National Commercial Bank (NCB) closed with the price unchanged on Tuesday, but the stock traded at a new high of $21 during trading, as investors react positively to the group’s December results and hike in dividend payment. NCB has only 159,257 units posted on offer in the market at the close, between $22 and $33. Demand ranges from $19.80 down to $16. There are bids amounting to 217,950 units posted to buy at $19 or higher.
Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of only 3 stocks rising, 6 declining as just 18 securities changed hands, ending in 2,915,904 units trading, valued at $27,617,128, in all market segments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 2.49 points to 77,059.90, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 2.79 points to close at 84,874.85 and the JSE combined index declined 5.67 by points to close at 78,932.63
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| The sole stock gaining at the last traded price is Carreras with 76,616 shares trading, to gain 38 cents at $38 at the close.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in their last traded prices are, Berger Paints in concluding trading in 15,500 shares with the price holding at $1.55. Kingston Wharves with 330 shares changing hands, closed at $5.60, NCB closed with 1,042,580 shares trading at $20, but after it traded at a new 52 weeks high of $21, Sagicor Group had 87,652 units exchanged at $10.20 and Supreme Ventures closed with 188,628 units trading, to close at $2.15.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless closing with 1,147,040 units trading, the price slipped 1 cent to 50 cents. Gleaner contributed 38,200 shares trading lower by 1 cent to 81 cents, Grace Kennedy closed with 235 shares changing hands to end up 43 cent lower at $62.57, Hardware & Lumber ended trading with 4,500 units, as the price slipped 14 cents to $7.51. Jamaica Broilers finished with 51,000 units trading as the price declined 1 cent to $4 and Proven Investments ended with 41,445 units trading as the price slipped 0.02 cent to 21 US cents.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 103,000 units at $3, Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 40,300 units to close at $5.
NCB trades at new high of $21
NCB modifies dividend payments
National Commercial Bank Jamaica, (NCB) approved the payment of an interim dividend of 45 cent per ordinary stock unit to be effected on February 20, 2015, for stockholders on record at February 6. The ex-dividend date is February 4.
The amount to be paid represents 51.7 percent of the reported profit of 87 cents per share for the quarter to December and just under 40 percent of the profit of $1.13 per share adjusted for the up front charge of the bank asset tax, the amount cannot be spread out over the full year on a month by month basis as was done in the past based on new accounting standard. The latest payment, if maintained for the balance of the year, would translate to $1.80 per share, a bit less than the total paid last year. In 2014, NCB hiked the final dividend to 96 cents per share to stockholders in December, from only 16 cents, in the prior year, December. The final payment for 2014 brings the total dividends for that year to $1.98. They made dividend payments of 35 cents per share in August, 35 cents in May and 32 cents per share on February last year.
IC Insider has been reliable advised, that the banking group decided to up their dividend payments to be ahead of Scotia Group and payment should continue at the heightened levels going forward, effectively moving away from a policy that was chopped and changed for several years to the disgust of many shareholders.
4 advancing 1 declining but TTSE weakens
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange closed the week with 10 securities changing hands of which 4 advanced, only 1 declined and 5 traded firm with a total of 113,898 units, valued at $1,646,886.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.39 points to close at 1,151.25, the All T&T Index fell by just 0.92 points to close at 1,984.88 and the Cross Listed Index increased by a mere 0.02 points to end at 41.59.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Grace Kennedy closing with a 1 cent gain to $3.67 as 327 units changed hands, Guardian Holdings with 1,000 shares traded at $13.27 to close with a 1 cent gain. Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 11,026 shares changing hands and increasing 1 cent to end at $5.50 and Scotiabank that traded shares 2,177 valued at to close with a gain of 1 cent to end at $61.01.
Declines| The only stock declining at the end of trading is, Ansa Merchant Bank added 2,646 shares valued at $102,929 falling 56 cents to close at $38.90.
Firm Trades| Stocks trading with prices unchanged at the close of the market are, Angostura Holdings contributing 750 shares, the price closed unchanged at $15.50. ANSA McAL with a volume of 5,000 shares traded for $332,600, to close at $66.52, Clico Investment Fund trading 22,650 shares valued at $531,143 to end at $23, One Caribbean Media with 2,328 shares ended at $23.95 and West Indian Tobacco contributed 2,694 shares with a value of $328,668 to close at $122.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator is showing only 3 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower, continuing a negative bias in the market.
