The all Jamaica Composite index is the only one of the indices of the Jamaica Stock Exchange that is yet to record a new high, but it is not very far off, and now seems set to brake the old record, on its way to 150,000 points before long. The Surge in the price of Desnoes and Geddes, from $7 to $30 in October in response to the news that Heineken will be making an offer of25.9 US cents for each of the shares it does not hold, has been a major reason for the sharp up turn in the market index.
All Jamaica Composite Index movements
October 24, 2015 by
JSE gains with 9 stocks at 52 weeks’ high
October 23, 2015 by
Cable & Wireless HQ – the stock traded at a new 52 weeks’ high on Thursday & on Friday.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Friday with 24 stocks rising, 6 declining as 39 securities, totalling 3,992,906 units valued at $54,025,781 changed hands, in all market segments. A total of 9 stocks ended at 52 weeks’ closing highs as the market closes on a another record for the all Jamaica Index.
The JSE Market Index shot up 952.69 points to 123,979.42, a new closing high. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 1,064.69 to end at 137,510.28 and is 1,400 points away from the old record of 138,917.59 set on 24th of January 2005 and the JSE combined index climbed 1,055.98, points to end at a new closing high of 128,758.68.
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 2 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless closed with a gain of 15 cents as with only 5,850 shares changed hands to end at 52 weeks’ high of 82 cents. Trading in the stock was suspended for an hour as the trade was executed at a price in excess of 15 per cent from the closing price on Thursday. Attempts were made to trade as high as $1 but those trades were cancelled, being over maximum 30 percent from the opening price permitted. Investors were responding to the news that Liberty Global Media planned on making a bid to acquire Cable and Wireless’ parent company. The stock closed with over 5.1 million shares on the bid at 82 cents and three offers amounting to 40,000 shares between $1.20 and $1.70 and at 2.66 million units at $3.75.
Caribbean Cement gained 82 cents to end at $15 for a new 52 weeks’ closing high, with 68,800 shares changing hands. The company reported earnings of 72 cents for the September quarter and $1.75 for the nine months and should enjoy another week of gains come next week. Cement closed with only three lots being offered amounting to 83,500 shares between $16.50 and $17. Carreras traded 242,083 shares to end at $52, Desnoes & Geddes had 177,539 units changing hands to close at $30, Grace Kennedy exchanged 1,621 shares at $65.10 and gained 35 cents, Jamaica Broilers added 70 cents in trading 625,083 shares to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $8.50. Jamaica Stock Exchange had 10,000 shares trading at $9.15 while the price rose 45 cents for a 52 weeks’ high, JMMB Group lost 10 cents in trading 220,241 shares to close at $9.90. Kingston Wharves traded 32,278 shares to close at $9, Mayberry Investments traded 17,435 shares and gained 14 cents to end at $3, National Commercial Bank closed with a gain of $1 with 290,955 shares trading to end at $32. 
Pan Jamaican price jumped $2 in trading 95,000 shares to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $75, Sagicor Group with 73,795 shares closed 25 cents up, to $14.50. Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 5,000 units but the price gained 5 cents to close at $8.15 and closed with a bid to buy 100,000 units at $9.20 and with only two offers posted with one at $10 to sell 16,000 units and 19,000 at $11, Scotia Group ended with 48,410 shares trading at $24.76 after falling 25 cents. Scotia Investments ended with 5,290 shares trading at $27 after adding $1, Supreme Ventures ended at $3.90 with 205,516 units changing hands. Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 324,850 units at $2 and Proven Investments preference share traded 179,500 units and gained 5 cents to end at of $5.05.
23 stocks rose on JSE Wednesday
October 21, 2015 by
Pan Jam closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $70 on Wednesday.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with the All Jamaican Index just under 3,000 points away from the old record 138,917.59 reached on 24th of January 2005. By the close 5 stocks ended trading at 52 weeks’ closing highs and 3 others traded during the day at intraday highs. A total of 23 stocks rose, with 4 declining as 34 securities, total ing 6,445,040 units valued at $52,398,293 changing hands, in all market segments.
The JSE Market Index shot up 1,005.41 points to 122,671.34, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 1,123.61 to end at 136,048.43 and the JSE combined index climbed 915.07, points to end at a new high of 127,267.35.
