JSE stocks rise in moderate trading

Bulls pushing Jamaican stocks.

Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with 22 securities changing hands, of which 11 advanced, 5 declined and 5 traded firm with just 868,056 units valued at a mere $20,860,689.
Trading resulted in the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 2,953.90 points to close at 305,561.83 and the JSE Index advanced by 2,691.33 points to close at 278,401.38.
In the market activity, Berger Paints finished $1.50 higher at $17, with 8,715 shares, Caribbean Cement ended trading with a loss of $1.21 at $30.01, with 5,500 stock units, Carreras traded 15 cents higher at $10.50, with 168,396 units, Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of $1 at $42, with 31,693 shares. Jamaica Broilers ended at $17.70, with 11,221 stock units, Jamaica Producers concluded trading with a loss of 1 cent at $15.09, with 5,239 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished 20 cents higher at $7.20, with 31,833 shares, JMMB Group settled 97 cents higher at $23.98, with 44,686 shares. Kingston Wharves traded at $32, with 3,927 units, Mayberry Investments finished trading 82 cents higher at $6, with 150,597 shares, NCB Financial Group closed at $99.99, with 96,102 shares, 1834 Investments ended at $1.20, with 336 stock units, PanJam Investment closed trading with a rise of $3.50 to $45, with 4,959 units. Pulse Investments settled 20 cents higher at $1.70, with 47,159 shares, Radio Jamaica ended trading 5 cents higher at $1.05, with 20,362 stock units, Sagicor Group traded with a loss of $1.85 at $34.65, with 52,540 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading 51 cents higher at $15, with 6,698 shares. Salada Foods Jamaica closed 24 cents higher at $9.85, with 5,450 shares, Scotia Group ended with a loss of 90 cents at $50.10, with 25,560 stock units, Sterling Investments finished at $12, with 14,527 shares and Supreme Ventures settled 31 cents higher at $10.56, with 130,956 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% ended trading at $1.15, with 1,600 units trading.

Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “Big jump in JSE main market – Wednesday.”

TTSE close in calmer waters – Wednesday

Republic Bank drops to 52 weeks’ low.

Price movements were calmer at the close of trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday with 2 stocks advancing, 4 declining and 9 unchanged as 15 securities traded for the third consecutive day.
The market closed as 750,792 shares traded at a value of $10,300,305 compared to Tuesday’s trades of 652,922 shares valued at $9,971,563.
The Composite Index gained 1.48 points to 1,280.88, the All T&T Index advanced by 3.27 points to 1,743.34 and the Cross Listed Index lost 0.04 points to close at 110.35.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 2 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| At the close of trading on Wednesday, National Enterprises gained 25 cents to end at $10 trading 242,340 shares valued at $2,423,050 and Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose 50 cents to close at $26.50 exchanging 24,334 shares valued at $641,925.
Losses| The last traded prices of the securities declining are, First Citizens with a loss of 1 cent, in closing at $32 with 134,288 shares valued at $4,298,539, Guardian Holdings trading at $17.98, with a loss of 1 cent swapping 500 units, JMMB Group ending at $1.59, after losing 1 cent with 83,033 shares changing hands and Republic Financial Holdings that closed 25 cents lower to a new 52 weeks’ low of $100 with 549 units changing hands.
Firm Trades| The last prices of securities at the close on Wednesday unchanged are, Angostura Holdings that closed at $15 with 42,437 units valued at $636,555 trading, while Clico Investment remained at $21 with 10,400 shares and First Caribbean International Bank ending trading at $9.30, with 127,150 stock units valued at $1,182,495 being exchanged. Massy Holdings closed at $49 with a mere 10 units traded, NCB Financial Group held firm at $6.50, exchanging 12,561 shares while One Caribbean Media closed at $14 with 1,000 units. Sagicor Financial settled at $7.95 with 71,288 shares valued at $566,740, Scotiabank closed at $61 with 436 units trading and Unilever Caribbean remained flat at $30 with of 466 units trading