Falling stocks have upper hand again
Thursday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of only 5 stocks rising and 9 declining as 25 securities changed hands, ending in 2,661,715 units trading, valued at $5,515,538, in all market segments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 502.11 points to 76,652.60, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 561.39 points to close at 84,419.47 and the JSE combined index declined by 532.87 points to close at 78,583.98.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras finishing with 5,452 shares, while gaining 6 cents to reach $37.21. National Commercial Bank traded 17,679 shares with the price gaining 48 cents to end at $19.50 and Grace Kennedy ended with only 1,000 units, the price rise to 95 cents to $63.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Berger Paints ending with 35,207 shares trading to close at $1.55. Cable & Wireless finished with 929,431 shares changing hands to close at 50 cents, Desnoes & Geddes finished with 200 units trading at $4.80, Gleaner ended with 7,017 shares changing hands at 85 cents and Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 10,100 shares at $6.95.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement closing with 10,749 units trading, the price slipped 2 cents to $2.30. Jamaica Broilers finished traded 135,621 shares lower by 3 cents, to $4, Kingston Wharves closed with 523 shares changing hands to close lower by 4 cents at $5.60, Pan Jamaican Investment ended trading with 3,330 units, the price fell 90 cents, to $52.10. Sagicor Group finished with 18,730 units trading as the price declined by 10 cents to $10.20 and Scotia Group closed with 21,116 units trading 45 cents lower at $20.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share had 1,373,086 units changing hands to close at $2 and the junior listing, Eppley 9.5% preference share closed with 3,988 units trading at $6.
First in 2014 declining stocks on top at JSE
Scotia Group gained 75 cents to $20.95
strong> Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 640.21 points to 77,154.71, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 715.79 points to close at 84,980.86 and the JSE combined index gained 663.14 points to close at 79,116.85.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Hardware & Lumber ending with 3,000 units with the price rising 14 cents to $7.65. Jamaica Money Market Brokers closed with 13,396 shares changing hands 5 cents higher at $6.55, National Commercial Bank ended with 24,312 shares trading with a gain of 2 cents to $19.02, Sagicor Group swapped 2,900 shares with the price increasing by 10 cents to $10.30 and Scotia Group closed with 83,608 units changing hands 75 cents higher to $20.95.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless in exchanging 271,167 units ended at 50 cents. Kingston Wharves finished with 29,708 units trading to end at $6, Mayberry Investments closed at $2 with 15,772 units traded, Pan Jamaican Investment traded 1,040 units at $53 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed with 1,370 units trading at $6.95.Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement closing with 31,686 units trading as the price slipped 18 cents to $2.32. Desnoes & Geddes contributed 26,049 shares in trading lower by 5 cents to $4.80, Gleaner closed with 103 shares changing hands lower by 5 cents to 85 cents, Grace Kennedy concluded trading with 1,010 units, the price slipped 95 cents to $62.05, Jamaica Broilers finished with 14,950 units trading as the price declined by 8 cents to $4.02. Proven Investments ended with 235,450 shares trading lower by 0.39 cents to 20.61 US cents, Salada Foods in concluding transaction in 200,000 units closed with the price falling 11 cents to $10.39, Scotia Investments traded 3,674 units with the price declining 49 cents to $22.51 and Seprod closed with 1,711 shares trading lower by 50 cents to $12.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share had 17,216 units changing hands at $3 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 15,000 units at $2.
TTSE stocks treading water
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended Wednesday with 10 securities changing hands of which 3 advanced, 3 declined and 4 traded firm with a total of 96,603 units, valued at $1,726,113.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.01 point to close at 1,152.57, the All T&T Index advanced by just 0.01 point to close at 1,987.65 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 41.57.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, First Citizens Bank trading 96 shares at $36.50, after gaining 1 cent. Prestige Holdings gained 3 cents to end at $9.60 while 214 shares traded and West Indian Tobacco trading 2,000 shares and gained 2 cents to $121.43.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Massy Holdings trading 725 shares to close with a loss of 2 cents at $68.03. One Caribbean Media ended with 45,973 shares changing hands for a value of $1,101,053 and closed at $23.95 after losing 4 cents and Scotiabank added 2,470 shares valued at $153,150 and close with a 1 cent loss at $62.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Guardian Holdings trading 1,925 units at $13.26, National Commercial Bank traded 23,000 shares and closed at $1.17. Sagicor Financial Corporation contributed 13,200 shares with a value of $72,468 to close at $5.49 and Sagicor Financial Corporation 6.5% US$1 preference share traded 7,000 units at US$1.10.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
More stocks rise than fall on JSE
Tuesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 5 stocks rising and 3 declining as 24 securities changed hands, ending in 1,476,405 units trading, valued at $13,434,336, in all market segments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell 185.93 points to 76,514.50, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 207.87 points to close at 84,265.07 and the JSE combined index declined by 180.94 points to close at 78,453.71.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes ending with 130,300 shares trading, with a gain of 5 cents to $4.85. Jamaica Broilers closed with 10,368 units changing hands to close 10 cents up to $4.10, Mayberry Investments ending with 8,800 shares with the price gaining 2 cents to $2 and Proven Investments finished with 379,550 shares changing hands to close 0.05 cents to 21 US cents, a new 52 weeks’ high.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Barita Investments ended with 2,350 units trading at $2.25, Cable & Wireless closed with 36,903 shares trading at 50 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers ending with 106,535 ordinary shares changing hands at $6.50. Kingston Wharves finishing with 693 shares changing hands at $6, National Commercial Bank closed with 15,655 units traded at $19. Pan Jamaican Investment finished with 4,493 units at $53, Radio Jamaica ended with 56,739 shares trading at $1.30, Sagicor Group closed with 43,610 units trading at $10.20, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finishing with 20,000 shares changing hands at $6.95 and Scotia Investments traded 1,580 shares changing hands to close at $23.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Berger Paints finished with 2,512 units trading, the price slipped 15 cents to $1.55, Scotia Group ended trading with 11,262 shares changing hands to close lower by 306 cents to $20.20.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 14,000 shares changing hands to close at $3, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 100,000 units trading at $2 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded finished with 20,500 units trading at $5.
