Trading closed on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday with 15 securities changing hands including 1,000 units of the US Mutual fund, compared to 13 on Tuesday.
At the close 5 stocks advanced, 4 declined and 6 were unchanged as 235,696 shares traded at a value of $9,843,087 compared to Tuesday’s 113,158 shares valued at $864,641.
The Composite Index lost 0.44 points to 1,233.29, the All T&T Index gained 0.08 points to 1,802.90 and the Cross Listed Index declined 0.013 points to close at 89.06.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 9 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Clico Investment gained 1 cent to close at $22.51 trading 62,153 units valued at $1,399,060, JMMB Group closed at $1.31, with a 1 cent gain exchanging 3,705 shares, Readymix advanced 62 cents, closing at $12.62, with 912 shares changing hands. Sagicor Financial closed at $9.05, gaining 3 cents with trades of 2,271 shares and Scotiabank added 6 cents to close at $58.06 with 60,000 units traded at a value of $3,483,600.
Losses| First Caribbean International closed at $8.57, with a loss of 3 cents trading 200 shares and Guardian Holdings traded 1 cent lower to close at $15.44 exchanging 103 units, 
West Indian Tobacco lost 1 cent and closed at $126.99 trading 35,490 shares valued at $4,506,880 and Bourse Brazil Latin Fund traded 1,000 units at a 52 weeks’ low of US$8.08, after losing 2 cents.
Firm Trades| First Citizens closed at $32 with 232 units traded, even as reports out of Trinidad suggest that the block of shares the government placed on the market was not fully taken up. Massy Holdings closed at $15.43 exchanging 82 shares, NCB Financial Group closed at $3.99 with trades of 34,800 shares, One Caribbean Media traded a mere 10 shares at $16.85, Scotia Investments closed at $2.75 with 29,000 units changing owners and Trinidad & Tobago NGL exchanged 5,738 units at $22.50.
Advancing stocks just ahead in Trinidad
14 stocks fell on Wednesday
Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with 25 securities changing hands with 1 trading in the US dollar market. At the close, 7 stocks advanced and 14 declined.
Trading levels in the main market ended at 2,673,775 units valued at $51,217,614 compared to 5,505,950 units valued at $95,998,334 at the close on Tuesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 168,860 units valued at US$50,658.
The All Jamaica Composite Index declined 1,021.50 points to close at 247,892.32 the JSE Market Index fell 930.70 points to finish at 225,857.99 and the JSE US dollar market index remained unchanged at 219 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 53,047 units valued at $2,048,705 per traded security compared to an average of 158,066 units valued at $4,173,841 on Tuesday. The average volume for the month to date ended at 398,555 units with an average value of $4,907,331 versus at 421,588 units with an average value of $5,097,906 on the prior trading day.
The average volume and value for March ended at 549,909 units and $1,379,459.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed at $7 with a loss of 10 cents exchanging 100 shares, Berger Paints closed $1.48 lower to $13.52 trading 215,248 shares, Cable and Wireless closed at $1.31, after losing 4 cents with 19,178 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement traded 50 cents lower to $30.50 with 233,626 units trading Carreras closed at $75, with a loss of 10 cents while exchanging 97,395 shares, Grace Kennedy gained $2 to close at $43 trading 27,300 units, Jamaica Broilers closed at $16.90, gaining 10 cents with an exchange of 1,023,770 shares, Jamaica Producers closed at $15.50 exchanging 3,187 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed 40 cents lower at $8, with trades of 22,332 shares. JMMB Group closed at $20.22, after losing 9 cents trading 79,664 units, Kingston Wharves closed at $29.40, with a loss of $2.60 in exchanging 1,718 units, Mayberry Investments exchanged 11,000 shares at $4.75, NCB Financial Group traded at $65, with 65,310 shares changing hands, 
1834 Investments lost 15 cents to close at $1.70, with an exchange of 124,196 shares, 138 Student Living traded 1 cent higher to close at S4.49 with 21,860 shares changing hands, PanJam Investment closed 80 cents lower to $34.20 with trades of 25,244 shares. Radio Jamaica gained 5 cents to close at $1.70 trading 76,000 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $32 exchanging 55,909 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed at $10.35, with gains of 5 cents trading 35,276 shares, Scotia Group closed at $41, gaining $1.88 with 121,490 units changing ownership, Scotia Investments traded $1.89 lower to close at $36.11 with an exchange of 4,420 shares, Seprod gained 1 cent to close at $36 trading 7,853 shares, Supreme Ventures closed at $6.30, losing 8 cents exchanging 62,444 shares. Proven Investments closed at 30 US cents with trades of 168,860 ordinary shares, and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share lost 20 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.30 exchanging 40,000 units.
