In Monday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 6 stocks rose and 6 declined with only 22 securities traded, resulting in 3,971,989 shares changing hands valued at $29,955,354.
Main Market| The prices of 5 companies in the main market rose and 5 declined as the indices moved down with the JSE Market Index falling by 252.47 points to 73,129.50 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index erasing 282.31 points to close at 80,480.24.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are, Barita Investments with 30,000 shares to close 30 cents higher at $2.30, Cable & Wireless with 745,680 units changing hands as the price gained a cent to close at 32 cents, Carreras closed up by $1.20 to end at $35.95 with 51,728 shares changing hands, Gleaner’s price put on a cent while trading 4,665 units to close at $1.11 and Scotia Group traded 933,985 units as the price gained 14 cents to end at $19.70.
Firm| There were 7 stocks in the main market that closed without a change in price as Grace Kennedy with 37,200 shares closed at $55, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 5,920 units to close at $4.70, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 231,500 units to close at $3.03, Mayberry Investments put through 23,356 shares to close at $1.75, National Commercial Bank had 74,558 shares trading to close at $18, Sagicor Group with 88,440 shares in closing at $9.25 and Seprod with 35,000 shares as the price ended at $10.75.
Declines| The number of stocks declining in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 330,768 shares while losing 5 cents to end at $3.50. Jamaica Money Market Brokers traded 29,800 ordinary shares as the price eased 4 cents to $7.26, Kingston Wharves traded 11,823 shares to close 50 cents off, at $5, followed by Pan Jamaican Investment with 17,272 units to close at $48.50 with a 10 cents decline and Pulse Investments with 400,000 shares at a new 52 weeks low of 30 cents as the price dropped 50 percent or 30 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 2.69 points to close at 725.56 as only 5 stocks traded with one advancing and one declining.
Gains| Lasco Distributors was the sole stock to gain in the junior market on Monday with 100,200 units to close at $1.40 up by 5 cents.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the previous trading day are Caribbean Producers with 158,094 units at $2.73, Lasco Financial Services 500,000 shares to close at $1.11 and Lasco Manufacturing with 62,000 shares to end at $1.15.
Declines| Only one stock declined in the junior market at the end of trading with Jamaican Teas exchanging 100,000 units to close at $3.21 having lost 29 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had only 2 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
6 up 6 down on JSE
Main market closes week up slightly
In Friday’s trading on the Stock Exchange, the prices of 4 stocks rose and 8 declined as 24 securities traded resulting in 6,969,870 shares changing hands, valued at $58,489,956. Main Market| Only 4 companies in the main market advanced in price and 3 declined as the indices closed up with the JSE Market Index rising by 319 points to 73,381.97 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gaining 356.70 points to close at 80,762.55.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 17,115 units changing hands to close at 31 cents with a one cent gain, Caribbean Cement with 16,500 stock units to close at $3.55, up by 4 cents, Kingston Wharves 8,396 shares to close at$5.50 for a 50 cents gain and Scotia Investments with 2,200 shares to close up by $1 at $25.50.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Berger Paints with 50,444 shares to close at $1.67, Carreras with 3,650 stock units to close at $34.75, Grace Kennedy 2,000 stock units to close at $55, Hardware & Lumber 4,000 shares to close at $10.20, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share, 145,400 units to end at $3.03, Mayberry Investments 2,761 units to close at $1.80, Pan Jamaican Investment 1,000 shares to close at $48.60, Proven Investments 900 ordinary shares to close at 18 US cents and Proven Investments 8% preference share with 5,000 units to end at $5.09.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Barita Investments with 52,500 shares while closing at $2 with a 30 cents fall, Jamaica Broilers 3,000,000 units and closed at $4.70 with a one cent loss and Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 231,503 ordinary shares to close at $7.30 down by 11 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 5.06 points to close at 728.25 with only 6 stocks traded, none advanced and 3 declined.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial with 4,900 shares to end at $11.50, Dolphin Cove with 5,529 units and closed at $8.10, Paramount Trading 32,722 units to close at $2.68.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Caribbean Producers that traded 220,900 units to close at $2.73 down 2 cents, General Accident with 19,798 shares to close at $1.49 with a loss of a cent and Lasco Manufacturing with 16,800 stock units to close at $1.15 with a 1 cent fall.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Advancing stocks ahead at JSE
In Thursday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of 9 stocks rose and 4 declined as 27 securities traded resulting in 2,717,621 shares changing hands valued at a mere $4,692,842.
