Sharp drop in some prices on JSE

January 13, 2016 by
Grace fell $4.13 to $80.20.

Grace Kennedy fell $4.13 to $80.20.

The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market fell on Tuesday as Grace Kennedy, Scotia Group and Scotia Investments fell by more than $2, while JMMB Group and Pan Jam fell by nearly $1 but the junior market continued on its merry way to record yet another new high.
At the close, 9,739,157 units valued at $109,231,948 changed hands in all markets with the junior market accounting for 5,129,787 units, valued at $30,252,961.
The JSE Market Index declined by 696.34 points to 157,080.25, the all Jamaica Composite Index fell 778.20 points to end at 174,502.33 and the JSE combined index rose 225.21 points to close at 169,405.13.
Trading resulted in 44 active securities in all market segments as 14 in the combined markets gained and 19 declined. Six stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
ICI -JSE Sum-12-01-16 In trading, Barita Investments traded 10,275 shares and added 5 cents to close at $4, Berger Paints ended with 199,897 shares trading at $3.90, for a rise of 21 cents. Cable and Wireless ended with 177,451 units changing hands to close at $1.40, Caribbean Cement ended at $25, with 138,475 shares trading, Carreras closed at $61 with 20,149 units changing hands. Ciboney traded only 198,400 shares with price falling 1 cent to 25 cents, Gleaner Company traded 118,100 shares to close at $2.70, Grace Kennedy fell sharply by $4.13 as 117,534 units changed hands at $80.30. Hardware and Lumber fell 50 cents with 7,000 units trading at $18, Jamaica Broilers gained 25 cents to close at $11.20 with 124,946 shares changing hands, for a new 52 weeks’ high, JMMB Group traded 666,056 units and fell 95 cents cents to end at $12, Kingston Wharves traded 23,575 units at $11.25.
ICI -JSE Sum-12-01-16r Mayberry Investments traded 426,379 shares and gained 5 cents to end at $4.70, National Commercial Bank fell 2 cents to end at $41.49, with 163,857 units changing hands, Pan Jamaican Investments fell 99 cents to close at $95.01 with 109,010 shares trading. Radio Jamaica trade just 200 shares but closed with a gain of 10 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $5.60, Sagicor Group closed at $23 with 109,760 units changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 9,000 shares at $11.60, Scotia Group lost $2.65 to close with 289,935 shares changing hands at $30.10. Scotia Investments dropped $2.22 to close at $26.80 after 61,048 units traded, Seprod traded 18,206 units and fell 60 cents to end at $20, Supreme Ventures fell 3 cents to end at $4.63 with 754,726 units changing hands and Proven Investments ordinary share traded 612,564 units to end at 21.75 US cents, down from 22.87 US cents.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

JSE main market rebounds on Monday

January 11, 2016 by
Scotia Group traded at a new 52 weeks' high of $32.75 on Monday.

Scotia Group traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $32.75 on Monday.

The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Monday with wild swings in the indices with the main markets rising quite strongly in the early morning session only to see it fall by 11 am but regained lost ground to be up strongly at the close. The junior market surged out of the block from the start with that index rising over 8 percent at the peak.
The JSE Market Index jumped 1,053.22 points to 157,776.59, the all Jamaica Composite Index 1,177.02 points to end at 175,280.53 and the JSE combined index rose 2,503.44 points to close at 169,179.92.
At the close, 6,236,086 units valued at only $35,592,624 changed hands in all markets with the junior market accounting for of 2,024,430 units changed hands, valued at $9,319,672. Trading was broad based with a total of 43 active securities in all market segments as 25 in the combined markets gained and 12 declined. Eight stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs and two traded at intraday highs.
ICI -JSE Sum-11-01-16 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
In trading, Barita Investments traded 31,500 shares and added 15 cents to close at $3.95, Berger Paints ended with 25,670 shares trading at $3.69, for a rise of 49 cents. Cable and Wireless ended with 649,150 units changing hands to close at $1.40, Caribbean Cement jumped $3.95 to end at $25, with 11,122 shares trading, Carreras climbed $1 and closed at $61 with 69,500 units changing hands. Ciboney traded only 1,318,523 shares with price rising 1 cent to 26 cents, Gleaner Company traded 142,515 shares to close at $2.70, Grace Kennedy closed with a gain of 33 cents as 18,969 units changed hands at $84.33. Jamaica Broilers gained 20 cents and closed at $10.95 with 86,400 shares changing hands, for a new 52 weeks’ high, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 27,135 shares and gained 22 cents to close at $18.82, JMMB Group traded 34,090 units and rose 59 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $12.95, Kingston Wharves traded 34,334 units at $11.25. ICI -JSE fn qts 11-01-16Mayberry Investments traded 20,000 shares and gained 25 cents to end at $4.65, National Commercial Bank fell $1.54 to end at $41.51, with 37,983 units changing hands. Radio Jamaica had 115,654 shares trading at $5.50. Sagicor Group fell 3 cents to close at $23 with 338,597 units changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 34,900 shares at $11.60, Scotia Group closed with 16,708 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $32.75 for a gain of 75 cents. Scotia Investments fell 3 cents to close at $29.02 after 3,830 units traded, Seprod traded 20,541 units but gained 60 cents to end at $20.60, Supreme Ventures rose 6 cents to end at $4.66 with 981,818 units changing hands and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 176,760 units to end at $2.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