JSE falls sharply on Tuesday
Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Tuesday with 23 securities changing hands with 2 trading in the US dollar market. At the close, 8 stocks advanced and 9 declined.
Trading levels in main market ended at 5,505,950 units valued at $95,998,334 compared to 1,892,384 units valued at $17,691,277 at the close on Monday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 10,079 units valued at US$5,123.
The All Jamaica Composite Index dropped 2,960.08 points to close at 248,913.82 the JSE Market Index slid 2,696.97 points to finish at 226,788.69 and the JSE US dollar market index remained unchanged at 219 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 158,066 units valued at $680,434 per traded security compared to an average of 258,710 units carrying an average value of $3,912,692 on Monday. 
The average volume for the month to date ended at 440,411 units with an average value of $5,163,911 versus 454,388 units with an average value of $5,508,794 on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for March ended at 549,909 units and $1,379,459.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed at $7.10 with an exchange of 73,748 shares, Berger Paints closed at $15, gaining 1 cent in exchanging 75,342 shares, Cable and Wireless closed at $1.35, losing 1 cent with 1,116,376 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement traded $1 higher to $31 with trades of 20,823 units. Carreras closed at $75.10, with a loss of 80 cents while 2,840 shares were swapped, Grace Kennedy tumbled to $41, losing $3 in trading 1,204,283 units, Jamaica Broilers closed at $16.80 with 8,414 shares changing owners, Jamaica Producers closed at $15.50 with an exchange of 68,731 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed 40 cents higher to $8.40, with trades of 2,120,627 shares. JMMB Group closed at $20.31, while gaining 32 cents trading 119,977 units, Kingston Wharves closed at $32 exchanging 5,700 units, NCB Financial Group traded at $65, with 65,960 shares changing hands, 
1834 Investments gained 20 cents to close at $1.85, with an exchange of 10,000 shares, 138 Student Living traded 2 cents higher to close at S4.48 with 2,050 shares changing hands, PanJam Investment closed 60 cents lower to $35 with trades of 10,169 shares. Pulse Investments closed at $8.04 with an exchange of 70,000 shares, Radio Jamaica lost 10 cents to close at $1.65 trading 48,055 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $32, losing $1 in exchanging 38,500 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed at $10.30, with a loss of 20 cents trading 25,072 shares, Scotia Group closed with a loss of $1.88 at $39.12, with 255,649 units changing owners, Scotia Investments gained 92 cents to close at $38 with trades of 126,000 shares, Seprod lost 1 cent to close at $35.99 trading 5,420 shares, and Supreme Ventures closed at $6.38, gaining 3 cents exchanging 32,214 shares. Proven Investments closed at 30 US cents with trades of 8,330 ordinary shares and JMMB Group USD5.75% preference share closed at US$1.50 with trades of 1,749 units.
Falling stocks 2 to 1 over gainers
Trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange resulted in 13 securities changing hands on Tuesday compared to 9 on Monday. Market activity led to 3 stocks advancing, 6 declining and 4 unchanged with 113,158 shares traded at a value of $864,641 compared to Monday’s 50,550 shares valued at $1,371,638.
The Composite Index lost 0.12 points to 1,233.73, the All T&T Index declined 0.28 points to 1,802.82 and the Cross Listed Index added 0.01 point to close at 89.19.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 8 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| Sagicor Financial gained 2 cents to close at $9.02 exchanging 1,000 units, Scotia Investments closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.75, with gains of 5 cents, trading 11,000 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL added 1 cent, closing at $22.50, with 250 shares changing hands.
