The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market declined for a third consecutive day at the close on Wednesday with less volume and value traded on Tuesday.
Trading ended with 39 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 10 advancing, 19 declining and 10 trading firm. The market closed with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declining 2,717.19 points to close at 557,689.78. The JSE Index dropped 2,465.01 points to 507,546.85 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.69 points to close at 138.52.
Main market activity ended with 36 securities trading resulting in 31,141,186 units valued at $368,051,491 in contrast to 44,023,689 units valued at $758,570,804 from 36 securities trading on Tuesday.
Stanley Motta led trading with 13 million units for 42 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 6 million units accounting for 19 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Funds with 4 million shares for 13 percent of the market’s trade. Other stocks trading more than a million shares were QWI Investments with 3 million units after trading at the lowest level of $1.15 since listing and Barita Investments with 2.7 million shares.
The Market closed with an average of 865,033 units valued at an average of $10,223,653 for each security traded, in contrast to 1,222,880 units for an average of $21,071,411 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,111,651 shares at $11,432,416 for each security traded and previously 1,147,595 units valued at $11,637,677 for each stock traded. The market closed out September with an average of 1,585,081 units valued at $14,071,562 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
In main market activity, Carib Cement closed $2.54 lower after 13,753 shares changed hands to end at $76.82. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost $1 trading 6,280 shares to settle at $35, Eppley gained 80 cents, after exchanging 21,211 shares, to close at $1. Grace Kennedy closed $1 lower to $69 with 14,245 shares traded, Jamaica Broilers ended with a loss of $2.01, closing at $34 as 22,233 shares changed hands. Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 99 cents, after exchanging 11,378 shares to settle at $29.99, JMMB Group dropped $2, closing at $43 after trading 114,321 shares, Kingston Wharves added $2 to settle at $62, after exchanging 18,100 shares. 
Mayberry Equities lost 47 cents to close at $11.03 with 11,364 shares traded, NCB Financial declined by $2 to close at $202 while exchanging 65,660 units, Sagicor Group closed $1.19 lower in swapping 11,515 shares to end at $68.80. Salada Foods dropped $3 to $29 with 15,000 shares changing hands, Seprod advanced $3 to end at $54 with an exchange of 6,291 shares and Supreme Ventures gained 49 cents to close at $27.49 with 208,741 shares traded.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 28,241 units valued US$17,055 with the market index falling 0.45 points to close at 198.46. Proven Investments exchanged 13,756 shares, to close at 27 US cents, after slipping a fraction of a cent, JMMB Group 6% preference share traded 13,485 units, to end at 99 US cents and Sterling Investments rose 0.3 cents and closed at 3.3 US cents with 1,000 units changing hands.
More declines for JSE majors
The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market declined for a second consecutive day at the close on Tuesday with less than half the volume traded on Monday but with Barita Investments with a big 8 million units trade for $649 million following 6 million units valued $487 million on Monday.
Trading ended with 39 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 10 advancing, 19 declining and 10 trading firm. The market closed with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 421.45 points to close at 560,406.97. The JSE Index was down 387.75 points to 510,011.86 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.08 points to close at 139.21.
Main market activity ended with 36 securities trading resulting in 44,023,689 units valued at $758,570,804 in contrast to 98,349,184 units valued at $1,160,920,073 from 35 securities trading on Monday.
JMMB Group 7.5% preference share led trading with 22 million units for 50 percent of total volume, followed by Barita Investments with 8 million units accounting for 18 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 7 million shares for 16 percent of the market’s trade. Also trading more than a million shares, were, Sagicor Select Funds with 2 million shares changing hands and QWI Investments with 1.5 million units and closing at an all-time low of $1.19. 
The Market closed with an average of 1,222,880 units valued at an average of $21,071,411 for each security traded, in contrast to 2,809,977 units for an average of $33,169,145 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,147,595 shares at $11,637,677 for each security traded and previously 1,360,410 units valued at $9,708,050 for each stock traded. The market closed out September with an average of 1,585,081 units valued at $14,071,562 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
In main market activity, Barita Investments gained 36 cents to settle at $79.86 with an exchange of 8,128,881 shares, Berger Paints lost 40 cents to close at $18.60 with 3,835 units trading, Carib Cement closed 64 cents lower after 14,950 shares changed hands to end at $79.36. Jamaica Broilers ended with a loss of $1.99, closing at $36.01 as 145,234 shares traded, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 40 cents, after exchanging 36,003 shares to settle at $29, JMMB Group closed 99 cents lower at $45, with 30,369 shares changing hands. 
