The Jamaica Stock Exchange, closed October with the prices of 5 stocks rising and 5 declining as 21 securities changed hands, ending in 1,856,647 units trading, valued at only $6,072,425, in all market segments. The market closed out the month slightly lower than it started at, measured by the market indices, but technical indicators as well as fundamentals, point to a better out turn for November.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower. With Friday being the close of the month, the stronger closing bids are likely engineered by fund managers’ interest in boosting the value of stocks in their portfolios to boost the end of month performance and is worth watching in the coming days.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 98.56 points to 71,706.29 and is down from the 72,238.36 points, September closed at. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 110.21 points to close at 78,888.89 down on the close of September at 79,483.81 and the JSE combined index declined by 95.70 points to close at 73,559.56 compared to 74,034.71 at the end of September.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Ciboney with 100,000 shares trading, rose 1 cent to 8 cents, Desnoes & Geddes traded 36,000 shares, 15 cents higher at $4.95, Grace Kennedy had 21,330 shares changing hands 76 cents higher at $58, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 4,000 shares at $4.15 as the price closed with 5 cents gain and there was dealing in 2,100 Sagicor Group shares to close 1 cent higher to $9.66.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Carreras with 10,050 ordinary shares trading closed at $34.50, Gleaner had 80,708 units trading and closed at $1.05, Proven Investments with 3,650 shares at 18 US cents, Salada Foods with 1,000 shares closed at $7.85 and Supreme Ventures 40,800 shares traded to end at $1.70
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Money Market Brokers had 7,596 ordinary shares changing hands 5 cents lower at $7, followed by National Commercial Bank with 6,000 units as 30 cents were shed to end at $17 and Scotia Group ended trading with 635 units, 15 cents cheaper at $19.60.
Preference| traded units at Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.50% preference share traded 11,000 units at $3.43, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 981,568 units at $3 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 9,616 units at $5.
October down, better in November
7 stocks up but Republic drops 75c
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange closed with 16 securities changing hands of which 7 advanced, 4 declined and 5 traded firm, with a total of 244,650 units, valued at $9,307,775 trading.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index fell by just 0.49 points to close at 1,146.04, the All T&T Index rose 0.22 points to close at 1,962.32 rose and the Cross Listed Index fell 0.16 points to end at 43.22.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, ANSA McAL added 11,518 shares valued at $762,135, to gain 2 cents to $66.17, Ansa Merchant Bank closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $39.42, up a cent while 5,260 shares changed hands, Guardian Holdings gained a cent to close at $13.51 while trading 9,271 units, One Caribbean Media ended with a 1 cents increase to $25.13 with 500 shares, Trinidad Cement put on a cent to end at $2.03 with 5,600 units, Unilever was up 4 cents to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $64.19 while 5,808 units changed hands with a value of $372,815 and West Indian Tobacco gained 16 cents to end the day at $118.77 as 4,110 shares were traded valued at $488,144.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Massy Holdings traded 11,000 shares valued at $753,940 to close at $68.54 with a loss of 1 cent, Republic Bank with 27,285 shares being traded for $3,293,884 shed 75 cents to $120. Sagicor Financial contributed 27,078 shares, valued at $163,909 but fell 20 cents to close at $6.05, for a new 52 weeks’ low and Scotiabank traded 6,125 shares valued at $355,127 to close with 1 cent loss at $57.98 a new 52 weeks’ low.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund with 98,100 shares valued at $2,168,010 remained at $22.10, Firstcaribbean International Bank 645 shares to end at $5.50, First Citizens Bank traded 1,500 shares at $36.75, National Enterprises with 30,550 shares changing hands for a value of $534,325 closed at $17.50 and National Flour Mills with 300 shares ended at $1.10.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Trading in only 8 main market stocks
Thursday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 3 stocks rising and 8 declining as 17 securities changed hands, ending in 3,395,725 units trading, valued at $14,458,959, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 147.24 points to 71,804.85, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 164.64 points to close at 78,999.10 and the JSE combined index gained 108.17 points, to close at 73,655.26.
