In early trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange market indices slipped with the all Jamaica Composite Index falling 368.56 points to 155,948.61 at 10.45 am on Tuesday morning. 
The JSE Market Index lost 329.79 points to 140,478.21, the JSE combined index fell 333.67 points to be at 147,037.41 and the junior market index shed 2.50 points to 1,613.18.
Trading volumes have been low with 75 minutes of the market opening. Cable & Wireless traded the most with 365,236 units and last traded at $1.40, Sagicor Group had 720,061 units trading at $16.90, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.50% preference share with 233,938 units at $4.60 with a huge gain of $1.05.
In trading 27 securities have changed hands with a volume of 1,926,677 units as 9 stocks gained and 12 declined.
JSE falls in mid-morning
Jump in Gleaner’s Q3 profits by 70%
The Gleaner Company, producers of Jamaica’s oldest newspaper, earned increased profits for its September quarter. The North Street based institution earned $27 million profit for the quarter, 70 per cent more profit than a year ago.
The 2015 results are commendable as its revenues dipped to $777 million or 9 percent less than a year earlier in the quarter, including a fall of $26 million in investment income to $54 million for the quarter while media income fell $68 million for the same period.
For the nine-months, the Gleaner made $130 million net profit or 122 per cent more than the $58.6 million earned a year earlier. Revenues continued its downward drift by 5.6 percent to $2.38 billion, partially helped by a fall of $34 million in investment income to $90 million while media income fell $120 million for the same period
Gleaner enjoyed other operating income of $61 million and $63 million in 2014 as a result of gains on foreign exchange on investments and Finance income includes interest on loans. Consequently, the profit resulted from efficiency gains in slashing administrative and ‘other operating’ expenses during the quarter.
Interestingly, however, with the jump in profit the company ended the quarter with $93 million in cash flow down from $164 million from operation in 2014 period and ended with $37.7 million cash in the bank at September 2015 and $42 million September 2014 and $772 million in investments up from $690 million at September 2014.
The Gleaner continues to prepare its media operations for the merger with the Radio Jamaica Group, another legacy media entity. It will create one of the largest broadcast and print media entities in the Anglophone Caribbean. Plans to merge were announced on August 5, 2015, with the merger is expected to be concluded by year-end, subject to the approval of a splintered shareholders of Radio Jamaica. There is little doubt that the Gleaner’s shareholders will not approve, with the company’s Chairman in control of a large block of the Gleaner’s shares.
Net asset at the end of September is $2.32 per share. The stock is priced at $1.90, with earnings per share of 10.76 cents for the nine months period and 2.27 cents for the quarter. The company seems on target to earn 20 cents per share, for the full year.
Gleaner’s shareholders will get the equivalent of a third of each of the RJR existing shares as well us retain shares in the remnants of the Gleaner with net assets around $1.70 per share, if the merger proceeds. But the overall gains will be well in above the current combined value of $3.53 based on the $5.20 price of RJR shares last sold at with indication of further rise to come, based on a big jump RJR’s revenues and profit in the September quarter.
6 TTSE’s stocks rise 1 fall on Monday
TCL closed at yet another new high on Monday
At the close, the Composite Index ending with a rose of 0.23 points at 1,159.37 the
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund closed with 18,450 shares valued at $416,416 changing hands 1 cent higher at $22.57, National Flour Mills gained 1 cent, to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.22 with 1,600 units changing hands. Prestige Holdings traded 8 units to end with a gain of 5 cents at $10.05, a new 52 weeks’ high. Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed with a gain of 1 cent, at $21.56 as 19,444 shares changed hands for a value of $419,200. Trinidad Cement gained 4 cents, in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.20, with 75,700 units changing hands for $317,940 and Unilever Caribbean ended with 9,630 shares valued at $655,033 trading, to gain of 2 cents, for a new 52 weeks’ high of $68.03.
Declines| National Enterprises ended trading with 7,380 shares to close with a loss of 1 cent at $16.49, a new 52 weeks’ low.
