 and closed at $91. Jamaica Broilers closed with a rise of 39 cents to $14.60 while trading 2,600 shares, Jamaica Producers traded 98,860 shares at $34.99, after a loss of 1 cent, JMMB Group traded 156,747 shares but declined 43 cents to close at $9.50, Kingston Properties closed with a rise of $3.30, to a 52 weeks’ high of $9.80, after trading 3,000 units.
Margaritaville Turks traded 49,500 to end at 20 US cents, National Commercial Bank traded 82,360 shares, to close with a rise of 45 cents at $40.25. Pan Jamaican Investment fell back $1.70 to close trading at $121 but with 14,738 shares changing hands, Radio Jamaica rose 2 cents in trading 12,525 shares at $1.32, Sagicor Group ended with 963,187 shares changing hands, to end at $22.30. Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 9,981 shares but ended with a loss of 15 cents at $10, Scotia Group closed at $30 while 249,275 units changed hands, Supreme Ventures closed at $5.24 with 19,300 shares changing hands, after gaining 24 cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share traded with 20,000 shares at $1.04 with a loss of 1 cent.
First Global’s big year
2015 was a big year for the Grace owned First Global Bank in recording a strong 39 percent increase profit after tax to $440 million over 2014. The strong growth emanated from a sharp increase in Loans and advances of 23 to $21.8 billion at the year end helping to drive interest on loans by 23 percent to $2.56 billion.
Net interest and other income amounted to $3.7 billion versus $3 billion in the previous year, for 25 percent increase.
Customer deposits grew 10 percent to $24.6 billion but interest cost grew to $566 million from $521 million for depositors.
The bank, one of the smaller one in Jamaica enjoyed growth in interest income by over 20 percent for the 2015 financial year over the 2014 as they posted interest revenue of $3.6 billion compared with $3 billion for 2014. Interest cost grew 11.3 percent from $893 million in 2014 to $992 million in 2015.
Fees and commissions recorded significant growth of 32 percent moving from $724 million to $956 million for financial year 2015. Foreign exchange gains grew 16 percent to $231 million, while gains on investment activities more than quadruple from $25 million to $116 million.
A 28 percent increase in staff costs helped to push operating expenses to $3.3 billion, for a 25 percent increase over the 2014 period. The bank’s asset grew by over 12 percent to $47 billion against $42 billion recorded for 2014 and shareholders’ equity climbed to $7.2 billion from $6.9 billion in 2014.
While profit had climbed sharply, close to half a billion, corporate taxation was ended being nil as tax free income wiped out any likelihood of a tax liability for the year.
1 gained 4 fell on TTSE – Monday
First Citizens. the sole rising stock on TTSE on Monday
The Composite Index gained 0.28 points to close at 1,107.90, the All T&T Index advanced by 0.54 points to close at 1,759.01 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 60.73.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with offers that were lower. The indicator has been showing improving market sentiments recently but it may not mean the end of declining stocks.
Gains| First Citizens Bank rose 50 cents to close at $30 as 39,065 units valued at $1,161,312 changed hands.
Losses| Ansa McAL lost 1 cent in trading 250 units at a 52 weeks’ low of $62.48, Clico Investment Fund traded 3,000 shares to close 1 cent down at $22.60. Massy Holdings lost 1 cent in trading 13,000 shares valued
at $623,740, at a 52 weeks’ low of $47.98 and Scotiabank traded 2,000 shares and lost 5 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $53.86.Firm Trades| Firstcaribbean International Bank traded 4,535 shares to end at $6.56, Grace Kennedy closed with 60,431 shares for a value of $317,263 changing hands at $5.25, National Enterprises closed with 28,364 shares valued at $317,652 changing hands at $11.22. National Flour ended with 486 shares changing hands to close at $2.20, Republic Financial Holdings traded 27,964 units valued at $3,017,093 to close at $107.90 and Sagicor Financial closed with 100 units changing hands at $7.17.
