Scotia Group steadies ship
Profit for the July 2015 quarter, was $2.31 billion, a shade off from the results for the April 2015 quarter of $2.36 billion, but well down on the July 2014 quarter of $2.9 billion. The decline in the quarter is due mainly to a fall-off in net gains on investment assets of $240 million, net interest income of $140 million, foreign exchange trading gains of $220 million and insurance revenues of $230 million.
Earnings per share for the nine months amounts to $1.93 and for the last quarter 72 cents and should end the year around $2.75.
The Group reported lower insurance revenue, lower net gains on foreign currency activities and financial assets in the Investment Management segment of the Group with total revenue for the nine months of $26.3 billion, a decrease of $319 million from the prior year. For the July 2015 quarter, total revenue of $8.62 billion was down $103 million from the April quarter. Net interest income after impairment losses for the period was $16.9 billion, an increase of $76 million versus the same period in 2014.
Expenses have been held quite tightly, resulting in an increase of $533 million or 3.7 percent when the Asset Tax is excluded for the nine months, while expenses were just $100 million more in a the third quarter, over the similar period in 2014.
Total assets increased year over year by $23.4 billion or 5.8 percent to $424 billion as at July 2015. The growth was primarily attributable to increases of $4 billion or 2.9 percent in Loans, net of allowance for impairment losses to $148.7 billion, $8 billion or 5.4 percent in investment and pledged assets and $8.8 billion in other assets resulting from higher retirement benefit asset. Loans as a percentage of total assets have declined from 36 percent to 35 percent as of July this year. The ratio needs to be moving in the other direction if profit is to commence growing at an attractive pace. At a quarterly rise around $1 billion the growth in loans is not strong to delivery good bottom line growth and help the stock to be above the average of the market.
An interim dividend of 40 cents per stock unit payable on October 15, 2015, to stockholders on record at September 23, 2015 was approved.
See-saw action continues on JSE
At the close, the JSE Market Index fell 245.83 points to 97,783.73. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 274.77 points to 108,234.94 at support level on the downside and the JSE combined index fell 50.41 points to end at 101,002.73.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless rose just 1 cent with 2,882,269 (Tuesday 2,494,634) units and at 47 cents. At the close, visible bids exist for 1 million units at 46 cents, and ranging between 40 cents and 45 cents a total of 1.46 million units. On offer between 48 and 55 cents, are 11 visible offers to sell 3.3 million shares. Caribbean Cement had 797,607 shares changing hands for a loss of 10 cents to $7.90, Carreras closed at $50.30 as the price gained 80 cents while 7,380 units traded. Desnoes & Geddes traded 50,000 shares but lost 40 cents in closing at $6, Grace Kennedy had 38,552 units changing hands at $64, Jamaica Broilers closed at $5.60 with 43,741 shares changing hands as the stock lost 80 cents. Sagicor Group with 40,000 shares changing hands, closed with a loss of 43 cents at $12.57, Scotia Group traded 14,800 units to close with a gain of 26 cents at $24, Scotia Investments ended at $27 while only 8,000 units traded but the stock traded in Trinidad at the equivalent of J$29.50 and with a bid to buy over 320,000 units at the same price. Proven Investments ordinary share, traded 15,346 units at 21 US cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 53,016 units at $2 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 135,594 units at $4.90.
Securities trading at elevated level
At the close, the JSE Market Index rose 745.81 points to 98,029.56. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index jumped 833.61 points to 108,509.71 at support level on the downside and the JSE combined index added 634.94 points to end at 101,053.14.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless rose just 1 cent with 2,494,634 units and closed at 46 cents. At the close, visible bids ranging between 40 cents and 45 cents totalled 2.6 million units. On offer between 48 and 50 cents, are 6 visible offers to sell 3.27 million shares. Desnoes & Geddes traded 2,337 shares at $6.40 with a fall of 40 cents, Grace Kennedy had 108,148 units changing hands at $64, Jamaica Broilers closed at $6.40 with just 38,000 shares changing hands. The price rose to $6.99 in the morning session before falling back to the closing price. Mayberry Investments ended up rising 50 cents to $3.40 with 83,868 units, but the stock closed with an offer at $3.05 to sell 100,000 units. National Commercial Bank traded 163,714 shares and closed with a gain of $1.25 at $30, the price also jumped in Trinidad to reach J$30. Sagicor Group with 21,500 shares changing hands, closed at $13. Scotia Group traded 4,825 units to close with a gain of 60 cents at $23.76, Scotia Investments ended down 79 cents at $27 while only 1,000 units traded and Proven Investments ordinary share, traded 15,245 units at 21 US cents and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 25,000 units at $2.
Only $10m traded on JSE on Monday
Unlike Friday when there were only 9 securities trading in the main and US dollar markets, Monday saw trading in 19 securities.
At the close, the JSE Market Index fell 334.02 points to 97,283.75. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 373.34 points to 107,676.10 at support level on the downside and the JSE combined index added 227.26 points to end at 100,418.20.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading that confirms that the decline in the market is ending. Trading closed with a reading of 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices, and 4 with offers that were lower, the same reading as on Friday.