TTSE exhibiting negative bias
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange closed with 14 securities changing hands of which 3 advanced, 5 declined and 6 traded firm with a total of 173,362 units, valued at $797,942.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 1.47 points to close at 1,152.56, the All T&T Index gained 2.35 points to close at 1,987.64 and the Cross Listed Index increased by a mere 0.08 points to end at 41.57.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Firstcaribbean International Bank closed with a volume of 27,636 shares trading, valued at $138,733, to close 2 cents higher at $5.02, Prestige Holdings 40 shares, traded to close at $9.57, higher by 1 cent and One Caribbean Media gaining $1.79 to end at $23.99 while trading 3,972 units.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund trading just 900 shares but the price declined by 1 cent to end at $23.49. First Citizens Bank closed with only 80 shares trading at $36.49 and lost a cent, Guardian Holdings lost 1 cents in trading 905 shares to end at $13.25, Massy Holdings fell 5 cents to close at $68.05 with 2,897 units valued at $197,140 while Scotia Investments added 15,206 shares at $1.45, down 1 cents.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA Mcal with 367 shares at $66.52. National Commercial Bank with 99,830 shares changing hands for a value of $116,801, closed at $1.17, Sagicor Financial Corporation contributed 20,000 shares with a value of $109,800 at $5.49, Scotiabank traded 895 share at $62.01, Trinidad Cement had 629 shares changing hands at $2.30 and Unilever Caribbean closed at $65.01 with only 5 units changing hands.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Declining stocks still can’t get upper hand
With more than 2 trading weeks gone in January, the number of declining stocks have still not exceeded those advancing on any date so far on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Monday’s trading activity, resulted in the prices of 7 stocks rising and 7 declining as 24 securities changed hands, ending in only 1,372,251 units traded, valued at a mere $9,697,061, in all market segments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 126.58 points to 76,700.43, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 141.51 points to close at 84,472.94 and the JSE combined index advanced by 152.16 points to close at 78,634.65.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless ending with 202,960 units changing hands to close with a gain of 2 cents at 50 cents. Pan Jamaican Investment ended with 3,607 units changing hands to close at 98 cents up to $53, Sagicor Group ending with 390 units with the price rising 20 cents $10.20 and Scotia Group ended trading with 28,908 shares changing hands to close 50 cents higher to $20.50.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded price are, Grace Kennedy closing with 42,250 units at $63. Jamaica Stock Exchange finishing with 8,000 stock units trading at $2, Kingston Wharves ending with 1,582 shares at $6, Radio Jamaica trading 1,386 units at $1.30 and Supreme Ventures with 10,956 shares changing hands to close at $2.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes finishing with 500 shares trading lower by 5 cents to $4.80, Jamaica Money Market Brokers closed with 255,465 ordinary shares changing hands to end lower by 15 cents at $6.50, Jamaica Producers ended trading with 445 units, the stock price slipped $1.30 to $15.70, Mayberry Investments finished with 1,020 units trading, the price declined by 2 cents to $1.98, National Commercial Bank closed with 30,713 units trading as the price fell 50 cents to $19 and Scotia Investments ended with 1,000 shares trading lower by 1 cent at $23.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 17,000 units at $3.
Four up 3 down but TTSE softening
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 14 securities changing hands of which 4 advanced, 3 declined and 7 traded firm with a total of 327,664 units, valued at $1,721,615. There were 2 stocks closing at 52 weeks’ high and 2 at 52 weeks’ low at the close.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.40 points to close at 1,151.09, the All T&T Index fell by just 1.14 points to close at 1,985.29 and the Cross Listed Index increased by a mere 0.04 points to end at 41.49.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, National Commercial Bank with 100,200 shares traded valued at $117,231, closed with the gain of a cent at $1.17. Scotiabank closed with 821 shares traded, 1 cent higher at $62.01, Unilever Caribbean with 400 shares trading, gained 1 cent to close at $65.01, a new 52 weeks’ high and West Indian Tobacco increased 5 cents to $121.42 while trading 1,200 shares to hit a new 52 weeks’ high.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, National Enterprises trading 250 shares closed with a loss of 2 cents at $17.37, a new 52 weeks’ low. Sagicor Financial Corporation traded 5,750 shares and closed with a loss of 3 cents at $5.49 for a new 52 weeks’ low and Trinidad Cement contributed 50,000 shares with a value of $115,000 to close at $2.30, down 20 cents.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA Mcal trading 688 shares at $66.52. Berger Paints Trinidad closed with 300 shares trading at $3.65, Clico Investment Fund traded 8,520 shares valued at $200,215 and closed at $23.50, while First Citizens Bank added 24,920 shares valued at $909,579 to close at $36.50. Grace Kennedy ended trading with 288 units at $3.66, Guardian Holdings traded 1,200 units and closed at $13.26 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers closed with 133,127 shares changing hands at 43 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.