Losses| Clico Investment closed at $22.50, with a loss of 1 cent trading 19,179 shares valued at $431,534, JMMB Group traded 1 cent lower to close at $1.30 exchanging 71,262 units, 
National Flour Mills lost 2 cents to close at $2.53 with 800 shares changing hands. Readymix traded at $12, losing 62 cents with an exchange of 5,583 units, Republic Financial Holdings closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $101.90, with a 10 cent loss, trading 1,047 shares and Trinidad Cement lost 1 cent to close at $4.21 with trades of 116 units.
Firm Trades| First Citizens closed at $32 with 920 units changing owners, Guardian Holdings closed at $15.45 with trades of 100 shares, Massy Holdings closed at $51.43 exchanging 1,611 shares and One Caribbean Media traded 290 shares at $16.85.
TTSE still consolidating
Trading volume picked up in trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday from Thursday’s low level but the value of stocks traded ended up just slightly lower as the number of securities rose.
Market activity resulted in 17 securities changing hands compared to 12 on Thursday with 5 stocks advancing, 2 declining and 10 holding firm. Trading closed with an exchange of 229,684 shares valued at $1,612,238 compared to Thursday’s 70,937 shares valued at $1,807,695.
The Composite Index gained 1.71 points to 1,233.30, the All T&T Index advanced 8.77 points to 1,802.33 and the Cross Listed Index lost 0.74 points to close at 89.13.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 10 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Angostura Holdings gained 10 cents to close at $15 exchanging 5,000 units, Clico Investment closed at $22.51, with a 1 cent gain, trading 1,000 units, Guardian Holdings closed at $15.45, gaining 45 cents with an exchange of 20,186 shares valued at $311,597. National Enterprises traded 49 cents higher to close at $10.50, with 1,038 shares changing hands and Readymix closed at $12.62, gaining 12 cents in the process with 600 units trading.
Losses| First Caribbean International Bank 
closed at $8.60, with a loss of 15 cents exchanging 11,851 shares and Sagicor Financial lost 10 cents to close at $9, with 10,494 shares changing owners.
Firm Trades| Ansa McAL closed at $66.50 trading 650 units, First Citizens traded 590 shares at $32, Grace Kennedy closed at $2.70 with trades of 135,978 units valued at $367,141, JMMB Group exchanged 31,617 shares at $1.31, National Flour Mills closed at $2.56 with an exchange of 520 shares. Scotia Investments traded 1,955 units at $2.70, Scotiabank exchanged 7,027 shares at $58 valued at $407,816, Trinidad Cement held firm at $4.22 with just 10 shares changing hands. Trinidad & Tobago NGL was unchanged at $22 trading 430 shares and West Indian Tobacco closed at $127 with 738 units traded.
Republic dominates TTSE
Republic Financial Holdings had the largest value of trading on Thursday on the TTSE.
Market activity resulted in 12 securities changing hands with 3 rising, 2 declining and 7 remaining unchanged compared to 14 securities trading on Wednesday.
The Composite Index rose 0.82 points to 1,231.59, the All T&T Index gained 0.18 points to 1,793.56 and the Cross Listed Index added 0.20 points to close at 89.87.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 8 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
Gains| Grace Kennedy gained 1 cent, closing at $2.70 with 25,667 units changing hands, Scotia Investments closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.70, with gains of 20 cents trading
13,045 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL advanced 60 cents to close at $22, with an exchange of a mere 70 units.Losses| Guardian Holdings closed at $15, with a loss of 25 cents exchanging 4,754 shares, and Massy Holdings lost 3 cents to close at $51.45, with 38 shares changing owners.
Firm Trades| Agostini’s closed at $18.50 trading 5,995 units, Ansa Merchant Bank exchanged 1,000 shares at $40, First Citizens traded 200 shares at $32, National Enterprises closed at $10.01 with an exchange of 312 units. NCB Financial Group closed at $3.99 with trades of 5,000 shares, Republic Financial Holdings exchanged 13,356 shares at $101.90, valued at $1,360,982 and Scotiabank held firm at $58 with 1,500 shares changing hands.
