Big run for Jamaican stocks coming

October 8, 2017 by

JSE Main market showing next major resistance around the 360,000 point level on the al Jamaica Index

The current state of the Jamaican stock market in one of contrast with the main market hitting 5 days of record close and with gains of 40 percent for the year to date and Junior Market that was up 31 percent in May is now up just 14 percent.
With stability present in the forex market for the Jamaican dollar, lower interest rates being paid on money market funds and with business confidence at record high levels, funds are now moving into the main market stocks with less interest being shown in the Junior Market.
Prices in the US dollar market have come off, after the index was up 63 percent at 268.73 points in February, up from 164.50 at the start of the year, but it is only up 12 percent now with the index at 184.86 points at the close of trading on Friday.

Jamaica Main market stocks itching to break out of channel that stretches back to 2014

The Junior Market was driven up by excessive buying that drove a number of the stocks to excessive valuations which the market has been correcting for, resulting in the sharp pull back from the all-time high, even then there are some that are still overvalued based on the average valuation of other stocks. The market still has several undervalued stocks but the focus on the bigger and more liquid main market is sucking some energy from the junior ones.
Based on estimated 2017 earnings, the average PE of the junior and main markets are just over 13 times earnings. The main market has more than half of the market trading below this level. Included in the list are Berger Paints with a PE of just 5, Caribbean Cement at 6, Jamaica Broilers 7, JMMB Group at 8, Grace Kennedy, NCB Financial and Sagicor Group at 10. The market has Jamaica Producers selling at 32 times 2017 earnings and Kingston Wharves at 27 times earnings with Kingston Properties at a rich 36 times and are clearly overvalued currently. Jamaica Stock Exchange and 138 Student Living at 22 are well ahead of the market average.

Junior Market under pressure, testing support around 2,900 points.

In the Junior Market Medical Disposables is priced at 6 times earnings, General Accident 6, Caribbean Producers 7, Stationery and Office Supplies, Caribbean Cream and Main Event at 10. Just under half of Junior Market stocks are trading blow the market average with about 25 percent well above the average.
Technical reading| The main market broke through major resistance for the second time since September at 290,000 points, that has its genesis in 1992 and connecting in 2005. The market faces some short term resistance around 300,000 points which should be broken through before long ahead of moving to the next sort term resistance around 360,000 points with 505,000 on the all Jamaica Index, the next big stop. The market has been trading in a distinct upward sloping channel from mid-2014 until now and seems set to break out and move higher.
The Junior Market chart is a big contrast to that of the main market.

Wigton Wind farm should list on the JSE main market in early 2017 with a large capitalization

While the latter is clearly heading higher with new highs being created, the Junior Market index is flashing negative signals. The market has formed a head and shoulder pattern which is a negative signal and the short term 45 days moving average has broken through both the medium term 200 days moving average and longer term moving averages. The market has broken through the channel that it has been trading in since late 2015. There appear to be support around the 2,900 points level but it could go down to 2,800 points where the next support is and it will left to be seen 2,900 points will be the floor ahead of third quarter results that could change the course of the movement.
With just over 2 months for the year to end investors should start to have an eye open for major factors that could make big differences to earnings in 2018 when making investment assessment now. Some of these are, more reduction in interest rates, continued strong foreign exchange growth, low inflation, increased construction activity, increased activity in the tourism sector and of course the potential for several new listings to come to market between now and then. IC Insider.com is aware of 8 such potential listings. The list include, Wigton Wind Farm, Jamaica Public Service as a result of Government of Jamaica’s planned sale of its 20 percent share in the company, Neveast Stationery, KIW International, a relatively new business in Montego Bay and a large manufacturing business, operating out of St Catherine.

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Sagicor out C&W in TOP 10

October 8, 2017 by

JMMB Group Traded at a new high of $27.99 on Friday.

In a week when Jamaica Stock Exchange main market closed at record high each day, JMMB Group that IC Insider.com said was itching to rise, surged to an intraday high of $27.99 and ended at a record close of $25.11 but still remains in the TOP 10 Main market stocks.
Cable and Wireless is the only new entrant to the listings, just edging out Sagicor Group in the main market, there were no new change to the Junior Market list. With the company now clearly in the profit lane things should be getting even better in 2018 making it a long term investment proposition. Barita Investments came in for increased selling in late September and still remains under pressure with limited buying interest, as investors await details of the offer from Cornerstone, to acquire majority shares in the company. This could be a case of investors missing the bus by waiting, with the net asset value at $7 as of June this year and the price just 10 percent above.
Trading in shares of Berger Paints was suspended on Thursday with resumption scheduled for October 17, the stock has been trading ahead of the price of $10.88 offered by Ansa Coatings and should be trading in the $20 region, and is clearly one for the future with growth taking place in the construction sector. All indications suggest that very few shareholders will take up the offer when it closes at the end of Monday.
Investors appear to have switched attention from Junior Market to main market stocks, with the latter seemingly set to break through short term resistance around 300,000 points on the all Jamaica Index on the way to the next major resistance at 365,000 point range.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 7.7 and a PE at 7.1f or the main market TOP 10. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.6 and 13.2 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 42 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and it remains at 48 percent for the main market.

