The last trading day of 2015 saw mixed fortune for the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange with 2 stocks rising and 2 declining as the market closed with 10 active securities with the prices of 6 remaining unchanged. A total of 285,623 shares changed hands valued at $826,260.
The Composite Index ended with a gain of 0.44 points to 1,162.30, the All T&T Index fell 0.05 points to 1,948 50 and the Cross Listed Index rose 0.12 points to end at 49.51.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading there are signs that the number of stocks gaining could rise with IC Bid indicator showing an increase number of stocks with higher bids than in recent trading days. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| JMMB Group gained 2 cents in trading 235,000 shares to close at 55 cents and Trinidad and Tobago NGL gained 7 cents, to end at $21.50 with 25,000 shares changing hands valued at $537,500.
Declines| Scotiabank closed with 500 shares changing hands with a 1 cent loss to end at $61.94 and Trinidad Cement closed with a loss of 1 cent at $3.99 with 100 shares changing hands.
Firm Trades| Trading in First Citizens ended with 939 units changing hands to close at $35, Grace Kennedy had 7,212 units changing hands at $4.05, Guardian Holdings ended with 260 shares trading at $13.25. National Commercial Bank closed at $2.10 while trading 14,610 shares and National Flour Mills contributed 300 shares in closing at $2.70 and Sagicor Financial Corporation traded 372 shares and closed at $6.20
TTSE ends 2015 mixed
TTSE up last Monday of 2015
Grace closed at a new high on TTSE on Monday
The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange commenced the last week of trading for 2015 on a positive note, closing with 12 active securities. Activity ended with price of 4 stocks rising, none declining and 8 remaining unchanged as 190,841 shares changed hands valued at $2,606,951.
The Composite Index ended with a gain of 0.61 points to 1,160.03, the All T&T Index gained 0.20 points to 1,947.78 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.14 points to end at 48.99.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Grace Kennedy gained 5 cents with 4,889 units changing hands at $4.05, Guardian Holdings with 7,613 shares changing hands and closed at $13.25 after rising 5 cents, JMMB Group traded 10,672 shares with a gain of 2 cents to end at 53 cents and Republic Financial Holdings rose 2 cents and ended with 500 shares at $111.91.
Declines| There were no declining stocks on Monday.
Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund closed with just 127,180 shares changing hands to end at $22.75, 
First Citizens traded 7,475 units, to close at $35, Guardian Media traded 4,364 shares with the price remaining at $19.75, Massy Holdings ended at $61.47 while trading 10,065 shares with a value of $618,645. National Commercial Bank traded 8,931 shares at $2.05, Scotiabank closed with 215 shares changing hands unchanged at $61.98, Trinidad Cement closed at $4 with 317 shares changing hands and Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed at $21 with 87,518 shares valued at $1,837,878 changing hands.
First Citizens dominates TTSE – Wednesday
First Citizens dominated trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday, accounting for $7 million of trades. The market closed with 11 active securities and the price of 3 stocks rose, with one at a new high, 1 fell and 7 remained unchanged.
At the close, activity ended with 488,982 shares changing hands valued at $10,645,968, the Composite Index ended with a rise of 0.79 points to 1,159.25, the All T&T Index declined 1.00 points to 1,947.54 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.35 points to end at 48.81.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| First Citizens traded 199,910 units valued at $6,995,474 to close with a 2 cents gain ta $35, Grace Kennedy had 111,963 units valued at $447,852 changing hands at a 52 weeks’ high of $4, for a 38 cents gain and ended gaining of 1 cent, with 1,000 shares trading to close at $126.26.
Declines| The sole stock trading is Trinidad Cement that lost 15 cents to end at $4 with 25,878 shares.
Firm Trades| Clico Investments traded 44,900 shares valued at $1,021,532 to close at $22.75, JMMB Group traded 50,000 shares at 51 cents, National Commercial Bank traded 13,322 shares at $2.05, Republic Financial Holdings, the new entity holding shares in Republic Bank, ended with 10,658 shares valued at $1,192,534 changing hands at $111.89. Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed at $21 with 30,350 shares changing hands, valued at $637,350 and Unilever Caribbean ended with 1,000 shares trading at $68.49.