NCB & Berger could break out soon
NCB Financial Group’s shares looks like they could break into the $70 range soon.
is another stock worth watching with IC Insider.com upgrading earnings for the 2018 fiscal year starting April, to $1.90 from $1.60 previously used and 2017 earnings to $1.30 from $1.10. Berger ended the previous week with a last sale price of $12.20 but moved up by the end of the week to $14, closing with an offer of 1,453 units at $15 while 22,600 units are on the bid at $13.55.
The average PE ratio of both markets are currently at an average of 12, based on this year’s estimated. At the close of the markets on Thursday, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks continue to trade at an average discount of just under 40 percent to the Junior Market average, those in the main market are trading just below 50 percent discount, leaving several stocks with good room for growth for the rest of the year.Release of 2017 first quarter results will be important in determining if the steep price discount will continue for much longer, or whether the historical May syndrome of reduced market interest came early this year and last until summer or after, similar to 2016.
Overall bid volumes for junior market stocks remained low at the close of the past week continuing the low levels at the close of the week before.
Caribbean Cement continues to trade with a heavy downside bias notwithstanding the rise in price for the week to $32, with last year’s first quarter results dated April 20, this year’s results could be out in the coming week and provide direction for the stock. JMMB Group’s buying interest is at $18.10 for 2,073 units on the bid and 409,862 units offered at $18.40, NCB Financial Group traded on Thursday at a new record high of $66.90 before pulling back to $65 at the close, supply seems low and could help the price move up ahead of second quarter results, that should be out before month end. The stock also traded at a new high in Trinidad this past week. Pulse Investments has offers to sell 245,639 units at $8 with buying at $7 for 1,000 shares, the same as for the prior week. Radio Jamaica bid is at $1.60 to buy 279,561 units with 100,940 units on offer at $1.75 and Scotia Investments closed the week with only 550 units on the bid to buy at $37 and 4,180 units offered at $39.40.
TOP 10 selling at steep discount
I$P hits a new high on Friday.
The PE ratio of both markets are currently at an average of 12 based on this year’s estimated earnings.
During the past week ISP Finance hit a new high of $15.50 up from $12.50 at the close of the previous week to gain 24 percent for the week and 675 percent since it was listed just over a year ago, and is now out of the TOP 10. The company reported earnings of 46 cents per share for the year to December 2016 with management suggesting growth in business in the order of 30 to 40 percent for the current year, that should lift earnings sharply.
Blue Power was eased out of the Top list for Juniors with Lasco Financial moving in to occupy the tenth spot, this past week. Access Finance that ended the previous week with the bid at $39, traded to end the past week at $34.25 to be back in the list.Overall bid volumes for junior and main market stocks remain low with the only one of the Top 10 stocks with a sizeable volume on the bid for junior stocks being Key Insurance, with 172,600 units on the bid at $2.50 which is well below the last traded price of $3. Lasco Distributors is next with 37,012 units on the bid at $6.61 and a last sale of $7.30. Blue Power has 17,856 units on the bid at $35 without any stocks on offer.
In the Main market, Barita Investments has limited buying interest at the current price with just 100 units on the bid at $6.86 and just 9,200 units on the offer at $7.70, this represents quite some change form the week past when the offers were at $7, which were taken out by buyers.Berger Paints ended with 2,500 units on the bid at $12.20 with 4,243 on offer at $12.30. Caribbean Cement’s weak demand continues in the mid-thirty dollar range, with the stock closing with only 2,340 units on the bid to buy at $31.50 while offers are at $32 to sell 53,579 units. JMMB Group’s buying is at $18.55 for 3,200 units on the bid and only 300 units offered at $18.98, Pulse Investments has offers for 245,639 units at $8 and buying at $7 for 1,000 shares while Radio Jamaica bid is at $1.60 to buy 280,761 units with 36,513 units on offer at $1.80 and Scotia Investments closed the week with 38,000 units on the bid to buy at $39.20 and 4,180 units offered at $39.40.
Berger returns Access out of Top 10
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The top main market stocks now sells at a 50 percent discount to the average main market stocks and is lower than the 40 percent discount of stocks in the junior market. During the past week ISP Finance hit a new high of $12.50 up from $12.25 at the close of the previous week, the stock still sits high on the list at number 4.
Top 10 junior stocks are trading at a 40 percent discount to the average of the junior market, at the close of the week.
