The junior market will have two new listings when trading commences on Thursday, with the technology based tTech and the air conditioners – CAC 2000 being added to the fledgling market for up and coming small companies, following successful IPO offerings. The listings were approved today by the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
IC Insider expects tTech to trade at an attractive premium to the IPO price of $2.50 based on the level of oversubscription and the low valuation of the IPO price, while CAC should trade close to its offer price of $4.85, based on the high valuation placed on the IPO price.
Both companies went to the market on December 16 to raise additional capital and obtained all they went for. tTech which went for $50 million with 25.65 million shares but the issue attracted 289 applications, valued at approximately $172.395 million and CAC was over by 10 percent in excess of the 29,032,258 ordinary shares on offer to bring in $120,545,327 that was targeted.
The listings will lift the junior market to 29 securities with 25 of them being ordinary shares.
2 new listings for JSE on Thursday
Juniors move to higher heights
AMG Packaging closed at a new high of $7.20 on Tuesday.
At the close, 2 securities ended with no bids to buy and 8 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while 4 closed with lower offers.
The junior market will have two new listing when trading commences on Thursday with tTech and CAC 2000 being added following successful IPO offerings. The listings were approved today by the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
In trading, Access Financial Services closed with a gain of 6 cents at $16.06 with 5,900 units changing hands, AMG Packaging gained 20 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $7.20 with 9,954 shares trading, C2W Music closed with 174,441 units changing hands at 40 cents. Caribbean Cream ended with 153,300 shares changing hands as the price slipped by 8 cents to end at $4, Caribbean Flavours traded 11,474 units to close with a loss of 50 cents at $8.50, Caribbean Producers traded 3,636 units to close at $5.50, Consolidated Bakeries fell 7 cents to end at $1.42 with 8,000 units changing hands. Derrimon Trading Company had 16,550 units trading at $3.80 but ended the day with a bid at $4. Dolphin Cove ended at $15.60 with only 4,000 shares trading to gain 10 cents, General Accident traded 63,115 shares to close with a gain of 14 cents, to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.19.
Jamaica Teas ended at $5.05 with a while 39,500 units traded, but rose earlier to a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $5.25, KLE Group ended at $1.87 with 123,397 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express rose $1.05 with 7,678 shares trading to end at $10.65. Lasco Distributors closed with 750,787 shares changing hands for a gain of 20 cents, to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.70, Lasco Financial gained 10 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4 with 64,737 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 5 cents to $3.55 with 388,215 shares trading and Paramount Trading ended with 2,916 shares changing hands at the close at $9 after it traded at an intraday high of $9.10.
JSE continues in positive mode
Stocks continue to trade on a positive note with all major indices increasing in mid-morning trading to new record highs and a number stocks recording new 52 weeks’ highs up to 11 am. Interest in the stocks is wide spread with 34 securities traded
amounting to 1,456,993 units changing hands with 14 rising, while 7 declined.
The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 851.87 points to 169,083.72 the JSE Market Index gained 762.26 points to 152,231.62 the JSE combined index added 880.33 points to 160,095.23 and the junior market index is up 17.99 points to 1,832.77.
Trades of some interest include Hardware & Lumber with 300,000 units at $18.50, National Commercial Bank with 2,956 units at a new high of $40.65, 138 Student Living with 138,798 shares at $4.60, Radio Jamaica back at $5 with a small volume, General Accident with 63,115 units at $2.19, Jamaican Teas with 37,500 shares at a new 52 weeks’ of $5.25, Lasco Distributors with 220,487 shares at $5.52 but after trading at $5.60 and Lasco Manufacturing with 172,614 units at $3.55.
Jam$ starts 2016 with gains
The Jamaican foreign exchange market trading activity on the last percent in 2015, fell below Thursday’s levels with dealers selling more funds than they purchased. The value of the local currency slipped against its major counterpart currencies.
In trading dealers bought the equivalent of US$44,360,218 and sold US$40,052,989, compared with US$32,723,774 purchased and US$42,295,648 sold on Thursday. Sale of US dollars , was almost equal to the amount purchased with dealers buying US$39,298,993 compared to US$29,243,474 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar slipped 10 cents to $119.54.
A total of US$38,905,100 was sold versus US$40,545,786 on Thursday as the selling rate declined by 5 cents to $120.37. The Canadian dollar buying rate declined 57 cents to end at $82.71 with dealers buying C$2,074,068 and selling C$741,397, at an average rate that gained 36 cents to $85.27. The rate for buying the British Pound dropped $2.61 to $173.12 for the purchase of £1,343,622, while £328,665 was sold, with the rate rising $1.49 to $175.63. At the end of trading, it took J$130.81 to purchase the Euro, for a decline of 53 cents from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$128.02, for a fall of 56 cents from Thursday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$1,680,259 being bought, while US$143,150 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for US dollar, the lowest buying and the highest selling rates were unchanged at $120.70, $98.61 and $126.37 respectively but for some inexplicable reason the lowest selling rate plummeted by $78 to only $38. The Canadian dollar highest buying rate declined by 30 cents to $86.50, the lowest buying rate ended unchanged at $68.48. The highest selling rate declined by 7 cents to $88.78 and the lowest selling rate slipped 50 cents to end at $81. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined $1.36 to $177.80, the lowest buying and the highest selling rates remained unchanged at $142.84 and $184.15 respectively while the lowest selling rate nosedived by $94.65 to $76.