Falling TTSE stocks still dominant – Wednesday
Massy Holdings ended at a new 52 weeks’ low on Wednesday
At the close, the Composite Index ended with a fall of 1.54 points to 1,160.59, the All T&T Index fell 2.99 points to 1,949.96 and the Cross Listed Index slipped just 0.01 points to 48.84.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| First Citizens Bank gained 1 cents while 150 shares changed hands, at $34.99, Guardian Holdings traded 10,493 shares with a gain of 3 cents to end at $13.10 and Unilever rose 5 cents with 1,146 units changing hands at a 52 weeks’ high of $68.25.
Declines| Agostini’s traded 18,360 shares with a value of $314,679 but lost 20 cents, to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $17, Massy Holdings traded 80,589 units with a value of $4,958,715 but lost 7 cents to end at a 52 weeks low of $61.53. National Enterprises closed with 2,510 shares changing hands, lost 2 cents, to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $16.37, Sagicor Financial lost 1 cent to close with 200 shares changing hands at $6.15.
Scotiabank with 3,615 shares closed at $61.99, Trinidad and Tobago NGL slipped 11 cents in trading 1,500 units to close at a 52 weeks low of $21 and West Indian Tobacco suffered a loss of 22 cents to close at $126 with 6,006 shares valued at $758,092 changing hands.Firm Trades| Clico Investments traded 18,172 units valued at $413,417 to close at $22.75, National Commercial Bank ended with 39,202 units changing hands at $2.10, National Flour had 8,995 shares changing hands, to close at $2.70, One Caribbean Media traded 50 shares at $22 and Trinidad Cement closed at $4.20 with 15,850 shares changing hands.
9 down on TTSE – Tuesday
Massy Holdings ended at a new 52 weeks’ low on Tuesday
At the close, the Composite Index ended with a fall of 1.82 points to 1,162.13, the All T&T Index fell 0.60 points to 1,952.95 and the Cross Listed Index slipped just 0.42 points to 48.85.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 9 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Guardian Holdings traded 6,872 shares with a gain of 4 cents to end at $13.07 to be the sole stock rising, at the close of the market.
Declines| Agostini’s traded 13,500 shares with a loss of 4 cents, to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $17.20. Angostura Holdings ended with 200 shares changing hands with a loss of 1 cent at $13.97, First Citizens Bank ended with 520 shares changing hands, with a loss of 2 cents at $34.98, Massy Holdings traded 21,828 units but lost 6 cents to end at a 52 weeks low of $61.60.
National Commercial Bank ended with 100,000 units changing hands with a loss of 6 cents at $2.10, National Flour lost 1 cent with 250 shares changing hands, to close at $2.70, Republic Bank suffered a loss of 5 cents to close at $111.95 with 57 shares changing hands. Scotiabank with 5,535 shares closed at $61.99 having a loss of 1 cent and Trinidad and Tobago NGL slipped 11 cents in trading 1,830 units to close at a 52 weeks low of $$21.39.Firm Trades| Clico Investments traded 14,838 shares to close at $22.75, Guardian Media traded 288 shares at $19.76 and Unilever had 3,597 units changing hands at $68.20.
NCB drops back on TTSE – Friday
National Commercial Bank retreated from the 52 weeks’ high reached on Thursday in trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange when the market closed on Friday. Activity ended with 9 active securities as the prices of only 3 rose, 4 declined and 2 traded unchanged. The volume changing hands was 657,676 shares for a value of $2,324,384.