Kingston Wharves jumped $3 to settle at $60, after trading 1,642 shares, NCB Financial slid $1 to close at $204 while exchanging 41,451 units, PanJam Investment closed $2 lower in swapping 39,968 shares to end at $103. Portland JSX gained 50 cents in trading 5,200 shares to close at $8.50, Scotia Group dropped $3 to $58 with 9,900 shares changing hands, Seprod declined by $2.50 to end at $51 with an exchange of 101,439 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 69 cents, after exchanging 101,048 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 259,948 units valued US$81,583 with the market index rising 0.29 points to close at 198.91. Proven Investments exchanged 230.020 shares, to close at 27 US cents and JMMB Group 6% preference share traded 17,865 units, losing 1 US cent to end at 99 US cents.
Sharp fall for JSE main market
All major indices on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined sharply at the close on Monday with a big rise in the volume and value of stocks traded.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index plummeted 7,135.15 points to close at 560,828.42. The JSE Index fell 6,459.35 points to 510,399.61 and the JSE Financial Index lost 2.10 points to close at 139.29.
Trading ended with 37 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 14 advancing, 15 declining and 8 trading firm. Main market activity ended with 35 securities trading resulting in 98,349,184 units valued at $1,160,920,073 in contrast to 23,630,643 units valued at $239,877,355 on Friday.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 64.8 million shares for 66 percent of total volume, followed by Supreme Ventures with 10 million units accounting for 10 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Funds with 6.4 million shares for 7 percent of the market’s trade. Also trading more than a million shares, are Barita Investments with 6,101,250 shares, Scotia Group with 3.88 million shares changing hands and QWI Investments with 2.1 million units and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share ended with 2 million units crossing the exchange. 
The Market closed with an average of 2,809,977 units valued at an average of $33,169,145 for each security traded, in contrast to 675,161 units for an average of $6,853,639 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,360,410 shares at $9,708,050 for each security traded and previously 1,000,589 units valued at $3,884,374 for each stock traded. The market closed out September with an average of 1,585,081 units valued at $14,071,562 for each security traded.
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 lower offers.
In main market activity, Barita Investments closed 50 cents lower to settle at $79.50 with an exchange 6,101,250 shares worth $487 million, Berger Paints lost 50 cents to close at $19 with 20,717 units traded, Carib Cement gained $2.92 after 8,916 shares changed hands to end at $80. Grace Kennedy ended with a loss of $1, in closing at $70 with 248,951 shares trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange advanced $2.38, after exchanging 64,247 shares to settle at $29.40, JMMB Group closed 51 cents lower at $45.09, after trading down to $35.01 with 315,833 shares changing hands. 
Kingston Properties lost 60 cents to settle at $5 after trading a mere 150 units, Kingston Wharves dropped $4.50 to $57 with exchange of 34,350 shares, NCB Financial slid $1.10 to settle at $205 while exchanging of 152,373 units, 138 Student Living lost 50 cents to close at $3.25, after trading 12,429 shares. PanJam Investment gained 99 cents in swapping 1,706 shares in ending at $105, Sagicor Group dropped $1 to settle at $70 in trading 120,538 shares, Scotia Group closed 50 cents lower to $61 with 3,881,903 shares changing hands. Seprod declined by $1.50 to end at $53.50 with an exchange of 23,606 shares and Supreme Ventures ended at $27, after advancing $1 in trading 10,002,453 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 7,966 units valued US$2,180 with the market index rising 0.11 points to close at 198.62. Proven Investments exchanged 7,866 shares, to close at 27 US cents after a marginal gain from 26.99 US cents and Productive Business Solutions traded 100 units after losing 2.5 US cents to end at 57.50 US cents.
Bun & Teas in IC TOP 10 BUY RATED
Buy Rated Junior Market stocks have two new entrants this week with Honey Bun and Jamaican Teas returning to the top listing. Both companies’ fiscal year ended September, with earnings for the 2020 fiscal year, used in valuing them.
