Berger to have new owner

Berger Paints Jamaica along with the Berger Paints in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados will have new owners, later this year as Ansa Coatings International (ACIL), a subsidiary of the sprawling Trinidad and Tobago conglomerate, ANSA McAL Group entered into an agreement with Berger International Private Limited to acquire Lewis Berger (Overseas Holding) Limited.
Lewis Berger (Overseas Holding) owns 51% of the issued share capital in Berger Paints Jamaica. Berger Paints Trinidad and Tobago is 70 percent owned by its parent Lewis Berger and is listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and last traded on June 12, at TT$4.05, but trades infrequently. Berger Paints Barbados Limited is owned fully by the parent company.
The combined Berger Caribbean business net sales is put at US$35 million, a statement by Ansa McAl states. The completion of the transaction is subject to conditions set out in the agreement between BIPL and ACIL. ANSA Coatings and its subsidiary, produces, market and distributes coatings in the categories of decorative and architectural, wood finishes, automotive, light and heavy duty industrial and marine under the following brands: Penta, Sissons, Glidden, Nexa Autocolor, Aquabase Line, Devoe and International.
Group Chairman and Chief Executive of the ANSA McAL Group, A. Norman Sabga noted that the acquisition will further enhance the Group’s position in the Caribbean architectural coatings market. “Berger is best known for its well-positioned paint brands throughout the region. The architectural coatings industry has enjoyed a period of healthy innovation over the last decade.

Carib Beer brewed in Trinidad by Ansa McAl Group

Through this acquisition, we hope to address an expanded customer base with a broader suite of product offerings and superior levels of customer service and support”, Sabga concluded.

At this stage it is unclear exactly how the new owners when the deal is concluded will move forward with the expanded paint group. The acquisition has far reaching ramification for ANSA Coatings. This means that products imported into Jamaica from Trinidad can be produced in the plant in Jamaica while the two plants in Trinidad can be merged into one, both actions would result in significant savings and improved profit margins. The Barbados could be served by exports out of Trinidad.
ANSA McAL is a diversified Public Conglomerate, listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, with subsidiaries in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Grenada and the USA and involved in the manufacturing, brewing, insurance, finance, real estate, media, shipping, trading/distribution and automotive and industrial equipment retailing sectors.

NCB, JMMB, RJR dominate trading – Friday

NCBFiniancial Group traded more than 1.6 million shares on Friday.

NCB Financial Group with 1.6 million units and Radio Jamaica with 1.5 million and JMMB Group with nearly 600,000 shares were the dominant trades when the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading on Friday. At the close of trading, 23 securities changed hands with no trading in the US dollar market, leading to 8 stocks advancing and 6 declining.
At the end of trading, the All Jamaica Composite Index declined 229.82 points to close at 256,532.99, the JSE Market Index lost 209.39 points to 233,730.61 and the JSE US dollar market index closed at 187.70.
Trading in the main market ended with 4,265,878 units valued at $141,120,152 changing hands compared to 12,639,003 units valued at $265,691,928 at the close on Thursday.
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 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
The main market ended trading with an average of 185,473 units valued at $6,135,659 for every security traded compared to an average of 468,111 units valued at $9,840,442. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 214,963 units with an average value of $4,508,789 compared with an average of 217,644 units with an average value of $4,360,892 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
In market activity, Barita Investments gained 5 cents to close at $6.05, with an exchange of 100 shares, Berger Paints closed at $17.31, with 13.963 shares traded, Cable and Wireless closed at $1.20, with 150,718 stock units changing owners, Caribbean Cement closed at $27, gaining 50 cents trading 5,686 shares, Carreras exchanged 1,776 units at $86.90, Grace Kennedy closed at $41, after gaining 23 cents with 19,664 units trading, Jamaica Broilers traded 12,510 shares at $18, Jamaica Producers jumped $1.50 and closed at $16 trading 13,622 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $7, with an exchange of 14,540 shares, JMMB Group lost 20 cents to close at $19 trading 558,889 units, Kingston Wharves dived $1.53 to close at $27.01, with 19,000 shares changing hands, Mayberry Investments gained 35 cents to close at $5, with trades of 30,040 shares, NCB Financial Group traded $1 lower to close at $71, after exchanging 1,652,807 shares, PanJam Investment lost 20 cents, closing at $33.30 trading 6,030 shares. Pulse Investments closed at $17.50, with gains of 50 cents in exchanging 21,700 shares, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.60, after losing 5 cents while trading 1,537,900 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $34.74, losing 64 cents trading 17,199 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 10 cents lower to close at $11.10 with 2,000 shares being exchanged. Salada Foods closed at $10, trading of 300 units, Scotia Group closed at $43 exchanging 134,239 shares, Scotia Investments traded 19,195 shares at $36.50 while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.26, with 33,700 shares changing hands and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share closed at $1.50, gaining 19 cents with trades of 300 units.

