Juniors dropped sharply – Monday

The two big Lasco companies hit the junior market index hard on Monday.

The two big Lasco companies hit the junior market index hard on Monday.

The junior market dropped sharply on Monday with 19 securities changing hands as trading ended with 1,526,008 units, valued at $8,120,692 changing hands, of which 5 stocks rose while 9 declined with 3 closing at new highs. The market index dived 80.25 points to close at 2,156.22, with Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing had sizable falls.
Stocks trading at new highs are Blue Power, Cargo Handlers and Paramount Trading. At the end of trading 6 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 ended with lower offers.
JM sum 15-8-16At the close, Blue Power rose by 50 cents, to close with 765 units changing hands at an all-time high of $17, CAC 2000 traded 5,000 shares but fell 40 cents, to close at $6, Cargo Handlers jumped $4 and ended with 1,500 shares changing hands, at an all-time high of $72. Caribbean Cream lost 25 cents with 2,500 shares changing hands, to close at $7.05, Caribbean Producers fell 2 cents, in trading 11,065 units at $3.43, Consolidated Bakeries traded 26,500 units, to end at $2.55, General Accident had 88,928 shares changing hands to close 8 cents lower, at $2. Honey Bun had 115,709 shares changing hands with a loss of 17 cents, to close at $5.53, Iron Rock Insurance traded 4,768 units and fell 2 cents to close at $3.28, ISP Financial Services had 800 shares changing hands with a loss of 15 cents to end at $5. JM Trdng Sht 15-8-16Jetcon Corporation traded 37,411 shares at $2.69, Key Insurance traded 75,413 units to close at $2.50, Knutsford Express closed with 19,324 units changing hands at $20 after rising by 75 cents. Lasco Distributors ended with a loss of 20 cents while 646,920 shares changed hands at $7, Lasco Financial traded 155,762 units and gained 4 cents to close at $3.30, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $4.52 with 330,420 shares trading, but lost 43 cents. Medical Disposables traded 2,700 shares to close at $3.50, Paramount Trading climbed 60 cents to end with 123 shares changing hands at a new high of $12.10 and tTech ended with 400 units changing hands at $4.50.

JSE stocks end with gains – Monday

Exchange place The Jamaica Stock Market main market made gains in the two main indices at post losses at the end the close of trading on Monday. At the end of trading with the prices of 14 securities gaining out of a total of 46 securities that traded, with 19 declining in the overall market, including 5 stocks, rising and 9 falling from the junior market.
Trading closed with a volume of 3,417,026 units valued at $37,563,031 changing hands, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 1,526,008 units traded, valued at $8,120,692 of all trades.
The JSE Market Index climbed 531.05 points to end at 160,616.38, the all Jamaica Composite Index gained 593.90 points to close at 178,459.60 and a sharp fall in the prices of junior market stocks pressured the JSE combined index in losing 330.86 points, to end at 171,106.51.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the JSE Sum 15-08-16Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Barita Investments ended trading with 396,428 units, to close at $3, Berger Paints climbed 36 cents in trading 3,766 units, to close at $5.16, Cable & Wireless traded 156,837 shares but lost 5 cents to close at $1.10, Caribbean Cement fell 99 cents in trading 5,403 shares to close at $27. Carreras fell $1.22, in trading 5,028 shares to end at $65.05, the price of 1834 Investments gained 3 cents, in trading 43,192 shares, to end at $1.38, Grace Kennedy ended at $46.50 with 210,612 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers dropped 54 cents in trading 1,720 shares to end at $15. Jamaica Producers dropped 30 cents to close at $7.90 with 87,115 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange had just 300 units changing hands to close at $21.50, JMMB Group traded 162,686 units to end at $9.86. JSE fn qts 15-08-16 Kingston Wharves traded 37,739 shares to close at $16 after rising 45 cents, Mayberry Investments ended with 5,937 shares trading to close at $3.95, National Commercial Bank had 111,022 units changing hands, to close at $42 after falling 50 cents. Pan Jamaican Investments lost 10 cents and closed at $25.20 after trading 7,635 shares, Radio Jamaica fell 8 cents to close at $1.65 after 70,322 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group rose 5 cents with 79,743 shares changing hands at $21.50, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 500 shares but gained 22 cents to close at $10.22. Scotia Group traded 26,125 shares to end at $29 after rising by $1.90, Supreme Ventures loss 10 cents to $4.70 with 221,427 shares changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 210,900 units at 19.98 US cents.

