In trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Friday, the number of securities changing hands surged pass Thursday’s 9, to reach 17. There were 5 advancing stocks, 4 declining and 8 traded firm, with 518,883 units changing hands, carrying a value of $8,173,015. Scotiabank continued its downward drift, closing the day at a new 52 weeks low, with relatively small volume. The market closed with 3 new 52 weeks’ highs and one low.
The Composite Index lost 0.14 points to close at 1,146.48, the All T&T Index lost 2.47 points to close at 1,979.88 and the Cross Listed Index advanced 0.29 points to end at 40.98.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Ansa Mcal Merchant Bank in trading 810 units at a new 52 weeks’ high of $39.30, the price gained 9 cents, National Commercial Bank in contributing 98,400 shares with a value of $98,400, closed at $1, up by 3 cents, One Caribbean Media with 4,176 shares put on a cent to end at $25.01, a new 52 weeks’ high, Scotia Investments enjoyed a gain of 10 cents to end the day at $1.50 (J$26.40, it last traded at $21.50 in Jamaica) while trading only 3,550 shares and Unilever Caribbean traded 494 units at $64.01, up by a cent to a new 52 weeks’ high.
Declines| Stocks declining at the end of trading are, Massy Holdings that put through just 40 units at $68.46 down by 2 cents, Scotiabank suffered a loss, of 57 cents to close at $61.18 while trading 5,761 units, Republic Bank traded 34,327 shares valued at $4,178,626 as the price lost 2 cents to close at $121.73 and Trinidad Cement traded 495 shares at $2.64, after suffering an 8 cents fall.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund with 117,139 shares valued at $2,577,058 but remained at $22, Firstcaribbean International with 1,000 shares at $5, while First Citizens traded 614 shares at $35.98, Grace Kennedy with 2,915 shares closed at $3.55, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 106,158 shares changing hands for a value of $47,771, closed at 45 cents, followed by Prestige Holdings that traded just 150 units at $9.50, Sagicor Financial Corporation with 104,354 shares traded for $652,550, ended at $6.25, while National Flour Mills added 38,500 shares valued at $50,050 at $1.30.
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 1 stock with the offer that is lower.
Trading picks up, Scotia hits a low on TTSE
Market gains as just 14 securities traded on JSE
Thursday’ activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of only 3 stocks rising and a mere 3 declining as just 14 securities changed hands, resulting in 3,334,547 units trading, valued at $31,163,109.
Main Market| The few prices that rose led to the JSE Market Index rising 285.53 points to 71,903.15 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gaining 319.27 points, to close at 79,108.97.
Gains| The volume and last traded prices of stocks gaining, at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras with 163,820 shares closing with a gain of 20 cents at $34.80, Grace Kennedy put on $2.50 to $60.50 with 89,900 units changing hands and Proven Investment traded 625,000 ordinary shares at 17.1 US cents, up from 17 US cents.
Firm| Stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with volume and last traded prices are, Desnoes & Geddes with 37,711 shares at $4.70, Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) ordinary share only 400 units at $6.95, Mayberry Investments had 2,500 units at $1.70, and Sagicor Group with 209,985 shares changing hands, closed at $9.30.
Declines| Scotia Group is the only stock to decline at the at the end of trading in the main market, in losing a cent to $19.05, in trading of 29,544 shares.
Preference| JMMB 7.5% preference share traded 277,400 units at $2 and JMMB 8.75% preference share traded 1,493,303 units at $3.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 2.67 points to close at 657.84 as a mere 3 securities traded, none advanced and 2 declined.
Firm Trades| Lasco Distributors had 15,000 units changing hands at $1.12.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are, Consolidated Bakeries in trading 358,300 units to close at 75 cents after losing 5 cents and Lasco Manufacturing lost 3 cents in trading 30,700 units at $1.04.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that are lower.