Main Market| Six companies in the main market advanced and only two declined as the indices inched forward with the JSE Market Index closing up by 84.04 points to 73,062.97 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gaining 93.97 points to close at 80,405.85.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Caribbean Cement that traded 100 shares to close with a gain of a cent, at $3.51, Desnoes & Geddes gained 10 cents to close at $4.50 with 373,319 units changing hands, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with only 322 units to close at $7.41 for a 6 cents rise, Pan Jamaican Investment with 1,819 shares to close at $48.60, up by 40 cents, Sagicor Group with 20,627 shares in closing at $9.50 for a gain of 15 cents and Scotia Group 32,000 shares in closing with a 30 cents gain at $20.
Firm| Stocks in the main market to close without a change at the close of the market are Berger Paints which traded with 7,799 units and closed at $1.67, Cable & Wireless 1,584,764 shares to close at 30 cents, Carreras 100 units to close at $34.75, Jamaica Broilers 6,669 shares to close at $4.71, Jamaica Producers 4,100 stock units, to close at $18.26, Kingston Wharves 2,000 shares to close at $5, Mayberry Investments, 12,239 shares to close at $1.80, National Commercial Bank 2,200 stock units to close at $18, Proven Investments 2,000 ordinary shares to close at 18 US cents, Proven Investments 8% preference share, 76,800 units to close at $5.09, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 4,417 units to close at $6.60 and Supreme Ventures 9,835 shares to close at $2.10.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Ciboney with 9,880 shares while losing 2 cents to end at 10 cents and Hardware & Lumber with 20,015 shares to close at $10.20 with a fall of $1.60.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index edged up by 0.46 points to close at 733.31 as 7 stocks traded with 3 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Caribbean Cream trading 70,000 units to close up a cent at 73 cents followed by Lasco Financial Services with 20,350 shares to close at $1.11 with a rise of 3 cents and Lasco Manufacturing 109,110 units to close at $1.16, with 16 cents gain.
Firm Trades| 2 junior market stocks traded with the price unchanged at the end of trading with KLE Group having 36,933 units changing hands at 93 cents and Lasco Distributors 249,100 shares to close at $1.35.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Cargo Handlers with 223 units at $14.01 as the price slipped by 30 cents and Caribbean Producers 60,900 shares to close at $2.75 with the price ending lower by 25 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main indices up but junior eases
In Tuesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 8 stocks rose, 11 declined as 31 securities traded resulting in 7,099,320 shares changing hands valued at $45,025,458.
Main Market| Seven (7) companies in the main market rose, 5 declined as the indices moved up with the JSE Market Index gaining 526.88 points to 73,019.48 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moving up 589.14 points to close at 80,357.22.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Carreras trading 60,623 shares to close with a gain of 75 cents at $34.75, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 5,000 units to close at $7.40 with a 10 cents gain, Radio Jamaica with 4,462 shares to close with a gain of a cent at $1.29, Sagicor Group with 534,732 units to close with a gain of 20 cents at $9.35, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 119,402 shares to close 20 cents higher at $6.50, Scotia Group 357,781 units to close at $19.70 as the price rose by 19 cents and Scotia Investments 9,780 shares to close with a gain of $1.40 at $24.50.
Firm| 7 main market stocks closed without a change in price as Berger Paints with 7,899 shares closed at $1.67, Cable & Wireless with 1,076,240 units closed at 30 cents, Jamaica Broilers 482,878 shares to close at $4.71, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share 75,000 units and closed at $2, Jamaica Producers 5,201 shares to close at $18.26, Kingston Wharves 8,106 units as the price closed at $5.75 and Mayberry Investments 2,040 shares to close at $1.75.
Declines| The stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 3,036 shares trading while losing 10 cents to end at $3.50, Desnoes & Geddes with 3,002,000 shares in closing at $4.40 for a 9 cents loss, Grace Kennedy 14,320 units to close at $55 with a loss of $1.50, National Commercial Bank 512,600 shares to close at $17.75, down by 35 cents, and Seprod with 40,667 units in closing at $10.75 for a 50 cents decline.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 2.45 points to close at 733.19 as 12 stocks traded with 1 advancing and 6 declining.