After dropping out of the TOP 10 for the last week Lasco Distributors returned during the end of past week while Lasco Financial Services that entered the list for the start of the past week has been squeezed out with prices declining elsewhere and Access Finance ending the week with the bid of 1,500 shares at $39, to be out of the top listing and Blue Power closing the week at $35 is back in the list. Overall bid volumes for junior and main market stocks remain low with the only ones of the Top 10 with decent volumes on the bid for junior stocks being Caribbean Producers with 60,712 units on the bid at $3.75, General Accident with 53,426 units at $3 and Medical Disposables with 103,417 units with the bid price ending at $6. Offers that are well about the bid volumes include AMG Packaging with an offer to sell 99,723 units at $5.95, Jetcon Corporation with 435,207 units at $12.99 and Lasco Distributors with 973,036 units at $6.70.
In the Main market, Barita Investments has limited buying interest at the current price with just 447 units on the bid at $6.85 and 28,224 units on the offer at $7. Berger Paints ended with 237 units on the bid at $12 with 49,894 on offer at $12.01. Carreras currently, has 38,619 shares on offer at $74 and buying of 3,000 shares at $73.95. Caribbean Cement’s weak demand continues in the mid-thirty dollar range, with the stock closing with only 2,340 units on the bid to buy at $31.50 while offers are at $32 to sell 53,579 units. JMMB Group’s buying is at $16.30 for 50,000 units on the bid and only 100 units offered at $18.24, Pulse Investments has offers for 150,000 units at $8 and buying at $7 for 1,005 shares.Price movements continued be a bit volatile as buy and sell orders remain thin for several stocks. With little new news to come until a flood of first quarter results start to flow volatility in May, is likely to continue for a few weeks and this could provide patient investors with some good entry points.
Big Berger gain lets in Scotia
Scotia enters IC Insider.com’s TOP 10
A big 36 percent jump in the price of Berger Paints kicked it out of the main market TOP listing, allowing Scotia Group into the top list for the very first time. Berger returned to its 52 weeks high of $15 at the end of the week but had 103,511 units on offer at $15 with buying of 1,735 units at $13.01.
The top main market stocks now sell at a 50 percent discount to the average main market stocks and is lower than the discount of stocks in the junior market.
Pulse Investments gained 21 percent during the past week, to end at $8.50 and was the second largest mover in the top listing for main market stocks. Pulse has offers for 118,391 units at $8.50 and buying at $8 for 1,500 shares. Carreras earnings have been up graded with the increase in the price of cigarettes this month, following increased taxes on the product. Interest in the stock is not great currently, with 21,125 on offer at $69.50 and buying of 2,000 shares at $69.20.
Radio Jamaica closed the week with 990,792 units on offer at $1.90 and buying for 5,300 units at $1.80. Barita Investments has limited buying interest at the current price with just 447 units on the bid at $6.85 and 171,830 units on the offer at $6.90. With the increased level of construction activity currently taking place in Jamaica and plans for increase construction to meet growing demand for commercial and residential units in the sector, Caribbean Cement’s weak demand continues in the mid-thirty dollar range, with the stock closing with only 2,000 units on the bid to buy at $31.50 while offers are at $32.45 to sell 24,440 units. JMMB Group weakened in the week and now sits at $17.50 but buying is on the weak side, with 5,000 units on the bid at $16.60 and only 378 units offered at $17.50.
Top 10 junior market stocks are trading at a 40 percent discount to the average of the junior market, at the close of the week, this is after Lasco Distributors fell out of the top listing and is replaced
by Lasco Financial Services that suffered a reduction in price during the week to $3.70.
During the past week ISP Finance hit a new high of $12.25 up from $11.75 at the close of the previous week, the stock still sits high on the list at number 3. Access Financial and Jetcon had a bit of price movement during the week, with both closing lower than the week before.
Price movements remained volatile during the past week, as buy and sell orders remained thin for several stocks. With little new news to come until a flood of first quarter results start to flow volatility is likely to continue for a few weeks and this could provide patient investors with some good entry points, if bids and offers are strategically placed. The sharp one week move in Berger signals that supply may not last too long before demand kicks in.