Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 14 securities changing hands, of which 3 advanced, 1 declined and 10 traded firm with a total of 496,344 units, valued at $1,150,956. At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.04 points to close at 1,146.52, the All T&T Index fell by 0.07 just points to close at 1,962.08 and the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 43.38.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Unilever Caribbean with a 4 cents gain to $64.15 after trading 133 units to close at a new 52 week’ high, National Commercial Bank with 450,000 shares changing hands for a value of $450,000 closed 2 cents higher at $1 and West Indian Tobacco put on 5 cents to end at $118.61 while trading 300 shares.
Declines| The only stock declining at the end of trading is, One Caribbean Media added 4,235 shares valued at $106,383, falling 13 cents to end at $25.12.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 8,137 shares valued at $101,713, traded at $12.50, Clico Investment Fund with 2,970 shares valued at $65,637 ended at $22.10, First Citizens Bank had 1,940 shares trading to end at $36.75, Guardian Holdings had 3,000 units trading at $13.50, Massy Holdings traded 2,134 shares at $68.55, National Enterprises 302 shares ended at $17.50, National Flour Mills 1,000 closed at $1.10, followed by Scotiabank traded 1,547 shares at $58 and Scotia Investments with a volume of 20,646 shares being traded at $1.40.
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 only 1 stock with the offer lower.
14 stocks traded on TTSE
Republic trades big but Is Scotia bottoming?
Scotiabank traded nearly 30,000 shares on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Tuesday, making it the fourth largest trade since 236,520 units were traded on May 22 at $70, just before the bank released its six months result, showing a sharp fall in profit for its second quarter. Prior to today’s trade, Scotia traded 200,069 units at $68.94, on July 9 and 40,719 shares on July 31, at $66.74 each.
The next closest volume, was a trade of 25,042 units at $60.80, on September 25. The amount traded today has been on offer from October 24 at $58. The big question, is the end of the decline from $70 which started in May, coming to an end? At the close there was a bid to buy only 100 units at $57.50 and a small offer to sell 317 units at $58. The PE ratio of the stock is just over 16 times this year’s earnings, and is close to Republic Banks PE, suggesting that the decline may not have long to run, but buying ahead of the October year end results, may be tempered while the release is pending. Regardless, Investors should be putting this one on their Watch List, now that the price has declined a fair amount.
The Market closed with 14 securities changing hands of which 2 advanced, 3 declined and 9 traded firm, with a total of only 261,908 units, valued at $15,296,503, with Republic accounted for $12 million of the trade, down from Mondays $15.7 million.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.62 points to close at 1,146.56, the All T&T Index fell by 1.25 points to close at 1,962.15 and the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 43.38.
Gains| Trinidad Cement had 3,949 shares trading, gained 1 cent to end at $2.01 and West Indian Tobacco climbed 4 cents to end the day at $118.56 while trading only 50 shares. The company announced an increased final dividend for 2014 of $1.39, up from $1.07 last year.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings that added 9,627 shares valued at $120,338 to end with a fall of 3 cents at $12.50, First Citizens Bank traded 6,519 shares to close with a loss of 5 cents at $36.75, Republic Bank with 100,076 shares changing hands for a value of $12,084,190, suffered a loss, of 35 cents to close at $120.75.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Ansa McAL with 3,525 shares to close at $66.15, Clico Investment Fund with 29,360 shares valued at $648,856 to end at $22.10, Guardian Holdings contributed 5,812 shares at $13.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 50,000 shares being closed at 45 cents, Massy Holdings traded 386 shares at $68.55, One Caribbean Media with 1,150 units, closed at $25.25, Praetorian Property Mutual Fund traded 20,000 units to remain at $3.40, Prestige Holdings closed at $9.55 after trading 1,906 shares and Scotiabank contributed 29,548 shares with a value of $1,713,784 to end at $58.
