In Thursday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, Sagicor Investments bought and sold 5,130,557 National Commercial Bank shares at $92.8 million, accounting for the bulk of trading on the exchange. At the close the prices of 12 stocks rose and 4 declined as 27 securities changed hands, ending in 8,932,509 units trading, valued at $99,815,205, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had only 2 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 stocks with offers that were lower, reflecting short term negative sentiments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 137.73 points to 74,025.31, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 154.01 points to close at 81,481.88 and the JSE combined index gained declined by 68.49 points to close at 76,011.41.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless with 7,500 units to close with a gain of 1 cent at 44 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers concluded trading with 4,500 units to close with a gain of 5 cents at $7.05, Jamaica Producers concluded trading with 2,123 units and put on 50 cent down at $16, Sagicor Group closed with 209,069 shares as the price climbed 2 cents to $9.90 and Scotia Investments closed with 1,500 shares changing hands to close with a gain of 4 cents at $22.55.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Caribbean Cement ended trading with 713 shares at $2.40, Carreras exchanged a mere 100 shares at $37, Gleaner in trading with 100,000 shares, to close at $1. Grace Kennedy exchanged 4,380 shares at $60.40, Kingston Wharves ended trading with 12,000 shares changing hands at $6, Proven Investments contributed 3,300 units at 17.99 US cents, Radio Jamaica ended trading with 1,635 shares at $1.18, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading with 22,000 units changing hands at $6.85 and Seprod closed with 18,593 units at $12.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes ended with 2,020 units as the price slipped 6 cents to $4.76, Jamaica Broilers closed with 9,318 shares trading 1 cent lower at $4, National Commercial Bank finished with 5,149,153 shares with a loss of 8 cents to $18.01, Scotia Group finished trading with 2,300 units and fell 5 cents to $19.50
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.50% preference share traded 12,000 units and gained 7 cents to $3.50 and Proven Investments 8% preference share ended with 3,846 shares changing hands to close with an increase of 70 cents to stocks closed at all-time highs $5.70.
12 stocks rise 4 declines on JSE
Trading sinks to only $7M on JSE
In a very moderate trading Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of 5 stocks rose and 8 declined as 23 securities changed hands, ending in only 1,348,967 units trading, valued at $6,683,127, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index shed 384.01 points to 74,163.04, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 429.38 points to close at 81,635.89 and the JSE combined index declined by 414.46 points to close at 76,079.90.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras concluded trading with 30,485 shares while gaining 50 cents to $37, Grace Kennedy finished trading with 9,710 shares rising 40 cents to $60.40, Proven Investments concluded trading with 26,880 units and put on 0.69 cent to 17.99 us cents and Seprod ended trading with 80,000 shares with an increase of 20 cents to $12.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in their last traded prices are, Caribbean Cement ending with 193,500 shares trading at $2.40, followed by Ciboney in exchanging 2,000 shares, to close at 7 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers ended trading with 2,120 ordinary shares at $7. Kingston Wharves ended trading with 130,544 shares at $6, Radio Jamaica finished trading with 12,696 shares at $1.18, Sagicor Real Estate Fund had 30,000 shares changing hands at $6.85 and Scotia Group ended with 13,040 units to close $19.55.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless that closed with 79,383 shares trading 1 cent lower, at 43 cents, Desnoes & Geddes with 28,292 shares, at a loss of 1 cent to $4.82, Jamaica Broilers finished trading with 43,836 units, fell 9 cents to $4.01. Mayberry Investments exchanged 65,000 shares to close 2 cents lower at $1.48, National Commercial Bank concluded trading with 16,878 shares changing hands to close at 76 cents down at $18.09 and Salada Foods ended with 10,000 shares changing hands to close at 35 cents lower at $7.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded contributed 98,000 units at $2.