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 3 with offers that were lower.In trading, Cable and Wireless closed with a gain of 6 cents as 2,942,811 shares changed hands to end at 61 cents, Caribbean Cement gained $1.79 to end at $13.80 for a new 52 weeks’ closing high, with 28,042 shares changing hands. Carreras climbed 50 cents while trading 24,317 shares to end at $52.50, Desnoes & Geddes had 610,451 units changing hands, to close at $30, Grace Kennedy exchanged 31,258 shares at $64.56 to gain 31 cents, Jamaica Broilers rose 46 cents in trading 105,833 shares to close at $8. Jamaica Stock Exchange had 52,325 shares trading at $8.70 to gain 10 cents, JMMB Group gained 45 cents in trading 116,623 shares to close at $9.45, Kingston Wharves traded 21,168 shares and gained 5 cents to close at $9,
National Commercial Bank closed with a gain of 10 cents with 3,900 shares trading, to end at $31.60. Pan Jamaican jumped $5 in trading 31,149 shares to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high $70, Sagicor Group with 300,003 shares and closed 1 cent higher at $14.02, Salada Foods with 20,780 shares, closed 1 cents down at $8.50, Scotia Group ended with 338,961 shares trading at $26 after rising $1.49. Seprod traded 2,900 shares at $14.96 with a 46 cents gain, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 191,356 units with a gain of 2 cents, to end at all-time high of 25 US cents, Supreme Ventures gained 15 cents and ended at $3.75 with 43,770 units changing hands and Proven Investments Limited 8% preference share exchanged 130,000 units at $5.
The JSE up strongly on Friday morning
October 16, 2015 by
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The Jamaica stock market for the second consecutive morning, is enjoying slow trading with only 15 securities being active at 10.45 ,but the indices have so far climbed quite a bit with all main market indices up by more than 1,000 points. Jamaica Broilers trades at new 52 weeks’ high of $8. Trading accounted for a volume of 1,206,561 units with 6 stocks gaining and 5 declined.
In trading, Carreras exchanged 109,500 shares at $51.99 to gain 19 cents, Jamaica Stock Exchange had 10,000 shares trading at $8.60 for a rise of 65 cents as the company stands to see increased income if trading continues to be bullish. 
JMMB Group exchanged 35,096 shares at $8.55 for a small gain, Scotia Investments had 420,000 units changing hands at $27.50, Caribbean Producers traded at $3 with 65,000 shares. Lasco Distributors 109500 shares traded at $2.79, Lasco Financial Services 105,000 shares traded at $2.25, Lasco Manufacturing 198,172 shares traded at $3.50.
The All Jamaican Composite index jumped 1,124.16 points to 132,131.96 JSE Market Index rose 1,005.91 points to 123,570.27, the JSE combined index rose 1,281.46 points to be at 123,840.64 and the junior market index rose 37.15 points to 1,269.32.
JSE price changes fluid on Monday
October 12, 2015 by
NCB closed down sharply on Monday
Two junior market and 3 main market stocks ended at new 52 weeks’ closing high and 1 junior stock trading at 52 weeks’ intraday high. The main market indices enjoyed another day of decent gains. The JSE Market Index fell 6.27 points to 106,653.25, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 7 points to 118,147.30 and the JSE combined index jumped 594.88 to end at 111,679.90 points.
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 5 with offers that were lower.In trading, Cable and Wireless added 2 cents, with 792,712 shares changing hands to close at 60 cents, Caribbean Cement shot up to $9.90 with 66,761 shares changing hands for a 90 cents increase, Desnoes and Geddes jumped $1.96 to trade at $15.03 with 19,100 shares trading at a new 52 weeks high. Desnoes and Geddes closed with a bid to buy 10,000 units at $17.28, at $2.25 above the last traded price. Grace Kennedy ended with 1,000 shares trading at $64.50, with a gain of 50 cents. Jamaica Broilers closed at $7.10 with 283,284 shares changing ownership, for a gain of 60 cents, Jamaica Producers lost 15 cents in trading 77,628 shares at $18.50, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 30 cents in closing at $7.50 with 143,900 shares changing hands.
Mayberry Investments traded 15,006 shares at $2.60 at the close with a gain of 25 cents, National Commercial Bank closed with a loss of $2.94 with only 4,025 shares trading to close at $30.05. 138 Students Living lost 20 cents in closing at $4.20 with 15,000 shares, Pan Jamaican Investments traded 8,000 shares at $61 with a loss of 99 cents. Radio Jamaica traded 3,056 shares to close at $4, for an 18 cents decline, Sagicor Group with 20,500 shares closed 9 cents lower at $13.01, Scotia Group ended with 13,099 shares trading at $24 after losing $1.64 and Sterling Investments gained 10 cents in ending at $13 while 8,200 shares traded.