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 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Investors spend $15.7m on Republic’s shares
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Monday, closed with Republic Bank accounting for $15.7 million worth of shares traded, but the stock price declined at the close. There were 14 securities changing hands on the first trading day of the week, 3 advanced in price, 5 declined and 6 traded firm, with a total of 665,955 units, valued at $19,599,985.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index declined by 0.47 points to close at 1,147.18, the All T&T Index fell 0.93 points to end at 1,963.40 and the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 43.38.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, First Citizens Bank traded 1,665 shares and gained 4 cents to close at $36.80, One Caribbean Media increasing 13 cents to end the day at $25.25, in spite of a slight decline in earnings for the year to September of 3 percent to reach $57.8 million and 17.5 percent reduction in the September quarter to $18.4 million. Conversely, West Indian Tobacco gained 2 cents to land at $118.52, while 70 units traded. Profit before taxation for the nine months ended 30 September, climbed 13 percent to $436 million, over the corresponding period in 2013 and profit after tax for the nine months is $329 million, reflecting an increase of 16 percent over 2013. Profit after tax rose 9 percent in the September quarter over that of 2013 as revenues declined slightly.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 2,210 shares, declined by 2 cents to close at $12.53, National Enterprises contributed 39,978 shares with a value of $699,615, closing down 4 cents at $17.50, a 52 weeks’ low, National Commercial Bank with 401,176 shares changing hands for a value of $401,152 to end down 2 cents to 98 cents, National Flour traded 3,000 shares to close with the loss of 4 cents to $1.10, Republic Bank with 130,000 shares traded for $15,743,000 lost 10 cents to end at $121.10
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAL added 18,349 shares valued at $1,213,786 and closed at $66.15, Clico Investment Fund with 60,618 shares valued at $1,340,545 to end at $22.11, Guardian Holdings traded 3,167 shares to close $13.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers had 500 shares changing hands at 45 cents, Massy Holdings traded 22 shares to close at $68.55, Trinidad Cement with 3,200 shares ended at $2.
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 only 1 stock with the offer that is lower.
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.
5 stocks up only 1 falls on TTSE
With power outage disrupting trading on Wednesday, 11 securities changed hands on the Trinidad Stock Exchange, 5 of which advanced, 1 declined and 5 traded firm, with a total of 237,325 units, valued at $7,058,629.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index closed unchanged at 1,148.44, the All T&T Index fell by just 0.01 point to close at 1,965.83 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 43.39.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Clico Investment Fund with 50,000 shares valued at $1,104,462 to advance 4 cents to $22.10, First Citizens Bank traded 2,655 shares at $36.76, to close with a gain of 2 cents, Point Lisas that traded 81 shares to close with a gain of 1 cent at $4.01, Trinidad Cement with 116,152 shares changing hands, for a value of $232,304, increased 6 cents to end at $2 and West Indian Tobacco ended trading at $118.32 up 6 cents with 1,925 shares traded.
Declines| Massy Holdings traded 150 shares to close with a 1 cent loss at $68.55.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAL with 5,000 shares at $66.15 valued at $330,750, Guardian Holdings contributed 9,193 shares with a value of $124,105 to close at $13.50, while Jamaica Money Market Brokers had 5,000 units changing hands at 45 cents, Republic Bank with 40,039 shares traded for $4,854,613 at $121.25 and Sagicor Financial Corporation added 6,630 shares at $6.20.
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 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Profit continues at TCL but equity needed
Profit for Trinidad Cement’s third quarter improved over the second quarter, with net profits of $30 million up from $18.7 million in the June quarter and just $6 million in the similar quarter in 2013. For the nine months to September, profit for the group’s shareholders amounted to $60 million versus $69 million in 2013.
