Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 15 securities changing hands of which 3 advanced, 5 declined and 7 traded firm with a total of 913,172 units, valued at $7,801,572. One Caribbean Media suffered a loss of $3 with the price closing at $22.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 1.39 points to close at 1,150.72, the All T&T Index fell by 3.54 points to close at 1,981.69 and the Cross Listed Index increased by a mere 0.10 points to end at 41.87.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close of the market are, Angostura Holdings that gained 50 cents to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $14 while trading 10,000 shares. National Commercial Bank with 492,632 shares changing hands for a value of $576,379, gained 1 cent to $1.16 and National Flour Mills traded 22,000 shares to end with a gain of 1 cent at $1.19.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, First Citizens Bank with 161,505 shares traded valued at $5,935,596, but the price lost 28 cents to end at $36.75, Guardian Holdings with 13,950 shares traded at $13.25, closed down a cent, Jamaica Money Market Brokers contributed 113,632 shares to close a cent lower at 43 cents. Massy Holdings traded 5,120 shares valued at $349,235 to close with a loss of 1 cent, at $68.21 and One Caribbean Media lost $3 to close at $22 while trading 10,000 shares.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAL contributing 1,382 shares and closed at $66.50, Clico Investment Fund posted 1,000 shares but remained at $23.50, Grace Kennedy traded 18,314 to end at $3.65, Guardian Media traded 957 shares at $19.75. Scotiabank finished with 170 shares changing hands at $62, Trinidad Cement added 33,820 shares valued at $84,542 and L.J. Williams B share, traded 29,050 units at $1.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showed 3 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
1 Caribbean Media sheds $3
J$ loses v U$ up on others
Trading in the forex market in Jamaica on Tuesday, resulted in the Jamaican dollar gaining against the Pound, the Canadian dollar but lose against the US dollar. Overall the equivalent of US$33,687,953 was purchased by dealers in contrast to US$42,460,718 on Monday, and selling of the equivalent of US$38,181,833 compared to US$35,555,294 on Monday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$28,451,468 compared to US$37,309,537 on Monday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 18 cents to $114.01 and US$34,814,610 was sold versus US$33,644,999 on Monday with the selling rate climbing 8 cents to $114.72. The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 34 cents to $95.11 with dealers buying C$1,888,659 and selling C$1,254,447, at an average selling rate that lost 12 cents, to $96.70. The rate for buying the British Pound fell $1.55 to $172.04 for the purchase of £1,664,301, while £1,029,771 was sold, the rate fell $1.29 to $173.61. At the end of trading it took J$136.84 to purchase the Euro, $1.13 less than on Monday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$133.84 for a $1.18 fall. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$1,149,628 while the equivalent of US$751,458, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 5 cents to $115.05, the lowest buying rate closed down 27 cents at $93.25. The highest selling rate remained at $119.84 and lowest selling rate jumped $17.98 to $111.50. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 80 cents to $97.70, the lowest buying remained unchanged at $77.77. The highest selling rate declined 3 cents to $100.26 and the lowest selling rate dipped 85 cents to end at $92.85. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, lost 66 cents to $176.84. The lowest buying rate remained at $141.52, the highest selling rate lost $2.14 to $180.30 and the lowest selling rate ended $1.80 lower, at $168.20.
Scotia Group pushes market down sharply
The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market indices fell back sharply on Tuesday as suggested in yesterday’s commentary with Scotia Group being the main mover of the index. Today the banking group stocks closed at $20.25 well off the close on Monday added to the fall National Commercial Bank stock price also fell and helped pulled down the indices.