 

Main Event inadequate Q2 report

Three directors of Main Event, including the mentor who is respossible to ensure compliance with teh JSE rules.

The 2017 junior listed Main Event Entertainment, made a loss in the last six months of the 2016 fiscal year, ending the year with a profit of $56 million, down from $64 million for the six months to April.
The latest figures from the entertainment company for 2017, show a profit of $75 million for the half year and $51 million for the April quarter.
The figures reveal seasonal differences in the operation, with higher revenues and profit in the first half and lower revenues and losses or minimal profit in the second half. The Jamaica Stock Exchange rules require that seasonality in operations is to be reported on, in a listed company financial report. There is total silence on this issue in Main Event’s report, leaving investors to guess what the second half will be like, it should not take the stock exchange rules to put to this. Good investors’ relations suggest that this is absolutely needed in this situation of wide variation in the two periods. Astonishingly, a review of the company’s prospectus gives no indication of seasonality of revenues and earnings.
The directors’ report accompanying the half year results, speaks to a reduction in direct expenses due to continued investment in fleet and transportation solutions, and rental equipment and human resources. At the same time administrative cost had a big increase due mainly to increased transportation and fleet management costs. It appears that these added costs should be treated as a part of direct cost and not administrative.
Revenue in the April quarter at $319 million was flat with the 2016 out turn but the half year rose 8 percent to $652 million. The data to date show no indication that the second half year results will show much if any improvement over the outcome for 2016 except for the removal of taxes.
At the initial public offer in January the issued share capital was 240,004,000 shares and 60,001,000 shares were issued to the public, resulting in an average number of shares issued for the April quarter of 300,005,000 units but only 270 million units for the half year. The report shows the fully issued number of shares at the end of April is used in computing earnings per share (EPS) for all periods.
The effect is that the reported in the interim results are wrong and in effect understated as the number of shares used in the computation is overstated. Instead of earnings per share of 25 cents for the half year it is 27.7 cents and for the 2016 period 26.8 cents and not 21 cent. The earnings for the 2016 April quarter, is 17.2 cents and for the full 2016 fiscal year 23.5 cents.
There are clearly weaknesses in the report and its handling, but worse it is also showing weaknesses in the overall management inclusive of the directorate.
The company expended over $107 million on fixed assets, increased borrowed funds by a mere $10 million more than at the end of October with cash ending at $65 million from just $19 million at the end of October.
With the interim results ending at 28 cents per share, it is going be challenging for earnings for the full year to be much higher than 35 cents IC Insider.com is forecasting for the year to October, barring a sizable rise in revenues. It could go on to earn 50 cents for 2018, IC Insider.com’s forecast shows. At the current price of $6 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange the PE ratio is 17, suggesting that the price may revolve around this level for a while.