Advances equal declines on JSE
In Wednesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of 7 stocks rose and 7 declined, as 26 securities changed hands, resulting in 4,526,977 shares trading, valued at $49,182,081.
Gains| The volume and last traded prices of stocks with gains, at the end of trading in the main market, are, Desnoes & Geddes with 1,500,500 shares to close with a gain of 11 cents, at $4.70, Carreras with 17,515 gained 10 cents, to close at $34.60, Scotia Investments with 283 shares gained 10 cents to $21.50, Sagicor Real Estate Fund, 120 units closed with a 9 cents increase at $7, Scotia Group had 101,748 units changing hands at 6 cents higher, to close at $19.06 and Jamaica Producers produced a gain of 2 cents, in closing at $15.60 while trading 2,393 shares.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a price change, with volume and last traded prices are, Barita Investments with only 100 units, closed at $2.20, Caribbean Cement with 1,500 shares, closed at $2.70, Ciboney with 6,000 shares ended at 7 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 136,940 ordinary shares, closed at $6.95, Pan Jamaican Investment 9,250 units end at $49 and Sagicor Group had only 3,400 shares trading to end at $9.30.
Declines| The volume and last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Grace Kennedy dropping $2.50 in trading 12,400 shares to end at $58, National Commercial Bank had 1,607,153 shares passing through the market, for 20 cents less at $18, Proven Investments ordinary traded 12,780 shares, to lose 0.25 US cents and end at 17 US cents and Seprod lost 48 cents to end at $10.52 while trading 600,000 shares.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 100,000 units at $3.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index gained 3.64 points to close at 660.51 as 9 stocks traded, with 1 advancing and 3 declining.
Gains| The only stock gaining at the end of trading in the junior market, is General Accident with 224,031 units, with an increase of 4 cents, to close at $1.40.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are, Dolphin Cove having only 760 shares traded at $8.50, Honey Bun 1,200 at $2.34, Jamaican Teas had 2,915 units changing hands at $3.30, in the case of Lasco Manufacturing it was 9,039 shares at $1.04 and Paramount Trading 10,350 shares changing hands at $2.52.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are, Blue Power losing 5 cents to end at $9 with 150,000 shares, Lasco Distributors with 6,000 shares, closed with a loss of a cent, to end at $1.12 and Lasco Financial with 10,600 shares, closing 3 cents lower at 97 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
KLE Group 15.8m shares dominated JSE
In Tuesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, struggling junior market listed, KLE Group traded 15,846,209 units for a value of $15,85 million, as a few shareholders offloaded their holdings. The stock accounted for 76 percent of the volume traded during the day. The prices of 8 stocks rose and 3 declined as 25 securities changed hands, resulting in 20,967,566 shares trading, valued at $52,029,951.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 286.33 points to 71,912.74 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 320.17 points to 79,119.70.
Gains| The volume and last traded prices of stocks with gains, at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes with 500 shares to close with a gain of 9 cents at $4.59, Jamaica Broilers with 500 trading to close 1 cent higher at $4.53, National Commercial Bank 22,590 shares, closing 20 cents higher at $18.20 and Proven Investments ordinary share, traded 9,100 units for a gain of 0.10 US cent to end at 17.25 US cents.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price, with volume and last traded prices are, Caribbean Cement 2,500 units to close at $2.70, Ciboney with 4,000 shares at 7 cents, Grace Kennedy with 350 shares, ended at $60.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 12,500 units traded at $6.95, Pan Jamaican Investment had 36,815 units exchanged at $49, Sagicor Group 29,379 shares at $9.30 and Scotia Group with 15,512 shares at $19.
