Prices mostly fell in early trading on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange but with lower volume than on Friday.
Jamaica Stock Exchange stock was adjusted the 5 for 1 stock split on Friday but the stock has not traded so far, but the bid is at $8.10 to buy 4,790 shares. Paramount Trading that has announced a 10 to 1 stock split has a bid at $30.60 to buy 1,035 units without an offer versus the last traded price of $29.
Major traded so far include, Jamaica Producers with 81,887 units at $8.25, National Commercial Bank 232,872 units at $45, Jetcon Corporation with 126,700 units at $5 and Lasco Distributors with 91,345 units at $7.
The all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 1,002.17 points to 188,306.17, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index declined points to 169,420.99, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index lost 652.67 points to close at 182,489.04 and the junior market index rose 17.36 points to 2,469.57.
At 10:45 am, a total of 29 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 640,254 shares changing hands carrying a value of $13,990,935, compared to 1,938,366 shares changing hands carrying a value of $18,934,325, on Friday.
The average number of shares traded amounts to 22,078 units compared to 71,791 on Friday. Market activity resulted in 11 stocks falling while the prices of 6 securities rose.
JSE majors drop juniors rise
Sagicor Group profit climbs 49%
Sagicor Group net profit attributable to Stockholders jumped 49 percent to $3.1 billion for the September quarter and 27 percent to $7.39 billion for the nine-month to September, over the similar period in 2015.
Improvement in realized gains from securities trading played a big role in the increased profit with investment income rising 43 percent or $1.6 Billion in the quarter to $5.5 billion and a rise of 20 percent or $2.6 billion to $15.56 billion for the nine months to September.
Earnings per stock ended at 79 cents for the quarter and $1.89 for the nine months compared to $1.49 in 2015 and could end around the $3 region by the end of the financial year. Return on average Stockholders’ Equity was 19 percent compared to 17 percent.
“Our core Insurance and Banking businesses produced good results. The overall performance was principally driven by good business growth across all lines, greater than expected capital gains on sale of securities and favourable benefits experience“, management stated in their report to shareholders.
Rose Hall hotel owned by Sagicor Real Estate fund
Administrative expenses of $10.8 billion, were 13 percent more than in 2015, well below the rate of growth in revenues. “The cost increase was driven by higher staff costs, expenses relating to our expanded credit cards program and other non-recurring items,” management said in their report to shareholders. For the September quarter, administrative expenses rose 11 percent to $3.7 billion
Sagicor Group comprises a number of companies offering financial products and services, including life and health insurance; annuities; pensions administration; investment services; commercial banking; investments banking; captives management; property management and real estate sales and rentals.
The company shares are listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and last traded at $23.18 and is undervalued.
Kazakhstan stock market 2016 best
Kazakhstan or Peru stock markets seem set be the top performing markets in 2016, taking over from Jamaica, the top performer in 2015, according to data compiled from Bloomberg Market.
Data show that the S&P/BVL Peru General Index is up 53.97 percent for 2016 up to Friday but the movement seems to have stalled since October 19 and the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange Index gained 50.51 percent and is currently rising.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange was rated the top performing market in 2015, but data sourced suggests that it will be hard pressed to wear that crown in 2016. For the year to date the JSE market index is up 13 percent, but that pales in comparison to a number of markets that have delivered gains that are much higher. The junior market index with the fast growing companies with 37 percent gain this year, is in at 5th position, Bloomberg did not report data publicly on this index.
The positive for the local market, is that many of the top performing markets seem to be declining while the JSE is on the rise and usually rallies in the latter part of the year. With undervalued Scotia Group and National Commercial Bank could benefit from the release of full year results by early December. If investors react positively to the results they could climb sharply and pull the overall market up, giving it a shot at the top spot. That would require a big 70,000 points gain to possibly hit the top spot.