Big drop in stocks on Thursday

Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange was hit hard with declining stock ending 2 to 1 over advancing ones leading to big fall in the main market indices. At the close on Thursday the All Jamaica Composite Index dropped 2,155.19 points to close at 256,762.81, the JSE Market Index tumbled 1,963.63 points to 233,940.00 and the JSE US dollar market index lost 5.48 points to 187.70.
At the close of trading, 27 securities changed hands with 2 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 8 stocks advancing and 16 declining. Trading in the main market ended with 12,639,003 units valued at $265,691,928 changing hands compared to 5,154,113 units valued at $53,288,691 at the close on Wednesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 47,800 units valued at US$40,223.
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 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
The main market ended trading with an average of 468,111 units valued at $9,840,442 for every security traded compared to an average of 234,278 units valued at $2,422,213 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 217,644 units with an average value of $4,360,892 compared with an average of 192,597 units with an average value of $3,812,937 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed at $6, losing $1 trading 2,800 shares, Berger Paints traded 69 cents lower to close at $17.31 in exchanging 19,999 shares, Cable and Wireless closed at $1.20, with 126,884 stock units changing, Caribbean Cement closed at $26.50, after losing 10 cents trading 2,940 shares, Carreras advanced $4.90 to close at $86.90, with an exchange of 31,475 units, Grace Kennedy closed at $40.77, losing 23 cents with 196,826 units changing hands, Jamaica Broilers gained 5 cents exchanging 74,526 shares to close at $18, Jamaica Producers closed at $14.50, with gains of 10 cents trading 66,154 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $7, with an exchange of 31,000 shares, JMMB Group closed at $19.20, losing 30 cents trading 54,696 units, Kingston Properties traded $1.26 lower to close at $10 exchanging 10,000 shares, Kingston Wharves closed at $28.54 with 300 shares changing ownership, NCB Financial Group gained $1.95 and closed at $72, after exchanging 2,964,070 shares, 1834 Investments exchanged 10,473 units at $1.35, 138 Student Living closed at $4.48, with trades of 1,110 units. PanJam Investment lost 50 cents, closing at $33.50 trading 13,090 shares, Pulse Investments closed at $17, losing 40 cents with an exchange of just 607 shares, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.65, with a loss of 1 cent in exchanging 7,102,241 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $34.10, losing 10 cents trading 268,796 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 5 cents higher to close at $11.20 with 4,260 shares exchanged. Scotia Group closed at $43, with gains of 30 cents trading 313,510 shares, Scotia Investments lost 50 cents to close at $36.50, with 23,129 units changing hands, Seprod closed at $29.50, gaining 50 cents, with trades of 3,315 shares while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.26, with a loss of 9 cents and 255,820 shares changing hands. Proven Investments rose marginally in exchanging 15,300 ordinary shares at 24.01 US cents, JMMB Group USD 6% preference share closed at US$1.12 with trades of 32,500 units, JMMB 7.5% preference share lost 5 cents to close at $1.90, with an exchange of 60,000 units, JPS 9.5% preference share closed $23 lower, closing at $1,302 with 982 units and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.12, losing 3 cents with trades of 1,000,000 units.

 

JSE main market rose on Wednesday

Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with gains in the market indices but comes against a background of declining stocks out numbering advancing ones. At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 465.94 points to close at 258,918.00, the JSE Market Index gained 424.53 points to 235,903.63 and the JSE US dollar market index rose 6.89 points to 193.18.
At the close of trading, 22 securities changed hands in the main market with 2 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 5 stocks advancing and 12 declining. Trading in the main market ended with 5,154,113 units valued at $53,288,691 changing hands compared to 11,853,174 units valued at just $109,266,700 at the close on Tuesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 6,586 units valued at US$5,080.
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 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3while with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 234,278 units valued at $2,422,213 for every security traded compared to an average of 515,355 units valued at $4,750,726 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 192,597 units with an average value of $3,812,937 compared with an average of 187,966 units with an average value of $4,045,663 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
In market activity, Berger Paints closed at $18, with a loss of 75 cents exchanging 28,700 shares, Cable and Wireless closed at $1.20, with 2,750 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Cement closed at $26.60, after losing 40 cents trading 38,991 shares, Carreras dropped $7 to close at $82, with an exchange of 1,603 units, Grace Kennedy closed at $41 with trades of 23,804 units, Jamaica Broilers lost 5 cents exchanging 76,020 shares to end at $17.95, Jamaica Producers closed at $14.40, with a loss of 10 cents trading 1,000 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 29 cents lower, to close at $7, with an exchange of 4,058,452 shares, JMMB Group ended at $19.50 trading 13,728 units, Kingston Wharves traded $1.96 lower to end at $28.54 with 8,217 shares changing owners, Mayberry Investments added 10 cents to close at $4.65, with trades of 76,027 units, NCB Financial Group closed at $70.05, losing $1.18 after exchanging 147,890 shares, 1834 Investments closed at $1.35, gaining 5 cents with 51,470 shares trading. PanJam Investment closed at $34 trading 19,021 shares, Portland JSX exchanged 21,433 units at $9.95, Pulse Investments added 40 cents, to close at $17.40 trading 125 shares, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.66, gaining 1 cent in exchange of 1,000 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $34.20, with a loss of 1 cent trading 77,412 shares and Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 15 cents higher to close at $11.15 with 403,600 shares exchanged. Scotia Group closed at $42.70, with a loss of $1.15 exchanging 11,613 shares, Seprod closed at $25, losing 49 cents in trading 4,257 shares while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.35, with a loss of 15 cents as 87,000 shares changed hands. Proven Investments exchanged 3,835 ordinary shares at 24 US cents and JMMB Group USD 5.75% preference share closed at US$1.50 with trades of 2,751 units.