The new listings are expected to benefit from growth in the core business, with Honey Bun continuing to benefit above the norm from the expansion of the factory late last year and new products being manufactured while Jamaican Teas could benefit from investment gains from the portfolio of QWI Investments.
Dropping from the Junior Market TOP 10 are Elite Diagnostic and Express Catering. There were no changes to the main market TOP 10.
Market activity, left Caribbean Producers with projected gains of 240 percent as the leading Junior Market stock with likely gains, followed by Iron Rock Insurance with potential gains of 204 percent and Medical Disposables with projected gains of 184 percent.
Radio Jamaica (RJR) share price slipped during the week to a low of $1.35 but bounced to close the week at $1.60, pushing projected gains to 213 percent, to remain the leading main market stock. RJR is benefiting from increasing revenues, resulting from a more buoyant economy, the rollout of new services, the signing of an agreement with Flow that will add to revenues without the added cost and lower costs in a number of areas, with more to come. 
Carreras sits at the number two spot with projected gains of 125 percent with the price slipping a bit during the week and Berger Paints with projected gains of 115 percent in next.
The main market, closed the week with the overall PE of 17.1 down from 17.7 the previous week and the Junior Market is at 11.1 from 11.7 based on current year’s earnings. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages 7.7 compared to 7.9 the previous week and the main market PE remains at 10.4.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 31 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks and main market stocks trade at a discount of 39 percent to the overall market.
TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns to March next year. Projected earnings, along with the PE ratio for each company’s current fiscal year are used in determining potential gains with the likely gains ranked in descending order with highest-ranked being the most attractive. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis as new information is received that can result in changes in and out of the list.
This report is compiled by persons who may have an interest in the securities commented on.
JSE climbs on increased volume
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday saw all market indices advancing as rising stocks edged out decliners with a strong rise in the volume and value of stocks traded.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,131.56 points to close at 567,963.57. The JSE Index gained 1,913.76 points to 516,858.96 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.11 points to close at 141.39.
Trading ended with 38 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 16 advancing, 14 declining and 8 trading firm. Main market activity ended with 35 securities trading resulting in 23,630,643 units valued at $239,877,355 in contrast to 17,528,310 units valued at $59,397,804 on Thursday.
QWI Investments led trading with 7.7 million shares for 33 percent of total volume after closing at an all-time low of $1,25, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 6.3 million units accounting for 27 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Funds with 2.6 million shares for 11 percent of the market’s trade. 
Also trading more than a million shares, are Jamaica Stock Exchange and Kingston Wharves with just over 2 million units.
The Market closed with an average of 675,161 units valued $6,853,639 for each security traded, in contrast to 547,760 units for an average of $1,856,181 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,000,589 shares at $3,884,374 for each security traded and previously 1,108,042 units valued at $2,903,957 for each stock traded. The market closed out September with an average of 1,585,081 units valued at $14,071,562 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In main market activity, Berger Paints lost 50 cents to close at $19.50 with 13,636 units traded, Grace Kennedy ended with gains of 80 cents, closing at $71 with 13,320 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers climbed by $1.49, to settle at $25 with 29,791 shares crossing the exchange. Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 48 cents, after exchanging 2,009,880 shares to settle at $27.02, JMMB Group closed $1.10 higher at $46.50, with 103,069 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves advanced $3.20 to $61.50 with 2,003,710 shares traded. Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 32 cents to close at $11.52, after trading 5,558 shares, 
NCB Financial dipped $3.90 to settle at $206.10 with an exchange of 20,585 units, Pan Jamaican Investment lost 99 cents in exchanging 6,095 shares, ending at $104.01, Sagicor Group added $1 to settle at $71 in trading 123,026 shares. Seprod gained $2 to end at $55 with 92,233 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures ended at $26 and advancing $1.30 cents in trading 18,907 shares and Wisynco closed 99 cents lower at $23, with 142,804 shares trading.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 534,180 units valued US$144,063 with the market index falling 1.49 points to close at 198.51. Proven Investments exchanged 531,430 shares, to close at 26.99 US cents, Sygnus Credit Investments traded 2,500 units and lost 1.3 cents to end at 13.7 US cents and JMMB Group 5.5% preference share traded 250 shares, to close at US$2.