Gains| Blue Power traded 200,000 shares to close 9 cents higher at $9.10 as was the only junior market stock to rise.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial with 24,575 units changing hands to close at $11.50, AMG Packaging with 5,558 units at $3.49, Derrimon Trading with 286,000 shares to close at $2.28, Knutsford Express traded 3,020 units to close at $5.17 and Lasco Distributors 41,000 units in closing at $1.35.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Cargo Handlers with 220 units at $14.31 with a fall of 4 cents, Caribbean Cream with 12,530 units to close with a fall of 7 cents at 72 cents, Caribbean Producers with 32,900 shares to close at $2.99 with an fall of 11 cents, Dolphin Cove 19,700 units at $8.10 for a 10 cents decline, Lasco Manufacturing 128,850 shares to end with a fall of 14 cents at $1 and Medical Disposables with 23,200 units in closing at $2 for a 4 cents fall.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 8 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
Very moderate market movement
There was very moderate activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at the close of the trading week as the prices of 10 stocks rose and 8 declined as only 25 securities traded in a very slow market session resulting in 1,571,377 shares trading valued at a mere $8,273,649.
Main Market| Six companies in the main and US dollar markets advanced and 6 declined as the indices moved down moderately with the JSE Market Index inching down by 6.80 points to 74,592.23 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index shedding just 7.60 points to close at 82,115.83.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Kingston Wharves with 9,534 shares to close with a gain of 48 cents at $5.99, National Commercial Bank gained 10 cents to close at $18.10 with 9,100 units changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary share, with 8,570 units to close up 0.02 us cents at 18 US cents, Sagicor Group 18,000 units closing at $9.80 for a 30 cents gain, Salada Foods 5,000 shares to close at $8 as the price gained 50 cents and Scotia Investments with only 700 shares to end at $23.10 for a gain of 10 cents.
Firm| There were only 4 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price as Cable & Wireless with 43,699 shares closed at 40 cents, Carreras with 5,000 units closed at $33.56, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 500,000 and closed at $2 and Proven Investments 8% preference share with 381,800 units closed at $5.07.
Declines| The stocks declining in the main market are Gleaner with 2,500 shares while falling a cent to close at $1.10, Grace Kennedy lost $1.49 to end at $56.51 with 1,600 shares, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 20,538 units to close down a cent at $4.85. Pan Jamaican Investment 10,529 shares to end 55 cents lower at $49.05, Scotia Group had 110,308 units at $20.50 at the close as the price shed 12 cents and Supreme Ventures 3,800 shares to close with a 5 cents decline at $2.05.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 8.14 points to close at 751.34 as 9 stocks traded with 4 advancing and only 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are AMG Packaging that traded 5,560 units to close at $3.50, up by a cent, Access Financial with 72,600 units to close at $11.50 with a gain of $1.50, Caribbean Cream 3,000 units to close at 79 cents with a 4 cents increase and Caribbean Producers with 90,000 units in closing at $3, up 2 cents.
Firm Trades| The 3 stocks in the junior market traded to close at the same price as the day before are Blue Power with 3,400 shares in closing at $9.01, Lasco Financial 3,000 shares while closing at $1.20 and Medical Disposables 94,700 units, closing at $2.04.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are General Accident with 2,000 units a $1.60, down 10 cents and Lasco Manufacturing with 166,439 shares to end down by 10 cents at $1.10.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
FX gains boost Kingston Wharves
Revenues for Kingston Wharves were up 42 percent for the quarter ended March to $1.17 billion. The amount includes $148.86 million or a 91 percent increase in interest income and a large amount of foreign exchange gains flowing from changes in the Jamaican dollar value for assets denominated in United States dollars, as well as a 38 percent increase in transshipment and domestic container movements.
Port revenues | Increased revenue and cost saving initiatives implemented by the group contributed to positively to the profit performance for the quarter. Revenues for port activities were $999 million up from $804 million for the similar period in 2012, an increase of $195 million or 24 percent. A combination of volume increases and the impact of the declining value of the Jamaican dollar are factors that contributed in a major way to the results.
Profit | Operating Profit increased 142 percent for the first quarter, moving from $155 million in 2012 to $374 million. Profit attributable to stockholders was $153 million compared to $65 million for the same period in 2012. Earnings per stock for the first three months was 10.63 cents compared to 5.90 cents for the corresponding period in 2012.
Without the gain from the movement of the local currency, profits for the quarter would have been much lower, which is something for investors to bear in mind in considering the company’s stock as an investment. The stock is now selling for more than 17 times this year’s likely earnings, well ahead of other companies on the market presently.
Management stated the group will be making substantial long term investments in order to participate fully in the Kingston port expansion. During the quarter, the first phase of the initiative aimed at the expansion and improvement of the range of services offered was implemented. These include steps to acquire container handling equipment and provide stevedoring services for a new client.
Financial strength | Kingston Wharves is in a healthy financial position with borrowings of $2 billion and equity of $12 billion. The group has $3 billion in cash which will be used in the expansion and modernization of the operations in preparation for increased business when the expanded Panama canal opens.