Rising stocks beat out decliners

At the close of the Main Market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, 22 securities changed hands, of which 8 advanced, 5 declined and 7 traded firm as 1,747,498 units valued at $52,030,701 traded.
Trading resulted in the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 1,009.83 points to close at 302,607.93 and the JSE Index rising 920.06 points to close at 275,710.05.
In the market activity Barita Investments concluded trading at $7.75, with 150 units, Berger Paints gained 95 cents higher to end at $15.50, with 3,724 shares, Cable & Wireless settled 5 cents higher at $0.99, with 259,242 shares, Caribbean Cement ended trading with a loss of 63 cents at $31.22, with 1,771 stock units, Carreras traded at $10.35, with 39,108 units. Grace Kennedy closed 1 cent higher at $43, with 103,842 shares, Jamaica Broilers ended 60 cents higher at $17.70, with 200 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished at $7, with 9,619 shares changing hands, JMMB Group settled with a loss of 98 cents at $23.01, with 324,315 shares. Kingston Wharves traded at $32, with 1,038 units trading, Mayberry Investments finished trading with a loss of 77 cents at $5.18, with 58,159 shares, NCB Financial Group closed 49 cents higher at $99.99, with 102,237 shares changing hands, Pulse Investments settled at $1.50, with 12,800 shares. Radio Jamaica ended trading at $1, with 93,566 stock units, Sagicor Group traded $1.70 higher at $36.50, with 32,430 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading at $14.49, with 6,025 shares, Salada Foods Jamaica closed 11 cents higher at $9.61, with 3,117 shares. Scotia Group ended with a loss of $1 at $51, with 527,032 stock units trading, Seprod dived $2.52 t0 $27, with just 835 units changing hands and Supreme Ventures settled 5 cents higher at $10.25, with 53,188 shares. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.5% traded just 100 units at $1.85 and JMMB Group 7.5% ended trading at $1.15, with 115,000 units 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 majors head higher – Tuesday.”

Unilever chopped by $4, WITCo by $4.90

West Indian Tobacco dropped $4.90 on Tuesday.

West Indian Tobacco (Witco) and Unilever Caribbean dropped sharply to close at a 52 weeks’ lows. Witco dropped $4.90 on Tuesday by, after falling $5.24 on Monday, to $102.85 following a long period of limited trading. Unilever another stock that was under pressure given very poor 2017 results, fell by $4 to a new low of $30.
The prices of these stocks are set to decline further, especially Unilever that could tumble below $20 based on poor results recently. Demand for Witco shares fell after the company posted third quarter results with lower profits of $276 million, down from $373 million in 2016, due to a huge decline in demand and sales of cigarettes after consumption tax was hiked earlier in the year.
In trading elsewhere, the market closed with 15 securities changing hands, the same as on Monday with 4 stocks advancing, 5 declining and 6 holding firm. A total of 652,922 shares traded at a value of $9,971,563 compared to Monday’s trades of 176,689 valued at $5,273,498.
The Composite Index gained 0.38 points to 1,279.40, the All T&T Index declined by 11.79 points to 1,740.07 and the Cross Listed Index added 1.73 points to close at 110.39.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 3 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
Gains| The last traded prices of the securities rising are Clico Investment advanced 21 cents to close at $21, with 88,707 shares valued at $1,859,421, NCB Financial Group with gains of 35 cents, closed at $6.50 with 9,475 shares trading, Point Lisas ended at $3.90, gaining 1 cent with 8,500 stock units and Trinidad & Tobago NGL rising 25 cents higher to $26, having regained losses on the day prior with 126,355 shares valued at $3,268,793.

Price Movement of Unilever Caribbean

Losses| The last traded prices of the securities declining are Guardian Holdings lost 1 cent, closing at $17.99 with 4,923 units changing hands. JMMB Group traded 14 cents lower to $1.60 with 126,288 shares changing hands, Republic Financial Holdings closed 25 cents lower to a 52 weeks’ low of $100.25 exchanging 288 units. Unilever Caribbean declined by $4 to a new 52 weeks’ low of $30 with a mere 10 units changing hands and West Indian Tobacco ended with a loss of $4.90 to a 52 weeks’ low of $102.85 with 5,016 shares valued at $515,950.
Firm Trades| The last prices of securities at the close on Tuesday unchanged are Angostura Holdings that closed at $15 with 238 units. First Citizens exchanged 1,163 shares at $32.01, Massy Holdings remained at $49 trading 35,365 shares valued at $1,732,885. One Caribbean Media closed at $14 with 50 units, Sagicor Financial settled at $7.95 with 243,245 shares valued at $1,933,696 and Scotiabank closing at $61 with 3,299 shares.

Falling prices dominate JSE majors – Monday

The price of NCB Financial climbed $2.50 on the JSE.