Another big quarter for Jetcon

Sanya Goffe addressing the audience at the listing of Jetcon's shares in March.

Sanya Goffe addressing the audience at the listing of Jetcon’s shares in March.

Jetcon Corporation enjoyed two good years in a row with another good quarter results for the June 2016 quarter, with profit rising 91 percent to $23 million up from $12 million for the similar period in 2015. For the year to June, profit rose to $41 million, an increase of 71 percent over the $24 million earned in 2015 before corporation taxes.
The company accounted $4.7 million in tax, in the first quarter but none in the second quarter, with the shares listing on the junior market in March, this year. Earnings per share ended at 12 cents versus 8 cents for the June quarter and 21 cents for the six months to June compared with 12 cents for 2015.
Having been listed on the junior market our profit will be tax free for 5 years. With just half the year completed, profit is 9 percent off from the after-tax profit of $40.3 million reported for the full 2015 financial year and the company seems poised to surpass the 2015 earnings in the September quarter, if recent trend for 2016 to date continues.
Revenues climbed 39 percent for the quarter to $194.9 million and 45 percent for the six months to $342.9 million. Gross profit margin declined to 18.54 percent from 19.24 percent in the quarter and 19 percent for the six months versus 18.38 percent in 2015. Sales are usually greater in the second half of the year than in the first half.
honda civicIn a release by directors accompanying the financials, the company stated that “Administrative and other costs rose by approximately $5.2 million due to listing on the market which accounted for $2.5 million while salaries adjustments accounted for $2.7 million of the increase. Part of the increase in salaries is directly tied to the increased sales that took place.”
“Sales in June were the highest for the half year with sales for July is ahead of June in volume and sales revenues. Bookings which have been ahead of 2015 for each month this year continues to be positive.”
Inventories stood at $236 million at the end of June, compared to $125 million in June 2015 and $84 million at the end of December last year. Supplies peaked in June and is slated to start to decline by the end July onwards to the end of the year as deliveries to customers exceed new inflows of cars. Payables increased as a result of increased purchase of motor vehicles.

Olympics affects trading on JSE – Monday

Trading levels declined sharply and may well be attributable to the Olympic activities with the volume of each stock traded being unusually low with none trading over 13,000 units up to 10:45 am. JSE Intra - 15-08-16Trading picked up subsequently with more securities changing hands with increased volumes. Elsewhere, Access Financial Services Unsecured Variable Rate Note Due 2020 was listed on the Exchange on Monday.
Berger Paints climbed 36 cents to $5.16, Blue Power rose by 50 cents to a new high of $17, Carib Cement fell 45 cents to $27.54, Grace Kennedy fell $1.50 to $45 and Scotia Group jumped $2.10 to $29.20. Lasco Distributors fell 25 cents to $6.75 and Lasco Manufacturing lost 44 cents to $4.51.
The market indices all fell in the main and junior markets, with 11 stocks gaining versus 9 that fell.
At 11:05 am 33 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 1,426,600 shares changing hands. The average number of shares traded amounts to 43,230 units compared to 167,184 units on Friday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index gained 794.76 points to 178,660.46 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index rose 710.66 points to 160,795.99 the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index fell 73.07 points to close at 171,364.30 points and the junior market index lost 71.36 points to 2,165.11.

Scotia drops to $26.50 on JSE – Friday

Scotia Group dropped $2.95 to close at $27.10 on Friday.

Scotia Group dropped $2.95 to close at $27.10 on Friday.