Filed Under: Buy Rated Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trading up index drops for Juniors – Friday

October 6, 2017 by

KLE Group traded more than 1.5 million shares on Friday.

Trading on the Junior Market continue to seesaw, with market Index declining 14.30 points to close at 2,932.18 on Friday with 22 securities changing hands, compared to just 13 previously.
The market closed with the prices of 9 securities advancing, 7 declining and 5 remaining unchanged. Trading increased sharply compared with 1,976,686 units valued at $6,469,834 changing hands, boosted by investors exchanging 1.5 million units of KLE Group, compared to only 208,547 units valued at $1,048,705 on Thursday.
Trading on Friday ended with an average of 89,849 units for an average of $294,083 in contrast to 16,042 units for an average of $80,670 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 81,597 units valued at an average of $348,195 and previously, 79,110 units valued at an average of $364,503. In contrast, September closed with an average of 234,437 units valued at $1,295,260 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Monday’s trading activity as 3 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
The volume quoted for securities are quantities traded and the prices are the last traded price for the day. At the close of the market, AMG Packaging closed at $3.40, with 2,845 units, Caribbean Cream ended at $6, with 4,629 stock units, Caribbean Producers gained 5 cents to end at $3.70, with 23,508 shares, Consolidated Bakeries finished 2 cents higher at $2.02, with 13,500 units, Dolphin Cove closed at $17.50, with 256 stock units changing hands, Eppley closed at $12, with 6,781 shares, Express Catering settled with a loss of 10 cents at $4.40, with 17,066 shares. General Accident ended trading 23 cents higher at $2.73, with 26,141 units, Honey Bun closed with a loss of 20 cents at $4.30, with 7,722 units, Jamaican Teas concluded trading 27 cents higher at $4.05, with 3,500 stock units, Jetcon Corporation climbed 49 cents higher to $4.99, with 44,828 units, KLE Group closed with a loss of 30 cents at $2.50, with 1,530,000 stock units. Knutsford Express closed 14 cents higher at $14.89, with 42,595 units, Lasco Distributors rose 19 cents to end at $6.29, with 179,165 shares, but only after the price hit a 52 weeks’ low of $5.90 during trading. Lasco Financial ended trading 2 cents higher at $4.20, with 22,180 units, Lasco Manufacturing dropped 48 cents to $3.50, with 37,699 stock units. Main Event settled 9 cents higher at $5.10, exchanging 1,700 units, Medical Disposables ended trading at $5.30, with 3,095 stock units, after falling by 70 cents, Paramount Trading ended with a loss of 1 cent at $2.79, with 8,000 shares, Stationery and Office traded with a loss of 7 cents at $4.78, with a mere 300 stock units, Sweet River finished at $3.86, trading just 503 units and in the junior market preference segment, Eppley 9.5% finished 25 cents higher at $7.25, with 673 shares.

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

Higher & Higher the market grows

October 6, 2017 by

Scotia ended at $50.96 on Friday.

Main Market activity of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday saw the market indices climbing 2,955.43 points in the first 2 minutes of trading as JMMB Group climbed to a new high of $27.99 but fell back later to close just above Thursday last trade and Scotia Group landed at $50.96.
The market was ending for the 5 consecutive day at a new record close with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumping 2,145.18 points to end at a record close at 297,756.90 and the JSE Index climbing 1,954.50 points to a record close of 271,290.21.
Twenty one (21) securities changed hands, 8 advanced, 5 declined and 5 traded firm as 5,262,809 units valued at $149,711,405 traded,
The volume and prices quoted for securities are amounts traded for the day at the last trading price. In the main activity Cable & Wireless finished at $1, with 119,166 stock units, Caribbean Cement traded $1.99 higher at $28, with 7,936 shares changing hands, Carreras finished $1.50 higher at $13.50, with 409,425 units trading, Grace Kennedy ended trading 40 cents higher at $43.40, with 61,347 stock units, Jamaica Broilers ended with a loss of 49 cents at $18.50, with 17,587 units, Jamaica Producers finished $1 higher at $16, with 3,874 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended at $7.60, trading 6,885 stock units, JMMB Group traded 11 cents higher at record close of $25.11, with 21,622 stock units, but the stock traded earlier in the day as high as $27.99. Kingston Wharves dived $1.50 to $30, with 19,925 units, Mayberry Investments finished with a loss of 49 cents at $4.50, with 6,000 shares trading, 1834 Investments ended 2 cents higher at $1.40, trading 79,098 stock units, PanJam Investment traded at $44, with 7,913 shares, Radio Jamaica finished 5 cents higher at $1.20, with 31,981 units, Sagicor Group traded 47 cents higher at $35, with 2,916,828 stock units traded. Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended at $13.08, with 37,602 stock units, Scotia Group finished with a loss of 2 cents at $50.96, with 449,341 units changing hands, Seprod finished at $30, with 11,924 stock units, Supreme Ventures finished with a loss of 90 cents at $10.10, with 723,521 shares traded and in the main market preference segment, JMMB Group settled at $1.15, with 46,130 stock units and Sagicor Bank A share traded 207,000 units at $1.05.
In the US dollar market, Productive Business traded 75,347 units at 57.5 US cents after shedding 0.50 US cent and Proven Investments traded 254,650 shares 1.99 cents higher to 23.99 cents.