The other markets that have been doing very well in 2016 to date are, Buenos Aires Stock Exchange Merval Index up 43.51 percent, Ibovespa Brasil Sao Paulo Stock Exchange Index rising 42.10 percent, BCT Corp Costa Rica Stock Market Index is up 33.04 percent, Bermuda Stock Exchange Index rose 25.64 percent, Budapest Stock Exchange Budapest Stock Index climbed 25.49 percent.
Kazakhstan has a population of 17.04 million in 2013 according to the World Bank, the stock market has 116 listing of shares by 98 companies.
New record close for Jamaican stocks
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange that retreated sharply on Thursday, recovered the loss and went on the record a new high, with the All Jamaica Composite Index surging 3,719.22 points to close at an all-time high of 189,308.34, bringing the year to date gains to 13.1 percent.
The JSE Market Index jumping 3,325.66 points to finish at a record 170,317.11 and the JSE combined index climbed sharply by 2,931.21 points up to end at new high of 183,141.71 pushing the gains for the year to date to 15.7 percent.
At the close 3,671,278 units valued at $37,632,036 changed hands, compared to 3,333,891 units valued at $23,300,182 changing hands on Thursday. The junior market accounted for 1,625,906 units trading valued at $9,305,449 of the stocks traded.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 78,668 and month to date 128,982 units. On Thursday, an average of 330,400 units traded. 
The average for the October was 220,811 units.
The market closed with 40 securities trading as the prices of 15 gained while 8 declined in the overall market, including 7 stocks rising and 2 falling, in the junior market. A number of attempts to trade Jamaica Stock Exchange were blocked, with the bids posted for most of the day, based on the pre-split price and not on the new number of shares emanating from the 5 to 1 split that became effective on Friday.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 17 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments traded 11,000 units and declined 5 cents to close at $4.35, Berger Paints traded 5,000 shares to end at $6.55 after rising 50 cents, to close at a new 52 weeks’ high, Cable & Wireless closed at 85 cents with 765,410 units trading. Caribbean Cement jumped $1.46 with just 200 units changing hands to close at $30.46, Carreras traded 22,791 shares to end at $65. Grace Kennedy lost 5 cents in trading 12,984 units at $41.45,
JMMB Group traded 16,889 shares and lost 20 cents, to end at $14, Kingston Wharves traded 1,735 shares and closed at $17.19, Mayberry Investments rose 35 cents and ended with 2,734 shares trading at the close at $4. National Commercial Bank rose 26 cents in trading 12,030 shares to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $45.25, Pan Jamaican Investment lost 20 cents and closed at $22.80 after trading 298,100 shares, Sagicor Group had 1,130 shares changing hands and rose 68 cents to close at $23.18. Scotia Group climbed $1.35 in trading 496,267 shares to close at $32.40, Seprod traded 2,000 shares to end at $24.15, Proven Investments traded 34,300 units at 19.90 US cents and Sterling Investments rose $1.45 cent and traded just 300 units to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $15.50.
JSE jumps sharply in early trading
Gains in the prices of Scotia Group and National Commercial Bank that traded at a new high help in pushing the main market indices much higher in early trading on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
A number of new highs were created in the morning session with Berger Paints trading 5,000 at a new high of $6.55 and Paramount Trading had a small volume changing hands at a new all-time high of $29 after rising $2 and Sterling Investments traded at a new high of $15.50. CAC 2000 fell to an all-time low with 1,000 shares trading down to $4.50.
The all Jamaica Composite Index jumped 2,708.08 points to 188,297.20, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index surged 2,421.51 points to 169,412.96, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index climbed 2,272.32 points to close at 182,482.82 and the junior market index inched up 2.59 points to 2,469.69.
Jamaica Stock Exchange stock was adjusted the 5 for 1 stock split at the commencement of trading this morning to take into effect that was approved at an Extraordinary General Meeting held on October 25, but attempts to trade have been blocked as the bids remains at the old price.
At 10:45 am, a total of 27 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 1,938,366 shares changing hands carrying a value of $18,934,325, compared to 633,945 shares changing hands carrying a value of $6,888,082, on Thursday.