Gains| Stocks gaining at the last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Mayberry Investments with 10,000 shares changing hands, gained 10 cents to $1.50 and Scotia Group trading 411,651 shares as the price gained 64 cents to $19.75.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless with 2,297,611 shares closed at 28 cents, followed by Grace Kennedy’s 244 shares at $57.24 and Sagicor Group 20,000 units at $9.65.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras had 11,692 shares trading, with 10 cents fall to $34.50, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 7,661 shares with a loss of 6 cents to $4.10 and National Commercial Bank with 243,752 units closed 65 cents higher at $17.30.
8 up & 9 JSE stocks down Wednesday
Wednesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 8 stocks rising and 9 declining as 24 securities changed hands, ending in 1,412,626 units trading, valued at $4,275,609, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 91.59 points to 71,657.61, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 102.42 points to close at 78,834.46 and the JSE combined index gained 91.20 points to close at 73,547.09.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement with 62,500 shares changing hands, closed 20 cents higher at $2.40, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 12,260 shares, 1 cents higher at $4.16, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 214 ordinary shares trading, rose 5 cents rise to $7.05, National Commercial Bank saw trading in 19,401 shares as the price ended with a 40 cents gain, to $17.95, Radio Jamaica 27,916 shares ended with the price rising 5 cents to $1.20 and Sagicor Group had 32,554 shares changing hands 5 cents higher at $9.65.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded price are, Carreras with 4,520 shares and closed at $34.60, Mayberry Investments had 2,040 shares trading to end at $1.40, Salada Foods had 20,000 shares trading to close at $7.85, Scotia Group with 21,100 shares changing hands ended at $19.11 and Seprod closed with 114,269 shares at $11.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless with 174,393 shares, closing a cent lower at 28 cents, Desnoes & Geddes with 50,000 shares, lost 18 cents to $4.80, Gleaner closed with 13,994 units changing hands, 5 cents lower at $1.05, Grace Kennedy with only 240 units, ended down 76 cents to $57.24, Pan Jamaican Investment had only 1,000 active shares, but lost 15 cents to end at $49.05 and Supreme Ventures ended with 3,500 units with a loss of 2 cents at $1.70.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 83,412 units at $3 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% preference share traded a mere 970 shares, closed with a cent loss, at $2.49.
5 up 4 down on JSE
Tuesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 5 stocks rising and 4 declining as 20 securities changed hands, ending in 2,144,368 units trading, valued at 12,272,863.83, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 10 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 76.43 points to 71,566.02 the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 85.47 points to close at 78,732.04 and the JSE combined index gained declined by 46.84 points to close at 73,455.89.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 29,600 shares and rose 15 cents to at $4.15, Jamaica Producers with 13,114 shares as the price ended a cent higher at $15.51.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Berger Paints had 22,799 shares trading at $1.60, Cable & Wireless with 40,855 shares changing hands ended at 29 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers had 15,100 ordinary shares changing hands at $7, National Commercial Bank with 422,293 shares traded at $17.55, Proven Investments had 7,000 units to close at 18 US cents, Sagicor Group 7,084 shares closed at $9.60 after trading as high as $10 earlier in the day, Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 16,000 units closed at $6.65, Scotia Investments with 555 shares at $21.40 and recently listed Sterling Investments with 100 shares changing hands, closed at $134.
Declines| The only stock with losing at the end of trading in the main market is, Scotia Group with 52,894 shares to close with a loss of 29 cents at $19.11.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 691,050 units at $3 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 6,000 units at $5.