TTSE starts 2016 on negative note
Activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange started 2016 on a negative note with the two main indices as 3 stocks advanced and 3 declining but with National Enterprises falling sharply as the market closed with 10 active securities with the prices of 4 remaining unchanged. A total of 218,617 shares changed hands valued at $3,451,788.
The Composite Index ended with a fall of 1.90 points to 1,160.40, the All T&T Index fell 4.51 points to 1,943.99 and the Cross Listed Index rose 0.10 points to end at 49.61.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Guardian Holdings ended with 260 shares trading at $13.25, for a 2 cents gain, National Commercial Bank closed at $2.11 with a I cent gain while trading 14,610 shares and Sagicor Financial Corporation rose 5 cents in trading 9,248 shares and closed at $6.25.
Declines| Angostura Holdings closed with 20,000 shares changing hands with a 2 cents loss to end at $13.95, National Enterprises with 66,090 shares changing hands for a value of $1,057,442, dropped 37 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $16 and Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of 1 cent at $4.04 with 27,606 shares changing hands.
Firm Trades| Trading in Clico Investment Fund traded 28,926 shares valued at $658,067 but remained at $22.75, First Citizens ended with 450 units changing hands at $35, One Caribbean Media had 2,041 units changing hands at $22 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL ended at $21.50 with 46,875 shares changing hands, valued at $1,007,812.
JSE starts 2016 on a new high
NCB closed at new high of $40.50 on Monday.
At the close, 5,096,460 units valued at $149,875,337 changed hands in all markets with the junior market accounting for of 1,707,388 units, valued at $6,741,784. A total of 35 securities traded in all market segments, 17 of which in the combined markets gained and 8 declined. Five stocks traded at 52 weeks’ closing high and 2 at intraday 52 weeks’ high as investors continue to push prices higher.
The main market was facing resistance around the 165,000 points level, the on the all Jamaica composite index, now that it has crossed it and seems to be moving away. This level appears to be moving towards support for the market.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading,
in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.In trading, Berger Paints ended with 85,100 shares trading at $3.15 for a loss of 5 cents, Cable and Wireless rose 8 cents with 212,690 units changing hands to close at $1.38, Caribbean Cement climbed 54 cents to end at $20.44, with 10,000 shares trading. Carreras closed at $60, with 2,261,300 units changing hands for 82 cents fall but not until after it traded at a new 52 weeks’ intraday high of $62, Gleaner Company traded 52,000 shares at $1.70 with a 40 cents increase. Grace Kennedy with 2,483 units changing hands finished $2.75 higher at $84, Jamaica Broilers rose 25 cents and closed at $10.50 with 124,677 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 1,000 shares to end at $32, after rising $1.32,
Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 39 cents in trading 1,400 shares at $18.99, National Commercial Bank gained 50 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $40.50, with 12,145 units changing hands. 138 Student Living had 260,933 units trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.60 after rising by 10 cents, Radio Jamaica had 51,000 shares trading with a gain of 42 cents to end at $4.08, Sagicor Group closed at $20 with 24,426 units changing hands, Scotia Group had 36,809 shares changing hands at $30.01. Seprod closed with a loss of 44 cents at $20.56 with 2,938 shares trading, Supreme Ventures ended at $4.66 with 208,363 units changing hands and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% preference share traded 26,000 units to gain 4 cents and ended at $2.06.
Juniors start 2016 at new high
Lasco Financial traded at a new 52 weeks’ high high of $3.90
The junior market started 2016 with the index gaining 23.73 points to end at 1,814.78 for a new record high. The market closed with 13 securities trading 6 of which advanced, 2 declined with 4 closing at a new 52 weeks high and one at an intraday high. A volume of 1,707,388 units changed hands, valued at $6,741,784.
At the close, 1 security ended with no bids to buy and 8 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 2 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while 1 closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Access Financial Services closed at $16 with 8,510 units changing hands, C2W Music closed with a gain of 1 cent as 256,277 units changed hands to a new 52 weeks’ high of 40 cents, Caribbean Cream ended with 500,000 shares changing hands at $4.08, Caribbean Flavours traded 45,000 units to close with a loss of 44 cents at $9. Caribbean Producers traded 3,340 units to close with a gain of 5 cents, at $5.50, Consolidated Bakeries gained 4 cents to end at $1.49 with 111,500 units changing hands,
General Accident traded 5,600 shares to close at $2.05, Honey Bun rose 3 cents, to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.18 with 120,000 units changing hands. Jamaica Teas ended at $5.05 with a loss of 5 cents while 28,634 units traded, KLE Group ended at $1.87 with 17,920 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors closed with 389,944 shares changing hands at $5.50, but traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $5.55. Lasco Financial closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.90, with a rise of 20 cents with 50,001 shares changing hands and Lasco Manufacturing closed at $3.58 with 170,662 shares trading, for an 8 cents rise.