7 stocks gained & 7 declined on JSE
Tuesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 7 stocks rising and 7 declining as 24 securities changed hands, ending in 13,351,835 units trading, valued at $51,923,241, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 15 points to 74,547.05, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 16.77 points to close at 82,065.27 and the JSE combined index gained 20.59 points to close at 76,494.36.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless that concluded trading with 5,523,062 shares while gaining 1 cent to 44 cent, Jamaica Broilers finished trading with 30,061 shares, with the price rising 8 cents to $4.10. Scotia Group ended trading with 254,039 shares, with an increase of 5 cents to $19.55, Seprod closed with 18,854 shares as the price climbed 30 cents to $11.80 and Supreme Ventures finished trading with 43,500 shares changing hands, to close 4 cents higher at $1.80.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Caribbean Cement that had 138,200 shares changing hands to close at $2.40, Jamaica Money Market Brokers exchanged 30,232 ordinary shares at $7, Jamaica Stock Exchange contributed 200,000 shares in trading at $1.55. Kingston Wharves ended trading with only 350 units at $6, Mayberry Investments had 114,164 units to close $1.50, Proven Investments ended with 9,762 shares at 17.30 US cents.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras ended with 157,195 units as the price slipped 50 cents to $36.50, Desnoes & Geddes closed with 32,446 shares trading 2 cents lower at $4.83. Grace Kennedy finished with 122,717 shares and lost 1 cent to end at $60, National Commercial Bank had 1,271,881 shares changing hands to close 40 cents lower at $18.85 and Sagicor Group concluded trading with 4,000 shares changing hands to close at 11 cents lower to $9.88.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 31,380 shares at $3.
Grace trades 9.3m shares for $561M
Grace stock traded 9.3m shares for $579M
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 59.11 points to 74,562.05, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 66.09 points to close at 82,082.04 and the JSE combined index declined by 30.14 points to close at 76,473.77.
Gains| Stocks gaining at their last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement concluded trading with 4,375 shares, 14 cents higher, to $2.40, Carreras finished trading with 2,073 shares changing hands, with a $1 gain at $37. National Commercial Bank closed with 748,862 shares while gaining 25 cents to $19.25, Sagicor Group finished with 48,850 units to close with a gain of 8 cents at $9.99 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund saw trading in 117,463 units to close with a gain of 15 cents to $6.85.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Desnoes & Geddes with 4,611 shares changing hands, to close at $4.85, Jamaica Money Market Brokers ended trading with 6,000 ordinary shares at $7. Kingston Wharves closing trading with 21,297 shares at $6, Proven Investments had 57,114 shares changing hands, at 17.30 US cents and Radio Jamaica concluded trading with 9,000 shares changing hands to close at $1.18.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless ended with 39,733 units, the price slipped 2 cents to 43 cents, Grace Kennedy closed with 9,349,668 shares trading 59 cents lower at $60.01, Palace Amusement finished with only 100 shares with a loss of $11 to $66 and Scotia Group finished trading with 34,750 units to fall 50 cents to $19.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 4,000 units at $2.
Mayberry profit up & down but buy
Brokerage house, Mayberry Investments has a long history of profit up one year and down the next, which provides alert investors with good buying opportunities.
Admittedly, this is not peculiar to Mayberry alone, but that is no solace to many of the investors who bought the stock years ago, when performance and the stock price were much better than now. A buying opportunity may now be presenting itself once more, as the stock is undervalued around the $1.50 level.
While profit is up for the nine months to September this year, profit dropped 59 percent before tax, for the September quarter, compared to that of 2013, but improved sharply from a loss of $25 million for the nine months ending September last year, to a profit of $239 million this year. Last year, Mayberry suffered a loss of $338 million relating to the government of Jamaica debt exchange program. During the September quarter this year, the company enjoyed a tax credit of $14 million moving profit after tax to $54 million compared to $80 million in 2013. For the nine months, to September this year, profit after tax, amounted to $278 million versus $61 million last year.
Net interest income, declined for 2014, compared with both periods last year, but major improved trading and investment gains over the similar period last year and recovery of bad loans, helped to improve total net income. There was slower exchange rate trading gains, in the September quarter, but for the nine months, it was slightly lower than for 2013. Administrative expenses climbed 29 percent, in the quarter and 26 percent for the nine months, to September, slower than growth in income.
At the end of 2013, Mayberry had $3 billion invested in equity but for 2014 to date there is a decline in the value that negatively affected reserves, by approximately $260 million. Funds tied up in this area of investment, is one factor for the underperformance of the company, as the local stock market has not been performing well. 