At the close, the Composite Index ended with a fall of 3.36 points to 1,164.24, the All T&T Index fell 0.76 points to 1,954.41 and the Cross Listed Index slipped 0.81 points to 49.23.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with the bids higher than the last selling price and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Grace Kennedy ended with a gain of 1 cent at $3.62 while 1,000 shares changed hands, Massy Holdings with a volume of 286 shares gained 1 cent in closing at $61.66 and Sagicor Financial gained 1 cent and ended with 3,000 shares changing hands at $6.17.
Declines| National Commercial Bank lost 20 cents while trading 437,722 shares valued at $943,898 to close at $2.10. 
National Flour closed with the loss of 1 cent with 18,535 shares changing hands at $2.74, Trinidad and Tobago NGL traded 2,340 shares and lost 1 cents to close at $21.49 and Trinidad Cement ended with a loss of 4 cents at $4.47 while 10,000 shares traded.
Firm Trades| Clico Investments traded 15,257 shares to close at $22.75 valued at $347,089 and FirstCaribbean International Bank traded 169,535 shares valued at $847,685 and closed at $5.
New NCB high on TTSE – Wednesday
NCB closed at a new 52 weeks’ high on the TTSE on Wednesday
At the close, the Composite Index ended with a rise 0.46 points to 1,164.57 the All T&T Index fell 1.36 points to 1,955.19 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.31 points to 49.21.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bids higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| National Commercial Bank rose by 9 cents while trading 55,553 shares to close at $2.20 for a 52 weeks’ high.
Declines| Scotiabank ended with 2,276 shares with a fall of 50 cents changing hands at $62 and Trinidad Cement traded 6,479 units and closed at $4.50 after losing 5 cents.
Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund posted 5,430 shares and closed at $22.75, First Citizens Bank traded 6,323 shares to close at $35, FirstCaribbean International Bank traded 30,000 shares and closed at $5. Grace Kennedy traded 2,255 units to end at $3.61, Guardian Holdings ended at $13.03 with 425 units changing hands, JMMB Group closed with 324 shares changing hands at 50 cents and Trinidad and Tobago NGL traded 55,755 shares valued at $1,198,733, to close at $21.50.
6 stocks rose on TTSE – Tuesday
NCB closed at a new high of TT$2.11 on Tuesday on the TTSE
At the close, the Composite Index ended with a rise 1.74 points to 1,164.11 the All T&T Index fell 1.44 points to 1,956.55 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.68 points to 48.90.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bids higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Guardian Holdings gained 3 cents to end at $13.03 with 500 units changing hands, JMMB Group closed with 280,876 shares changing hands at 50 cents, after rising 3 cents, National Commercial Bank rose by 11 cents while trading 200,000 shares carrying a value of $422,000 at $2.11, for a 52 weeks’ high. Scotiabank ended with 18,025 shares with a value of $1,125,890 changing hands at $62.50 after climbing 50 cents, Sagicor Financial ended with 39,287 units changing hands, 1 cent up at $6.15 and Unilever closed with a rise of 2 cents with 300 shares changing hands at $68.20 for a 52 weeks’ high.
Declines| Agostini’s traded 1,000 shares at $17.25 with a fall of 74 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low. Grace Kennedy dropped 14 cents while trading 14,201 units with a value of $512,143 at $3.61,
Massy Holdings traded 555 shares and lost 27 cents in closing at $61.65 to a new 52 weeks’ low and Trinidad Cement traded 11,540 units and closed at $4.55 after losing 13 cents.Firm Trades| Clico Investment Fund posted 537 shares and closed at $22.75, First Citizens Bank traded 516 shares to close at $35, National Enterprises closed with 1,830 shares changing hands at $16.39. National Flour closed with 2,800 shares changing hands at $2.75 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL traded 179,025 shares valued at $3,849,037, to close at $21.50.
2 up 3 fall on TTSE – Friday
Sagicor Financial rose on TTSE
At the close, the Composite Index ended with a rise 0.01 points to 1,162.32 the All T&T Index inched up by 0.38 points to 1,957.98 and the Cross Listed Index fell 0.05 points to 48.21.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bids higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund posted just 5,790 shares and closed at $22.72 after rising by 3 cents and Sagicor Financial ended 5 cents higher with 26,613 units changing hands at $6.15.