The Jamaica Stock Market main market reversed the gains in the main market indices in the morning session, to post losses at the end of trading on Friday. At the end of trading with the prices of 17 securities gaining out of a total of 41 securities that traded, with 16 declining in the overall market, including 4 stocks, rising and 6 falling from the junior market.
The highlight for the day was a decline in Scotia Group that decline as low as $26.50 after trading as high as $30.50 earlier in the day and a new closing high For Grace Kennedy at $46.50.
Trading closed with a volume of 8,091,772 units valued at $189,128,218 changing hands, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 1,111,273 units traded, valued at $85,439,536 of all trades.
The JSE Market Index slipped by 47.45 points to end at 160,085.33, the all Jamaica Composite Index declined by 53.06 points to close at 177,865.70 and the JSE combined index gained 241.72 points, to end at 171,437.37.
JSE Sum 12-08-16 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Barita Investments gained 30 cents and ended trading with 10,000 units, to close at $3, Berger Paints climbed 25 cents in trading 6,200 units, to close at $4.80. Cable & Wireless traded 3,489,351 shares but lost 15 cents to close at $1.15, after the company posted a higher loss, in the first quarter to June, compared with the 2015 quarter. Caribbean Cement jumped $1.99 and traded 40,612 shares to close at $27.99. Carreras climbed $1.27, in trading 4,658 shares to end at $66.27, the price of 1834 Investments fell 1 cent, in trading 11,417 shares, to end at $1.35, Grace Kennedy jump $3.50 and ended at a new 52 weeks’ closing high of $46.50 with 1,444,035 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers gained 54 cents in trading 80,032 shares to end at $15.54, Jamaica Producers gained 1 cent to close at $8.20 with 34,372 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 50 cents with 107,756 units changing hands to close at $21.50, JMMB Group traded 4,701 units and rose 1 cent to end at $9.86. Mayberry Investments ended with 8,863 shares trading to close at $3.95 for a gain of 35 cents, JSE fn qts 12-08-16National Commercial Bank had 319,018 units changing hands, to close at $42 after falling 2 cents. Pan Jamaican Investments lost 20 cents and closed at $25.30 after trading 4,659 shares, Radio Jamaica rose 1 cent to close at $1.57 after 2,321 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group rose 45 cents with 45,612 shares changing hands at $21.45, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 15,000 shares but fell 22 cents to close at $10. Scotia Group traded 356,705 shares to end at $27.10 after dropping sharply by $2.95, Supreme Ventures loss 10 cents to $4.80 with 174,506 shares changing hands, JMMB Group 7.50% preference share traded 780,800 units at $1.10 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% preference share traded 22,063 units at $2.40.

Eppley’s dominance – Friday

New high for Eppley

Big $79M trade for Eppley

The junior market rose on Friday with 16 securities changing hands, but Eppley dominated trading with 121,667 shares trading unchanged at $650, carrying a value of $79,083,550. Cargo Handlers lost $2 in trading 6,725 shares to close at $68 after first trading at an intraday high of $70.01. The market index gained 27.85 points to close at 2,236.47.
Trading ended with 1,111,273 units traded, valued at $85,439,536, of which 4 stocks rose while 6 declined.
At the end of trading 6 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 ended with lower offers.
JM sum 12-8-16At the close of trading, Caribbean Cream lost 70 cents with 41,750 shares changing hands, to close at $7.30, Caribbean Flavours traded 3,993 units to close with a loss of 48 cents at $6.52. Caribbean Producers fell 5 cents, in trading 30,015 units at $3.45, Consolidated Bakeries traded 6,262 units, to end at $2.55, General Accident had 30,000 shares changing hands to close 1 cent lower, at $2.08. Honey Bun had 10,050 shares changing hands with a gain of 25 cents, to close at $5.70, Jamaican Teas traded 25,618 units and rose by 50 cents to end at $4. JM Trdng Sht 12-8-16Jetcon Corporation traded 56,590 shares at $2.69, Knutsford Express closed with 6,700 units changing hands at $19.25 after rising by 25 cents. Lasco Distributors ended with 592,109 shares changing hands at $7, Lasco Financial traded 26,419 units and gained 1 cent to close at $3.26, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $4.95 with 61,972 shares trading, but lost 5 cents. Medical Disposables traded 83,038 shares to close at $3 and Derrimon Trading preference share, ended with 8,365 units changing hands at $2.10.