JSE main market stocks retreat on Friday

January 8, 2016 by

JMMB Group closed at new 52 weeks' high on Friday

JMMB Group closed at new 52 weeks’ high on Friday


Thirteen stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs, as the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s main markets dipped but the junior market surged 8.7 percent to a new record high. Sharp gains in the three Lasco companies along with gains in 7 others, helped push the junior market index to it new heightened levels.
The JSE Market Index fell 361.01 points to 156,723.37, the all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 403.44 points to end at 174,103.51 and the JSE combined index rose 1,175.06 points to close at 166,676.48. At the close, 14,781,285 units valued at $108,053,355 changed hands in all markets with the junior market accounting for of 10,672,995 units changed hands, valued at $46,214,999. Trading was broad based with a total of 43 active securities in all market segments as 25 in the combined markets gained and 12 declined.
ICI -JSE Sum-8-01-16 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In trading, Berger Paints ended with 362,381 shares trading at $3.20, for a fall of 50 cents. Cable and Wireless rose 8 cents, with 430,114 units changing hands to close at $1.40, Caribbean Cement dropped $5.45 to end at $21.05, with 90,201 shares trading, Carreras fell $1 and closed at $60 with 102,883 units changing hands. Ciboney traded only 32,159 shares with price rising 1 cent to 25 cents, Desnoes and Geddes traded 2,000 shares but closed at $29.01, Gleaner Company traded 255,400 shares with a gain of 10 cents to close at $2.70, Grace Kennedy closed with 154,940 units changing hands at $84. Hardware and Lumber traded 599,470 shares at $18.50, Jamaica Broilers fell 1 cent and closed at $10.75 with 462,348 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 121,252 shares to end at $31. JMMB Group traded 223,017 units and rose 36 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $12.36, Kingston Wharves rose 25 cents in trading 62,559 units at $11.25, National Commercial Bank gained $1.55 to end at $43.05, with 10,886 units changing hands at a new 52 weeks’ closing high. Radio Jamaica had 153,706 shares trading 45 cents higher at $5.50. ICI -JSE fn qts 8-01-16Sagicor Group jumped 52 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $23.03 with 464,643 units changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 66,500 shares but the price jumped $1.60 to $11.60. Scotia Group closed with 62,862 shares changing hands at 52 weeks’ closing high of $32 for a gain of $1.90, Scotia Investments fell by 85 cents to close at $29.05 after trading 10,000 shares, Supreme Ventures fell 6 cents to end at $4.60 with 166,144 units changing hands. Proven Investments traded 36,200 ordinary shares to end at 21.5 US cents after declining by 1.49 US cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 50,000 units for a gain of 2 cent to end at $2 and Proven Investments preference share traded 182,905 units to close at $5.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Another explosive day for Jamaican stocks

January 7, 2016 by
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Carib Cement closed at a new 52 weeks' high on Thursday of $26.50.

Carib Cement closed at a new 52 weeks’ high on Thursday of $26.50.