Trading activity saw moderate activity for the first time in 138 Student Living, in both ordinary and preference shares helping the overall market in recording prices gain for 8 stocks and decline in 4 as 23 securities changed hands, ending in 1,347,407 units trading, valued at $7,189,700, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained points to , the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell/ rose/ decline points to close at and the JSE combined index gained declined by points to close at
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, trading for the first time, since listing in December, 138 Student Living ordinary shares, ended trading with 5,000 units to gain 10 cents on the IPO price, to close at $4.10. Grace Kennedy closed with only 135 shares changing hands to gain 1 cent at $61.01 and Radio Jamaica had 20,000 shares with the price rising 15 cents at $1.30.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless closing with 191,250 shares trading at 48 cents, Carreras finished with 14,640 shares changing hands to close at $37. Desnoes & Geddes ended with 3,798 shares changing hands at $4.90, Jamaica Broilers closed with 2,350 shares at $4.10, Kingston Wharves with 1,400 shares changing hands, closed at $6, Proven Investments finished with 35,000 shares at 20.5 US cents and Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended with 2,000 shares trading at $7.02.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, National Commercial Bank closing with 7,430 units trading, the price slipped 34 cents to $18.65. Sagicor Group finished with 266,000 shares trading lower by 2 cents at $9.98, Scotia Group ended with 36,488 shares trading $2 lower at $20.25 and Supreme Ventures ended trading with 30,000 shares changing hands to close 24 cents lower at $1.76.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference shares traded 601,215 units to end at $3,Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference shares traded 21,781 units at $2 and 138 Student Living Variable Preference share closed with 11,000 shares trading with a gain of 10 cents t0 $5.10 on the IPO price.
Lasco companies push junior market
Heating of raw material to make bottles for Lasco’s new drinks
Trading on the Junior Market resulted in only 6 securities trading with 97,920 units valued at $153,520 changing hands. The JSE Junior Market Index rose 13.93 points to close at 703.13, putting it back to levels that existed in early July last year. There were 4 advancing stocks, none declined.
At the close of the market, there were 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 1 with the offer lower. The junior market continues to reflect renewed interest with 7 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 7 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading on Tuesday are, Lasco Distributors ending with 11,422 shares changing hands to close with a gain of 5 cents, at $1.50, Lasco Manufacturing ended trading with 28,620 shares changing hands to close 3 cents higher at $1.13, Medical Disposables finished trading with 9,000 shares, with a gain of 10 cents to $1.85. Paramount Trading finished with 1,939 shares changing hands to close 4 cents higher at $2.75, General Accident closed with 44,650 units trading at $1.75 and Lasco Financial closed with 2,289 shares changing hands at $1.05.
Scotia ends at $62 on TTSE
In trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange, Scotiabank climbed to $62 to be the stock with the highest gain at the close. Trading resulted in 18 securities changing hands, at the close on Tuesday, of which 4 advanced, 4 declined and 10 traded firm, with a total of 385,169 units, valued at $8,973,527 trading.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 1.04 points to close at 1,152.11, the All T&T Index rose fell by 1.86 points to close at 1,985.23 and the Cross Listed Index increased by a 0.03 points to end at 41.77.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, ANSA McAL traded 4,098 units at $66.50 while gaining 5 cents. Jamaica Money Market Brokers added 27,400 shares at 44 cents to gain a cent, National Flour with 11,495 shares advanced by 2 cents to end at $1.18 and Scotiabank jumped 48 to end the day at $62 with 3,264 shares changing hands.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, First Citizens Bank lost 4 cents in trading 20 shares and closed at $37.03. Massy Holdings with 95,095 shares traded for $6,487,335, closed at $68.22 with a 1 cent loss, National Enterprises had 773 shares changing hands at $17.42, down a cent and Readymix with 156 shares traded at a loss of 1 cent to close at $18.79.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Agostini’s exchanged 288 shares at $17.50 each, Ansa Merchant Bank traded 200 shares at $39.45, Clico Investment Fund traded 59,367 shares valued at $1,395,125, to close at $23.50, Guardian Holdings traded 8,008 shares to close at $13.25. Guardian Media closed with 652 units trading at $19.75. National Commercial Bank with 105,000 shares changing hands for a value of $120,800 and ended at $1.15, One Caribbean Media closed at $25 with 5,031 units trading, Point Lisas Industrial Port with 2,500 shares ended at $3.75, Sagicor Financial Corporation traded 8,970 shares to close at $5.95 and Trinidad Cement contributed 52,852 shares with a value of $132,130 to close at $2.50.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 1 stock with the offer that was lower.
