ISP Finance Services reported growth in net profit of 20 percent for 2017 to $48.5 million from $41 million in 2016. For the final quarter of the year profit was flat at $17.9 million versus the same period in 2016. The company reported earnings per share of 46 cents.
Increased loan provision of $7.5 million versus a recovery of $1 was the reason for the flat out turn for the December quarter. Interest income from loans rose 24.6 percent to $287 million from $231 million in 2016 while for the December quarter revenues form loans grew 24 percent to $78.5 million. Net interest income ended at $261 million compared to $205 million for the prior year, an increase of 27 percent while for the December quarter net interest income rose by 40 percent to $71 million. Employees cost rose 32 percent in the quarter to $27 million and 18 percent for the year to $108 million while other operating expenses closed the year 6 percent higher for the quarter to $17 million and 18 percent for the full year at $76 million.
ISP concluded the year with equity capital of $285 million that generated an average return of 19 percent for the year. The loan portfolio ended at $439 million, up 40 percent from $313 million in 2016 with cash funds of $30 million and borrowings of $208 million.
IC Insider.com projects earnings of $1.20 per share for 2018, the stock that is in limited supply now trades at $13.50 at a PE of 11, the great attraction for the stock is one of long term growth rather than short term gains.
20% profit rise for ISP Finance
JSE main market index falls – Friday
Seprod jumped $3.50 at the close on Friday.
The main market Jamaica Stock Exchange, lost grounds for first time in five days but with a strongly positive advance decline ratio on Friday.
At the close, the all Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,121.80 points to 322,495.07 and the JSE Index declined by 1,022.09 points to 293,829.46.
Trading closed with 25 securities changing hands, up from 32 on Thursday, leading to 13 advancing, 6 declining and 6 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets. Securities closing with sizable price changes include, Caribbean Cement rose $2 to $42, Jamaica Broilers gained $1 to $20, Seprod added $3.50 to Thursday’s closing price to close at $33.50 and Scotia Group was up $1.47 to $53.47.
Main market activity ended with 6,019,816 units valued at $133,802,480 compared to 6,093,417 units valued at $73,742,131 changing hands on Thursday. JMMB Group closed 2,319,629 units accounting for 38.53 percent followed by Wisynco Group with 611,295 units and 10.15 percent of the day’s volume and Sagicor Group with 610,599 units or 10.14 percent of total traded securities.
Trading resulted in an average of 250,826 shares valued at $5,575,103 for each security traded, compared to 210,118 shares valued at $2,542,832 on Thursday. For the month to date an average of 674,192 units with an average value at $23,762,597 traded, compared to 674,192 units with an average value at $23,762,597 changing hands on the previous trading day. In contrast, February closed with average of only 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.Trading in the US dollar market on Friday ended with JMMB Group 6% US dollar preference share trading 800 units with a loss of 5 cents to close at 95 US cents. The market index closed unchanged at 169.16.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with a lower offers.
For more details of market activities see – Seprod jumped $3.50 on JSE main market – Friday .
Seprod jumped $3.50 on JSE main market – Friday
Seprod shares jumped sharply on Friday.
Seprod jumped $3.50 in main market activity of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed Friday as 24 securities changing hands, leading to 6,019,816 units valued at $133,802,480 trading.
Seprod rise follows, announcement by the company that they will be acquiring Facey distribution business.
The main market closed with 13 securities rising, 5 falling and 6 trading firm. At the end, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,121.80 points to 322,495.07 and the JSE Index fell 1,022.09 points to 293,829.46.
In main market activity, Barita Investments closed 17 cents higher at $9.17, with 1,602 shares, Berger Paints ended 1 cent higher at $17.95, with 10,168 stock units, Cable & Wireless concluded trading at $1.16, with 42,395 units, Carreras finished 55 cents higher at $10.90, with 150,094 shares, Caribbean Cement climbed $2 to $42, with 22,645 shares.
