Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange was with 13 securities changing hands of which 4 advanced, 1 declined and 8 traded firm with a total of 510,508 units, valued at $2,696,066.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.72 points to close at 1,153.12, the All T&T Index gained 1.43 points to close at 1,968.24 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 44.32.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, First Citizens Bank trading only 277 shares, to close with a gain of 1 cent at $35.77. Guardian Holdings with 26,723 shares trading for $378,664, ended with a gain of 2 cents at $14.17, Massy Holdings trading 121 shares to close with a gain of 5 cents at $63.42 and Trinidad Cement with 395,056 shares changing hands for a value of $1,145,163, gained 15 cents to end the day at $2.90.
Declines| Clico Investment Fund is the sole stock declining at the end of trading with 29,500 shares valued at $665,031 but declined by 1 cent to end at $22.54.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged are, Agostini’s trading 500 shares traded at $17.25, Ansa Merchant Bank contributed 3,871 shares to close unchanged at $38.90, Grace Kennedy trading 1,100 units to close at $3.49. JMMB Group trading 12,000 shares to end at 50 cents, One Caribbean Media with just 10 shares changing hands, closed at $22.30, Prestige Holdings added 17,300 shares valued at $173,006 to close at $10, Republic Bank with 50 shares, closed at $115 and Sagicor Financial Corporation contributed 24,000 shares with a value of $141,600 and closed at $5.90.
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 1 with a lower offer.
Light trading as 4 stocks rose
One Caribbean’s flat profit
One Caribbean Media out of Trinidad is reporting flat profit of $17 million, for the first quarter of this year, from a fall in revenues of $116.7 million compared with $121 million in 2014.
The results were helped by slightly lower administrative cost of $18.9 million versus $19.8 million in 2014 and a small decline in corporate taxes. The results translates to earnings per share of 24 cents. For 2014 the company had earnings of $1.23 per share. For 2015 earnings should remain at the 2014 level.
The company that publishes newspapers and operates TV and radio stations in Trinidad, has equity capital of $686 million with cash funds of $128 million and total liabilities of $145 million. One Caribbean is going to continue to face challenges for a while, with tightness and slow growth in Trinidad, made worse by the sharp fall off in the price of oil, one of the country’s main products.
The stock was once on the BUY RATED list but was removed after it appreciated fully in 2013. The stock last traded on the Trinidad and Tobago Exchange at $22.30, giving it a pretty rich PE of 18.
No decline Monday on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange remains moderate, but ended with 11 securities changing hands, of which 4 advanced, none declined and 6 traded firm, with a total of 495,879 units, valued at $1,443,300.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index advanced by 1.11 points to 1,151.97, the All T&T Index rose 1.54 points to close at 1,967.92 and the Cross Listed Index increased by 0.09 points to close at 44.05.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, JMMB Group with 363,145 shares changing hands for a value of $163,428 to close 3 cents higher at 43 cents, Massy Holdings trading 931 shares to close at $63.37 with a gain of 26 cents. Scotiabank traded 3,367 shares valued at $213,198 to close with a gain of 3 cents and end at $62.33 and Trinidad Cement with 84,445 shares trading for $224,679 to end with a 16 cents gain to $2.77.
Declines| No stocks declined at the end of trading on Monday.
Firm Trades|Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Ansa Merchant Bank with 1,000 shares at $38.95, Clico Investment Fund traded 7,480 shares valued at $168,674 with the price remaining at $22.55. 
First Citizens Bank traded 2,373 shares to close $35.61, Grace Kennedy traded 350 units to close at $3.50, Guardian Holdings added 9,358 shares valued at $131,479.90 to close at $14.05. National Enterprises contributed 17,430 shares with a value of $301,539 and ended at $17.30, while Prestige Holdings with 6,000 shares traded at $10.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
TTSE marking time
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended Thursday with 10 securities changing hands of which 2 advanced, 1 declined and 7 traded firm with a total of 167,953 units, valued at $1,778,490.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.16 points to close at 1,151.48, the All T&T Index rose fell by just 0.33 points to close at 1,964.99 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 44.31.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Ansa Merchant Bank contributing 7,740 shares with a value of $301,473 closed at 4 cents up at $38.95 and First Citizens Bank traded 2,570 shares to close with a gain of 1 cent, $37.57.
Declines| National Enterprises was sole declining stock as it lost 3 cents to end the day at a 52 weeks’ low of $17.30.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA Mcal trading just 100 shares to close at $66.91, Clico Investment Fund with 42,588 shares valued at $958,654 ended at $22.50, Guardian Holdings contributed 1,131 shares with the price closing unchanged at $14.20. JMMB Group with 10,000 shares trading, ended at 43 cents, while Massy Holdings added 3,718 shares valued at $234,420 and ended at $763.05, National Flour Mills with 99,633 shares changing hands for a value of $149,450 and closed at $1.50, West Indian Tobacco trading 73 shares to close at $125.10.