Firm Trades| First Citizens Bank traded 12,214 shares to close at $35, Guardian Holdings with 2,200 shares changing hands closed at $12.91, National Commercial Bank contributed 46,000 shares at a closing price of $1.95,
One Caribbean Media traded 100 shares at $22. Republic Bank closed at $112 with 209 shares changing hands, Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 2,350 shares changing hands at $6.02, Scotiabank ended with at $62.50 while 79,236 units for a value of $4,952,250 were traded. Scotia Investments closed at $1.59, with only 55 shares changing hands and infrequent trader L.J. Williams $0.10 A added 25,000 shares to close at 25 cents and West Indian Tobacco traded just 5,000 shares carrying a value of $630,745 to close at $126.11.
J$ make gains on Monday
Trading of foreign currencies in Jamaica’s foreign exchange market saw US$7 million more funds flowing into the market than the amount sold on Monday with US$40 million flowing in and US$33 million going out, but the rate for the Jamaican dollar improved against the US. At the close of trading, the equivalent of US$40,009,733 was bought by dealers, compared with US$74,102,619 on Friday, while they sold the equivalent of US$32,908,156 versus US$70,842,428 previously.
In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$36,075,775 compared to US$70,625,695 on Friday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 51 cents to $119.19 and US$30,594,536 was sold versus US$69,232,581 on Friday, the selling rate declined 8 cents at $119.86.
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 19 cents to end at $87.45 with dealers buying C$2,703,962 and selling C$1,099,742, at an average rate that gained 18 cents to $88.91. The rate for buying the British Pound fell $2.69 to $177.43 for the purchase of £1,199,910, while £888,548 was sold, with the rate falling $1.42 to $180.87. At the end of trading, it took J$127.97 to purchase the Euro, a fall of 78 cents from Friday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$125.80 for a decline of 54 cents from Friday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$163,874 being bought, while US$157,098 was sold.
Highs & Lows| On Monday, the highest buying rate for the US dollar lost 2 cents to $120.10, the lowest buying and the lowest selling rates each remained at $98.57.
The highest selling rate rose 11 cents to $126.42. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar gained 55 cents to end at $90.30, the lowest buying rate fell 25 cents to $71.63, the highest selling rate eased 32 cents to at $92.34 and the lowest selling rate ended lower by 60 cents to $85.40. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, lost 20 cents to end at $181.80. The lowest buying rate closed 16 cents lower at $145.67, the highest selling rate jumped $2.15 to $187.78 and the lowest selling rate dropped $2.50 to end at $173.50.
All price changes negative for juniors – Monday
Caribbean Flavours traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high high of $6.75.
Only 2 securities ended with no bids to buy and 8 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and one closed with a lower offer.
In trading, C2W Music traded 217,500 units at 39 cents, Caribbean Cream had 104,200 units changing hands with a fall of 44 cents, to end at $4.51, Caribbean Flavours traded 13,488 units to end at $6.50, Caribbean Producers lost 2 cents in trading 103,362 units to end at $5.50. Consolidated Bakeries fell 9 cents at the close, to end at $1.31 with 63,905 units changing hands, Derrimon Trading ended with 1,924 units changing hands at $3.50, Dolphin Cove ended with 3,381 units trading to close at $15,
General Accident ended with 162,747 shares changing hands and closed with a fall of 4 cents at $1.91. Lasco Distributors closed with 95,900 shares changing hands to end at $4.11 after falling by 9 cents. Lasco Financial dropped 50 cents to $2.80, with a total of 173,292 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing closed with a 9 cents fall to $3.71 with 106,063 shares trading and Medical Disposables ended with 71,000 shares changing hands and lost 15 cents to be at $3.30 and Derrimon Trading 11.75% preference share ended with 1,679,990 units at $2.2 trading.
Bulls still at large at JSE on Monday
Scotia Investments ended at a 52 weeks’ high on Monday of $34.30.
The market closed with activity in 39 securities, leading to a subdued volume of 6,541,969 units valued at $26,641,867 changing hands, in all market segments. A total of 15 securities rose and 13 declined with 4 stocks ending at 52 weeks’ closing highs and an additional 2 trading at intraday 52 weeks’ high. The JSE Market Index climbed 1,059.99 points to 140,808.00, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 1,184.60 points to end at 156,317.17 and the JSE combined index gained by 822.50 points to end at 147,371.08.