J$ starts week with gains
Trading in the forex market in Jamaica on Monday, resulted in the Jamaican dollar gaining against all the major currencies it normally trades against. Overall the equivalent of US$42,460,718 was purchased by dealers in contrast to US$29,319,403 on Friday, and selling of the equivalent of US$35,555,294 compared to US$32,815,088 on Friday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$37,309,537 compared to US$26,478,249 on Friday. The buying rate for the US dollar declined 11 cents to $113.83 and US$33,644,999 was sold versus US$31,451,847 on Friday with the selling rate slipping 4 cents to $114.64. The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped 63 cents to $94.77 with dealers buying C$2,195,107 and selling C$947,385, at an average selling rate that lost 83 cents, to $96.82. The rate for buying the British Pound fell 43 cents to $173.59 for the purchase of £1,983,561, while £462,288 was sold, the rate fell $1.41 to $174.90. At the end of trading it took J$137.97 to purchase the Euro, 78 cents less than on Friday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$135.02 for a $1 fall. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$298,693 while the equivalent of US$404,852, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 15 cents to $115, the lowest buying and the highest selling rates closed unchanged at $93.52 and $119.84 respectively and lowest selling rate fell $1.85 to $93.52. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell $2.10 to $98.50, the lowest buying dropped 37 cents to $77.77. The highest selling rate declined 66 cents to $100.29 and the lowest selling rate dipped 65 cents to end at $93.70. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, lost $1.10 to $177.50. The lowest buying rate eased $1.53 to $141.52, the highest selling rate lost $1.97 to $182.44 and the lowest selling rate ended $1.50 lower, at $170.
Scotia Group pushed market sharply
Scotia Group closed at $22.25 at a 52 weeks’ high and helped push the all Jamaica market index to the highest level since March 12 last year, when it then made a one day surge to 86,590.08. Proven Investments traded at a new record high when the market closed.
Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 6 stocks rising and 6 declining with a total 22 securities changing hands, ending in 2,577,659 units being active, valued at $25,438,501, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The main market indices gained pretty strongly on the second trading day of the new year. The JSE Market Index gained 1,104.24 points to 78,101.74, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 1,234.59 points to close at 86,039.68 and the JSE combined index gained 1,039.80 points to close at 79,879.68.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Broilers ended trading with 7,891 shares, the price gained 6 cents to $4.10, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with 226,400 shares trading with a gain of 3 cents to $1.60, Mayberry Investments ended with only 2,260 shares changing hands, to close with a gain of 3 cents at $1.87. There are just 4 offers to sell the stock one at $2.29 for 25,000 units at $2.80 – 37,117 shares, at $3 only 1,900 shares and at $8.75 – 100,000 shares. There are 12 bids to buy the stocks ranging from a low of $1.35 to buy 128,642 shares to 200,000 at $1.87, below are small amounts for $1.85 and $1.84. Proven Investments ended trading with 23,740 shares changing hands to close 1.50 cents to 20.5 US cents and Scotia Group finished trading with 922,754 shares changing hands to close $1.75 higher at $22.25. Scotia Investment as broker bought 878,778 shares as they crossed the vast majority of what was sold.
Firm| The stocks in the main market, closing without a change in the last traded prices are, Carreras with 21,950 shares trading at $37, Grace Kennedy with 5,000 shares changing hands, to close at $61, Jamaica Money Market Brokers in trading 30730 shares at $7.10 and Salada Foods ending with 1,000 shares changing hands to close at $10.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless closing with 54,182 units trading, the price slipped 2 cents to 48 cents. Caribbean Cement finished with 24,825 shares trading 1 cent lower to $2.40, Desnoes & Geddes ended with 1,200 shares trading and losing 4 cents to $4.90, Pan Jamaican Investment shed $2.85 with 897 units changing hands at $56.15 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 3,313 units trading as the price slipped 8 cents $7.02.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference shares traded 837372 units at $2 and Proven Investments 8% preference share finished trading with 100,000 units at $5.
Junior market indicators point higher
Lasco Financial Services’ stock was the sole one to gain on the junior market
At the close of the junior market had 6 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 9 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale, the latter is in keeping with the increase in the number of stocks with bids that are higher than the last selling prices.