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 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Sideways movement on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 12 securities changing hands of which 2 advanced, 1 declined and 9 traded firm with a total of 186,439 units, valued at $924,649.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index advanced by 0.41 points to close at 1,151.64, the All T&T Index rose 0.83 points to close at 1,965.32 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 44.31.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, First Citizens Bank trading 608 shares to close with a gain of 4 cents at $35.56 and Trinidad Cement with 92,027 shares changing hands for a value of $230,052 ended with a 10 cents gain and ending at $2.50.
Declines| Only one stock declined at the end of trading as Republic Bank fell 1 cent to end at a new 52 weeks’ low of $115.99 with 2,368 shares trading.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA Mcal trading 600 shares and ended at $66.91, Clico Investment Fund trading 1,330 at $22.50, Guardian Holdings ending with 3,093 units changing hands, to close at $14.20. Massy Holdings traded 132 shares to close at $63.05, National Enterprises with 2,579 shares trading, closed at $17.33, National Flour Mills 
with 45,533 shares trading, closed at $1.50, Sagicor Financial Corporation trading 12,565 shares, closed at $6.25, Scotiabank in trading 656 shares ended at $62.11 and Scotia Investments contributed 24,788 shares and ended at $1.46.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 3 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 1 with the offer that is lower.
2 up 3 down Monday on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 10 securities changing hands of which 2 advanced, 3 declined and 5 traded firm with a total of 614,598 units, valued at $1,570,784.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.36 points to close at 1,151.63, the All T&T Index fell 0.97 points to close at 1,966.29, the Cross Listed Index advanced by 0.03 points to close at 44.18.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund trading 13,000 shares valued at $292,63, put on a cent to end at $22.51 and Sagicor Financial Corporation are, with price rising by 4 cents to $6.02 with 1,400 shares changed hands are the only stocks increasing in price at the close of the market.
Declines| The stocks that declined at the close of the market are, Massy Holdings adding 3,221 shares valued at $203,090, to end 1 cent lower, at $63.05. National Flour Mills with 246,156 shares trading with a value of $369,235, fell 5 cents to $1.50 and Trinidad Cement in contributing 40,534 shares with a value of $99,308, declined by 10 cents to close at $2.45.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are Angostura Holdings with 384 shares trading and closing down a cent, at $14, First Citizens Bank trading 2,153 shares to close at $35.50. Guardian Media trading 1,000 shares at $19.76, National Commercial Bank with 305,000 shares changing hands for a value of $457,500, closed at $1.50 and One Caribbean Media with 1,750 shares trading to end at $$22.30.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 2 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
Trading closes week light – TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended the week with 8 securities changing hands of which 4 advanced, 2 declined and 2 traded firm with a total of 236,267 units, valued at $8,270,548.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.19 points to close at 1,151.99, the All T&T Index rose 0.37 points to close at 1,967.26 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 44.15.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Massy Holdings with 75,040 shares changing hands, for a value of $4,732,022, to close at $63.06 after gaining 1 cent, Point Lisas Industrial Port contributing 4,600 shares at $3.60, for a 1 cent gain. Republic Bank trading 344 shares and closing with a 1 cent gain, at $116.01 and Scotiabank gaining 9 cents to end at $62.11 while 838 shares changed hands.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund traded 144,695 shares valued at $3,256,576 to end with a fall of 5 cents at $22.50 and Guardian Holdings with 200 shares lost a cent in closing at $14.47.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, First Citizens Bank added 4,550 shares valued at $161,525 and National Commercial Bank with a volume of 6,000 shares closed unchanged at $1.50.
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.
