I$P Finance hits a new high recently.
ISP Finance earned $40 million for 2016 or earnings per share of 46 cents based on an average of 87 million shares in issue for the year, but the audited statement reported only 32 cents based on a non-existence average of 126.5 million.
The company only issued 105 million shares hence it is not possible for the average to be greater.
The above error along with glaring errors elsewhere in the financial system at large raise the question about the investing public being adequately protected, in spite of regulators in place to do police the system?
Auditors are required to use care and due diligence in undertaking their duties to ensure that the companies they audit maintain proper records that will give a fair view of a company’s profit and financial position. Users of audited statement is not expected to see glaring errors in them. It raises questions about the quality of the audit and the management of the company as well.
Knutsford Express’ audited reports for 2014 and 2015, were filled with errors or questionable treatment of transactions, raising questions about the accuracy of the entire reports.
The earnings per share for 2014 was overstated due to inaccurate computation of the average number of shares issued in 2013, while showing earnings per share of $1.07 for 2014. The income statement erroneously stated by way of note, that “using the weighted average number of shares at end of 2015 would result in earnings being 50 cents for 2014.” Since no new share were issued in 2015 there can be no there is no need for a computation of an average and there can be no change to the earnings for 2014 if the correct average was computed for 2014 in the first place.
The report had further stated “During January 2014, the company raised additional capital of $99,862,700 from its initial public offering of 99,999,003 shares for its enlistment on the
Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market”. The company in fact issued 26 million bonus shares in 2013 while the public offering was for 20,000,000 ordinary shares, only 4,867,338 new shares were offered by the company while 15,132,662 shares existing shares were sold to the public in the IPO by shareholders. At the time the IPO, 95,132,662 ordinary shares were already issued, the average number of shares should be approximately 60 million rather than 46.8 million used to compute the 2014 EPS, which would have worked out around 83 cents.According to ISP Finance prospectus, 1n January 2007 the company was incorporated with an authorised share capital of 10,000 ordinary shares at J$1 per share. In June 2007 the company’s authorised share capital was increased to 5,000,000 ordinary shares with all being subscribed for at $1 each.
On February 11, 2016 the company’s authorised share capital was increased to 105,000,000 ordinary shares. Of the 100,000,000 ordinary share increase, 51,017,500 shares were allotted to Gencorp Limited at J$2 per each being the same price at which shares were offered in the IPO. Of the balance just over 48.98 million units were offered to the general public in the IPO.
The main market ended trading with an average of 106,584 units compared to an average of 1,670,779 units on Thursday. The average volume for the month to date ended at 549,909 units versus 571,020 units on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for February ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
NCB Financial Group gained 80 cents to close at $61.80, after exchanging 88,020 shares, Pan Jamaican gained 48 cents, closing at $35 with 24,845 shares changing hands. Sagicor Group closed at $34.10, with a 9 cent gain and trades of 507,637 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund gained 9 cents, closing at $10.59 with 66,809 shares exchanged, Salada Foods closed at $8, for a loss of $1 trading 3,560 units, Scotia Group added $1.02 to close at $39 with trades of 239,965 units, Seprod closed at $39, after adding $1 and exchanging 10,000 shares, Supreme Ventures added 9 cents, closing at $6.08 while trading 79,472 shares. Proven Investments traded 218,885 ordinary shares at 30 US cents, JMMB 7.25% preference share closed at $2 with an exchange of 92,740 units and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.08 with 102 units changing owners.
Jamaica Stock Exchange traded nearly 37 million shares one day after the Stock Exchange advised Sagicor Group that their holdings exceeded the limit of 10 percent stipulated in the company’s bye laws. The group bought nearly 36 million units in early March. 
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 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
NCB Financial Group slid 90 cents to close at $61, after exchanging 12,137 shares, 138 Student Living traded 60,146 shares at $4.50, Pan Jamaican gained 2 cents, closing at $34.52 while trading 5,240 shares. Pulse Investments traded 1,150 shares at $8.40, Sagicor Group closed at $34.01 with trades of 118,881 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 5 cents, closing at $10.50 with 13,000 shares, Salada Foods closed at $9 trading 23,000 units, Scotia Group closed 77 cents lower to $37.98 with trades of 47,148 units, Scotia Investments traded at $39.50 with a mere 194 units changing hands, Seprod exchanged 7,245 shares at $38, Supreme Ventures lost 1 cent to close at $5.99 trading 27,155 shares. Proven fell 0.95 cent and closed at 30 US cents, with an exchange of 4,000 ordinary shares and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.08 with trades of 1,327,000 units.
Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with moderate gains in the indices at the close on Wednesday as 22 securities changed hands with 1 trading in the US dollar market. A total of 10 stocks advanced and 7 declined in the two markets.
The average volume for the month to date ended at 108,879 units versus 136,817 units on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for February ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
Mayberry Investments closed 5 cents higher to $4.65 with trades of 18,436 shares, NCB Financial Group closed at $61.90, after exchanging 70,854 shares, Pan Jamaican lost 50 cents, closing at $34.50 trading 35,938 shares. Radio Jamaica traded 80,000 shares at $1.90, Sagicor Group gained 51 cents to close at $34.01 with trades of 703,794 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund closed at $10.55 with gains of 5 cents and 2,422 shares being exchanged, Scotia Group added 74 cents, closing at $38.75 trading 36,800 units, Scotia Investments traded 50 cents lower to $39.50 with 50,000 units changing hands, Seprod exchanged 152 shares at $38, Supreme Ventures lost 35 cents to close at $6 trading 340,569 shares. Proven closed at 30.95 US cents, gaining 0.95 cent with an exchange of 89,820 ordinary shares, JMMB 7.25% preference share rose 2 cents in trading 56,000 units at $2.41, JMMB 7.5% preference share exchanged 27,810 units at $2, and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.08 with trades of 1,041,520 units.