Lousy Monday trading on JSE
Monday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, sank to a low level with only 526,642 units trading, valued at just $2,883,385, in all market segments. At the close the prices of 5 stocks rose and 9 declined as 21 securities changed hands.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell 23.45 points to 71,642.45, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 26.22 points to close at 78,817.51 and the JSE combined index dipped 65.01 points to close at 73,502.73.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras with 17,100 shares trading, gained 10 cents to $34.60, Desnoes & Geddes rose 28 cents to $4.98 in trading 1,000 shares, Grace Kennedy exchanged 9,580 shares at $58, rising by 5 cents and Sagicor Group had 9,850 shares changing hands, 10 cents higher to $9.60.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless with 11,500 units at 29 cents, Ciboney’s 211,200 shares traded to close at 7 cents, Jamaica Broilers 7,200 units at $4, Mayberry Investments with 12,550 shares closed at $1.40, Proven Investments with 16,950 shares ended at 18 US cents and Radio Jamaica had 2,040 units changing hands at $1.15.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Kingston Wharves with 1,230 ordinary shares traded 40 cents lower at $5.10, National Commercial Bank closed with 5,850 units trading after slipping 25 cents to $17.55, followed by Pan Jamaican with 2,000 shares, and closed down 80 cents at $49.20, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 3,000 shares, and closed with a loss 35 cents at $6.65 and Scotia Group had 35,184 shares changing hands and ended 10 cents lower at $19.40.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 5,000 units at $2.
Berger surges to the top
Berger Paints surged to the top of the list of stocks on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange that should return the highest gains to investors, in the months ahead, with the potential to reach 500 percent.
Next in line is Trinidad Cement with 300 percent. Scotiabank has fallen to $58 from a high of $73.12 earlier this year. At the close of trading for the week, Scotiabank’s price seems set to decline further, with selling pressure still overwhelming buying interest, at the current price level. The decline so far has put the stock back in the list of top buys, with potential gain of 40 percent at the last traded price. The bank reported poor results in the first half of the fiscal year, but showed strong gains in the July quarter including good pick up in loans. This suggest that 2015 earnings should move up attractively, subject to continued growth in the loan portfolio. Importantly the PE has fallen in line with Republic Bank at around 16 times earnings and only slightly above the rest. Berger has surged based on the latest results, putting profit for the six months to September at $1.122 million, a big improvement over than the $240,000 earned in the 2013 period and almost ensuring that the full year’s earnings of $2.93 million to March this year, will be bettered by a good degree. 
Berger’s profit improvement is flowing from reduced cost rather than sales growth. Sales fell slightly to $29.8 million for the half year, compared to $30.1 million in the 2013 period. IC Insider is forecasting $1.10 per share, around $6 million after tax for the current year.
Rounding out the top list of the stocks that virtually select themselves are, Sagicor Financial, Point Lisas, Guardian Holdings, National Flour Mills, Massy Holdings, First Citizens Bank, Ansa Merchant Bank, Republic Bank and Scotiabank.
The 2014 financial year for a number of the companies have ended in September, with more results to be released soon. Investors’ minds will start to focus on 2015 when the results for some of the companies will show improvement over 2014, making the stocks cheaper now than they are likely to be a few months from now when the results for 2015 starts to flow.
Trinidad Cement released their nine months results to September which point to earnings from continuing operations being 13 cents for the quarter and annualised at 52 cents per share. The agreement to supply Venezuela with 240,000 tonnes of clinker will help boost the group’s profit, while the contract is being satisfied. While debt is a negative, the present cash flow if continued, will see them out of danger within 3-4 years.
Overall the TTSE market average PE is at 14.4 with 12 stocks above this levels and 10 stocks below.
Scotiabank drops set for more decline
In trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Friday, Scotiabank drops to $58, with continuing selling pressure at the end of trading that seems set to push the price down further. At the close of the market 15 securities changed hands, of which 5 advanced, 4 declined and 6 traded firm, ending with a total of 378,604 units rading, valued at $12,047,355.