Declines| The volume and last traded prices of stocks with losses, at the at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras with 257,986 shares, lost 30 cents at $34.50 and Jamaica Producers with 1,272,314 shares lost 3 cents at $15.58.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share 241,000 closed at $3 and Proven Investments 8% preference share saw 71,400 units being exchanged at $5.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index gained 3.01 points to close at 656.87 as 10 stocks traded, with 3 advancing and 1 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market, are Cargo Handlers with 720 shares, to close with a gain of 20 cents at $14.10, Dolphin Cove had only 240 units changing hands, to close 50 cents up at $8.50 and Lasco Distributors traded 79,000 shares, with a 2 cent rise to $1.13.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are, Blue Power with 6,000 shares at $9.05, Jamaican Teas 4,000 units at $3.30, KLE 15,846,209 units at $1, Knutsford Express 3,188 shares at $5, Lasco Financial with 50,000 units, ended at $1 and Lasco Manufacturing had 3,000,961 shares trading at $1.04.
Declines| Just one stock declined in the junior market at the end of trading, as AMG Packaging lost 3 cents, in trading 802 units at $2.40.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
3 stocks rose & 1 fell on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange saw 13 securities changing hands, of which 3 advanced, 1 declined and 9 traded firm as 309,605 units changed hands, with a value of $4,092,638.
The Composite Index lost 0.09 points to close at 1,147.09, the All T&T Index fell by 0.18 points to close at 1,981.74 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 40.90.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Clico Investment Fund with 104,000 shares valued at $2,287,870 close up a cent at $22, First Citizens with 3,847 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents, at $35.98 and Guardian Holdings with 11,281 units at $13.51, to gain a cent.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Republic Bank which lost 6 cents, to close at $121.74, while trading 9,267 shares valued at $1,128.257.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 392 shares trading, to close at $12.75, followed Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 45,169 units, to end at 45 cents, Massy Holdings had 70 units changing hands at $68.49, National Flour Mills contributed 44,057 shares at $1.30, while National Commercial Bank added 35,000 shares to close at $1, Point Lisas Industrial Port Development with 51,789 shares changing hands for a value of $217,449, closed at $4.20, Prestige Holdings with 4,183 shares closed at $9.40, Sagicor Financial traded 500 units at $6.25 and Scotiabank had just 50 units trading at $61.90.
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 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Woefully poor trading levels on JSE
Trading on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, was slow, with very low volume and the number of active securities. The prices of 4 stocks rose and 5 declined as 19 securities changed hands, resulting in a mere 1,766,283 shares trading, valued at $$6,535,261.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell by 125.11 points to 71,626.41 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index dipped 139.90 points to close at 78,799.53.
Gains| The volume and last traded prices of stocks with gains, at the end of trading in the main market, are Jamaica Broilers in trading 46,360 units, closed at $4.52 by gaining 2 cents, Mayberry Investments with 2,040 shares to close with a gain of 3 cents at $1.70 and Scotia Group with 41,687 units to gain 5 cents to $19.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a price change, with volume and last traded prices, are Berger Paints with 3,799 shares closing at $1.60, Cable & Wireless with 4,348 units closed at 29 cents, Caribbean Cement 16,954 shares at $2.70, followed by Carreras with 6,120 units at $34.80, Ciboney put through only 2,000 shares at 7 cents, Grace Kennedy with 1,477 units, ended at $60.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers had only 1,833 units trading at $6.95 and Sagicor Group with 21,140 shares closed at $9.30.
Declines| The volume and last traded prices of stocks with losses at the at the end of trading in the main market, are, Hardware & Lumber with 600 shares, lost 51 cents to end at $6.50, Kingston Wharves with 57,191 units closed 2 cents less at $5, Radio Jamaica had 10,292 units changing hands, for the loss of a cent at $1.04 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed with 1,200 changing hands by losing 4 cents to close at $6.91.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 1,399,467 units at $3 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 38,000 units at $5.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.08 points to close at 653.86 as only 2 stocks traded with 1 advancing and 1 declining.
Gains| Caribbean Producers traded 110,775 shares to close 1 cent higher at $2.36 to be the only stocks recording an increase at the end of trading in the junior market.
Firm Trades| No active stock in the junior market, closed at the same price as the day before.