Ciboney Group ended trading at 12 cents, with 305,350 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy traded 50 cents higher at $49.50, with 253,780 stock units, Jamaica Broilers closed with a rise of $1 to $20, with 105,430 units, Jamaica Producers closed 15 cents higher at $15.15, with 50,751 shares. JMMB Group concluded trading at $26, with 2,319,629 shares, Kingston Wharves settled at $40, with 1,250 units, Mayberry Investments ended trading with a gain of 28 cents to $6.28, with 63,500 shares, NCB Financial Group traded with a loss of 15 cents at $99.35, with 15,682 shares. 1834 Investments finished trading at $1.15, with 104,609 shares, PanJam Investment ended with a loss of 32 cents at $41.65, with 163,550 units, Radio Jamaica settled 4 cents higher at $1.06, with 44,267 shares, Sagicor Group ended trading with a loss of 20 cents at $36, with 610,599 stock units. 
Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading 26 cents higher at $15.50, with 42,650 shares, Scotia Group finished trading $1.47 higher at $53.47, with 304,907 shares, Seprod closed $3.50 higher at $33.50, with 4,774 shares, Supreme Ventures concluded trading with a loss of 26 cents at $11.50, with 37,631 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments finished with a loss of 10 cents at $4.40, with 524,181 units, Wisynco Group settled at $10.50, with 611,295 shares and in the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market 7.5% traded 5 cents higher at $1.95, with 229,077 stock units changing hands.Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market index falls – Friday.”
JSE main market closed higher again – Thursday
The main market Jamaica Stock Exchange, closed higher at the end of trading on Thursday for the 4th day in a row, with stock prices being mixed, with the advance decline ratio ending slightly negative.
At the close, the all Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,055.77 points to 323,616.87 and the JSE Index climbed 961.92 points to end at 294,851.55.
Trading closed with 32 securities changing hands, up from 28 on Wednesday, leading to 9 advancing, 12 declining and 11 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets. Securities closing with sizable price changes include, Grace Kennedy lost $1 to end at $49, Jamaica Broilers fell $1 to $19, JMMB Group added $1 to $26, Portland JSX dropped $1 to $8.50 and Scotia Group fell $2 to $52.
Main market activity ended with 6,093,417 units valued at $73,742,131 compared to 71,072,740 units valued at $6,270,318,116 changing hands on Wednesday. Ciboney Group closed with 1,458,766 units accounting for 23.94 percent followed by Jamaica Broilers with 1,366,225 units and 22.42 percent of the volume for the day and Wisynco Group with 673,050 units or 11.05 percent of the day’s volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 210,118 shares valued at $2,542,832 for each security traded, compared to 2,450,784 shares valued at $216,217,866 on Wednesday. For the month to date an average of 674,192 units with an average value at $23,762,597 traded, compared to 706,388 units with an average value at $25,336,441 changing hands on the previous trading day. In contrast, February closed with average of only 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market on Thursday, ended with 190,139 units valued at $57,528 changing hands with JMMB Group 5.75% US dollar preference share contributing 13,000 units at US$1.50, Margaritaville gained 5 US cents to close at 25 US cents with 400 units trading and Proven Investments had 176,739 units trading at 22 US cents, leaving the market index at 169.16.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – Moderate JSE main market trading – Thursday.
Moderate JSE main market trading – Thursday
Carib Cement traded at an intraday high of $44 on Thursday.
Main market activity closed Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with 29 securities changing hands, with moderate volume of 6,093,417 units valued at $73,742,131 traded.
The market closed with 9 securities rising, 11 falling and 9 trading firm. At the end, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 1,055.77 points to 323,616.87 and the JSE Index climbed 961.92 points to 294,851.55. Caribbean Cement posted an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $44 but closed back at $40.
