Sharp dip in JSE volume 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.
Kingston Wharves Q1 profit jumps
Profit before taxation for the March quarter Kingston Wharves jumped 53 percent from $212 million in 2015, to $325 million in 2016. Net profit attributable to shareholders was 48 percent higher at $276 million over the $187 million generated in the similar period in 2015 and resulted in earnings per stock unit of 19 cents, up from 13 cents in 2015.
The strong growth in profits stemmed from revenues that rose 18 percent to $1.2 billion for the quarter, the growth came from an increase of 18 percent from terminal operations and 17 percent from Logistics and Ancillary Services.
“The Group generated revenues of $943 million from terminal operations, with significant contributions from increases in domestic container and motor units. Domestic container and trans-shipment motor units volumes both grew by 20 percent while domestic motor units realized a significant 64 percent increase over the prior year. Kingston Wharves anticipates continued growth in this key segment for the remainder of 2016 as we perfect both our business development and marketing strategies and continue to gain greater operational efficiencies” Jeffrey Hall, Chairman reported to shareholders in their report accompanying the quarterly.
Logistics & Ancillary Services| “The Logistics and Ancillary Services segment also realized significant advances, with total revenue of $257 million. This was attained primarily as a result of the expansion of our local and international customer bases through aggressive market outreach and improved service levels and capabilities in line with Jamaica’s Logistics Hub Initiative,“ Hall, further stated.
Gross profit climbed well ahead of revenues, at 34 percent over the 2015 period and was major factor contributing to the profit gains as well as Administrative expenses that increased by 19 percent to $236 million. Finance costs rose marginally to $39.7 million from $37.2 million while taxation almost doubled to $45 million.
Stockholders’ Equity stood at $17.7 billion and borrowed funds at $2.33 billion at the end of March while short-term investments and cash funds amounted to $3.3 billion. In 2015 the company reported net profit of $1.26 billion or 88 cents per share, for an increase of 49 percent over the $843 million earned in 2014.
The stock last traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $11.65.
138SL dominates – 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.
Big fall for juniors on Tuesday
At the end of trading, CAC 2000 closed while trading 1,000 shares to end at $6.41 after losing 1 cent, Caribbean Cream lost 44 cents with 220,634 shares changing hands at $4.50, Caribbean Flavours traded 120,000 shares with a fall of $1.30 to end at $7.20, Consolidated Bakeries closed at $1.60 with 67,535 shares changing hands. Dolphin Cove lost 24 cents while trading 1,160 units to close at $12.51, General Accident fell by 55 cents to $2 with 16,037 shares trading, Honey Bun closed with a loss of $5.45 to $16.50, with 16,302 shares trading. Iron Rock Insurance gained 10 cents in trading 386,468 shares to close at $3.50, Jamaican Teas traded 50,000 shares and rose by 35 cents to end at $3.90, Jetcon Corporation traded 7,000 units to close with a loss of 10 cents at $2.80. Key Insurance traded firm at $2.50 as 15,129 units changed hands, KLE Group rose 8 cents in trading 20,000 shares and closed at $1.68, Knutsford Express closed with 8,366 shares trading at $18, Lasco Distributors closed with 718,998 units trading with the price declining 21 cents to close at $7.30, but the stock traded down to $6.51 during the trading session. Lasco Financial closed at $3.20 with 39,926 shares changing hands for a fall of 29 cents. Lasco Manufacturing closed at $4.75 with 52,632 shares trading, but rose by 7 cents and Medical Disposables closed with a rise of 2 cents as 7,900 units changed hands at $3.42, tTech traded 20,000 units at $4.50 and Derrimon Trading 11.75% preference shares traded 1,542 units at $2.13.
JSE majors make big gains – Tuesday
Trading levels picked up the early Tuesday morning session on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with an increased number of securities trading after 75 minutes of the market’s opening leading to a sharp rise in the main market indices. The volume traded also increased well over the amount traded on Monday.