Republic’s big drop on TTSE
Republic Bank dropped sharply by $1.83 to close at $116 for a 52 weeks low having peaked at $122 last year June and is now down 8 percent. Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended on Thursday with 15 securities changing hands of which 4 advanced, 5 declined and 6 traded firm with a total of 326,310 units, valued at $7,639,063.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 2.77 points to close at 1,151.80, the All T&T Index dropped 6.01 points to 1,966.89 and the Cross Listed Index increased by a mere 0.07 points to 44.15.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Clico Investment Fund trading 40,600 shares valued at $915,530, advanced 1 cent, to end at $22.55, First Citizens Bank trading 5,607 shares valued at $199,038 to close with a gain of 4 cents, at $35.50. Sagicor Financial Corporation trading 33,255 shares valued for $198,831, closing with a gain of 20 cents at $6 and Unilever Caribbean had just one stock trading to close with a gain of 1 cent, at a new 52 weeks’ high of $66.03.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Scotia Investments with 8,088 shares value lost 2 cents to end at $1.53, Guardian Holdings with a mere 12 shares to close down 2 cents at $14.48. National Commercial Bank with 5,000 shares, declined 1 cent to close at $1.50, Republic Bank lost ground but contributed 25,527 shares, with a value of $2,961,132 to trading and Trinidad Cement with only 43 shares changing hands, fell 1 cent to $2.55.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Agostini’s with 188,070 shares valued at $3,249,850 to end at $17.28, Flavorite Foods added 14,072 shares and closed at $4.80. Guardian Media with 805 shares changing hands, ended at $19.76, National Flour Mills trading 5,000 shares at $1.55, National Enterprises had only 130 shares trading to end at $17.35 while Prestige Holdings in trading 100 shares finished at $10.
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 just 1 with a lower offer.
Big TTSE day – 21 stocks trade
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Wednesday was one of the days with the largest number securities being active with 21 securities changing hands. 5 stocks advanced, 4 declined and 12 traded firm, with a total of 1,239,809 units, valued at $3,303,501.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.87 points to close at 1,154.57, the All T&T Index rose by just 0.33 points to close at 1,972.90 and the Cross Listed Index fell by a mere 0.28 points to end at 44.08.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Clico Investment Fund trading 1,800 shares and advanced by 2 cents to end at $22.54, First Citizens Bank gained 8 cents to end the day at $35.46, National Flour Mills with a volume of 139,713 shares being traded for $216,325 closing 5 cents up at $1.55. Massy Holdings traded 266 shares to close with a gain of 4 cents at $63.05, Point Lisas Industrial Port traded 1,500 shares and closed with a gain of 6 cents to end at $3.59.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Agostini’s trading 500 shares to end 1 cent down, at $17.28, National Commercial Bank with 1,042,473 shares changing hands, for a value of $1,570,205, lost 5 cents in closing at $1.50. Republic Bank suffered a 4 cents loss to close at a new 52 weeks’ low of $117.79, after trading 6,000 shares with a value of $706,740 and Trinidad Cement with 4,928 shares traded to close with a 4 cents loss at $2.55.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAL traded 200 shares to close at $66.91, Flavorite Foods contributed 100 shares at $4.80, Firstcaribbean International Bank ended with 2,270 units changing hands at $5. National Enterprises ended with 3,000 to close at $17.35. One Caribbean Media ended with 3,269 shares changing hands to close at $22.30, Sagicor Financial Corporation contributed 11,080 shares to end at $5.80, Scotiabank closed at $62.02 while trading 1,500 units, Scotia Investments added 10,550 shares at $1.55, Unilever Caribbean with 2,120 shares changing hands closed at $66.02 and West Indian Tobacco traded 43 units to close at $125.10
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had just 1 stock with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Republic US$140m acquisitions
Trinidad’s Republic Bank is in a quiet acquisition mood, having made an offer to takeover of 60 percent of HFC Bank of Ghana it does not own, that is likely to cost up to US$102 million. At the start of April Republic announced, along with Royal Bank of Canada, an agreement to acquire RBC Royal Bank (Suriname) N.V. (“RBC Suriname”), subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
“As we continue to focus our Caribbean operations on markets in which we can be a leading competitor for the long-term, we have made the decision to sell RBC Suriname to Republic Bank Limited,” said Kirk Dudtschak, executive vice-president and head, RBC Caribbean Banking. “This transaction supports the successful repositioning of our Caribbean business for the future and allows us to focus on markets where we can strengthen our operational capabilities and where we see opportunities for growth.”
Republic Bank in a release to the Trinidad Stock exchange disclosed a purchase price of US$39.8 million. RBC Canada reported that, the purchase price approximately reflects the book value of RBC Suriname and expects the transaction to result in a loss of C$23 million largely related to an estimated write-down for the proportionate share of RBC Suriname goodwill and other intangibles. In 2014, RBC Canada sold off its Jamaican operations to Sagicor Group.
Republic’s David Dulal-Whiteway, Managing Director said the acquisition fits in perfectly with his bank’s regional expansion strategy, and once completed, will expand the group to 8 territories in the Caribbean. According to Dulal-Whiteway, RBC Suriname operates a six branch network, with assets of approximately US$525 million and 199 employees.
Republic has assets of US$9.4 billion and made an offer to acquire all of the shares held by minorities in HFC Bank in Ghana under a mandatory takeover rule of the Ghana Security Exchange. Republic already holds 40 percent of the bank.