In trading, Cable and Wireless rose just 1 cent with 1,764,685 units and closed at 46 cents. At the close, bids have built up with 159,000 units at 44 cents, at 43 cents, two bids form 779,586 units, and at 42 cents 710,209 units, 120,000 at 41 cents and 1,538,423 units at 40 cents. On offer between 46 and 52 cents, are 7 visible offers to sell 1,550,578 shares, IC Insider understands that there is an undisclosed amount at 46 cents. Grace Kennedy had 48,366 units changing hands at $64, Jamaica Broilers traded at $6.40 with just 2,500 shares changing hands to gain 80 cents, JMMB Group traded 28,350 shares at $7.50, but lost 20 cents, National Commercial Bank traded 11,348 shares and closed with a gain of 73 cents at $28.75. Sagicor Group with 82,930 shares changing hands, closed at $13. Scotia Group traded 70,705 units to close with a gain of 60 cents at $24.36, Scotia Investments ended down 79 cents at $27 while only 1,000 units traded, Supreme Ventures ended with 21,362 stock units trading, with a gain of 2 cents to $3.42 and Proven Investments ordinary share, traded 23,350 units at 21 US cents for a loss of 1 US cent.
Trading drops sharply on JSE
The Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday closed with main market indices gaining modestly, with declining stocks equalling advancing ones. The market endured a very slow day, with the market closing with only 16 securities changing hands, resulting in 1,868,635 units trading, valued at $28,326,579 with 6 stocks rising, 6 declining, in all market segments. There were only 9 securities trading in the main and US dollar markets.
At the close, the JSE Market Index rose 221.30 points to 97,617.77. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 247.34 points to 108,049.44 at support level on the downside and the JSE combined index added 316.62 points to end at 100,645.46.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading that is confirming that the decline in the market is ending, with a reading of 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless rose just 1 cent with 20,000 units and closed at 45 cents, at the close, bids have built up with 120,000 units at 44 cents, at 43 cents, two bids form 779,586 units, and at 42 cents 710,000 units and 458,000 units at 40 cents. On offer
between 45 and 50 cents, are 11 visible offers to sell 1,867,550 shares. Carreras had 191,096 units changing hands at $49, with a loss of 50 cents. Desnoes and Geddes traded 654,909 shares to close 10 cents lower at $6.80, Jamaica Broilers traded at $5.60 with just 9,318 shares changing hands, JMMB Group traded just 580 shares at $7.70, but gained 18 cents, Sagicor Group with 169,500 shares changing hands, closed 20 cents higher at $13. Scotia Group traded 31,550 units to close with a loss of 5 cents at $23.76 and Proven Investments ordinary share traded 427,400 units at 22 US cents for a gain of 1.9 US cents
Declining stocks down sharply on JSE
The Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday closed with main market indices dropping once more, with declining stocks equalling advancing ones. The market endured a very slow day, after an hours trading, only 2 stocks traded amounting to just 2,677 units. The market closed with only 25 securities changing hands, resulting in 914,433 units trading, valued at $16,133,495 with 9 stocks rising, 9 declining, in all market segments.
At the close, the JSE Market Index fell 690.11 points to 97,396.47. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index lost 771.34 points to close at 107,802.10 around support on the downside and the JSE combined index dropped 448.93 points to end at 100,328.84.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading that reflects a possibility that the decline is at or near the end a reading of 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless rose 2 cents with 211,066 units and closed at 44 cents, Caribbean Cement had 10,000 units changing hands at $8, Desnoes and Geddes traded 137,166 shares to close 7 cents higher at $6.90, Grace Kennedy closed with 130,192 shares trading at $64. Jamaica Broilers traded at $5.60 with just 10,000 shares changing hands, with a loss of $1.40, Kingston Wharves traded 20,000 shares at $6.45, but lost 80 cents in the process, Mayberry Investments had 13,640 shares trading for a fall of 45 cents to end at $2.90. Pan Jamaican ended at $61 with just 2,340 units changing hands, Sagicor Group with 17,385 shares changing hands, closed 20 cents lower at $12.80. Scotia Group traded 40,100 units to close with a gain of 5 cents at $23.81, Supreme Ventures ended at $3.40 with 15,500 units changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 200,000 units at 20.10 US cents for a loss of 0.45 cents and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded at a 52 weeks’ low of $4.90 with 4,300 shares.
JSE drops back again on Tuesday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday closed with main market indices dropping once more with declining stocks exceeding advancing ones but with a big jump in the amount of money involved in the trades. The market closed with a fairly high participation rate of 32 securities changing hands.
there were 9,467,807 units trading, valued at $111,559,301 with JMMB Group and National Commercial Bank accounting for the largest trades. At the close 7 stocks rose, 10 declined, in all market segments and the JSE Market Index fell 422.05 points to 98,349.41. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index lost 471.73 points to close at 108,867.21 and the JSE combined index dropped 671.77 points to end at 101,050.04.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading that reflects continuation of declining stocks having the upper hand over advancing ones with 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 12 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless gained 3 cents with 77,930 units and closed at 43 cents, Caribbean Cement had 436,403 units changing hands at $8, Carreras closed with 253,200 shares trading 91 cents lower at $49.50, Grace Kennedy closed with 500,134 shares trading $64, Jamaica Broilers traded at $5.60 with 119,948 shares changing hands. JMMB Group traded 1,957,370 shares to close 2 cents up at $7.52, Mayberry Investments ended with 200,000 shares changing hands to close at $3.40 for a gain of 52 cents, National Commercial Bank traded 980,250 shares to end with a decline of $1.25 at $28.75, Pan Jamaican gained 55 cents to end at $61.25 with 5,500 units changing hands. Radio Jamaica traded 20,000 shares unchanged at $3.01, Sagicor Group with 40,000 shares changing hands, closed 1 cent lower at $12.95, Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 76,290 shares closed 50 cents lower at $7.80. Scotia Group traded 200,000 units to close with a loss of $1.64 at $24.36, Supreme Ventures ended at $3.80 with 112,413 units to be up by 46 cents and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 499,600 units at $2.