In main market activity, Berger Paints ended with a loss of 1 cent at $17.94, with 2,938 stock units, Cable & Wireless concluded trading 6 cents higher at $1.16, with 92,500 units, Carreras finished at $10.35, with 135,321 shares, Caribbean Cement settled at $40, with 20,900 shares, Ciboney Group ended with a loss of 4 cents at 12 cents, trading 1,458,766 shares. Grace Kennedy traded with a loss of $1 at $49, with 18,872 stock units, Jamaica Broilers fell $1 to close trading at $19, with 1,366,225 units, Jamaica Producers closed at $15, with 47,095 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with a loss of 1 cent at $6.98, with 160,041 shares. JMMB Group concluded trading $1 higher at $26, with 31,547 shares, Mayberry Investments ended trading at $6, with 318,470 shares, NCB Financial Group traded 50 cents higher at $99.50, with 219,654 shares, 1834 Investments finished trading 9 cents higher at $1.15, with 668,897 shares. 138 Student Living ended 5 cents higher at $5.50, with 500 shares, PanJam Investment ended with a loss of 3 cents at $41.97, with 3,734 units, Portland JSX concluded trading with a loss of $1.20 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $8.50, with 200 shares, Pulse Investments finished with a loss of 20 cents at $1.65, with 900 shares, Radio Jamaica settled 2 cents higher at $1.02, with 5,000 shares. Sagicor Group ended trading with a loss of 5 cents at $36.20, with 38,853 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading with a loss of 7 cents at $15.24, with 81,500 shares, 
Salada Foods traded 38 cents higher at $11.10, with 52,000 units, Scotia Group finished trading with a loss of $2 at $52, with 31,088 shares, Seprod closed at $30, with 74,750 shares. Sterling Investments ended 1 cent higher at $13.90, with 698 shares, Supreme Ventures concluded trading with a loss of 6 cents at $11.76, with 6,967 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments finished at $4.50, with 557,890 units and Wisynco Group settled at $10.50, with 673,050 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% closed 8 cents higher at $1.10, with 10,000 shares, Proven Investments settled at $5.15, with 15,061 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market closed higher again – Thursday.”
JSE main market moves higher – Wednesday
Caribbean Cement surged to a record close of $40 on the news that they could save $2B from lease buyout.
The main market Jamaica Stock Exchange, closed higher at the end of trading on Wednesday with Caribbean Cement jumping sharply and Scotia Group bouncing back to $54.
At the close, the all Jamaican Composite Index rose 897.85 points to 322,561.10 and the JSE Index climbed 818.04 points to 293,889.63.
Trading closed with 31 securities changing hands, down from 28 on Tuesday, leading to 9 advancing, 11 declining and 11 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets. Securities closing with sizable price changes include, Caribbean Cement climbed $6.44 to end at a 52 weeks closing high of $40. Grace Kennedy lost $1 to end at $50, JMMB Group lost $1 to $25, PanJam Investment declined $1 to $42 and Scotia Group rose $2 to $54.
Main market activity ended with 71,072,740 units valued at $6,270,318,116 compared to 5,286,653 units valued at $240,796,595 changing hands on Tuesday. NCB Financial Group closed with 61,822,679 units accounting for 86.99 percent of traded shares followed by Jamaica Broilers with 2,036,473 units for just 2.87 percent of the volume for the day and Mayberry Investments with 2,010,259 units.
Trading results in an average of 2,450,784 shares valued at $216,217,866 for each security traded, compared to 195,802 shares valued at $8,918,392 on Tuesday. 
For the month to date, an average of 706,388 units with an average value at 25,336,441 traded, compared to 576,343 units with an average value at 10,044,835 changing hands on the previous trading day. In contrast, February closed with average of only 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market on Wednesday, ended with 37,700 units valued at US$50,918 changing hands with JMMB Group 5.75% US dollar preference share contributing 33,300 units at US$1.50 and Proven Investments with 4,400 units at 22 US cents, leaving the market index at 169.16.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – NCB dominated the JSE main market – Wednesday.
Daily Trading, Jamaican Stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange,Trading Activity, Emerging markets, Proven Investments, JMMB Group,Scotia Group,
NCB dominates the JSE main market
NCB traded 61.8 million shares on Wednesday.
Main market activity surged sharply Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with 29 securities changing hands and 71,072,740 units valued at $6,270,318,116 trading.
NCB Financial Group accounting for 86.99 percent of the volume traded with 61,822,679 units changing hands and Caribbean Cement posted the highest gain jumping $6.44 to end at a 52 weeks closing high of $40, with 138,259 shares and Cable & Wireless resumed trading after the suspension requested by the company.
The market closed with 9 securities rising, 11 falling and 9 trading firm. At the end, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index increased by 897.85 points to 322,561.10 and the JSE Index advanced by 818.04 points to 293,889.63.