Nine stocks traded to close at 52 weeks’ highs on Thursday as the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s junior and main markets exploded with the main market indices jumping between 2,832 and 3,371 points, as JMMB Group jumped to $12, Sagicor Group climbed to a new closing high of $22.51 and Scotia Group traded at an intraday high of $34.
The JSE Market Index surged 2,831.72 points to 157,084.38, the all Jamaica Composite Index soared 3,164.61 points to end at 174,506.95 and the JSE combined index leapt 3,371.69 points to close at 165,501.42.
At the close, 6,753,668 units valued at $75,464,922 changed hands in all markets with the junior market accounting for of 3,272,184 units changing hands, valued at $17,503,527. Trading was broad based with a total of 44 active securities in all market segments as 19 in the combined markets gained and 11 declined.
The main market seems on its way to 185,000 points level, the next major area of resistance having been moving well away from resistance around the 165,000 points level on the all Jamaica composite index. There is limited volume of stocks of some major companies on offer, suggesting that investors holding them see much higher prices ahead hence the need for buyers to increase their prices to obtain supply.
ICI -JSE Sum-7-01-16 What appears to be an imbalance could well see the main market breaking the 185,000 points level before long. IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In trading, Berger Paints ended with 159,300 shares trading at $3.70, for a rise of 54 cents. Cable and Wireless fell 3 cents, with 154,380 units changing hands to close at $1.32, Caribbean Cement jumped $5.50 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $26.50, with 90,670 shares trading, Carreras closed at $61 with 5,873 units changing hands. Ciboney traded only 1,200 shares with price falling 1 cent to 24 cents, Desnoes and Geddes traded 22,100 shares but closed at $29, mp-in-gleaners-q3-profits-by-70/”>Gleaner Company traded 264,000 shares at $2.60 with a 10 cents gain, Grace Kennedy closed with 4,033 units changing hands at $84.70. Jamaica Broilers rose 1 cent and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $10.76 with 726,646 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 25,200 shares to end at $31 for a loss of 99 cents. JMMB Group traded 5,500 units and rose 90 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $12, infrequently traded Kingston Properties had 43,707 units trading at $7.07, Kingston Wharves lost 40 cents in trading 155,819 units at $11. ICI -JSE fn qts 7-01-16 Mayberry Investments gained 5 cents with 11,010 units changing hands at $4.40, National Commercial Bank lost 50 cents to end at $42, with 140,765 units changing hands. Radio Jamaica had 10,000 shares trading 5 cents higher at $5.05. Sagicor Group jumped 51 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $22.51 with 819,266 units changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 120,708 shares but the price dropped $1 to $10. Scotia Group closed with 550,504 shares changing hands at $30.10 for a gain of 8 cents, but traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $34. At the close, the lowest offer to sell was at $34 with 17,939 shares and 3,895 units at $39.99 as supply of the stock has dried up. Bids were at $30.10 and lower with relative low volumes. Supreme Ventures ended at $4.66 with 103,650 units changing hands and Proven Investments traded 34,600 ordinary shares to end at 22.89 US cents.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

12 new highs as JSE explodes Wednesday

January 6, 2016 by

NCB ended at a new closing high of $42.

NCB ended at a new closing high of $42.