Declines| JMMB Group traded 5,514 shares and lost 2 cents in closing at 47 cents,
Trinidad Cement ended at $4.68 after declining by 2 cents, with 13,637 units changing hands and Trinidad and Tobago NGL lost 1 cent, in trading 24,847 shares valued at $534,278, to close at $21.50.Firm Trades| Berger Paints traded 60 units at $3.67, First Citizens Bank traded 1,086 shares to close at $35, National Flour with 40,139 shares closed at $2.75, One Caribbean Media traded 1,353 shares at $22, and Republic Bank ended with 466 shares changing hands at $112.99 and Scotia Investments closed with 679 shares changing hands unchanged at $1.59.
Poor Carib capital market regulation
The glaring case of the abuse of power exercised by the Trinidad Cement board in the handling of the company’s right issue earlier this year, stands out as a clear case for regulatory action to protect investors. In this matter the company failed to properly inform shareholders of a strong improvement in the profit of the a for the first quarter and made it worse with Price Waterhouse Coopers signing a report that gave the impression that there was no profit for the quarter.
In Jamaica, we have a Financial Services Commission (FSC) that is said to be the regulator for the financial entities not regulated by Bank of Jamaica, much is lacking from them, their inaction in matters of critical import makes one wonder what taxpayers money given to them is really being used for?
When it comes to the FSC, one is reminded of a police station located across from a house of crime but does nothing, unless the neighbours complain about it. Here is a case be it small. One of the FSC regulated entities is late with its 2015 results, the company issued a statement to the stock exchange to say they would be late in releasing the audited statements and the audited figures would be released on December 4. They also had the lateness of the audited accounts in 2014, with December 5th being the promised date. Now the public is being told that Barita Investments Limited (BIL) the entity involved has advised that the Audited Financial Statements for the financial year-end 2014/2015 will be submitted to the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE)on or before December 29, 2015. That is a major shift in the time frame. No reason was given in the notice on the stock exchange site. The investing public has a right to know the reason for the lateness. The FSC that regulates the market, should be interested in knowing what the reasons are as well, but there is not even a peep out of them?
IC Insider spoke with Mrs Rita Humphries, Chairman of the company on Wednesday December 9, about the issues affecting the release and subsequently, the last posting was made on the JSE website. According to the Chairman, there were issues relating to reconciliation of a few accounts which required adjusting entries to be made. Barita had them reconciled and the auditors needed to go through the information and transactions to satisfy themselves that the end result is correct. Additionally, the auditors advised of none receipt of confirmation from clients some of which had already been sent on to the auditors we are advised. Last year the audit was held up by a difference of opinion between the auditors and the Barita over the issue of fully providing for the value of shares Barita held in Scotia Group on the basis the auditors said was the impairment of the investment. This was after they fully provided for the value of Barita’s investment in National Commercial Bank shares.
All this bring one back to the glaring errors in the audited accounts for Knutsford Express audited accounts for 2014 and 2015 for which there have been no request for revision of the reports, why? Are these regulators really serious in protecting investors? Take the most recent case of tTech. The prospectus for the company’s shares, made no mention of subscribers being asked to pay the JCSD fees. One day before the issue opens, a note is placed on the JSE website that the fee is to be paid by subscribers, even as the prospectus states that investors would not be paying any more than the $2.50, the shares were offered to the general public at. The JSE clearly did not intervene to prevent a chaotic situation from happening with some applicant including the fee and others did not as they were unaware of it. Thankfully, the management and brokers were sensitive to the issue and agreed to refund those who paid.
The FSC and the Stock Exchange police the system when companies are going to the public to raise money, but what happens after, very little? Goodyear was delisted from the JSE, shareholders got two payments form liquidation of the assets but about three years after, no information but there are no regulators dealing with the issue anymore, leaving many small investors to fend for themselves. That is not good enough.