C&W dominates JSE trading – Friday

Cable & Wireless has traded 3.44 million units in the early morning session of the Jamaica Stock Exchange JSE Intra - 12-08-16rin response to the company’s first quarter results with a rise of 11 percent in revenues but a slippage in net profit as outpayments, depreciation and interest cost rose thus negating the improved revenues. The stock traded between $1.20 and $1.30 so far.
Lasco Distributors was the next largest trade after C&W with 577,869 units at $7.15 followed by JMMB Group 7.50% preference share with 300,000 units and Grace Kennedy with 119,225 units trading at $44.01. The major market indices all rose in the main and junior markets, with 12 stocks gaining versus 10 that fell.
At 10:45 am 30 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 5,015,512 shares changing hands. The average number of shares traded amounts to 167,184 units compared to 246,145 units on Thursday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index gained 686.22 points to 178,604.98 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index rose 613.60 points to 160,746.38 the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index climbed 823.73 points to close at 172,019.38 points and the junior market index rose 20.94 points to 2,229.56.

Trading picks up on JSE – Thursday

Grace Kennedy shares ended at a 52 weeks' closing high on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday.

Grace Kennedy shares ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday.

The Jamaica Stock Market main market reversed the declines in the indices in the morning session, to post gains at the end of trading on Thursday. Volumes and value of stocks trading climbed and ended with the prices of 18 securities gaining out of a total of 42 securities that traded, with 11 declining in the overall market, including 7 stocks, rising and 5 falling from the junior market.
Trading closed with a volume of 16,218,913 units valued at $102,627,645 changing hands, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 10,281,786 units traded, valued at $56,990,702 of all trades.
The JSE Market Index moved up 262.45 points to end at 160,132.78, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 293.50 points to close at 177,918.76 and the JSE combined index gained 153.96 points, to end at 171,195.65.
JSE Sum 11-08-16 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the end of market activities, Barita Investments regained 15 cents and ended with 253,650 units traded, to close at $2.70, Berger Paints fell 1 cent and ended with 71,099 units traded, to close at $4.55, Cable & Wireless traded 242,363 shares to close at $1.30, Caribbean Cement traded 40,674 shares to close at $26. Carreras lost $1, in exchanging 519 shares to end at $65. The price of 1834 Investments rose 1 cent, in trading 118,820 shares, to end at $1.36, Grace Kennedy rose $1.33 and ended at a new 52 weeks’ high of $43 with 309,186 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers traded 14,851 shares to end at $15, Jamaica Producers gained 59 cents to close at $8.19 with 29,843 units trading. Jamaica Stock Exchange lost $1.50 with 12,310 units changing hands at the closed, at $22, JMMB Group traded 510,704 units and fell 5 cents to end at $9.85, Mayberry Investments ended with 298,808 shares trading to close at $3.60 for a fall of 40 cents, National Commercial Bank had 59,409 units changing hands, to close at $42.02 after gaining 2 cents. JSE fn qts 11-08-16138 Student Living ordinary share traded at $4.60 while 10,450 shares changed hands with a rise of 1 cent, Portland JSX traded 12,050 units at $12, Radio Jamaica lost 9 cents to close at $1.56 after 320,389 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group lost 25 cents with 23,472 shares changing hands at $21. Scotia Group traded 278,313 shares to end at $30.02 after rising by 3 cents. Seprod jumped $1.85 while trading 11,253 shares to close at $19, Sterling Investments ended trading 395,000 units to close at $13 after rising by 49 cents, Supreme Ventures gained 10 cents to $4.90 with 72,500 shares changing hands and JMMB Group 7.50% preference share traded 2,842,800 units at $1.10.