Twelve stocks traded at 52 weeks’ closing highs as the Jamaica Stock Exchange main market exploded by the close of trading with the main indices jumping between 2,496 and 2,870 points, as JMMB Group jumped to $11.10, National Commercial Bank moved to a record close of $42, Sagicor group jumped to a new closing high of $22.
The JSE Market Index surged 2,568.62 points to 154,252.66, the all Jamaica Composite Index soared by 2,870.57 points to end at 171,342.34 and the JSE combined index leapt 2,496.15 points to close at 162,129.73.
At the close, 17,158,401 units valued at $122,672,205 changed hands in all markets with the junior market accounting for of 3,347,529 units changed hands, valued at $9,025,299. Trading was broad based with a total of 44 active securities in all market segments as 25 in the combined markets rising and 10 declining.
The main market seems on its way to 185,000 points level the nest major area of resistance having been moving well away from resistance around the 165,000 points level on the all Jamaica composite index.
ICI -JSE Sum-6-01-16 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In trading, Berger Paints ended with 4,349,578 shares trading at $3.16, for a rise of 1 cent. Cable and Wireless fell 5 cents, with 390,428 units changing hands to close at $1.35, Caribbean Cement jumped $1.50 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $21, with 163,870 shares trading, Carreras closed at $61, with 1,720 units changing hands for a rise of 15 cents. Ciboney traded 57,841 shares with price rising 4 cents to 25 cents, Desnoes and Geddes traded 1,417 shares but closed down 5 cents to $29, Gleaner Company traded 710,170 shares at $2.50 with a 45 cents gain. Grace Kennedy closed with 4,031 units changing hands, for 50 cents higher at $84.70, Jamaica Broilers rose 30 cents and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $10.75 with 34,091 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 5,000 shares to end at $31.99 for a loss of 1 cent. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 37,839 shares to close at $18.60. JMMB Group traded 1,104,439 units and rose 65 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $11.10, ICI -JSE fn qts 6-01-16s=”alignright size-full wp-image-24176″ />Kingston Wharves rose 5 cents in trading 6,071,000 units at $11.40, Mayberry Investments had 10,530 units changing hands for $4.35, National Commercial Bank gained $1.42 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $42, with 13,868 units changing hands. 138 Student Living had 3,067 units trading for a gain of 5 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $4.75, Radio Jamaica had 377,987 shares trading at $5. Sagicor Group jumped $1.81 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $22 with 15,950 units changing hands. Scotia Group had 218,703 shares changing hands at $30.02 for a gain of 1 cent and Supreme Ventures rose 3 cents to end at $4.66 with 123,931 units changing hands and Proven Investments traded 41,432 ordinary shares to end at 22.9 US cents.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

JSE 2,940 points intraday gains melt to 240

January 5, 2016 by

Sagicor Group traded at a new high on Tuesday

Sagicor Group traded at a new high on Tuesday

With less than half an hour to go before trading closed on Tuesday, the Jamaica Stock Exchange main market was posting gains just below 3,000 points, as Sagicor group jumped to a new high $22 with just 570 shares. By the close, a pull back in that stock along with Desnoes and Geddes, helped peg back the market to more subdued gains, to end at new closing record high.
The JSE Market Index rose 214.68 points to 151,684.04, the all Jamaica Composite Index gained 239.92 points to end at 168,471.77 and the JSE combined index gained 418.68 points to close at 159,633.58.
At the close, 5,096,460 units valued at $149,875,337 changed hands in all markets with the junior market accounting for of 1,801,000 units changed hands, valued at $7,668,101. Trading was broad based with a total of 44 securities being active in all market segments. Of the stocks trading 17 in the combined markets gained and 8 declined. Five stocks traded at 52 weeks’ closing high and 2 at intraday 52 weeks’ high as investors’ continue to push prices higher.
ICI -JSE Sum-5-01-16The main market was facing resistance around the 165,000 points level, on the all Jamaica composite index, now that it has crossed it and seems to be moving away, this level appears to be gathering strength to offer support for the market.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with lower offers.
In trading, Berger Paints ended with 27,839 shares trading at $3.15 for a loss of 5 cents, Cable and Wireless rose 2 cents with 88,799 units changing hands to close at $1.40, but the stock was on offer at $1.35 at the close. Caribbean Cement dropped 94 cents to end at $19.50, with 5,019,013 shares trading, Carreras closed at $60.85, with 1,640 units changing hands for a rise of 85 cents, Desnoes and Geddes traded 136,442 shares but closed down 95 cents to $29.05, Gleaner Company traded 20,000 shares at $2.05 with a 35 cents gain. Grace Kennedy with 11,249 units changing hands, finished 20 cents higher at $84.20, Jamaica Broilers fell 5 cents and closed at $10.45 with 34,091 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 2,141 shares to end at $32, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 39 cents while trading 42,101 shares to close at $18.60. JMMB Group traded 331,521 units and rose 25 cents to end at $10.45, Kingston Wharves traded 21,296 units at $11.35, Mayberry Investments had 33,628 units changing hands for $4.35, National Commercial Bank gained 8 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $40.58, with 26,683 units changing hands.ICI -JSE fn qts 5-01-16 138 Student Living had 138,798 units trading at $4.60 after rising to an intraday high of $4.70, Radio Jamaica had 215,062 shares trading with a gain of 92 cents to end at $5, but with 211,797 units selling for $4.20 and lower. Sagicor Group rose 19 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $20.19 with 3,200 units changing hands, after it traded as high as $22. Scotia Group had 92,420 shares changing hands at $30.01 and Supreme Ventures ended at $4.66 with 76,838 units changing hands and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 15,947 units to end at $1.98.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2 new listings for JSE on Thursday