JSE indices rise in soft market – Tuesday

Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Tuesday with advancing stocks just edging out declining ones and leading the market indices to a mild increase. At the close trading volume and values rose sharply compared to the prior day.
The All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 169.10 points to close at 258,452.06, the JSE Market Index gained 154.07 points to 235,479.10 but the JSE US dollar market index lost 14.16 points to 186.29.
At the close of trading, 23 securities changed hands with 1 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 11 stocks advancing and 9 declining. Trading in the main market ended with 11,853,174 units valued at $109,266,700 changing hands compared to 5,146,243 units valued at just $51,796,808 at the close on Monday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 146,047 units valued at US$34,731.
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 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 515,355 units valued at $4,750,726 for every security traded compared to an average of 197,932 units valued at $1,992,185 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 187,966 units with an average value of $4,045,663 compared with an average of 147,042 units with an average value of $3,957,530 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
In market activity, Berger Paints closed at $18.75, with a loss of 25 cents exchanging 1,220 shares, Cable and Wireless gained 4 cents to close at $1.20, with 129,607 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Cement closed at $27, with gains of 65 cents trading 2,000 shares, Grace Kennedy gained 10 cents and closed at $41, with trades of 51,742 units, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 20,471 shares at $18, Jamaica Producers closed at $14.50, with gains of 40 cents trading 38,624 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 10,113,600 shares and closed 29 cents higher at $7.29, JMMB Group lost $1 to close at $19.50 trading 34,065 units, Mayberry Investments gained 5 cents to close at $4.55, with trades of 150,000 units, NCB Financial Group lost 27 cents to close at $71.23, after exchanging 67,138 shares, 1834 Investments closed at $1.30, with trades of 23,966 shares, 138 Student Living traded 1 cent lower to close at $4.48, with an exchange of 1,420 units. PanJam Investment closed at $34, after adding $1 in trading 28,130 shares, Pulse Investments gained 90 cents, closing at $17 trading 14,585 shares, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.65, losing 1 cent and exchanging 413,162 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $34.21, with a loss of 4 cents trading 46,714 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 30 cents higher to close at $11 with 10,821 shares exchanged. Salada Foods lost $1, closing at $10 with 500 units changing hands, Scotia Group closed at $43.85, with gains of $1.25 exchanging 559,823 shares, Scotia Investments gained 50 cents to close at $37, trading 12,970 units, Seprod closed at $29.49, losing 1 cent and trading 4,257 shares while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.50, with 120,059 shares changing hands. Proven Investments lost 0.02 US cents exchanging 146,047 ordinary shares to close at 24 US cents and JMMB 7.5% preference share closed at $1.95, losing 5 cents with trades of 8,300 units.

JSE indices in big dive on Monday

The main market indices of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped sharply at the close on Monday with a number of stocks declining out pacing those advancing by some distance. The All Jamaica Composite Index declined 2,339.28 points to close at 258,282.96, the JSE Market Index fell 2,131.35 points to 235,325.03 and the JSE US dollar market index gained 0.45 points to 200.45.
At the close of trading, 26 securities changed hands in the main market with 1 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 7 stocks advancing and 12 declining and one traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high. Trading in the main market ended with more shares traded on Monday than on Friday but with less value. The volume traded ended with 5,146,243 units valued at $51,796,808 changing hands compared to 3,645,879 units valued at $88,098,872 at the close on Friday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 2,720 units valued at US$707.
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 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 197,932 units valued at $1,992,185 for every security traded compared to an average of 140,226 units valued at a mere $3,388,418 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 147,042 units with an average value of $3,957,530 compared with an average of 139,772 units with an average value of $4,238,293 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed at $7 exchanging 10,000 units, Berger Paints closed at $19, with gains of 25 cents trading 5,555 shares, Cable and Wireless traded 9 cents lower to close at $1.16, with an exchange of 37,000 stock units, Caribbean Cement closed at $26.35, with a loss of $1.65 trading 31,186 shares, Carreras exchanged 8,057 shares at $89, Grace Kennedy closed at $40.90, losing $2.10, trading 231,886 units, Jamaica Broilers gained 35 cents to close at $18, with 130,40 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers closed at $14.10, with a loss of $1.90 trading 51,088 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 20 cents lower to close at $7, with an exchange of 86,306 shares, JMMB Group lost 50 cents to close at $20.50, exchanging 24,890 units, Kingston Wharves closed at $30.50, with 14,734 shares traded, Mayberry Investments lost 57 cents to close at $4.50, with trades of 15,000 units, NCB Financial Group closed at $71.50, after exchanging 206,040 shares, 1834 Investments closed at $1.30, losing 15 cents with 931,796 shares changing hands. PanJam Investment closed at $33, with a loss of $1 trading 4,200 shares, Portland JSXtraded 5 cents lower to close at $9.95, with an exchange of 1,000 units, Pulse Investments lost 40 cents, closing at $16.10 trading 5,520 shares, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.66 exchanging 936,672 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $34.25, losing 13 cents with trades of 21,918 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 30 cents higher to close at $10.70 with 25,561 shares being exchanged. Salada Foods gained $1, closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $11 with 220 units changing hands, Scotia Group closed at $42.60, with gains of 59 cents exchanging 195,958 shares, Seprod closed at $29.50 trading 200,548 shares, Sterling Investments exchanged 3,100 units at $15.50 while Supreme Ventures traded 1 cent higher to close at $7.50, with 65,203 shares changing hands. Proven Investments gained 0.02 US cents trading 2,720 ordinary shares to close at 26 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.15, with trades of 1,902,400 units.