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

5 days of new record close for JSE

October 6, 2017 by

JMMB Group Traded at a new high of $27.99 on Friday.

Main Market indices of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged to the 5 consecutive day of record close on Friday. The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,145.18 points to end at a record close at 297,756.90 and the JSE Index climbed by 1,954.50 points to a record close of 271,290.21.
Twenty one (21) securities changed hands, in the main market and 3 in the US dollar market leading to 8 advancing, 7 declining and 9 trading firm as 5,262,809 units valued at $149,711,405 traded in the main market, compared to 3,821,978 units valued at $54,648,279 on Thursday. Three securities traded in the US dollar market accounted for 337,947 shares at a value of US$113,164 leading the JSE US Dollar Equities Index down 1.77 points to close at 184.86.
Trading ended with an average of 250,610 units for an average of $7,129,115 in contrast to 181,999 units for an average of $2,602,299 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 969,694 units valued at $15,912,359 and 1,141,294 units at an average value of $18,008,361 previously. In contrast, September closed with an average of 283,480 units at $3,630,990 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows a very strong 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices, down from 7 on Thursday and 2 with lower offers, the same as on Thursday.
JMMB Group ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $25.11 after trading at an intraday high of $28 in early trading on Friday while Sagicor Group had the largest trade of 2,916,828 shares.

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

All-time high for JSE in early trading

October 6, 2017 by

The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market is trading in record territory just after opening on Friday morning.
Trading on the Main Market saw the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rising 2,955.43 points to record close of 298,567.15 and pushed gains for the year to date up by 42 percent. The JSE Index jumped 2,692.74 points to record close at 272,028.45, the Combined Index surged 2,465.92 points to a record 282,248.23.
The Junior Market index slipped 1.42 points to 2,945.06 as trading in that market continues to lag that of the main market as investors seem to have refocused on the more matured companies that are listed on the main market.
At the current levels, the market is sitting just below the short term resistance level of 300,000 points and seems set to attach it soon.

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

Trading sinks on Junior Market

October 5, 2017 by

Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange was lukewarm with very low volume down 93 percent compared with Wednesday’s trading, and low participation of listed securities on Thursday.
Only 13 securities changed hands, resulting in an exchange of a mere 208,547 units valued at $1,048,705 compared to 2,934,308 units valued at $12,094,964 on Wednesday, from 18 securities changing hands.
At the close of market activities, the prices of 3 securities advanced, 3 declined and 7 closed with the prices unchanged, leading to the Junior Market Index advancing 14.72 points to close at 2,946.48.
Trading ended with an average of 16,042 units for an average of $80,670 in contrast to 163,017 units for an average of $671,942 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 79,110 units valued at $364,503 and previously 92,775 units at an average value of $426,000. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments still looking mixed going into Friday’s trading session as 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
The volume and prices quoted for securities are amounts traded for the day at the last trading price. At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended trading at $3.40, with 25,955 units, Caribbean Cream settled at $6, with 7,979 stock units, Caribbean Producers finished with a loss of 14 cents at $3.65, with 13,585 shares, Consolidated Bakeries settled with a loss of 50 cents at $2, with 7,500 stock units. Eppley finished at $12, with 1,914 shares trading, Express Catering concluded trading 30 cents higher at $4.50, with 46,800 units changing hands, Honey Bun closed at $4.50 while trading 9,967 stock units, Jetcon Corporation closed at $4.50 with 13,429 shares. Knutsford Express traded with a loss of 5 cents at $14.75, with 6,215 stock units, Lasco Distributors concluded trading at $6.10, with 50,359 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing traded 9 cents higher at $3.98, with 7,240 units, Main Event ended trading at $5.01, exchanging 15,839 stock units and Stationery and Office ended 5 cents higher at $4.85, with 1,765 units changing hands.