In main market activity, Barita Investments closed with a loss of 50 cents at $9, trading 2,900 shares, Berger Paints ended unchanged at $17.95, with 5,500 stock units, Cable & Wireless resumed trading and closed unchanged at $1.10, with 21,246 units, Carreras finished with a loss of 10 cents at $10.35, with 146,032 shares, Caribbean Cement jumped $6.44 and closed at $40, with 138,259 shares. Ciboney Group ended trading 3 cents higher at 16 cents, with 157,728 shares, Grace Kennedy traded with a loss of $1 at $50, with 56,000 stock units, Jamaica Broilers finished trading 1 cent higher at $20, with 2,036,473 units, Jamaica Producers closed with a rise of 5 cents to $15, with 19,430 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange ended at $6.99, with 6,319 shares, JMMB Group concluded trading with a loss of $1 at $25, exchanging 549,955 shares, Kingston Properties finished at $6.25, with 3,560 stock units, Kingston Wharves settled 93 cents higher at $40, with 17,986 units. Mayberry Investments ended trading at $6, with 2,010,259 shares changing hands, NCB Financial Group traded at $99, with 61,822,679 shares, 1834 Investments finished trading with a loss of 11 cents at $1.06, with 273,200 shares, 138 Student Living ended with a loss of 5 cents at $5.45, with 250 shares, PanJam Investment ended with a loss of $1 at $42, with 10,440 units. 
Portland JSX concluded trading with a loss of 25 cents at $9.70, with 2,500 shares, Radio Jamaica settled with a loss of 5 cents at $1, with 561,044 shares, Sagicor Group ended trading 65 cents higher at $36.25, with 721,650 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading 1 cent higher at $15.31, with 66,800 shares, Salada Foods traded at $10.72, with 20,000 units. Scotia Group finished trading $2 higher at $54, with 36,417 shares, Supreme Ventures concluded trading 32 cents higher at $11.82, with 19,592 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments finished at $4.50, with 1,558,306 units and Wisynco Group settled with a loss of 15 cents at $10.50, with 744,017 shares trading. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market 7.5% traded $1.90 higher at $1.90, with 54,198 stock units and Productivity Business settled at $105, with 10,000 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market moves higher – Wednesday.”
JSE main market rise again – Tuesday
Main market activity ended with 27 securities changing hands, with 10 securities rising, 13 falling and 4 trading firm as trading closed with 5,286,653 units valued at $240,796,595 being exchanged.
At the close of trading, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index increased by 503.78 points to 321,663.25 and the JSE Index advanced by 459 points to 293,071.59.
In main market activity, Berger Paints ended trading $1.50 higher at $17.95, with 310,654 stock units, Carreras closed with a rise of 35 cents at $10.45, with 52,856 shares, Caribbean Cement gained $1.36 and closed at $33.56, with 74,085 shares, Ciboney Group ended trading at 13 cents, with 200,000 shares, Grace Kennedy gained $1 to $51, with 16,739 stock units. Jamaica Broilers lost 1 cent to close at $19.99, with 22,786 units, Jamaica Producers closed with a loss of 55 cents at $14.95, trading 212,141 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended 94 cents higher at $6.99, with 300 units, JMMB Group concluded trading at $26, with 20,117 shares. 
Kingston Properties finished at $6.25, with 1,440 stock units, Kingston Wharves settled 7 cents higher at $39.07 with 7,690 units, Mayberry Investments ended trading with a loss of 50 cents at $6, with 11,790 shares changing hands, NCB Financial Group traded $1 higher at $99, with 2,044,781 shares. 1834 Investments finished trading with a loss of 2 cents at $1.17, with 10,500 shares, 138 Student Living ended with a loss of 8 cents at $5.50, with 5,000 shares, PanJam Investment added 50 cents in closing at $43, with 229,220 units, Pulse Investments finished at $1.85, with 100 shares, Radio Jamaica settled with a loss of 2 cents at $1.05, with 569,681 shares. Sagicor Group ended trading with a loss of 65 cents at $35.60, with 7,769 stock units,
Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading 25 cents higher at $15.30, with 1,550 shares, Salada Foods traded with a loss of $1.33 at $10.72, with 112,000 units, Scotia Group finished trading with a loss of $2 at $52, with 71,423 shares, Seprod closed with a loss of 5 cents at $30, after 29,045 stock units changed hands. Supreme Ventures declined by 50 cents to $11.50, with 132,190 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments finished with a loss of 4 cents at $4.50, with 907,199 units, Wisynco Group settled with a loss of 5 cents at $10.65, exchanging 227,597 shares and in the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market 7.5% traded at $1.95, with 8,000 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “More stocks prices fall than rose on Tuesday.”