Flat results, increased profit at tTech

tTech closed at $4.50 on Thursday.

tTech closed at $4.50 on Thursday.

tTech enjoyed a big 42 percent growth in revenues for the June quarter to $58.4 million from $41 million at June 2015, well ahead of the 14 percent growth in the March quarter. For the six months, revenues are 30 percent to $105.6 million from $81 million in 2015.
Profit after tax, is up to $16 million from $12.4 million for the six months and $9.2 million versus $7.6 million in 2015, but for tax expense saved in 2016, profit for the year to date would be flat. Profit for 2015 was subject to $1.4 million in taxes and for the six months, $3 million. A sharp rise in operating expenses due to a 50 percent rise in staffing, pushed the spend by 54 percent to $50 million for the quarter and 36.4 percent to $91 million for the half year.
Earnings per share ended at 9 cents for the quarter and 15 cents for the half year and should end up around the 35 to 40 cents range for the full year based on the results to date. The strong revenue gain is a signal for growth going forward for the company.
Management stated that “the increase in revenue was due to growth in all areas of our services including the Consulting Division. Increase in expenses was driven primarily by increases in our workforce to increase capacity to meet the growth in demand. At June 30, 2016 the company had 31 full-time employees compared to 21 at the same date in 2015.”
From Left: Mr. Hugh Allen, Resolution Manager and Executive Director; Mrs. Natalya Petrekin, Service Desk

From Left: Mr. Hugh Allen, Resolution Manager and Executive Director; Mrs. Natalya Petrekin, Service Desk

Demand for the company’s services remains strong. Going forward improving our efficiencies by automating more processes will be an area of focus. Work has already started in this area and more
opportunities for automation will be explored to facilitate increased efficiencies and improved service delivery.”
The company ended with cash and investments amounting to $115 million at June, up from $67 million at the end of December last year with net current assets ending at $130 million with payables at $34 million, while shareholders’ equity is at $146 million.
The stock traded as high as $5 on the JSE junior market today but fell back before the close to $4.50 for a PE of just over 11 times projected 2016 earnings. For investors will the strong growth continue and deliver increasing profit for them to buy and hold at these prices for long term gains.

Trading jumps sharply for juniors – Thursday

The two big Lasco companies traded nearly 8.7M shares on the junior market on Thursday.

The two big Lasco companies traded nearly 8.7M shares on the junior market on Thursday.

The junior market rose on Thursday with 18 securities changing hands of which 7 stocks rose while 5 declined. The market index fell 8.73 points to close at 2,208.62, with 10,281,786 units traded, valued at $56,990,702. The highlight of trading is Lasco Manufacturing trading over 4.7 million units, Lasco Distributors with 3.9 million shares and Caribbean Cream trading at a new high of $8.
At the end of trading 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and none ended with a lower offer. The junior market is showing that the lowest prices for stocks being offered, are moving away from the last traded prices for a number of the companies, with a few having no stocks being offered currently.
JM sum 11-8-16 At the close, AMG Packaging traded 1,674 units at $12.50, Blue Power had 2,400 shares changing hands to close at $16.50, Caribbean Cream gained 70 cents with 22,610 shares changing hands, to close at a new all-time high of $8, Caribbean Flavours traded 195,663 units to close with a gain of 70 cents at $7. Caribbean Producers gained 20 cents, in trading 14,000 units at $3.50, Derrimon Trading lost 1 cent in trading 14,000 units, to end at $3.05, Dolphin Cove rose $1.50 and ended at $15.50 with 1,493 shares trading, General Accident Insurance had 69,656 shares changing hands to close 1 cent lower, at $2.09. Iron Rock Insurance had 720 shares changing hands with a gain of 2 cents, to close at $3.30, JM Trdng Sht 11-8-16 Jamaican Teas traded 3,637 units to end at $3.50. Knutsford Express closed with 2,872 units changing hands at $19, Lasco Distributors ended with 3,964,178 shares changing hands at $7, Lasco Financial traded 98,000 units and lost 20 cents to close at $3.25, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5 with 4,747,095 shares trading, but gained 5 cents. Medical Disposables traded 206,820 shares and fell 5 cents, to close at $3.50, Sweet River ended with 25,000 units changing hands at $3.86, after rising 1 cent, tTech fell 25 cents and ended with 466,472 units changing hands at $4.50, after it traded at $5 earlier in the day. tTech’s board meets today, to consider a dividend payment at the same time, the company released results for the June quarter, after trading, showing a 42 percent growth in revenues for the June quarter compared to 30 percent for the six months, with profit after tax, up to $16 million from $12.4 million for the six months. Derrimon Trading preference share, ended with 445,496 units changing hands, to close at $2.10.