Huge jump in Jamaican stocks on Friday
October 9, 2015 by
The JSE Combined index jumped 6.80 percent or 7,069.02 points, at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday. The strong move was aided by a $5.07 jump in the price of Desnoes and Geddes shares and gains in National Commercial Bank which ended at $32.99. The market climbed sharply for the third day as advancing stocks outpaced declining ones by a wide margin once more.
The JSE Market Index climbed 6,887.45 points to 106,659.52, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index leapt 7,697.11 points to 118,154.30 and the JSE combined index jumped 7,069.02 to end at 111,085.02 points.
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 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower. At the close, there were 17 stocks rising, 2 declining, with 26 securities totalling 34,391,788 units, valued at $414,047,404 changing hands, in all market segments, and with 4 junior market and 2 main market stocks ending at new 52 weeks’ closing high, one stock ended at 52 weeks’ low.
In trading, Cable and Wireless added 5 cents, with 845,177 shares changing hands to close at 58 cents, Caribbean Cement shot up to $9 with 281,375 shares changing hands at 50 cents higher, Desnoes and Geddes jumped $5.07 to trade at $13.07 with 29,094,581 shares trading at a new 52 weeks’ high. D&G closed with a bid to buy 5000 units at $15.01, nearly $2 above the last traded price. Grace Kennedy ended with 40,000 shares trading at $64, Jamaica Broilers closed at $6.50 with 119,681 shares changing ownership, Jamaica Producers gained 50 cents in trading 196,137 shares at $18.50, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 10 cents in closing at $7.20 with 44,620 shares changing hands. JMMB Group traded 64,500 
National Commercial Bank closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $32.99 with a gain of $2.97 with only 14,003 shares trading as high as $33, for an intraday 52 weeks’ high, Pan Jamaican Investments traded 2,017 shares at $61.99 having gained 74 cents, Radio Jamaica traded 5,394 shares to close at $4.18, for an 18 cents rise, Scotia Group ended with 632,075 shares trading at $25.64 to gain $1.64. Sterling Investments lost 10 cents in ending at $12.90 while 6,000 shares traded at a new 52 weeks low, Proven Investments ended at 21 US cents while trading 51,000 shares to gain 1 US cent and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% with 590,580 units changing hands closed at $2.
Radio Jamaica increased profit
October 4, 2015 by
Radio Jamaica increased profits for the quarter to June this year over that of 2014 by 44 percent after taxation, to reach $22 million from a 6 percent increase in sales revenues that hit $516 million. Other revenues contributed $25 million versus $20.7 million in 2014 to income.
RJR said that the provision of news services such as “Over the Top” (OTT) which relates to video, television and other services provided over the internet generated added revenues for them as well as added cost.
Administrative expenses jumped 15.4 percent to $126 million and selling expenses rose to $84.5 or 16.4 percent over the same period in 2014, the cost increase was partially due to the introduction of the OTT service, but wage increase and commission payments also contributed to the increase RJR said. Other operating expenses declined by $20 million to $79 million helped by lower energy and fuel cost.
The company reported earnings of 6 cents per share for the quarter and 32 cents for 2015 fiscal year and seems headed to earn 40 cents for the fiscal year ending March 2016. There is talk of general elections being held soon although that is just talk, with no concrete evidence to support it and with several developments in the country suggesting it may be later in 2016, that is will be held. Whenever it is held, RJR will benefit from added revenues as well as increased cost covering the event.
RJR entered into an agreement with the Gleaner to merge the two media operations which will involve RJR splitting the number of existing issued shares into approximately three and for the Gleaner shareholders to get 1 of the new RJR shares for each Gleaner share. If successful the expanded RJR should see reduction in cost as certain areas are combined thus reducing cost and should result in an improved profit per share going forward. It probably won’t be until the 2017 fiscal year that full effect of the merger will be seen.
RJR last traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $3.08 but had a bid at $3.50.