JSE volume remains low on Friday
Margaritaville Turks traded 531,220 shares at 20 US cents on friday
Trading volumes remained low on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday even as the active number of securities remain at elevated levels. The market closed with 35 securities changing hands, accounting for just 3,475,337 units valued at $40,616,397, in all market segments. The junior market had 2,388,762 shares valued at $2,388,762 trading.
Investors pushed the price of 13 stocks in the overall market up, 13 down, including 3 stocks rising and 4 declining, from the junior market. The JSE Market Index moved down by 192.18 points to end at 153,690.27. The all Jamaica Composite Index declined by 214.93 points to close at 170,713.62 and the JSE combined index slipped 54.76 points, to close at 164,532.54.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the 
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 18 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded with 4,500 shares to close at $4.38, Cable & Wireless fell 5 cents and closed at $1.28 after trading 143,757 units, Carreras dropped $1.49 with 20,051 units trading to close at $64.51, Grace Kennedy traded 100 units to gain $1 and closed at $90. Hardware and Lumber jumped $3.50 to end at $16 as 500 shares changed hands, Jamaica Broilers closed with a fall of 43 cents at $14.21 while trading 3,664 shares, Jamaica Producers traded 10,000 shares at $35, Margaritaville Turks traded 531,220 to end at 20 US cents.
National Commercial Bank traded 37,465 shares, to close with a fall of 19 cents at $39.80. Pan Jamaican Investment climbed back $1.70 to close trading at $122.70 but with just 400 shares changing hands, Radio Jamaica rose 3 cents in trading 70,612 shares at $1.30, Sagicor Group ended with 71,400 shares changing hands, fell 20 cents, to end at $22.30. Scotia Group closed with a fall of $2.70 to end at $30 while 81,365 units changed hands, Scotia Investments fell $1.09 to $25 with 12,880 shares changing hands, Sterling Investments lost 92 cents and closed at $11.98 with 24,800 shares trading. Supreme Ventures closed at $5 with 16,339 shares changing hands, after falling 29 cents and Proven Investments traded with a gain of 2 US cents to 20 US cents with 49,000 shares trading.
Sharp dip in JSE volume on Thursday
Margaritaville Turks traded at a new 52 weeks’ high on Thursday.
Investors pushed the price of 16 stocks in the overall market up, 11 down, including 3 stocks rising and 4 declining, from the junior market. The JSE Market Index moved up 13.42 points to end at 153,882.45. The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 15.01 points to close at 170,928.55 and the JSE combined index gained 44.21 points, to close at 164,532.54.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 10 with lower offers.At the end of market activities, Barita Investments ended with 20,617 units trading, to close at $3.05, with a fall of 45 cents, Berger Paints rose 10 cents with 5,389 shares to close at $4.38, Cable & Wireless gained 7 cents and closed at $1.33 after trading 227,698 units, Caribbean Cement traded 3,800 shares to close at $26. Carreras jumped $1.99 with 300 units trading to close at $66, Grace Kennedy traded 18,430 units to gain 90 cents and closed at $89, the price of 1834 Investments declined by 3 cents in trading 34,839 units to close at 99 cents, Jamaica Broilers closed with a rise of 14 cents at $14.64 while trading 13,182 shares.
Jamaica Producers traded 2,000 shares at $35, Kingston Wharves loss 13 cents in trading 4,000 stock unit at $11.52, Margaritaville Turks traded just 200 shares and gained 2.5 cents to end at a record 20 US cents, National Commercial Bank traded 10,108 shares, to close with a rise of 14 cents at $39.99. Pan Jamaican Investment pulled back $3.94 to close trading at $121 with 3,969 shares changing hands, Radio Jamaica rose 15 cents in trading 33,600 shares at $1.27, Sagicor Group ended with 201,084 shares changing hands, and gained 30 cents, to end at $22.50. Scotia Group closed with a gain of $1.70 to end at $32.70 while 20,246 units changed hands, Seprod lost 50 cents and closed at $17.50 with 21,667 shares trading, Supreme Ventures closed at $5.39 with 41,000 shares changing hands after rising 59 cents and Proven Investments traded at 18 US cents with 21,329 shares.