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

Main market climbs higher on Thursday

October 5, 2017 by

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at a new record high on Thursday, as the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rose 516.81 points to record close of 295,611.68 and the JSE Index advancing 470.87 points to a record close at 269,335.73.
A total of 21 securities changed hands in the main market, with, 8 advancing, 5 declining with 3,821,978 units valued at $54,648,279. The JSE US Dollar Equities Index advanced 1.65 points to close at 186.63 with 1,000 units trading, valued at US$598.
In the market activity, volume and prices quoted are amounts traded for the day at the last trading price. In the main activity, Cable & Wireless ended trading 1 cent higher at $1, with 640,469 stock units, Caribbean Cement dropped $2.59 to $26.01, with just 400 units, Carreras traded 542,284 shares, to close at $12. Grace Kennedy fell 45 cents to end at $43, with 49,438 shares, Jamaica Broilers traded 49 cents higher at $18.99, with 6,020 stock units. Jamaica Producers settled with a loss of $1 at $15, with 93,586 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded with a loss of 20 cents at $7.60, with 1,739 stock units, JMMB Group closed $2.50 higher at a record close of $25, with 371,074 shares. Kingston Properties traded with a loss of 20 cents at $7.20, with 1,400 stock units, Kingston Wharves concluded trading at $31.50, with 4,080 units. 1834 Investments concluded trading at $1.38, with 1,843 shares, PanJam Investment settled $2.15 higher at $44, with 5,905 stock units, Radio Jamaica settled at $1.15, with 2,500 shares, Sagicor Group settled 3 cents higher at $34.53, with 23,475 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended at $13.08, with 300 units changing hands. Salada Foods finished at $8.50, with 10,000 stock units, Scotia Group ended trading $1.98 higher at $50.98, with 185,115 stock units, Seprod traded $1.95 higher at $30, with 13,026 shares and Supreme Ventures ended with a loss of $1 at $11, with 1,783,545 shares.
In the main market preference segment, Sagicor Bank A shares closed at $1.05, with 23,000 units changing hands and in the US dollar segment Productive Business ordinary share traded 1,000 units at 58 US cents.

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

4th straight record close for JSE majors

October 5, 2017 by

Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at a new record closing high on Thursday the fourth consecutive record close as the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rose 516.81 points to record close of 295,611.68 and the JSE Index advanced 470.87 points to a record close at 269,335.73.
A total of 21 securities changed hands in the main market with, 8 advancing, 5 declining and 8 traded firm with 3,821,978 units valued at $54,648,279 compared to 4,324,540 units valued at $37,838,559 on Wednesday. The JSE USD Equities Index advanced 1.65 points to close at 186.63 with 1,000 units trading valued at US$598.
Trading ended with an average of 181,999 units for an average of $2,602,299 in contrast to 188,023 units for an average of $1,645,155 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,441,294 units valued at $18,008,361 and 1,441,968 units valued at $22,837,126, previously. In contrast, September closed with average of 283,480 units valued at $3,630,990 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows a very strong 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices, down from 6 on Tuesday and 2 with lower offers, compared to 2 on Wednesday.
Trading in Berger Paints was suspended at the start of market based on the request of the company but with no reason released to the public. At the close, JMMB Group ended at an all-time record close of $25 as supply has declined sharply in recent weeks and Scotia Group continues to quietly move back up slowly with the price closing at $50.98 and Supreme Ventures traded the largest volume with 1,783,545 shares of its stock trading.

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

Berger shares suddenly suspended

October 5, 2017 by

Trading in Berger Paints shares surprisingly suspended on Thursday

Trading in shares of Berger Paints Jamaica has been suspended effective with the opening of the market on Thursday, October 5, apparently based on a request from the company on Wednesday and to the surprised of investors.
Information gleaned is that the request if for the shares to be suspended up to and including Friday, October 13. The request is very strange and unusual, with the buyout offer set to expire on Monday October 9. IC Insider.com gathers that, Rule 411b of the Stock Exchange states that a listed company may make application in writing and accompanied by certified copy of the resolution of the board requesting the suspension stating in writing the reasons for the suspension.
It unclear, to what extent the above rule was complied with. IC Insider.com gathers that the regulatory arm of the exchange had several calls on the matter and are seeking clarification on the matter.
With most shares kept in an electronic form the need for suspending trading is not warranted and worse for the request to go beyond Monday is unnecessary. Persons making the request are not taking in consideration investors and the need to keep trading in the share open for their convenience. The suspension request is raising concerns that there are persons who want to unduly influence investors to dispose of their shares to Ansa Coatings, even when there is no evidence that the shares will be well accepted and lead to delisting of the company.
The offer to buy the minority shares of Berger followed Ansa Coatings gaining majority shares when they acquired to parent company and resulting in a mandatory offer for the rest. The price offered is $10.88 per share but the stock has consistently traded above this level since March this year.

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