More stocks prices fall than rise – Tuesday
NCB traded 2 million shares on Tuesday.
The prices of more stocks fell on Tuesday than rising, but the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with moderate gains in the two major indices.
At the close, the all Jamaican Composite Index rose 503.78 points to 321,663.25 and the JSE Index climbed 459 points to 293,071.59.
Trading closed with 28 securities changing hands, down from 26 on Monday, leading to 10 advancing, 13 declining and 5 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets. Securities closing with sizable price changes include, Berger Paints rising $1.50 to $17.95, Caribbean Cement that settled $1.36 higher at $33.56, Grace Kennedy gaining $1 to end at $51, NCB Financial Group rising $1 to $99, Salada Foods declining $1.33 to $10.72 and Scotia Group with a fall of $2 to $52.
Main market activity ended with 5,286,653 units valued at $240,796,595 compared to 6,657,188 units valued at $155,508,071 changing hands on Monday. NCB Financial Group closed with 2,044,781 units representing 38.68 percent of traded shares followed by Victoria Mutual Investments with 907,199 units with 17.16 percent of shares traded and Radio Jamaica with 569,681 units for 10.78 percent of the day’s volume trading.
Trading results in an average of 195,802 shares valued at $8,918,392 for each security traded, compared to 277,383 shares valued at $6,479,503 on Monday. For the month to date an average of 576,343 units with an average value at 10,044,835 traded, compared to 604,726 units with an average value at 10,135,623 traded on the previous trading day. In contrast, February closed with average of only 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market on Tuesday ended with Margaritaville concluded trading at 20 US cents with 1,803 units, and the market index rising 0.03 points to close at 169.16.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – JSE main market rise again – Tuesday.
Main market activity climbs on Monday
JSE main market activity ended on Monday with 26 securities changing hands, of which 11 rose, 10 declined and 6 traded firm. Trading closed with 6,657,188 units valued at $155,508,071 being exchanged, up from the $31 million traded on Friday.
At the close of trading, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index surged 2,392.60 points to end at 321,159.47 and the JSE Index gained 2,179.93 points to 292,612.59.
In main market activity, Barita Investments closed 25 cents higher at $9.50, with 1,000 shares trading, Caribbean Cement rose 50 cents to $32.20, with 5,295 stock units changing hands, 
Carreras finished at $10.10, with 168,334 shares, Grace Kennedy fell by $1 to $50, with 160,875 stock units. Jamaica Broilers rose 1 cent to 420, with 8,482 units, Jamaica Producers closed trading at $15.50, with 1,205 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with a gain of 5 cents at $6.05, with 8,530 shares, JMMB Group dropped 31 cents to $26, with 3,017,431 stock units. Kingston Wharves traded 900 shares at $39, Mayberry Investments ended trading with a rise of $1 to end at $6.50, with 469,349 units, NCB Financial Group traded at $98, with 502,244 shares, 1834 Investments finished trading 4 cents higher at $1.19, with 20,000 shares, 138 Student Living ended 22 cents lower at $5.58, with 100 stock units, changing hands. 
Palace Amusement closed at $1,300, with 300 stock units, PanJam Investment rose 50 cents to end at $42.50, with 2,475 units. Radio Jamaica declined by 1 cent to $1.07, with 13,000 shares, Sagicor Group ended trading 20 cents higher at $36.25, with 94,710 stock units, Scotia Group finished trading with a rise of $2 to $54, with 13,023 shares trading, Supreme Ventures concluded trading at $12, with 185,389 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments rose 4 cents and finished at $4.54, with 718,287 units and Wisynco Group gained 20 cents and settled at $10.70, with 449,497 shares trading.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE major indices jump on Monday.”