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 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
1834 Investments closed at $1.50, losing 10 cents trading 24,112 units, Palace traded 900 units at $200, Pan Jamaican closed at $35, with a loss of 1 cent trading 59,159 shares. Pulse Investments closed at $8.40, losing 5 cents with an exchange of 2,654 units, Radio Jamaica gained 30 cents to close at $1.90 exchanging 30,300 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $33.50 trading 151,851 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund lost 6 cents to close at $10.50 with 184,285 shares traded, Scotia Group was down 99 cents, to close at $38.01, with 513,417 units exchanged, Scotia Investments traded $1.95 higher to $40 with a mere 1,000 units changing hands, Supreme Ventures advanced 35 cents to $6.35 trading 4,710 shares. Proven closed at 30 US cents, gaining 1 cent with an exchange of 375,830 ordinary shares and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share lost 1 cent to close at $1.08 with trades of 2,730,333 units.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange corrected Friday’s error in the movement of the market indices to reflect the correct changes based on the close on Thursday and Friday. 
Kingston Properties closed at $16.35 trading 200 shares, Kingston Wharves gained 55 cents to close at $31.75, with 6,034 units changing hands, Mayberry Investments closed 60 cents lower to $4.70 with an exchange of 124,821 shares, NCB Financial Group lost 49 cents to close at $61.50, after exchanging 11,943 shares, 138 Student Living closed at $4.50 with 13,015 units exchanged, Pan Jamaican closed at $35.01, with gains of 76 cents trading 145,770 shares. Pulse Investments was down 5 cents, closing at $8.45 with an exchange of 1,809 units, Sagicor Group closed at $33.50 trading 86,987 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund added 1 cent to close at $10.56 with 39,600 shares traded, Salada closed at $9, losing 24 cents exchanging 320 shares, Scotia Group added 65 cents to close at $39, with 1,960 units exchanged, Scotia Investments traded $2.05 higher to close at $38.05 with 105,759 units changing hands, Seprod closed at $38, for a loss of 55 cents with trades of 600 shares, and Supreme Ventures closed at $6, losing 29 cents trading 3,175 shares. Proven closed at 29 US cents with an exchange of 3,316 ordinary shares, JMMB 7.5% preference share traded 497,190 units at $2 and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed 1 cent lower to $1.09 with trades of 766,738 units.
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The Jamaica Stock Exchange continues to have challenges with their new trading system that was implemented in February. Making matters worse is that personnel at the exchange have refused to vet reports they put out in the public’s domain. 
The main market ended trading with an average of 282,723 units on Friday, compared to an average of 184,556 units on the previous trading day. The average volume for the month to date, ended at 248,740 units versus 214,756 units on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for February, ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
Kingston Properties closed at $16.35, rising 15 cents in trading 20,976 shares, Kingston Wharves gained 20 cents to close at $31.20, with 6,693 units changing owners, Mayberry Investments added 10 cents, closing at $5.30 with an exchange of 5,000 shares, NCB Financial Group closed with gains of 99 cents to $61.99, after exchanging 31,659 shares, 138 student Living closed 10 cents lower to $4.50, with 199,483 units being exchanged, Pan Jamaican rose 19 cents higher to $34.25, trading 192,491 shares. Sagicor Group closed at $33.50 trading 60,520 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 20 cents to close at $10.55 with an exchange of 6,600 shares, Scotia Group added 15 cents to close at $38.35, with 23,403 units traded, Scotia Investments climbed $1.50 in trading 13,000 shares at $36, Seprod closed at $38.55, for a loss of 45 cents with 10,500 shares, Supreme Ventures closed at $6.29, with 37,777 shares changing hands. Margaritaville Turks traded 7 US cents lower to close at 23 US cents with 1,875 units exchanged, Proven Investments gained 2 US cents to close at 29 US cents trading 5,499 ordinary shares and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.10 with trades of 866,369 units.
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 4 with lower offers.
138 student Living closed 10 cents lower to $4.50, with 199,483 units being exchanged, Pan Jamaican rose 19 cents higher to $34.25, trading 192,491 shares. Sagicor Group closed at $33.50 trading 60,520 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund lost 20 cents to close at $10.55 with an exchange of 6,600 shares, Scotia Group added 15 cents to close at $38.35, with 23,403 units traded, Scotia Investments climbed $1.50 in trading 13,000 shares at $36, Seprod closed at $38.55, for a loss of 45 cents with trades of 10,500 shares, Supreme Ventures closed at $6.29, with 37,777 shares changing hands. Margaritaville Turks traded 7 US cents lower to close at 23 US cents with 1,875 units exchanged, Proven Investments gained 2 US cents to close at 29 US cents trading 5,499 ordinary shares and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.10 with trades of 866,369 units.