Trading drops sharply for JSE majors
The main market of the Jamaica Stock exchange closed down for a second consecutive day with big declines in the market indices on Thursday as trading volume contracted sharply, to a third of the levels in August with the value falling to just 13 percent.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dived 3,064.72 points to close at 565,832.01. The JSE Index dropped 2,728.69 points to 514,927.20 and the JSE Financial Index lost 62 points to close at 141.28.
Trading ended with 35 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 8 advancing, 15 declining and 12 trading firm. Main market activity ended with 31 securities trading resulting in 17,528,310 units valued at $59,397,804 in contrast to 20,815,331 units valued at $96,905,471 on Wednesday.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.5 million shares for 43 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Funds with 4 million units accounting for 23 percent of the day’s trade and newly listed, QWI Investments with 3.8 million shares for 22 percent of the market’s trade.
The Market closed with an average of 547,760 units valued $1,856,181 for each security traded, in contrast to 578,204 units for an average of $2,691,819 on Wednesday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,108,042 shares at $2,903,957 for each security traded and previously 1,350,326 units valued at $3,357,049 for each stock traded. The market closed out September with an average of 1,585,081 units valued at $14,071,562 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
In main market activity, Barita lost 50 cents to close at $80 with 83,575 units traded, Carib Cement ended $3 lower at $77 with 9,157 shares changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property gained $1 with an exchange of 5,480 shares to close at $36, Jamaica Broilers closed $1 higher in trading 31,441 shares and ending at $38. Jamaica Producers lost $1.49, to settle at $23.51 with an exchange of 9,544 shares, JMMB Group lost 55 cents to close at $45.40, after trading 28,070 shares, Kingston Wharves dropped $1.70 to $58.30 with 12,081 shares changing hands. 
NCB Financial gained $1 to settle at $210 with 41,841 units trading, Proven Investments lost 80 cents, to close at $40.20 with 4,358 units changing hands, Sagicor Group closed $2 lower to settle at $70 in trading 68,949 shares. Scotia Group lost 38 cents to end at $61.60 with 33,671 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures ended at $24.70, after losing 35 cents trading 20,791 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments closed 84 cents lower at $23.01, with 46,885 shares traded.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 9,804 units valued US$3,194 with the market index advancing 2.10 points to close at 200. Proven Investments exchanged 5,934 shares, gaining 0.9 US cent to close at 27 US cents, Sygnus Credit Investments traded 2,680 units and gained 1 cent to end at 15 US cents and JMMB Group 6% preference share traded 1,190 shares, to close at US$1.
IC TOP 10 focus on QWI
Attention by investors seems set to be focused on QWI Investments, which commences trading on Monday, but being the end of the month, investors could be seeing other stocks recording interesting movements.
Buy Rated stocks had few changes with Elite Diagnostic and Express Catering climbing back into the Junior Market TOP 10 with the price of Elite dropping to $5.40 from $5.60 at the end of the previous week while Seprod returns to the main market list at the expense of Scotia Group.
Slipping out of the IC TOP 10 listing is Jetcon Corporation that remained at $1.80, Main Event earnings were adjusted down with the decline of profit reported in the July quarter due to increased cost that exceeded revenues and Scotia Group rose to $60 from $57.50 and dropped out of the TOP 10. 
Market activity, resulted in Caribbean Producers with projected gains of 244 percent being the leading Junior Market stock with potential gains, followed by Iron Rock with likely gains of 200 percent and Medical Disposables with projected gains of 186 percent.
Radio Jamaica closed the week with projected gains of 194 percent as the leading main market stock with the price falling to $1.70 from $1.90 during the week. Berger Paints sits at the number two spot with projected gains of 132 percent as more interest comes in for this stock coupled with reduced selling ahead of the most important quarter coming up when sales exceed all other quarters and Carreras with projected gains of 112 percent.
The main market closed the week with the overall PE of 17.7 up from 16.7 the previous week and the Junior Market is up to 11.7 from 11.3 based on current year’s earnings. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages 7.9 compared to 7.8 the previous week and the main market PE remains at 10.4. These levels of PE ratios point to big upside for TOP 10 stocks.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 32 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks and main market stocks trade at a discount of 41 percent to the overall market.
TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns to March next year. 
Projected earnings, along with the PE ratio for each company’s current fiscal year are used in determining potential gains with the likely gains ranked in descending order with highest-ranked being the most attractive. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis as new information is received that can result in changes in and out of the list.
This report is compiled by persons who may have an interest in the securities commented on.
QWI Investments list on Monday
The latest initial public offering of shares QWI Investments was approved for listing on the main market the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday and will be listed on Monday.
The offer of shares was initially for 600 million units but was upsized to 900 million after the issue was oversubscribed. The issue saw more than 4,000 applicants applying for more than 1.6 million shares and pulled in just over $2 billion with more investors who never caught the IPO wanting shares.
As a result of the oversubscription, applicants from the General Public received the first 100,000 units plus 31.2188 percent of the excess applied for. NCB Capital Markets and Directors of QWI Investments get the full allotments. All other applicants got a portion of what they applied for with a minimum of 76,000 units for applicants in the Jamaican Teas and KIW International pool.
QWI Investments IPO oversubscribed
NCB Capital Markets advised that the invitation for subscription of 600 million shares with an option to upsize to 900 million units by QWI Investments closed on Wednesday morning.
The share offer was by way of a prospectus dated September 9, 2019, in respect of ordinary shares at the price of $1.35 to the general public, with shares reserved at discounted prices of $1.20 and $1.25 for some investors. The issue attracted more than 4,134 applicants but more than 4,550 applications for an estimated $1.5 billion at an interim count stage with a number of persons who wanted to buy in not being able to do so. With the level of oversubscription, the company exercised the option to upsize the issue to 900 million to raise just under $1.3 billion.
QWI Investments is an investment company that will be added to the JSE Financial Index JSE sources say.
IC Insider.com is reliably informed, that there are two pending IPOS coming to the market soon. JMMB Group and the Lumber Shop both sought and got approval from shareholders to arise added capital and these could be the next two to come but Tropical Battery should not be far off. There could be two others before the year closes.
QWI IPO opens next week Monday
QWI Investments, a recent start-up investment company’s initial public offer of shares opens on Monday, September 16, with the sale of 600 million units.
The company has the option subject to the Financial Services Commission, to upsize the amount to 900 million shares if demands warrant it. Shares are being offered to the general public, at $1.35 each.
The amount expected to be raised is $787 million from the 600 million shares but could rise to just under $1.2 billion if the company upsize the issue to the maximum permissible.
The investment objectives of the Company is to invest primarily in securities of companies listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and on other recognised overseas stock exchanges with a medium to long term investment horizon to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns, with diversification across industries and regions. The portfolio will be actively managed on an ongoing basis guided by the investments team.
The company, currently a subsidiary of Jamaican Teas, really started operations towards the end of March when it acquired the quoted shares, from KIW international and Jamaican Teas amounting to $465 million. Since then it has grown the net assets by 52 percent to $705 million after accounting for operating expenses, well ahead of growth in the JSE composite Index over the same period. The performance equates to earnings per share in the period of 51 cents. At the end of July unaudited placed the net asset value at $1.52 per share.
Of the 600 million shares on offer, 270 million units are set aside for the general public. 115 million shares each are earmarked for NCB Insurance Company and NCB Capital Markets. Shareholders of Jamaican Teas and KIW International on record on 16 September 2019 can buy up 45 million shares at $1.25 each per share. Directors of the group and customers have 55 million units set aside at varying prices.
QWI had quoted shares amounting to $899 million at the end of July and current liabilities of $188 million. The closing date for the issue is set for 30 September but could be extended if market conditions demand it.
The QWI board is chaired John Jackson, John Mahfood, Cameron Burnet, all Chartered Accountants, Carl Carby, Management Accountant, David Stephens, Investor and business owner and Malcolm McDonald, Attorney at Law.
The shares are to be listed on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. NCB Capital Markets are the brokers to the issue and will be using their electronic portal to process all applications, which should allow for speedy processing of applications.
Persons involved in preparing this story, are connected to QWI investments.