After 75 minutes of trading in the early morning session, on Tuesday, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 1,498.66 points compared to the 2,035.21 points rise on Monday to 171,721.71, the JSE Market Index gained 1,340.05 points versus 1,819.80 points rise on Monday, to 154,591.66, the JSE combined index was up 831.40 while on Monday it rose by 1,726.04 points, to 165,354.68 and the junior market index dropped 40.14 points to 2,140.29.
Stocks traded with 100,000 units or more include, Cable & Wireless traded 122,614 shares at $1.48, followed by 1834 Investments with 118,100 at $1, Jamaica Producers had 185,220 units changing hands at $34.93 in response to an announcement of a bonus issue of shares to be put the Annual General meeting, Supreme Ventures 301,751 shares at $4.60, Caribbean Cream 208,688 at $4.60 and Lasco Distributors 705,698 shares down to $6.50.
Trading resulted in activity in 31 securities, accounting for 2,131,446 shares changing hands as 12 stocks gained and 9 declined. The average number of shares traded is 68,756 units compared to an average of 21,330 units on Monday.
Pan Jam & Grace at new highs – Monday
Grace Kennedy and Pan Jamaican Investment traded at new 52 weeks’ high in the early morning session on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with Grace hitting $90 following impressive first quarter results and Pan Jamaican traded as high as $130 but traded later at $125 in continued reaction to the company’s announced 5 fro 1 stock split, on a morning session of moderate trading.
The gains in the two stocks helped to push the main market indices up sharply by more than 1 percent.
After 75 minutes of trading in the early morning session, on Monday, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 2,035.21 points to 170,597.52, the JSE Market Index gained 1,819.80 points to 153,586.45, the JSE combined index was up 1,726.04 points to 164,912.85 and the junior market index gained just 3.70 points to 2,188.13.
Stocks traded more than 100,000 units are, Caribbean Producers with 100,000 at $4 and Ciboney with 100,000 units. Trading resulted in activity in 23 securities, accounting for 490,595 shares changing hands as 10 stocks gained and 4 declined. The average number of shares traded is 21,330 units.
Grace climbs following Q1 profit – Friday
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the main market on Friday was saw low volumes changing hands, but the market closed with less active selling than before the reading of the budget, on Thursday by the Minister of Finance.
The market closed with 35 securities changed hands, accounting for 7,118,990 units valued at $65,679,792, in all market segments. The junior market had only 193,019 shares traded, valued at $1,341,812. Investors pushed the price of 12 stocks in the overall market up, 8 were pushed down, including 3 stocks rising and 6 declining, from the junior market.
The JSE Market Index declined 19.98 points to end at 151,766.65. The all Jamaica Composite Index fell 22.35 points to close at 168,562.31 and the JSE combined index rose 64.63 points, to close at 163,186.81.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded 13,000 shares to close at $4.25, Cable & Wireless closed at $1.49 after trading 483,787 units, Caribbean Cement traded 28,865 shares to close at $25. Carreras traded 96,066 shares and rose by $1 to $64, this after the Finance Minister announced increased taxes on, in his budget presentation. Jamaica Broilers ended at $14.50 while trading 7,734 shares with a loss of 5 cents. Kingston Wharves climbed 15 cents in trading 252,745 shares to close at $11.80. Mayberry Investments fell 21 cents with 50,000 shares trading to close at $3.99, National Commercial Bank traded 17,700 shares, to close at $39.75. Pan Jamaican Investment closed trading at $120 with 311,591 shares changing hands, in response to the company’s announced a 5 for 1 stock split. There are only two offers on the board at the end of trading to sell between $130 and $150. Radio Jamaica traded 330,850 shares at $1.10, Sagicor Group ended with 236,769 shares changing hands and rose 50 cents to end at $23, Scotia Group closed at $30.01 while 155,668 units changed hands after falling 99 cents, Supreme Ventures closed at $5.47 with 6,641 shares changing hands after rising 21 cents. Proven Investments traded 9,200 shares at 17.50 US cents, JMMB 6% US dollar preference share gained 4 cents to end at US$1.09 while 21,200 units changed hands and JMMB 7.5% preference share ended with 4,878,670 units trading at $1.05.