January 5, 2016 by

TtechThe junior market will have two new listings when trading commences on Thursday, with the technology based tTech and the air conditioners – CAC 2000 being added to the fledgling market for up and coming small companies, following successful IPO offerings. The listings were approved today by the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
IC Insider expects tTech to trade at an attractive premium to the IPO price of $2.50 based on the level of oversubscription and the low valuation of the IPO price, while CAC should trade close to its offer price of $4.85, based on the high valuation placed on the IPO price.
CAC logo 12-15Both companies went to the market on December 16 to raise additional capital and obtained all they went for. tTech which went for $50 million with 25.65 million shares but the issue attracted 289 applications, valued at approximately $172.395 million and CAC was over by 10 percent in excess of the 29,032,258 ordinary shares on offer to bring in $120,545,327 that was targeted.
The listings will lift the junior market to 29 securities with 25 of them being ordinary shares.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Initial Public Offers, Stock Market Tagged With:

JSE starts 2016 on a new high

January 4, 2016 by

NCB closed at new high of $40.50 on Monday.

NCB closed at new high of $40.50 on Monday.

The Jamaica stock market started the new-year where it left off the old with all three main indices making generous gains to reach new records. The JSE Market Index climbed 777.23 points to 151,469.36, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 868.60 points to end at 168,231.85 and the JSE combined index gained 945.76 points to close at 159,214.90.
At the close, 5,096,460 units valued at $149,875,337 changed hands in all markets with the junior market accounting for of 1,707,388 units, valued at $6,741,784. A total of 35 securities traded in all market segments, 17 of which in the combined markets gained and 8 declined. Five stocks traded at 52 weeks’ closing high and 2 at intraday 52 weeks’ high as investors continue to push prices higher.
The main market was facing resistance around the 165,000 points level, the on the all Jamaica composite index, now that it has crossed it and seems to be moving away. This level appears to be moving towards support for the market.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading,ICI -JSE Sum-01-16 in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In trading, Berger Paints ended with 85,100 shares trading at $3.15 for a loss of 5 cents, Cable and Wireless rose 8 cents with 212,690 units changing hands to close at $1.38, Caribbean Cement climbed 54 cents to end at $20.44, with 10,000 shares trading. Carreras closed at $60, with 2,261,300 units changing hands for 82 cents fall but not until after it traded at a new 52 weeks’ intraday high of $62, Gleaner Company traded 52,000 shares at $1.70 with a 40 cents increase. Grace Kennedy with 2,483 units changing hands finished $2.75 higher at $84, Jamaica Broilers rose 25 cents and closed at $10.50 with 124,677 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 1,000 shares to end at $32, after rising $1.32, ICI -JSE fn qts-01-16Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 39 cents in trading 1,400 shares at $18.99, National Commercial Bank gained 50 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $40.50, with 12,145 units changing hands. 138 Student Living had 260,933 units trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.60 after rising by 10 cents, Radio Jamaica had 51,000 shares trading with a gain of 42 cents to end at $4.08, Sagicor Group closed at $20 with 24,426 units changing hands, Scotia Group had 36,809 shares changing hands at $30.01. Seprod closed with a loss of 44 cents at $20.56 with 2,938 shares trading, Supreme Ventures ended at $4.66 with 208,363 units changing hands and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% preference share traded 26,000 units to gain 4 cents and ended at $2.06.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BUY RATED top Carib markets with 830%