BUY RATED top Carib markets with 830%
The JSE stock racked up huge gains in 2015
IC BUY RATED stocks were top of the Caribbean markets in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago for 2015, with Jamaica Stock Exchange share, chalking up a massive gain of 830 percent since IC Insider elevated it to BUY RATED status.Caribbean Cement followed with gains of 640 percent, Caribbean Cream with 444 percent and Trinidad Cement with a 299 percent increase on the Trinidad market.
While it was easy to make money in Jamaica, with profits rising and interest rates falling, developments in Trinidad went in the opposite direction, with interest rates rising and profits under pressure with the economy ended in recession.
At the beginning of 2015 of the 14 junior market selections, few recorded gains and only Knutsford Express with a 17 percent increase reflecting any meaningful positive movement. Losses were large, with AMG Packaging down 39 percent, Blue Power 31 percent, Caribbean Cream 23 percent, Jamaica Teas 28 percent, Lasco Financial 37 percent and Lasco Manufacturing 32 percent. What a difference a year can make? By the end of 2015, gains were all over the place with the list having 17 companies with two being dropped. There were no losing stocks in the list that had a new addition, tTech which could be listed this week. Honey Bun was added to the listing in November and gained 9 percent since. Eight stocks have more than doubled, four gained 40 percent to 91 percent. Caribbean Cream jumped 292 percent to be the top selection in this market, followed by Lasco Distributors up 274 percent. Blue Power was removed from the list in July with a small gain.
In the JSE main market, at the start of 2015, Hardware and Lumber was the best performing stock with gains of 62 percent followed by Cable & Wireless with 47 percent and Jamaica Broilers had the worst performance with a loss of 24 percent. In all, 7 of the 15 selections were lower than at the time they were BUY RATED.
By year-end, all selections in the JSE main market were up, with Scotia Investments having a mere 15 percent increase, being the poorest performer. This stock is being moved to Market Watch as the 2015 profit performance was far too disappointing to warrant buying now, while Hardware and Lumber remains a hold. The rest, present opportunities for continuing profit making. 
JMMB Group ended with just 28 percent gain, but seems undervalued at the current price. While the list had a few lousy performers, the same can’t be said about a 640 percent gain in Caribbean Cement and 830 percent increase for Jamaica Stock Exchange share. In all, 9 stocks posted gains in excess of 100 percent and 4 below 100 percent but with a 50 percent increase and more.
There were 13 selections in the Trinidad market with Trinidad Cement being the best performer with gains of 150 percent, the next was Point Lisas with 11 percent at the start of 2015. Five stocks suffered losses with the highest being 22 percent and the next 18 percent. For 2015 the price of Trinidad Cement is up 299 percent followed by National Flour with a 59 percent gain.
Looking ahead, the junior stocks should continue to grow, with several of the companies actively expanding resulting in profits climbing at a fast pace. There are a few stocks to be cautious of just now. Lasco Distributors selling at almost 16 times 2016 March earnings. Growth should be strong but unless investors have a long term objective they should be careful buying at current price level, the same applies to Lasco Financial that is selling at 15 times earnings. Dolphin Cove remains a hold at this time.
The Trinidad market needs to be watched at this stage, with the country needing to adjust to the lower price of oil and the recession now being endured.
JSE off to positive start to 2016
The JSE main market starts 2016 off on a positive note with all major indices increasing in mid-morning trading and with a few stocks recording new highs. A total of 26 securities traded amounting to 2,148,475 units changing hands with 13 rising, while 2 declined.
The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 730.79 points to 168,094.04 the JSE Market Index gained 653.92 points to 151346.05, the JSE combined index added 638.18 points to 158,907.32 and the junior market index is up 2.32 points to 1,793.37.
Dividend triples for H&L owners
Shareholders of Hardware Lumber (HL) will be paid an interim dividend for the year 2015 of One Dollar and Nine cents per stock unit on January 29, this year, to shareholders on record as at the close of business on January 15.
The ex-dividend date for the payment is the January 13. The company paid 32 cents per share in dividends in 2014 and 30 cents in 2013.
The payment comes against the background of lower profits in the year to September and acquisition of the majority shares by a group of investors.
Total revenue for the nine months to September 2015 was $5.37 billion or 2.3 percent more than the comparative period in 2014. Profit after tax for the nine-month to September 2015 was $64 million, 43 percent less than the $113 million for the same period in 2014 and earnings per share of 79 cents, compared to $1.40 for the similar period in 2014.
On Thursday December 30, Grace Kennedy’s 58.15 percent interest amounting to 47,013,417 shares in Hardware & Lumber, were traded over the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $18.50 each.
The shares were bought by Argyle Industries Inc. (“Argyle”) a St. Lucian Company special purpose vehicle incorporated for the purpose of acquiring and holding the Investor’s equity interests in Hardware & Lumber.