Declines| Blue Power is the sole stock to record a decline in price, as it traded 1,000 shares while losing 5 cents to $9.05.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Dividends steady at Scotia companies
Scotia Group Jamaica (SGJ) and its subsidiary, Scotia Investments Jamaica (SIJL), approved a third interim dividend for the current financial year ending October, to be paid on October 16, 2014.
SGJ dividend will pay 40 cents and SIJL 45 cents per stock unit, to stockholders on record at September 25, 2014. The stocks of both companies will trade ex-dividend, effective September 23, 2014. The payments are consistent with amounts previously paid, from 2013 on a quarterly basis.
Scotia Investments reports down profits
Scotia Investments Reports profit of $1.34 billion for the nine months to July and net profit for the quarter, of $504 million. For the year to July, profit is down $82 million or 6 percent from the same period last year, but up $89 million or 21 percent above the $415 million earned in the April quarter and down from $563 million in the 2013 quarter.
Earnings per share (EPS) for the period, is $3.17 compared to $3.36 for the same period last year, and should end up in the $4.40 range, by this October year end. Return on Average Equity (ROE) is 13.87 percent, down from 16.10 percent last year.
Operating Income, comprising net interest revenue and other income of $3.19 billion for the nine months, is down $48 million from the same period last year. Total operating income for the quarter was $1.13 billion, up $58 million or 5 percent recorded last quarter, Net income for the quarter of $580 million was flat quarter over quarter, but is down $113 million or 16.3 percent from the July 2013 quarter, due to a big jump in interest cost. Net interest income after impairment losses for the nine months period is $1.8 billion, down $288 million or 14 percent below the same period last year.
Non-Interest Income|Non-interest income, amounts to $1.4 billion for the period, up $240 million or 21 percent over the year to July 2013 and $549 million for the quarter, up $55 million or 11 percent compared with the last quarter; due primarily to gains on financial assets. The 2014 outturn represent an increase over the earnings of $486 million generated in 2013 July quarter. Non-interest income, includes fee income, securities trading gains and net foreign exchange trading income.
Total operating expenses for the period were $1.26 billion, up $50 million or 4 percent compared with the same period last year; $396 million for the quarter, down $47 million or 11 percent from last quarter due mainly with increased asset tax but the cost is up from the $366 million incurred in the 2013 quarter.
“Overall, our fund management business has grown 9 percent year over year; and our flagship money market fund, The Scotia Premium Money Market Fund has experienced a 105 percent increase year over year, with a net asset value of over $9 billion,” Lissant Mitchell, CEO of Scotia Investments said.
“Total assets of $73 billion remained flat year over year and quarter over quarter; consistent with our strategic initiative to focus on growth of our off-balance sheet portfolios. Assets under management including the company’s custody book were $135 billion as at the end of the period, up $21 billion or 18 percent above last year and $6 billion or 5 percent over last quarter. The growth was driven by the improved net asset values on managed funds.” The Investment Bankers reported to shareholders.
The company’s stock traded at $21.40 on Friday with a PE ratio of 4.75 that is low but presently reflects overall market conditions. There is not much supply on sales at current prices. The forward PE is lower than the above. The company’s performance is not electric presently but lower interest rates on government paper that has be falling since May and continue growth in their asset portfolio should have improve profits for 2015. As such the Buy Rated accolade remains.
Scotia Group’s profit down, future much brighter
Scotia Group Jamaica made profit of $2.6 billion for the third quarter ending July, $337 million above the previous quarter ended April but $278 million below the quarter ended July 2013 and $7.4 billion for the nine months period, down from $8.2 billion last year.
The group increased bad loan provisions by $130 million to $497 million for the quarter over April this year and an Increase of $320 million over the July 2013 level. For the nine months to date provisions for loans is up $550 million to $1.376 billion.