5 new 52 weeks’ lows for TTSE – Thursday
Grace Kennedy shares rose on the TTSE on Thursday.
The Composite Index declined by 1.95 points to close at 1,106.32, the All T&T Index declined by 4.54 points to close at 1,758.40 and the Cross Listed Index advanced by 0.09 points at 60.39.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Firstcaribbean International Bank traded 125,000 shares with a value of $820,000 and gained 5 cents to end at $6.56, followed by Grace Kennedy with 31,603 units at $5.25, after rising 5 cents and Trinidad and Tobago NGL rose by 10 cents and traded 4,185 units to close at $20.10.
Losses| Angostura Holdings dropped 49 cents in trading 1,600 units at a 52 weeks’ low of $12.50, First Citizens Bank declined by 37 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $29.50 as 445 units changed hands, Guardian Holdings lost 1 cent and closed with 937 shares changing hands at $13. JMMB Group fell 5 cents and closed at 60 cents, with 271,023 shares changing hands, Massy Holdings lost 92 cents in trading 520 shares at a 52 weeks’ low of $48, Prestige Holdings had 1,363 shares trading and fell 8 cents to $11.30.
Scotiabank closed with 55 shares changing hands with a loss of 4 cents, to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $53.91 and Unilever Caribbean lost 1 cent in trading 88 shares, to close to at a 52 week’ low of $64.94.Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund traded 88 shares valued at shares to close at $22.61, Guardian Media traded 1,475 shares with the price remaining at $19.75, One Caribbean Media traded 200,000 shares valued $4,258,000 and closed at $21.29. Praetorian Property Mutual Fund contributed 26,948 shares to end at $2.70, Sagicor Financial closed with 3,888 units changing hands at $7.17 and Trinidad Cement contributed 2,603 shares to close at $3.50.
138SL dominates – Wednesday
138 Student Living had 2 m ordinary shares trading on Wednesday
Investors pushed the price of 16 stocks in the overall market up, 11 down, including 8 stocks rising and 4 declining, from the junior market. The JSE Market Index moved up 445.09 points to end at 153,869.03. The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 497.77 points to close at 170,913.54 and the JSE combined index gained 233.84 points, to close at 164,488.33.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.At the end of market activities, Cable & Wireless reacted negatively to news that there is no planned buy out of local shareholders and lost 16 cents and closed at $1.26 after trading 431,515 units, Caribbean Cement traded 621,000 shares to close at $26, Carreras traded 111,082 units with the price rising 41 cents to close at $64.01. Grace Kennedy rose 10 cents with 69,224 shares trading to close at $88.10, the price of 1834 Investments rose by 2 cents in trading 28,349 units to close at $1.02, Jamaica Broilers closed with a fall of 15 cents at $14.50 while trading 13,760 shares. Jamaica Producers traded 43,641 shares at $35, JMMB Group traded 7,330 shares at $9.80, for a 10 cents loss. Kingston Wharves traded 60,957 at $11.65,
Mayberry Investments traded 61,305 shares at $3.99 after falling by a cent, National Commercial Bank traded 80,771 shares, to close with a rise of 10 cents at $39.85. Pan Jamaican Investment pulled back 6 cents to close trading at $124.94 with 25,981 shares changing hands, Radio Jamaica rose 2 cents in trading 11,920 shares at $1.12, Sagicor Group ended with 172,274 shares changing hands, but fell 80 cents, to end at $22.20. Scotia Group closed with a gain of $1 to end at $31 while 16,216 units changed hands, Supreme Ventures closed at $4.70 with 50,959 shares trading after rising 5 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.5% preference share ended with 45,500 units trading at $2.11 after falling by 3 cents.