At the close only 6 securities traded and ended with only 314,145 units valued at $336,525 changing hands. The JSE Junior Market Index rose 0.11 points to close at 689.20, with the price 1 advancing and 1 declining.
Stocks trading on Monday are, Lasco Financial that closed with 13,811 shares changing hands to gain 7 cents at $1.05, Consolidated Bakeries closing with 815 shares trading at 82 cents, General Accident finishing with 40,000 shares changing hands at $1.75, Honey Bun ending with 4,625 shares trading at $1.71. Lasco Distributors concluded trading with 167,894 shares changing hands at $1.45 and Lasco Manufacturing ended having 87,000 shares changing hands to close 2 cents lower at $1.10.
TTSE starts week quietly
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended on Monday with 12 securities changing hands of which 1 advanced, 1 declined and 10 traded firm with a total of 274,838 units, valued at $2,171,817.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.06 points to close at 1,151.07, the All T&T Index gained 0.11 points to close at 1,983.37 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 41.74.
Gains| The only stock to gain in price at the close, is ANSA McAL as it traded 1,200 shares and increased by 5 cents to end at $66.45.
Declines| Massy Holdings was the sole stock declining at the end of trading, with 3,430 shares to close at $68.23, after declining by 3 cents.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Ansa Merchant Bank with 1,823 shares closed at $39.45, Clico Investment Fund with 51,494 shares valued at $1,209,543 to end at $23.50, Firstcaribbean International Bank contributed 4,870 shares to close at $5, First Citizens Bank traded 2,171 shares at $37.07. Flavorite Foods traded 615 units to close at $4.80 while Guardian Holdings traded 4,515 shares at $13.25, National Commercial Bank with 110,500 shares changing hands for a value of $127,095, closed at $1.16, followed by National Enterprises with 3,080 shares at $17.42. Point Lisas Industrial Port Development with 312 shares, ended at $3.75 and Trinidad Cement with a volume of 90,828 shares traded for $227,070 to close at $2.50.
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.
Jamaican Teas 2014 profit drops
Jamaican Teas reported sharply lower profit, last year to September, of $52.7 million versus $93 million in 2013, with earnings per share of 31 cents. The figures were reported in the group’s audited financial statements release last week.
The results emanated from sale revenues of $1.14 billion down from $1.23 billion in 2013. There was approximately $50 million coffee sales included in the 2013 results with none in 2014. In 2013 the real estate segment contributed $185 million in revenues compared to only $26 million in 2014 with most coming in the September 2013 quarter.
Gross profit margin shrank slightly from 21.89 percent to 21 percent for the year, helping to cut gross profit by $17 million. Other operating income climbed to $24.7 million from $12.9 million in 2013, partially due to losses on sale of, and impairment of investments incurred in 2013, amounting to $13.5 million, but did not occur in 2014.
The Orchid property being developed that should add to Jamaican Teas’ profits in 2015 & 2016.
Changes in our distributorship in the Florida at the start of the fiscal year resulted in some short-term fall out in sales and increased marketing cost. A new distributor was appointed in the US market that will provide wider distribution in some key cities within that country. Revenues are expected to benefit from this development starting with the December quarter. The 2015 revenues, should also benefit from the completion of sales of 16 units in the first phase of the real estate development in St Thomas. The supermarket in Savanna-la-Mar was close to a break even by year-end and while the one in Kingston remained profitable. The Montego Bay supermarket reported losses in line with what was incurred in the prior year.
There was approximately $50 million increased borrowed funds at the end of the year, putting borrowings at $304 million. The profile of the debt changed markedly, with long-term loans accounting for two thirds of the debt at the end of the fiscal year compared with just 2 percent in 2013. The portfolio of investments including equities, stood at $123 million at the year-end and shareholders’ equity of $635 million.The company imports of black and green tea in bulk for packaging and the distribution local and overseas. it also packages and distributes herbal teas and distributes other bottled water, coconut milk and other pre-packaged food items. the group operates supermarkets and is involved in the rental of residential properties and the development of real estate for resale.The stock is listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and last traded at $2.50.