Price changes aplenty & no direction for JSE
September 29, 2015 by
The Jamaica Stock Exchange saw low trading activity on Tuesday and at the close, there were 10 stocks rising, 11 declining with 30 securities totalling 986,801 units, valued at $11,478,835 changing hands, in all market segments. Trading in the main market was very light with only 745,029 shares trading.
The main market indices enjoyed a second day of increases with the JSE Market Index added 77.06 points to 96,433.55, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 86.11 points to 106,726.20 and the JSE combined index rose 180.75 to end at 99,807.18 points.
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 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless rose 2 cents with 85,687 shares changing hands, to close at 51 cents, Caribbean Cement had 150,477 shares trading with a 29 cents rise, to $8, Carreras lost 20 cents in trading 9,195 shares and ended at $48.90, Desnoes & Geddes traded 28,656 shares to end at $6.60 for a fall of 40 cents. Grace Kennedy had 50,670 shares changing hands at $64, 
Jamaica Broilers traded at $6 with 55,760 shares changing ownership and gained 30 cents, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 56,000 shares at $7.50, JMMB Group traded 51,620 units to end at $7.65, National Commercial Bank had 28,578 units changing hands and ended at $27.52 after losing 23 cents. Pan Jamaican traded 11,090 shares to close at $61.71. Radio Jamaica traded at $3.08 with 13,820 shares changing hands. Sagicor X Fund with 12,000 shares closed with a gain of 39 cents to end at $7.40, Scotia Group lost 95 cents in ending at $24 while 25,457 shares traded and Scotia Investments gained 1 cent to land at $25.01 with 55,000 units.
Montego Freeport to pay $1.42 per share
September 25, 2015 by
Montego Freeport will be paying $1.42 per share dividend as a capital distribution on October 28, the company announced recently. The dividend payment is expected to be ratified at the upcoming annual general meeting of the company to be held in Montego Bay, on October 8.
The payment will consume $826 million of the $1.1 billion in cash held at the end of March this year. After making that payment there will still be assets amounting to $600 million or just over $1 per share to be distributed which includes assets for sale amounting to $328 million.
Montego Freeport reported profit of $67 million for the 2015 year and $12 million for 2014 from operating and other income of $97 million and $61 million respectively. The company was previously listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange but a set of short sighted directors recommended liquidating the assets and closing the company which the shareholders bought into and approved.
Caribbean Cream profit up 138%
September 19, 2015 by
Caribbean Cream profit jumps 138% in Q1-2015-16
That seems to be receding with a big jump in profits for the full year to February when profits climbed to $57 million from $35 million for 2014 and a big leap in the first quarter ending May, jumping 138 percent to $39 million. Growth was only constrained by added cost for cleaning and sanitation which helped push administrative cost to $56 million by $20 million. Loans are down $20 million and brought interest cost down. Inventories fell from $96 million to $61 million, the fall in the world market price for milk powder would have been a major factor behind this, coupled with a greater level of stability of the Jamaica dollar that would suggest there was little benefit from having large amounts of inventories. Trade receivables climbed $20 million, cash moved to $51 million from $17 million in 2014 and could end up around $200 million by the end of fiscal year to February 2016, payables declined from $109 million to $80 million and equity capital has moved to $326 million, lending strength to the company’s improving financial health.
For the quarter, revenues climbed 15 percent to $289.2 million from $251.5 million in May 2014 and was better than for the February quarter of $273 million. The growth in revenues is better than the 11 percent garnered in the February quarter. Lower operating expenses of $178 million versus $183 million in 2014 drove gross profit up 61 percent with profit margin jumping to 38 percent from 27 percent in 2014 and was helped by a 13 percent price increase ahead of the February quarter. Marketing costs remain static at $11 million while interest cost fell from $5.8 million to $4.6 million.Earnings came in at 10 cents per share, well over the 4 cents reported in 2014 and not very far from the full year earnings of 15 cents. Earnings for fiscal year ending 2016 should hit 75 cents per share as cost savings and marketing measures take effect. The price of milk powder, a major input into the production of ice cream, fell 25 percent since the end of the May quarter to the end of August on the US market and looks like it headed lower, will result in major cost savings. The company enjoys 5 years tax free holiday commencing in 2013 when it listed on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock exchange and after that is entitled to 5 years of taxation at half the regular tax rate.
The stock traded at $1.67 on Friday on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange but was as high as $2.50 coming from a low of 61 cents earlier in the year. The next set of results due early October, will most likely give the stock another shot in the arm.