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 only 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer. In trading,Cable and Wireless closed with 1,550,252 units changing hands and lost 19 cents to close at $1.40, Caribbean Cement traded 43,041 shares changed hands at $16.10 with a loss of 40 cents, Carreras gained $2.98 to end at $59.98, with 2,031 units trading.
Desnoes & Geddes ended with 32,700 shares trading at $30, Gleaner traded 50,000 shares at $2, Grace Kennedy traded 6,200 shares and closed with a gain of 10 cents at $75.10, Jamaica Broilers traded 62,175 shares to close at $7.50 after losing 99 cents. Jamaica Producers rose $3.50 while trading 19,074 shares to end at $30, The Jamaica Stock Exchange had 43,930 shares changing hands to end at $13.50, JMMB Group rose by 90 cent while trading 95,500 shares to close at $10.90. Kingston Wharves gained 24 cents and ended with 51,500 shares changing hands at $11.49, Mayberry Investments closed with 54,845 units trading for a loss of 40 cents and ended at $4, National Commercial Bank closed with a rise of 49 cents as 52,776 shares changed hands to end at $37.50. Pulse Investments traded 44,000 shares, at a new 52 weeks’ closing high of $3.65, the price rose 65 cents, Radio Jamaica declined by 20 cents with 34,895 shares trading and ended at $4.85.
Sagicor Group rose 45 cents in trading 127,678 units at $17 at the close, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended with 51,000 shares trading at $10. Scotia Group ended with 5,950 shares changing hands, closed with a gain of 19 cents to end at $26.50, Scotia Investments jumped sharply by $7.30 and ended at $34.30 with 50,182 shares changing hands, but traded as low as $28. Seprod rose 4 cents to $18.55 with 6,237 shares trading, Supreme Ventures ended at $4.95 after rising 20 cents with 93,445 shares changing hands, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 105,000 units at $2 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.50% preference share traded 1,143,883 units with a gain of 6 cents to end at $3.55.
JSE recovers in mid-morning
In early trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange market indices are up with the all Jamaica Composite Index rising 1,053.80 points to 156,186.37 at 11 am on Monday morning. 
The JSE Market Index increased by 942.95 points to 140,690.96, the JSE combined index rose 908.14 points to be at 147,456.72 and the junior market index gained 5.08 points to 1,640.72.
Trading volumes have been low with 90 minutes of the market opening. Cable & Wireless traded the most with 464,269 units and last traded at $1.52, C2W Music with 217,500 at 39 cents. Jamaica Producers gained $3.50 with 6,174 to be at $30.
The number of securities trading climbed sharply to 32 securities changing hands with a volume of 1,647,597 units as 12 stocks gained and 7 declined after 90 minutes of trading.
Paramount eyeing new stock offering
Junior market listed Paramount Trading will be heading back to the stock market soon to raise additional capital to help fund the US$4-million 50/50 joint venture lubricant manufacturing operation being done jointly with overseas-based Allegheny Petroleum, IC Insider confirmed with Hugh Graham, Chief executive of the company.
At the end of August the company had cash and investments of $165 million well below the cash injection that would be needed for their share of the capital.
“The advisory team is currently working out the capital needs to determine the amount we will go to the market for,” Hugh Graham stated in an interview with IC Insider. Graham stated, “manufacturing the lubricants locally provides higher margins as value added will be better than with imports, will create a better future for the operation and will allow for export of the finished product.”
Graham could not give the start-up date for the venture which is to be housed on property owned by Paramount as they await various approval from governmental departments.
In response to the reason why the company pumped up the dividend to 39 cents to be paid in November from 15.1 cents in 2014, Graham said “the board considered the dividend payment versus the profit realised and felt that investors should get a good return on their investment.” According the Graham, “the payment is $60 million which still left $90 million to add to accumulated profit”
While there might be a lot of truth in that statement, the plan for a rights issue could not have escaped the board with the low price the stock has been trading.