All of that could change going forward as the local economy continues to improve and interest rates fall, leading to increased profits for listed companies and more demand for stocks, thus pushing prices upwards. Mayberry remains a good way to profit from any upsurge that the Jamaican stock market will enjoy going forward, with the high level of stocks held plus increased brokerage fees from executing trades for investors. At $1.50 for the stock currently and likely earnings of around 30 cents for 2014, the stock present an opportunity for good return going forward.
Stockholders’ equity stands at $3.6 billion, which translates to a book value of $3.04 per share with total assets of $23 billion up from $21.3 million at the end of September last year.
JSE up 3,100 points for November so far
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed the week with the main index up 1,116.30 points, the all Jamaica Index gained 1,248.18 points and the combined index 1,251.75 points, as the market recorded gains in all but one day for the week. For November, to date, the main market index is up 2,816 points, the all Jamaica Index 3,149 and the combined index 2,848 points.
Friday’s activity resulted in the prices of only 4 stocks rising, 8 declining as 21 securities changed hands, ending in 9,320,763 units trading, valued at $91,472,038, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 52.12 points to 74,621.16, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 58.27 points to close at 82,148.13 and the JSE combined index gained 22.81 points to close at 76,503.91.
Gains| Stocks gaining with the last traded prices, at the end of trading, in the main market are, Cable & Wireless finishing trading, with 380,042 shares, 2 cents higher to 45 cents. Grace Kennedy concluded trading with 1,778 shares changing hands, 10 cents higher at $60.60 and Scotia Group closed with 2,324,106 shares trading, with a gain of 30 cents to $20. Barita Investments was the broker selling the most Scotia shares, and NCB Capital Market, the broker purchasing the bulk of the stock to trade, with most traded at $20.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in their last traded price are, Caribbean Cement with 3,375 shares, changing hands, to close at $2.26, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 7,900 ordinary shares changing hands at $7, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished trading with 6,000 shares at $1.55. National Commercial Bank had 987,977 shares changing hands at $19 and Radio Jamaica concluded trading with 378 shares changing hands, to close at $1.18. Sagicor Investments was the broker to trade the largest portion of the NCB trade with a cross of 967,497 units. At the close of trading there were only 12 offers posted between $19.15 and $35 for just under 200,000 shares, while there are a number of bids at $18 to $18.30 for more than 370,000 shares.
Declines| The last traded price of stocks with losses, at the close of the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes ended with 4,021,000 units trading, as the price slipped 5 cents to $4.85, Gleaner closed with 600 shares trading 1 cent lower at $1. Jamaica Broilers finished with 2,000 shares trading at a loss of 8 cents to $4.02, Mayberry Investments closed with 178,267 shares trading 2 cents to $1.50, Proven Investments had 269,400 shares changing hands to close 0.20 cents at 17.30 US cents and Sagicor Group ended trading with 3,500 shares changing hands to close 9 cents to $9.91.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share ended trading with 194,400 shares at $2.
9 up 6 down on JSE
Thursday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 9 stocks rising and 6 declining as 24 securities changed hands, ending in 4,155,612 units trading, valued at $38,853,829, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 80.66 points to 74,569.04, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 90.19 points to close at 82,089.86 and the JSE combined index increased by 91.69 points to close at 76,481.10.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Gleaner finishing with 30,000 shares at 1 cent gain at $1.01, Jamaica Broilers with 2,330 shares changing hands, closed 9 cents higher to $4.10. Jamaica Money Market Brokers ended trading 664,120 ordinary shares and gained 40 cents to $7, Mayberry Investments saw trading in 230,000 units to close with a gain of 2 cents at $1.52, Pan Jamaican Investment ended with 3,000 shares rising 24 cents to $50.50 Sagicor Group closed with 183,270 units and put on 1 cent to $10 and Scotia Group finished trading with 269,756 shares at 30 cents higher at $19.70.
Firm| Stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded price are, Grace Kennedy with 12,394 shares to end at $60.50, Kingston Wharves with 23,000 shares at $6. Proven Investments had 7,097 ordinary shares, changing hands at 17.50 US cents and Sterling Investments concluded trading with 30,000 shares changing hands, to close at $134.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless ended with 198,271 units as the price slipped 7 cents to 43 cents, Caribbean Cement closed with 2,500 shares trading 14 cents higher to $2.26, Margaritaville ended with 200 units, the price slipped 1 US cent to a 52 weeks, low of 10 US cents and National Commercial Bank closed with 978,842 shares trading, but lost 5 cents to $19.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 273,624 units at $3.