The 2014 figures reflect cost of nearly $29 million associated with an attempt at restructuring the heavy debt the company has, but the 2013 results benefited from a tax credit of $27 million.The profit flowed from revenues of TT$514 million for the September quarter, an increase of only 3.6 percent from $496 million in 2013, and for the nine month in 2014, the Group recorded growth in revenue of $97 million or 6.5 percent, to reach $1.587 billion. “This improvement was driven by growth in the domestic cement markets in Trinidad and Jamaica, whilst the Barbados market remained relatively flat. In addition, concrete sales improved by 12.3 percent. In Jamaica, Caribbean Cement was able to supply 80,300 tonnes of clinker to Venezuela. Price increases were implemented in Trinidad, Jamaica and Guyana,“ management stated in a release with the financial report.
Net finance costs fell by $30 million, due to lower foreign exchange losses of $15.4 million and lower net interest cost of $14.3 million to hit $144 million for the nine months period. Finance cost fell to $47 million in the September quarter, compared with $51 million in 2013.
Operating Profit before Interest, taxes, depreciation and non-recurring items from continuing operations increased by $31 million or 9.6 percent to $125 million in the latest quarter and was $326 million for the nine months, to September versus $326 million in 2013. According to management “the increased revenue was eroded by escalating costs in Jamaica due to the depreciation of the Jamaican dollar and increased operating costs in Barbados.”
Earnings per Share amounted to 24.4 cents compared with 28.2 cents for the nine months period in 2013, but the latter was boosted by a large tax credit. For the quarter earnings per share amounted to 13 cents from continuing business.
Management stated that “The operations of Premix & Precast Concrete Inc. (Barbados), a subsidiary of Readymix West Indies, was discontinued in September due to the prolonged operating losses at this location, resulting in a loss of $3.4 million recorded for the quarter and $4.2 million for the nine months of 2014.”
The Board stated that they are currently negotiating with the financiers to have a restructured loan agreement. Negotiations are also in progress between the Company and the trade union to have an agreement with regard to retroactive payments for the expired collective agreements. A comprehensive financial and operational review of the Group is in progress and a restructuring plan, which seeks to secure the long-term viability of the Company, is scheduled to be completed by October.
The debt at the end of 2013 was just under $2 billion all of which has been switched to current liabilities as a result of the default occasioned by the decision of the company to suspend payment on the debt pending negotiation of the terms. Equity stood at $570 million at the end of September, well below the debt. All amounts are in TT dollars.
Trinidad Cement is list on the Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana, Eastern Caribbean and Barbados stock exchanges.
7 stocks rose on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 16 securities changing hands of which 7 advanced, 4 declined and 5 traded firm with a total of 331,788 units, valued at $4,120,839.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.60 points to close at 1,148.91, the All T&T Index rose 0.15 points to close at 1,966.49 and the Cross Listed Index increased by 0.14 points to end at 43.43.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, First Citizens Bank traded 761 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents to end at $36.74, Grace Kennedy contributed 55,912 shares with a value of $211,370, to close at $3.85, up by 10 cents, Guardian Holdings traded 22,500 units to close at $13.50, National Commercial Bank added 50,000 shares valued at $50,500 and closed at $1.01 to gain a cent, Sagicor Financial Corporation with a volume of 60,085 shares traded for $374,653 and closed at $6.25 in gaining 6 cents, Trinidad Cement with 95,656 shares changing hands for a value of $184,626 the price rose 8 cents to end the day at $1.94 and West Indian Tobacco traded 15,000 units valued at $1,773,900 to end 3 cents up, at $118.26
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Berger Paints traded 1,000 units closed at $3.61, down 4 cents National Enterprises lost, 5 cents to close at $17.55 when trading 1,044 shares, One Caribbean Media traded 2,991 units at 8 cents down to $25.12 and Scotiabank with just 200 shares ended down a cent at a new 52 weeks’ low at $58.49.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA Mcal 200 shares ended trading at $66.15, Clico Investment Fund with 6,932 shares valued at $152,851 to end at $22.05, Massy Holdings with 13,007 shares at $68.56, Prestige Holdings with 2,500 shares at $9.55 and L.J. Williams B 4,000 shares at 90 cents.
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.