The 2015 payment represents 41 percent of profit and equates to a dividend yield of 14.89 percent based on the price of $2.62 at the start of the year. For the quarter ending August earnings grew 27 percent to 28 cent per share versus 22 cents in the same period in 2014.
FX flows jump sharply on Friday
Trading of foreign currencies in Jamaica’s foreign exchange market jumped on Friday with US$74 million flowing in and US$71 million going out, but the rate for the Jamaican dollar slipped against the US. At the close of trading, the equivalent of US$74,102,619 was bought by dealers, compared with US$33,692,403 on Thursday, while they sold the equivalent of US$70,842,428 versus US$37,640,407 previously.
In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$70,625,695 compared to US$30,282,760 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar gained 24 cents to $119.70 and US$69,232,581 was sold versus US$35,351,886 on Thursday, the selling rate rose 2 cents at $119.94.
The Canadian dollar buying rate lost 85 cents to end at $87.26 with dealers buying C$1,171,319 and selling C$513,725, at an average rate that fell 84 cents to $88.73. The rate for buying the British Pound fell 81 cents to $180.12 for the purchase of £1,678,301, while £661,219 was sold, with the rate falling 94 cents to $182.29. At the end of trading, it took J$128.59 to purchase the Euro, rose $1.16 from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$126.34 for a rise of $1.21 from Thursday’s rate. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$97,601 being bought, while US$224,784 was sold.
Highs & Lows| On Friday, the highest buying rate for the US dollar lost 8 cents to $120.12, the lowest buying, the highest and the lowest 
selling rates remained at $98.57, $126.31 and $98.57 respectively. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar declined 50 cents to end at $89.75, the lowest buying rate rose 8 cents at $71.88, the highest selling rate rose 11 cents to $92.66 and the lowest selling rate ended unchanged at $86. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, dropped $2 to end at $182. The lowest buying rate closed 58 cents higher at $145.83, the highest selling rate dropped $1.01 to $185.63 and the lowest selling rate rose $1 to end at $176.
Indices fall across the board at JSE – Friday
Kingsley Cooper Chairman of Pulse – the company’s stock closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $3 on Friday.
The JSE Market Index dropped 1,705.59 points to 139,748.01, the all Jamaica Composite Index dived 1,828.45 points to end at 155,132.57 and the JSE combined index declined by 1,636.11 points to end at 146,548.58.
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 only 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
In trading, Barita Investments closed with 238,852 shares trading to at $4, Cable and Wireless closed with 1,644,431 shares changing hands and 4 cents to close at $1.59, after trading at a high for the day of $1,64, Caribbean Cement traded 79,075 shares
changed hands at $16.50 with a loss of $1, Carreras gained 95 cents to end at $57, with 21,592 units trading. Desnoes & Geddes ended with 113,325 shares trading at $30, Gleaner traded 58,166 shares at $1.90, Grace Kennedy traded 4,563 shares and closed with a gain of 50 cents at $75, Jamaica Broilers traded 241,910 shares to close at $8.49 and lost 26 cents. Jamaica Producers rose $1.76 while trading 75,712 shares at $26.50, The Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 25 cents in trading 17,835 shares, to end at $13.50, JMMB Group rose by 11 cent while trading 192,697 shares to close at $10. Kingston Wharves ended with 19,500 shares changing hands at $11.25, Mayberry Investments closed with 115,000 units trading for 5 cents higher at $4.40, National Commercial Bank closed with a fall of $1.94 as 1,365,817 shares changed hands to end at $37.01, Pan Jamaican Investments traded 12,955 shares at $88.25 for a loss of 5 cents, 
Pulse traded 91,500 shares at a new 52 weeks’ closing high of $3 as the price gained 50 cents, after trading at $3.20. Sagicor Group lost 7 cents in trading 170,002 units at $16.55 at the close, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended with 239,750 shares trading at $10. Scotia Group ended with 153,444 shares changing hands, closed with a fall of 89 cents to end at $26.31, Scotia Investments lost $1 and ended at $27 with 30,000 shares changing hands, Seprod rose 1 cent to $18.51 with 13,250 shares trading and Supreme Ventures ended at $4.75 after falling 2 cents with 35,500 shares.