January 4, 2016 by
The JSE stock racked up huge gains in 2015

The JSE stock racked up huge gains in 2015

IC BUY RATED stocks were top of the Caribbean markets in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago for 2015, with Jamaica Stock Exchange share, chalking up a massive gain of 830 percent since IC Insider elevated it to BUY RATED status.Caribbean Cement followed with gains of 640 percent, Caribbean Cream with 444 percent and Trinidad Cement with a 299 percent increase on the Trinidad market.
While it was easy to make money in Jamaica, with profits rising and interest rates falling, developments in Trinidad went in the opposite direction, with interest rates rising and profits under pressure with the economy ended in recession.
At the beginning of 2015 of the 14 junior market selections, few recorded gains and only Knutsford Express with a 17 percent increase reflecting any meaningful positive movement. Losses were large, with AMG Packaging down 39 percent, Blue Power 31 percent, Caribbean Cream 23 percent, Jamaica Teas 28 percent, Lasco Financial 37 percent and Lasco Manufacturing 32 percent. What a difference a year can make? By the end of 2015, gains were all over the place with the list having 17 companies with two being dropped. There were no losing stocks in the list that had a new addition, tTech which could be listed this week. Honey Bun was added to the listing in November and gained 9 percent since. Eight stocks have more than doubled, four gained 40 percent to 91 percent. Caribbean Cream jumped 292 percent to be the top selection in this market, followed by Lasco Distributors up 274 percent. Blue Power was removed from the list in July with a small gain.
In the JSE main market, at the start of 2015, Hardware and Lumber was the best performing stock with gains of 62 percent followed by Cable & Wireless with 47 percent and Jamaica Broilers had the worst performance with a loss of 24 percent. In all, 7 of the 15 selections were lower than at the time they were BUY RATED.
By year-end, all selections in the JSE main market were up, with Scotia Investments having a mere 15 percent increase, being the poorest performer. This stock is being moved to Market Watch as the 2015 profit performance was far too disappointing to warrant buying now, while Hardware and Lumber remains a hold. The rest, present opportunities for continuing profit making. BUY Rated fn 12-15JMMB Group ended with just 28 percent gain, but seems undervalued at the current price. While the list had a few lousy performers, the same can’t be said about a 640 percent gain in Caribbean Cement and 830 percent increase for Jamaica Stock Exchange share. In all, 9 stocks posted gains in excess of 100 percent and 4 below 100 percent but with a 50 percent increase and more.
There were 13 selections in the Trinidad market with Trinidad Cement being the best performer with gains of 150 percent, the next was Point Lisas with 11 percent at the start of 2015. Five stocks suffered losses with the highest being 22 percent and the next 18 percent. For 2015 the price of Trinidad Cement is up 299 percent followed by National Flour with a 59 percent gain.
Looking ahead, the junior stocks should continue to grow, with several of the companies actively expanding resulting in profits climbing at a fast pace. There are a few stocks to be cautious of just now. Lasco Distributors selling at almost 16 times 2016 March earnings. Growth should be strong but unless investors have a long term objective they should be careful buying at current price level, the same applies to Lasco Financial that is selling at 15 times earnings. Dolphin Cove remains a hold at this time.
The Trinidad market needs to be watched at this stage, with the country needing to adjust to the lower price of oil and the recession now being endured.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dividend triples for H&L owners

January 3, 2016 by

H&LShareholders of Hardware Lumber (HL) will be paid an interim dividend for the year 2015 of One Dollar and Nine cents per stock unit on January 29, this year, to shareholders on record as at the close of business on January 15.
The ex-dividend date for the payment is the January 13. The company paid 32 cents per share in dividends in 2014 and 30 cents in 2013.
The payment comes against the background of lower profits in the year to September and acquisition of the majority shares by a group of investors.
Total revenue for the nine months to September 2015 was $5.37 billion or 2.3 percent more than the comparative period in 2014. Profit after tax for the nine-month to September 2015 was $64 million, 43 percent less than the $113 million for the same period in 2014 and earnings per share of 79 cents, compared to $1.40 for the similar period in 2014.
On Thursday December 30, Grace Kennedy’s 58.15 percent interest amounting to 47,013,417 shares in Hardware & Lumber, were traded over the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $18.50 each.
The shares were bought by Argyle Industries Inc. (“Argyle”) a St. Lucian Company special purpose vehicle incorporated for the purpose of acquiring and holding the Investor’s equity interests in Hardware & Lumber.

Filed Under: Company News, Dividends Tagged With: , ,