Scotia sinks again more coming – TTSE
Friday’s trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange was negatively affected by a drop in the price to $58.50. The stock which has fallen from a high of $72 seems set to decline further, based on the closing bid which is weak, with only 100 shares on the bid at $57.50 and 4,982 units on the offer to sell at $58.50.
In overall trading, there were 10 securities changing hands, of which 3 advanced, 3 declined and 4 traded firm, with 255,055 units being dealt in, valued at $4,441,512.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 1.73 points to close at 1,148.31, the All T&T Index declined by 3.38 points to close at 1,966.34 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 43.29.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Angostura Holdings trading 90 shares to close with a gain of 1 cent to end at $12.51, First Citizens Bank with a volume of 3,054 shares traded for $112,142 to close at $36.72 with a gain of 2 cents and West Indian Tobacco contributing 2,264 shares with a value of $267,673 and gained a cent, at $118.23.
Declines| Stocks declining at the end of trading are, Grace Kennedy with 500 shares, fell a cent to $3.75, One Caribbean Media with 106,757 shares changing hands for a value of $2,682,529, lost 2 cents to end at $25.20 and Scotiabank traded 200 shares and lost 98 cents to close at $58.50.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund with 21,400 shares valued at $472,032, closed at $22.05, National Flour Mills 414 shares ended at $1.18, Sagicor Financial Corporation 6.5% US$ preference share, traded 120,000 units at US$1.13 and Unilever Caribbean with 376 units closed at $64.11.
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 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Dehring now Caribbean Cement chair
Christopher Dehring has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Caribbean Cement (CCC) Company and its subsidiaries, effective October 14, 2014, a release from the company stated.
The appointment is in line with IC Insiders report, that he seems slated for the post following the shake-up of the board of CCC’s parent company, Trinidad Cement. The company also reports that Messers Parris Lyew-Ayee and Dehring have also been appointed members of the Board Audit Committee.
After a long running battle between a group of disgruntled shareholders and the former board of Trinidad Cement, the way was cleared for an extraordinary general meeting to be held in August which ousted a number of directors from that board, as well as the CEO Rollin Bertrand. This led three members of the CCC board to hand in their resignations, including its former chairman, Brain Young.
Firstcaribbean jumps 50c pushes TTSE
Firstcaribbean jumped 50 cents on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Thursday helping to ush the main index and the cross listed index, but with only a small volume. At the close the bid to buy was ta $4.75 with the offer at $5.50.
Elsewhere, Scotiabank that has tumbled from over $70, seems set to fall further, as there is an offer to sell 1,500 units at $59 compared to the last price of $59.48. The bid is to buy 200 units at $58. In overall trading activity, 11 securities changed hands of which 4 advanced, 4 declined and 3 traded firm, with dealing in only 48,851 units valued at $2,020,168.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 8.33 points to close at 1,150.04, thanks mostly to the 50 cents jump in the price of Firstcaribbean International share. The All T&T Index gained 0.18 points to close at 1,969.72 and the Cross Listed Index increased by 2.20 points to end at 43.29.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Firstcaribbean International Bank, gained 50 cents to end the day at $5.50, while trading only 225 shares, First Citizens Bank contributed 4,200 shares with a value of $154,010 in gaining 10 cents, to $36.70, Unilever, traded 1,157 units to gain 2 cents, in closing at a new 52 weeks’ high of $64.11 and West Indian Tobacco closed at $118.22, up a cent with 285 shares.
Declines| Stocks declining at the end of trading are, Massy Holdings with 23,242 shares changing hands for a value of $1,593,501 to close at $68.56, down 4 cents, One Caribbean Media had 600 units trading at $25.22, for an 11 cents fall, while Republic Bank traded 12 units and suffered a loss, of 6 cents to close at $121.50, Sagicor Financial Corporation added 4,000 shares valued at $24,760 in losing 6 cents, to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.19.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 150 shares at $12.50, Clico Investment Fund with 4,580 shares valued at $100,989 remaining at $22.05 and Trinidad Cement with 10,400 shares traded at the close at $1.86.
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 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