The average number of shares traded amounts to 71,791 units compared to 28,816 on Thursday. Market activity resulted in 6 stocks falling while the prices of 10 securities rose.
Stocks with good volumes in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 765,410 at 85 cents, Ciboney Group traded 241,019 units at 18 cents and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% preference share traded 100,100 units at $2.40, Caribbean Producers with 137,000 units at $3.50, Lasco Manufacturing with 120,958 shares trading at $4.80.
JSE stock split effective today
Jamaica Stock Exchange stock price will adjust at the commencement of trading this morning to take into effect the 5 for 1 stock split that was approved at an Extraordinary General Meeting held on October 25.
Record date for the stock split is November 8 but the ex-stock split date takes effect on November 4. At the close of trading on Thursday, the price the stock traded at was $27.90 and will result in an opening price of $5.58.
The stock split will result in an additional 561,000,000 ordinary shares will be listed, increasing the issued shares from 140,250,000 to 701,250,000.
JSE reported of profit of $32 million for the June quarter versus $15 million in 2015 and $158 million compared to $102 million for the six months to June 2015. The improvement in net profit flowed from a 52 percent rise in revenues to $188 million for the June 2016 quarter compared with $124 million in 2015 and $525 million for the half year to June for a rise of 37 percent versus $382 million in 2015. Earnings per share for the half year ended at $1.12 versus 73 cents in 2015. The JSE had a big month of trading in August with some special trades that took place thus swelling the volumes and value to $6.6 billion for July to August compared to $6.5 million for the June quarter.
Jamaica’s main market in sharp retreat
Scotiabank dropped $1.93 to help rip large chunk in points off the indices.
At the close 3,333,891 units valued at $23,300,182 changed hands, compared to 8,751,466 units valued at $70,052,498 changing hands on Wednesday. The junior market accounted for 2,322,147 units trading valued at $11,077,945 of the stocks traded.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 330,400 and month to date 312,605 units. On Wednesday, an average of 294,810 units traded. The average for the October was 220,811 units.The market closed with 34 securities trading as the prices of 11 gained while 10 declined in the overall market, including 4 stocks rising and 2 falling, in the junior market.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints traded 5,670 shares to end at $6.05 after rising 5 cents, Cable & Wireless rose 1 cent to close at 85 cents with 152,000 units trading. Caribbean Cement dropped $1.85 with 250 units changing hands to close at $29, Carreras traded 1,655 shares to end at $66. Grace Kennedy lost 25 cents in trading 13,630 units at $41.50,
Jamaica Broilers closed at $14.50 with 175,869 shares changing ownership, Jamaica Producers gained 10 cents to end at $8.30 with 71,668 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 48 cents and ended at $27.98 while trading 29,463 shares. JMMB Group traded 23,167 shares and rose 21 cents, to end at $14.20, Kingston Wharves traded 2,600 shares and lost 31 cents to close at $17.19, Mayberry Investments ended with 19,020 shares trading at $3.65, National Commercial Bank rose 49 cents in trading 5,915 shares to close at $44.99. Pan Jamaican Investment lost 15 cents and closed at $23 after trading 165,986 shares, Sagicor Group had 64,289 shares changing hands and dropped $1 to close at $22.50. Scotia Group dived $1.93 in trading 5,200 shares to close at $31.05, Seprod traded 9,110 shares to end at $24.15, Proven Investments traded 5,215 units at 19.90 US cents and JMMB Group 7.50% preference shares fell 1 cent and traded 235,175 units at $1.08.
JSE main market dives in early trading
Fall in the prices of $1 for Sagicor Group and $1.91 for Scotia Group with just 200 shares trading led to a sharp drop in the main market indices in early trading on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The junior market moved within just 8 points from a record close.
The all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 2,454.83 points to 186,020.23, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index dived 2,195.05 points to 167,376.95, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index lost 1,921.42 points to close at 180,600.30 and the junior market index inched up 11.12 points to 2,470.24.
At 10:45 am, a total of 22 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 633,945 shares changing hands carrying a value of $6,888,082, compared to 337,469 shares changing hands carrying a value of $9,036,840, on Wednesday.