8 junior market stocks trade
General Accident traded 551,733 units at $1.50.
At the close of the market, there was 1 stock with the bid higher than the last selling price and 2 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to show signs of weakness with 8 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 5 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale at the close of the market.
Lasco Distributors closed with 47,970 shares trading 6 cents higher to $1.45, Lasco Manufacturing finished trading with 50,000 shares while gaining 5 cents to end at $1.05, Caribbean Cream had 40,000 shares changing hands, to close at 71 cents, Consolidated Bakeries concluded trading with 10,000 shares changing hands, to close at 82 cents, Derrimon Trading exchanged 20,000 shares in trading at $2.15 and Lasco Financial finished trading with 75,950 shares at 91 cents.
Caribbean Producers finished trading with 451,555 shares with a loss of 25 cents to $2 and General Accident traded 551,733 units to fall 3 cents to $1.50.
Lasco Manufacturing trades 1m shares
Trading in the Junior Market was dominated by Lasco Manufacturing with 1 million shares at $1 each. Trading ended with 1,084,716 units valued at $1,128,267. The JSE Junior Market Index rose 6.28 points to close at 679.35. A total of 7 securities traded, with the price of 1 advancing and 1 declining.
At the close, there were 2 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to be weak with 8 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 5 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Lasco Distributors ended trading with 53,804 shares changing hands as the price climbed 4 cents rise to $1.39 and Lasco Manufacturing with 1,000,000 units gained on 3 cents to end at $1.
Caribbean Producers ended trading 11,152 units to close with a 1 cent loss, at $2.25, Consolidated Bakeries finished trading with 8,000 shares trading at 82 cents, Jamaican Teas had dealing in only 3,860 shares at $3.40. The company reported a small loss in the September quarter and a profit of 35 cents for the full year, versus 58 cents in 2013. Lasco Financial contributed 6,500 shares at 95 cents and Medical Disposables with 1,400 shares trading at $1.94.
8 up 9 down on JSE
Tuesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 8 stocks rising and 9 declining as 27 securities changed hands, ending in 4,235,650 units trading, valued at $51,526,408, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell 194.52 points to 74,012.60, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 217.50 points to close at 81,467.68 and the JSE combined index dropped 146.86 points to close at 75,883.36.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Money Market Brokers, finishing trading with 50,000 ordinary shares, 7 cents higher at $6.57. National Commercial Bank finished trading with 49,500 shares while gaining 1 cent to $18.51, Pan Jamaican Investment saw trading in 4,039 units, to close with a gain of 1 cent to $50.27, Scotia Group 108,965 shares traded at 22 cents higher to close at $19.62 and Supreme Ventures with 74,000 shares changing hands, gained 1 cent to $1.76.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Gleaner with 110 shares at $1.05, Jamaica Broilers closing with 501,266 shares changing hands at $4, Jamaica Producers concluded trading with 5,000 shares at $15.50. Kingston Wharves had 4,285 shares changing hands $6, Mayberry Investments ended trading with 74,610 shares changing hands to close at $1.50 and Scotia Investments closed with 30,000 shares at $22.51.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless finished trading with 1,670,678 units and fell 7 cents to 42 cents, Caribbean Cement concluded trading with 10,728 units with a decline of 1 cent to $2.40, Carreras exchanged 1,128,573 shares in trading, with a loss of $2 to close at $35, for Desnoes & Geddes there was dealing in 145,000 units, to close with a 5 cents fall to $4.85. Grace Kennedy contributed just 1,520 shares to trading but lost of 50 cents to end at $60.50, Palace Amusement concluded trading with 100 units to fall $13 to a 52 weeks’ low of $77, Proven Investments exchanged 80,033 units with a decline of 0.49 cent to 17.5 US cents and Sagicor Group ended trading with 145,000 units, with a decline of 1 cent to $9.99.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded with 155 units changing hands with a gain of 1 cent to $3 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% finished trading with 14,500 shares trading at $2.