When the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Monday, 23 securities changed hands, 6 advanced, 10 declined and 6 traded firm with 3,390,479 units valued at $79,727,658 passing over the exchange.
The Main Market ended with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index diving 2,600.36 points to close at 301,598.10 while the JSE Index dropped 2,369.22 points to 274,789.99.
In market activity, Berger Paints finished at $14.55, with 15,000 shares, Cable & Wireless settled with a loss of 15 cents at 94 cents, with 125,361 stock units, Carreras traded with a loss of 15 cents at $10.35, with 123,130 units, Ciboney Group finished trading at 35 cents, with 20,683 shares. Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of 1 cent at $42.99, with 1,000 units, Jamaica Broilers ended with a loss of 60 cents at $17.10, with 20,296 stock units, Jamaica Producers concluded trading at $15.10, with 3,746 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished at $7, with 464,604 shares. JMMB Group settled with a loss of 1 cent at $23.99, with 36,522 shares, Kingston Wharves traded with a loss of 70 cents at $32, with 69,604 units, NCB Financial Group closed $2.50 higher at $99.50, with 71,520 shares, 1834 Investments ended 5 cents higher at $1.20, with 12,961 stock units, PanJam Investment concluded trading 12 cents higher at $41.50, with 8,500 units. Pulse Investments settled at $1.50, with 950 shares, Radio Jamaica ended trading at $1, with 320,391 stock units, Sagicor Group traded with a loss of $3.30 at $34.80, with 1,594,318 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading with a loss of 1 cent at $14.49, with 18,710 shares. Salada Foods Jamaica closed 50 cents higher at $9.50, with 5,000 shares, Scotia Group ended $1 higher at $52, with 147,734 stock units, Seprod concluded trading with a loss of 48 cents at $29.52, with 200 units and Supreme Ventures settled 20 cents higher at $10.20, with 8,220 shares. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% traded 122,029 units but fell 5 cents to $1.85 JMMB Group 7.5% ended trading at $1.15, with 200,000 stock units.

 

Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities see report “JSE main market drops – Monday.”

JSE main market drops – Monday

Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 2,600.36 points to close at 301,598.10 and the JSE Index declined by 2,369.22 points to close at 274,789.99.
The market finished on Monday with 23 securities changing hands, 6 advanced, 10 declined and 6 traded firm with 3,390,479 units valued at $79,727,658 compared to 581,428 units valued at $23,062,993 on Friday from 16 securities changing hands.
Trading ended with an average of 147,412 units for an average of $3,466,420 in contrast to 36,339 units for an average of $1,441,437 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 145,056 units valued at $3,297,675 and previously, 144,699 units valued at $3,267,354. In contrast, November closed with average of 349,084 units at an average of $5,801,440 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and the US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Proven Investments US ordinary share was the sole trade in the US dollar market, with 100,000 units valued at US$23,485 changing hands in closing 2 cents higher to 23.5 US cents, with the index rising 4.06 points to 176.96.
The major movers at the close, are Berger Paints falling $2.45, NCB Financial jumping $2.50 following last Friday’s announcement of a bid to acquire majority shares in Guardian Holdings, Sagicor Group fell $3.30 in trading 1,594,318 units, while Scotia Group rose $1.
For more details of market activities see report – Falling prices dominant for JSE major – Monday

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West Indian Tobacco drops $5.24

West Indian Tobacco dropped $5.24 on Monday.

West Indian Tobacco (Witco) dropped sharply by $5.24, to a 52 weeks’ low of $107.75 with 1,600 shares trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday as 15 securities changed hands compared to 11 on Friday.
Demand for Witco shares had fallen significantly since the company posted third quarter results with lower profits of $276 million down from $373 million in 2016, following a big drop in demand and sales of cigarettes after consumption tax was hiked earlier in the year.
The market closed with 2 stocks advancing, 4 declining and 9 remaining unchanged as 176,689 shares traded at a value of $5,273,498 compared to Friday’s trades of 165,628 units valued at $2,492,376.

NCB Financial rose 12 cents on the TTSE on Monday.

The Composite Index fell by 0.27 points to 1,279.02, the All T&T Index declined 5.55 points to 1,751.86 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.69 points to close at 108.66.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 4 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| The last traded prices of the securities rising and volume changing hands are, Clico Investment rising 1 cent to close at $20.80 with 57,857 shares valued at $1,199,902 trading and NCB Financial Group traded 12 cents higher, ending at $6.15 with only 365 units being exchanged.
Losses| The last traded prices of the securities declining with volume changing hands are, Angostura Holdings with a loss of 5 cents, closing at $15 with 1,800 shares trading while JMMB Group closed at $1.74, losing 4 cents with 9,025 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL retreated from its recent record high in falling 25 cents to $25.75 in exchanging 3,646 shares.
Firm Trades| The volume and last traded prices of securities trading unchanged at the close on Monday are, First Caribbean International Bankthat ended at $9.30 with 1,000 units, First Citizens exchanged 4,146 shares at $32.01, Guardian Holdings held firm at $18 with 23,277 shares valued at $418,986. Massy Holdings traded 44,470 shares at $49 valued at $2,179,030, National Enterprises closed at $9.75 with 346 units, Point Lisas ended at $3.89 trading 1,000 units. Republic Financial Holdings closed at $100.50 with 963 units changing hands, Sagicor Financial remained at $7.95, trading 13,976 shares and Scotiabank held at $61 with 13,218 shares valued at $806,303 changing hands.

NCB’s next stop Republic Holdings?