The average number of shares traded amounts to 28,816 units compared to 12,052 on Wednesday. Market activity resulted in 9 stocks falling while the prices of 8 securities rose.
Trading in the junior market has been very low keyed with the exception of Lasco Financial Services with 204,000 units down to $3.07. Stocks with good volumes in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 152,000 at 85 cents, Pan Jamaican Investment Trust 165,986 at $23, Sagicor Group with 41,789 shares at $22.50.
Jamaican stocks jump 3,000 points to record
Sagicor Group jumped $1.50 and helped push JSE to a new record on Wednesday.
Helping to move the index up were a $3.35 jump in Caribbean Cement, 80 cents gain in National Commercial Bank, a gain of $1.50 in Sagicor Group and $1.48 in Scotia Group.
The JSE Market Index jumped 3,363.67 points to finish at 169,572.00 and the JSE combined index blasted 3,330.80 points up, to end at 182,521.72 and gained 15.3 percent for the year to date.
At the close 8,751,466 units valued at $70,052,498 changed hands, compared to 8,941,559 units valued at $145,848,058 changing hands on Tuesday. The junior market accounted for 521,462 units trading valued at $7,467,867 of the stocks traded.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 330,400 and month to date 312,605 units. On Tuesday, an average of 294,810 units traded. The average for the October was 220,811 units.The market closed with 43 securities trading as the prices of 19 gained while 9 declined in the overall market, including 6 stocks rising and 4 falling, in the junior market.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments lost 5 cents in trading 3,200 units to close at $4.40, Berger Paints traded 7,068 shares to end at $6 after rising 14 cents, Cable & Wireless lost 1 cent to close at 84 cents with 94,486 units trading. Caribbean Cement recovered $3.35 with 10,094 units changing hands to close at $30.85, Carreras traded 57,910 shares and jumped 40 cents to end at $66. Grace Kennedy lost 24 cents in trading 18,701 units at $41.75, Jamaica Producers gained 1 cent to end at $8.20 with 33,536 units trading,
Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 26 cents and ended at $27.50 while trading 41,833 shares. JMMB Group traded just 670 shares and rose 49 cents to end at $13.99, Kingston Wharves traded 6,740 shares to close at $17.50, Mayberry Investments fell 23 cents and ended with 34,383 shares trading at $3.65, National Commercial Bank rose 80 cents in trading 28,240 shares to close at $44.50. Radio Jamaica gained 5 cents and closed at $1.45 after trading 5,000 shares, Sagicor Group had 77,084 shares changing hands and jumped $1.50 to close at $23.50. Scotia Group jumped $1.48 in trading 438,863 shares to close at $32.98, Supreme Ventures traded 7,196,635 shares to end at $5, Proven Investments traded 88,291 units at 19.89 US cents down from 20 US cents and JMMB Group 7.50% preference shares rose 1 cent and traded 80,500 units at $1.09.
Cement jumps back to $30.50
Caribbean Cement climbed $3 to $30.50 with 5,500 units to recover most of what it lost on Tuesday as investors had reacted negatively to the third quarter loss the company reported. 
Paramount Trading had a small volume changing hands but the stock traded at a new all-time high of $27 after rising $3.
Trading volume is very low after 80 minutes trading having taken place. Caribbean Cream with 100,000 units trading down to $7.05 is the sole stock with a volume in 6 figures.
The all Jamaica Composite Index climbs 1,338.30 points to 186,051.61, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index gained 1,196.67 points to 167,405.00, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index rose 1,115.25 points to close at 180,306.17 and the junior market index inched up 0.53 points to 2,439.08.
At 10:50 am, a total of 28 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 337,469 shares changing hands carrying a value of $9,036,840, compared to 2,927,694 shares changing hands carrying a value of $45,399,096, on Tuesday.
The average number of shares traded amounts to 12,052 units compared to 121,987 on Tuesday. Market activity resulted in 9 stocks falling while the prices of 11 securities rose.