Operating expenses have been under control with an increase of 7.3 percent for the quarter and 6.7 percent year to date but this is much higher than the 2.7 percent increase in income, net of interest cost for the quarter, and 1.4 percent increase for the nine months to July. “This is due primarily to higher staff related costs of $279 million and operating expenses of $579 million, reflecting an increase in the asset tax of $498 million, resulting from the recent increase in the rates,” management said in their report to investors.
The group would have enjoyed higher income from foreign exchange trading in 2013, as the value of the Jamaica dollar slipped more than it has done during the current period, leading to a $300 million decline for this line item. Importantly, while gross interest income was flat, at $15 billion up to April versus 2013, it has grown in the July quarter, due to the stronger loan growth.
Earnings per share (EPS) for the nine months is $2.36 compared to $2.64 for the same period last year and seems set to report $3.45 for the full year ending October and $4.50 for the next fiscal year.
The Return on Average Equity was 13.74 percent, down from 16.67 percent last year.
Scotia approved a third interim dividend of 40 cents per stock unit payable on October 16.
Total assets increased year over year by $12.5 billion or 3.2 percent to $401 billion, due primarily to growth in the loan portfolio of $13.6 billion. Loans grew by 10 percent since July 2013, to hit $144.6 billion. More importantly, while loans grew only by $2 billion up to April from October last year, it jumped $8 billion in the latest quarter, a 20 percent increase, annualised, putting it on track for a big surge in lending going forward if maintained, and strong growth in profits, as well. Deposit declined marginally to $197 billion at the same time. The stock remains Buy Rated.
Declines & advances even as JSE continues sideways
In Friday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of 7 stocks rose and 7 declined as 24 securities changed hands, resulting in 3,072,116 units trading, valued at $22,272,471.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell by 550.24 points to 71,751.52 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index dived 615.26 points, to close at 78,939.43.
Gains| The volume and last traded prices of stocks with gains, at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement with 7,975 shares to close with a gain of 20 cents at $2.70, Pan Jamaican Investment had 2,552 units changing hands to gain 42 cents at $49, Proven Investments ordinary share, traded 322,428 units to gain 0.15 US cents to end at 17 US cents and Radio Jamaica had just 483 units changing ownership and gained a cent to $1.05.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with volume and last traded prices are, Berger Paints with 34,975 units, closed at $1.60, Cable & Wireless had just 33,384 shares trading, in closing at 29 cents, Grace Kennedy put through 684 units to close at $60.50, Jamaica Broilers 172,852 shares traded at $4.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers ordinary, traded 217,974 shares to close at $6.95, National Commercial Bank with 50,450 shares closed at $18, Scotia Group enjoyed the exchange of 136,580 shares at $18.95 and Seprod 1,037 shares went through at $11.
Declines| The volume and last traded prices of stocks with losses at the at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes with 115,228 shares, while losing 15 cents to end at $4.50, Kingston Wharves 3,500 shares was traded at 48 cents lower, to end at $5.02, Mayberry Investments with 4,080 units passing through the market, lost 23 cents to end at $1.67, Sagicor Group with 602,981 shares, lost 10 cents to end at $9.30 and Scotia Investments with 4,100 units changing hands, closed $2.60 down at $21.40.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 80,500 units at $3 and the 7.50% preference share, traded 1,000,000 units at $2.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index, declined by 12.30 points to close at 653.94 as only 4 stocks traded, with 3 advancing and 1 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market, are Blue Power with 5,000 shares, gaining 5 cents to $9.10, Lasco Financial with 81,000 units traded, to close 8 cents higher at $1 and Lasco Manufacturing with 15,348 shares, close with a gain of 11 cents at $1.04.
Firm Trades| There were no active stocks in the junior market that that closed at the same price as the day before.
Declines| Lasco Distributors with 146,506 shares was the sole security declining in the junior market, at the end of trading, the price slipped a cent to end at $1.11.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower. An indication that the market is moving sideways for now.