The price of US$2.45 offered by NCB Financial‘s for 32 percent more ownership in Guardian Holdings, is below the price the stock is trading at on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange of TT$18 or US$2.67. 
They need not worry, as they are virtually assured of getting the amount needed, based on the interest that Chairman Arthur Lock Jack has influence over in the Group. The acquisition of the added Guardian shares, will give the bigger NCB control over 2.6 million shares or just over 1.6 percent in Republic Financial Holdings, up from 2.17 million units in 2016, in Trinidad’s largest banking group. But that would be the start of a much bigger prize, that of control over Republic Holdings. Acquiring control of Republic while much more costly that the case of Guardian, will not be too difficult, as the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has directive over a large portion of Republic.
Clico Trust holds 40 million shares or 24.69 percent of Republic, the trust has a finite life of 10 years ending in 2021, while an addition 9.98 percent is held by CLICO Investment Bank (In liquidation) and Colonial Life owns 11.786 million units or 7.26 percent. All three amounts are subject to the direction of the Government of Trinidad who will be willing to sell to the right candidate, but the Colonial Group held 51 percent prior to the Government taking over some of the assets of the group.
The early target would be the Clico’s holdings, an amount set aside to compensate creditors in the Colonial Group. Sale of the Republic shares would allow for liquidation of the trust fund with investors getting an early exit and give NCB Financial an ownership level that would allow for booking any such acquisition as an associate.
Acquiring majority shares in Republic won’t be as easy as Guardian Holdings, while the capitalization of the latter is TT$4, Republic is now over TT$16 billion. NCB currently has assets at the end of September is US$5.5 billion but Republic assets are US$10.3 billion. Earnings per share for Republic at September 2016 was 88 us cents climbing in 2017 to US$1.16.
NCB Group total assets with the acquisition of majority shares in Clarien Bank will be in the region of US$7.6 billion and with majority shares in Guardian US$12 billion.
Acquisition of majority shares in Republic would give NCB a footprint in a number of Caribbean countries that the Bank has no interest in presently. The countries include Suriname, Guyana and Grenada.

NCB pushes JSE main market up – Friday

NCB jumps $4.75 on Friday after the Group disclosed bid for majority shares in Guardian Holdings.

Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Friday saw the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index gaining 604.57 points to 304,198.46 and the JSE Index advancing 550.84 points to 277,159.21 as NCB Financial climbed $4.75 following their bid for majority shares in Guardian Holdings.
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Friday with just 16 securities changing hands of which 5 advanced, 6 declined and 5 traded firm with 581,428 units valued at $23,062,993 compared to 714,979 units valued at $14,275,297 on Thursday from 21 securities changing hands.
Trading ended with an average of 36,339 units for an average of $1,441,437, in contrast to 34,047 units for an average of $679,776 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 230,246 units valued at $4,248,014 and previously, 230,246 units valued at $4,248,014. In contrast, November closed with average of 349,084 units at an average of $5,801,440 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and the US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
The major movers at the close, are Berger Paints falling $2.45, NCB Financial jumping $4.75 after the Group announced a bid to acquire majority shares in Guardian Holdings and PanJam Investment fell $1.12 and Scotia Group fell $2.
For more details of market activities see report Trading falls on JSE main market – Friday.

Trading falls on JSE main market – Friday

Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Friday with 16 securities changing hands, 5 advanced, 6 declined and 5 traded firm, with 581,428 units valued at $23,062,993 changing hands.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rose 604.57 points to close at 304,198.46 and the JSE Index gained by 550.84 points to close at 277,159.21.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments concluded trading with a loss of 25 cents at $7.75, with 21,322 units, Berger Paints fell $2.45 to $14.55, with 3,000 shares, Cable & Wireless settled 9 cents higher at $1.09, with 2,660 shares, Carreras traded at $10.50, with 116,842 units, Grace Kennedy closed at $43, with 2,000 shares. Jamaica Broilers ended at $17.70, with 3,000 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished 50 cents higher at $7, with 2,300 shares, JMMB Group settled at $24, with 1,414 shares, Mayberry Investments finished trading 95 cents higher at $5.95, with 106,457 shares. NCB Financial Group closed $4.75 higher at $97, with 197,918 shares, after the Group announced a bid to acquire up to 32 percent more shares in Guardian Holdings, to take their holdings in the Trinidadian finance house to 62 percent. PanJam Investment concluded trading with a loss of $1.12 at $41.38, with 4,962 units, Pulse Investments settled with a loss of 25 cents at $1.50, trading 41,191 shares, Sagicor Group traded 10 cents higher at $38.10, with 26,739 units. Salada Foods Jamaica closed with a loss of 50 cents at $9, with 5,000 shares, Scotia Group ended with a loss of $2 at $51, with 4,623 stock units and Supreme Ventures settled at $10, with 42,000 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
For more details of market activities see report “NCB pushes JSE main market up – Friday.”