At the conclusion of trading, the Composite Index lost 0.79 points to close at 1,147.65, the All T&T Index fell by 1.50 points to close at 1,964.33 and the Cross Listed Index fell by a mere 0.01 points to end at 43.38.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Angostura Holdings that traded 400 shares, closed with a gain of 4 cents to end at $12.55, Ansa Merchant Bank traded 78 units while adding a cent to close at new 52 weeks’ high of $39.41, Massy Holdings traded 23,613 shares valued at $1,618,907 to close with a gain of 1 cent at $68.56. Sagicor Financial Corporation with 100,000 shares changing hands for a value of $624,295 and ended up 5 cents at $6.25 and West Indian Tobacco gained 18 cents to end the day at $118.50 with 1,500 shares.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Point Lisas Industrial Port Development with 119 units, closed a cent lower at $4, while Republic Bank added 30,000 shares valued at $3,636,000 to close at $121.20 with a 5 cents decline, Scotiabank dropped 49 cents to close at a new 52 weeks’ low of $58, Scotia Investments traded 18,000 units to close 5 cents lower at $1.40.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAL with a volume of 50,000 shares being traded for $3,307,500 to close at $66.15, Clico Investment Fund with 82,431 shares valued at $1,821,725 ended at $22.10, First Citizens Bank traded 3,188 shares to close at $36.76, Guardian Holdings traded 20,000 shares at $13.50, Grace Kennedy with 12,765 units closed at $3.85 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers contributed 30,000 shares to end at 45 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Trading picks up 12 stocks rise
Grace gained $1.34 to close at $57.95 on Friday
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower, suggesting fluidity in price movements in the short term.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 114.23 points to 71,665.90, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 127.73 points to close at 78,843.73 and the JSE combined index was up by only 45.79 points, to close at 73,567.74 as the junior market index fell.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras with 105,570 shares trading, rose 16 cents to $34.50, Caribbean Cement with 1,500 shares, closed 7 cents higher at $2.20, Gleaner had 3,900 shares changing hands, 5 cents greater at $1.10, Grace Kennedy put through 2,900 units with a gain of $1.34 to $57.95, Mayberry Investments with 2,453,103 shares, was up 4 cents at $1.40, Pan Jamaican Investment closed higher at $50 with 69,616 units, to gain 90 cents, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 7,800 shares traded 40 cents up to $7, Seprod had 50,000 units being active and added 5 cents to $11 and Supreme Ventures had only 2,000 shares changing hands, 12 cents higher at $1.72.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless having 38,861 shares changing hands at 29 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 25,300 ordinary shares, closed at $7, Kingston Wharves with 450 shares, ended at $5.50, Proven Investments traded 24,460 ordinary shares and ended at 18 US cents and Scotia Group with 22,534 shares closed at $19.50.Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the close of the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes trading 5,570,641 shares at $4.70, after slipping 9 cents, National Commercial Bank saw trading in 45,159 shares as the price ended 19 cents down at $17.80 and Sagicor Group with 465,779 units, fell 5 cents to close at $9.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 2,332,279 units 2 cents up to $3, the Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 718,300 units at $2, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% preference share traded 200 units at $1,006.10 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 1,800 units at $5.
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3 sevens clash again on JSE
Wednesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 7 stocks rising and 7 declining as 21 securities changed hands, culminating in 1,774,287 units trading, valued at $11,185,286, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 478.38 points to 71,406.17 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 534.89 points to close at 78,553.31.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement with 3,000 units, increased 1 cents to $2.13, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 3,350 shares, 5 cents higher at $4.05, National Commercial Bank saw trading in 459,910 shares as the price ended 39 cents higher to $17.90, Pan Jamaican Investment with 5,000 shares closed 10 cents higher to $49.10, Proven Investments with 414 shares added 0.99 cents to 18 US cents and Scotia Group had 10,400 shares changing hands, 4 cents higher to $19.11.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Carreras with 17,596 shares trading to close at $34.99, Gleaner with 140,883 units closed at $1.05 and Mayberry Investments traded 1,357 shares at $1.55.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes in trading 14,000 shares at $4.79, slipped 1 cent, Jamaica Money market Brokers with 14,420 ordinary shares, closed 50 down at $7, Jamaica Stock Exchange with 592 units, lost 5 cents to end at $1.84, Kingston Wharves traded 98,465 units with a fall of $1.40 to close at $5.10 and Salada Foods with only 6,100 shares, closed with a 5 cents loss at $7.85.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 1,067 units at $2.98 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 12,200 units at $5.