No progress for Scotia Investments

Scotia investments (SIJL) has been in transition for a long time from their original business based substantially on repos, to one based on pool funds. In the latter half of 2016 the company showed strong signs returning to pathway of growth but the latest half year results have put that on hold, at least for the time being.
A big part of the investment banker’s problem is the strangulation the Scotia Culture has placed on clients that is driving business away. Examples of this is the length of time it takes to place stock brokerage orders and its execution, or the inability now to get statement of accounts.
The company’s half year report, shows profit of $451 million for the period ended April 2017 compared to $457 million for the prior period, in 2016 from revenues of $2.3 billion, a reduction of $64 million in the corresponding period in 2016. The net profit for the second quarter to April this year, ended at $302 million, down from $339 million for the same quarter in 2016 from revenues of $1.14 billion compared to $1.19 billion in 2016.
SIJL earned 71 cents per share in the April quarter, down from 80 cents in the 2016 period and $1.07 for the half year compared to $1.08 in 2016. At the rate of growth for the half year, it looks as if profit for the full year should hoover around the $3.19 earned in 2016.
Total Comprehensive Income for the half year amounted to $546 million, compared to $663 million reported for the same period last year and for the quarter $454 million versus $468 million.
Total revenues for the six months from pool management funds fees grew 18 percent in the half year over that of 2016 while fees from pension and portfolio management, increased year over year by 34 percent.
Net Interest Income after impairment losses for the period was $685 million, a reduction of $60 million from $745 million in the corresponding period last year.
Other Revenue, comprising fee income, securities trading gains and net foreign exchange trading income, rose by $32 million to $866 million for six month period, above the same period last year, but was down slightly for the quarter to $463 million from $481 million in the previous year’s quarter.
Operating Expenses for the 2017 half year ended at $889 million, compared to $913 million for the corresponding period last year and $385 million for the April quarter versus $395 million in 2016.
Total assets stood at $67 billion at the end of April while financial assets under administration not included in the financial statements, amount $193 billion versus $169 billion in 2016
A dividend of 45 cents per share was declared payable July 20, 2017, the same amount being paid for some time. The stock traded at $36.50 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday.

JSE stocks mostly fall on Friday

Salada Foods traded at a intraday high of $11 on Friday.

Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange was cut in half from the levels on Thursday at the close on Friday. The market indices trended lower as the All Jamaica Composite Index declined 315.07 points to close at 260,622.24, the JSE Market Index fell 287.07 points to 237,456.38 and the JSE US dollar market index dropped 13.20 points to 200.00.
At the close of trading, 26 securities changed hands in the main market with 1 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 8 stocks advancing and 13 declining. Trading in the main market ended with 3,645,879 units valued at $88,098,872 changing hands compared to 6,887,167 units valued at just $169,323,809 at the close on Thursday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 57,934 units valued at US$15,021.
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 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 140,226 units valued at $3,388,418 for every security traded compared to an average of 255,080 units valued at $6,271,252 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 139,772 units with an average value of $4,238,293 compared with an average of 139,696 units with an average value of $4,379,939 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed at $7, losing 2 cents with trades of 10,000 units, Berger Paints exchanged 7,127 shares at $18.75, Cable and Wireless traded 242,780 stock units at $1.25, Caribbean Cement gained $1 to close at $28 trading 12,532 shares, Carreras advanced $4, in closing at $89, with 4,347 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy closed at $43, gaining 3 cents with 47,920 units trading, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 83,960 shares at $17.65, Jamaica Producers closed at $16, with 84,225 units changing hands. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 20 cents to close at $7.20 trading 64,439 shares, JMMB Group closed at $21, after climbing $2 in exchanging 38,443 units, Kingston Properties closed at $11.26, after losing 23 cents with an exchange of 4,977 units, Kingston Wharves closed at $30.50, with a loss of $1.50 trading 5,684 shares, Mayberry Investments lost 1 cent to close at $5.07, in trading 800 units, NCB Financial Group gained 50 cents to close at $71.50, after exchanging 886,407 shares, 1834 Investments lost 9 cents to close at $1.45, with 10,292 shares changing owners. PanJam Investment closed at $34, after losing 70 cents with an exchange of 31,750 shares, Pulse Investments lost 50 cents, closing at $16.50 while trading 1,000 shares, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.66, with a loss of 4 cents, exchanging 793,322 shares, Sagicor Group gained 3 cents and closed at $34.38, with an exchange of 18,650 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 40 cents lower to close at $10.40 with 28,250 shares traded. Salada Foods exchanged 101,650 shares to close at $10, after trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $11, Scotia Group closed at $42.01, with a loss of $1.79 exchanging 276,255 shares, but closed with the bid at $43.75 to buy just 100 shares, Seprod lost 40 cents to close at $29.50 trading 2,454 shares, Sterling Investments gained 40 cents to close at $15.50, with an exchange of 10,150 units while Supreme Ventures lost 1 cent to close at $7.49, with 27,681 shares changing hands. Proven Investments lost 0.04 US cents exchanging 57,934 ordinary shares to close at 24 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.15, with trades of 850,784 units.

 

JSE main market drops on Thursday

JSE headquarters in downtown Kingston.

The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed much lower than on Thursday than on Wednesday with the All Jamaica Composite Index dropping 1,555.59 points to close at 260,937.31. The JSE Market Index dived 1,417.31 points to 237,743.45 and the JSE US dollar market index lost 0.83 points to 213.20.
At the close of trading, 29 securities changed hands including 1 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 10 stocks advancing and 9 declining. Trading in the main market ended with 6,887,167 units valued at $169,323,809 changing hands compared to 5,393,689 units valued at $311,918,709 at the close on Wednesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 15,950 units valued at US$4,466.
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 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 255,080 units valued at a mere $6,271,252 for every security traded compared to an average of 215,748 units valued at a mere $12,476,748 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 139,696 units with an average value of $4,379,939 compared with an average of 116,619 units with an average value of $4,001,676 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
In market activity, Berger Paints lost 75 cents to close at $18.75, with 128,862 shares changing hands, Cable and Wireless traded 450,000 stock units at $1.25, Caribbean Cement closed at $27, after falling $1.82 exchanging 5,536 shares, Carreras added $1, closing at $85, with 17,467 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy closed at $42.97, gaining 2 cents with trades of 14,102 units, Jamaica Broilers gained 15 cents to close at $17.65, with 6,225 shares exchanged, Jamaica Producers closed at $16, with 100,266 units changing hands. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 10 cents lower to close at $7 trading 26,494 shares, JMMB Group closed at $19, with a loss of $1 exchanging 2,631,555 units, Kingston Wharves closed at $32, gaining $1 trading 74,207 shares, NCB Financial Group closed at $71, with gains of $1 after exchanging 96,597 shares, 138 Student Living closed at $4.49 trading 13,000 units, 1834 Investments lost 1 cent to close at $1.54, with 5,842 shares changing owners. Palace Amusement exchanged 1,167 units at $340, PanJam Investment closed at $34.70, with an exchange of 3,000 shares, Portland JSX traded 15 cents lower to close at $10, with 12,531 units trading, Pulse Investments advanced $2.50, closing at $17 trading 11,000 shares, Radio Jamaica added 3 cents to close at $1.70 exchanging 8,621 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $34.35, gaining 10 cents with an exchange of 2,756,521 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 20 cents slower to close at $10.80 with 2,741 shares traded. Scotia Group added 30 cents to close at $43.80 while exchanging 18,028 shares, Scotia Investments dropped $1.50 and closed at $36.50, with 3,300 shares changing hands, Seprod closed at $29.90, trading 9,100 shares, Sterling Investments lost $1.80 to close at $15.10, with an exchange of 328,000 units while Supreme Ventures traded 124,005 shares at $7.50. Proven Investments traded 15,950 ordinary shares at 28 US cents Sterling Investments US dollar listing traded 1,000 units at 11 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.15, with trades of 37,000 units.