Blog Page — Page 1302

Scotia in demand on TTSE

December 17, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Scotiabank profit rose for 2014, helping to push demand for the stock which rose in Wednesdays trading.

There is strong demand to buy Scotiabank shares. At the end of trading the bid on the stock was at $60.53 to buy 123,951 units but there were no sellers of the stock that has been recovering from the sell off since June this year, before bottoming at $57.95. The stock last traded at $60.51 this week.
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended, with 9 securities changing hands of which 2 advanced, 2 declined and 5 traded firm, with a total of 54,521 units, valued at$1,397,330.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.09 points to close at 1,143.97, the All T&T Index fell by just 0.18 points to close at 1,976.75 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 40.73.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Ansa Merchant Bank that traded 287 shares and gained 1 cent to end at $39.45, for a new 52 weeks’ high and National Flour Mills gained 1 cent to end the day at $1.16 with 6,000 shares changing hands.

Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund traded 25,215 shares valued at $580,021 but declined by 1 cent to end at $23 and National Enterprises with 2,000 shares traded at $17.49 to close down a cent.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAL with 5,695 shares trading valued at $378,091 and closed at $66.39. First Citizens Bank contributed 5,467 shares with a value of $202,280 and ended at $37, Guardian Holdings traded 3,007 shares at $13.25, Massy Holdings traded 2,033 shares to close at $68, while National Commercial Bank added 4,817 shares to the total of stocks traded and closed at $1.16.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showed 5 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.

Filed Under: TTSE Market Tagged With: Ansa Mcal, Ansa Merchant Bank, Daily Trading, First Citizens, Guardian Holdings, Massy Holdings, National Enterprises, National Flour Mills, NCB, Scotia, TTSE

US to normalise Cuban relations

December 17, 2014 by IC Insider.com

The long period or US embargo in trade in goods and services, with Cuba since the Castro regime seized power in the late 1950s, seems set to be reversed, according to a report earlier today.
According to Bloomberg news U.S. will begin to normalize relations in a surprising move by the Obama administration that will loosen a trade and travel embargo that is among the last remnants of Cold War policy. The action means not simply the opening of a U.S. embassy in Havana but the lifting of restrictions that have limited commerce and kept aficionados from legally bringing Cuban cigars to U.S. soil.
The change in the US attitude could have far reaching implications for Jamaica and the rest of the region specifically, as it affect tourism trade.

Filed Under: Breaking News, General Business News

J$ gain on euro falls vs others Tuesday

December 16, 2014 by IC Insider.com

The Jamaican dollar lost value against the United States dollar and against the euro but gained against the Pound and the Canadian dollar on Tuesday, a day of robust foreign exchange trading.
Overall, there was buying of the equivalent of US$43,503,554 versus US$56,094,979 on Monday, and selling of the equivalent of US$46,130,818 compared to US$47,505,422 on Monday. In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$38,358,526 compared to US$49,500,391 on Monday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 23 cents to $113.88 and US$42,437,376 was sold versus US$43,962,004 on Monday. The selling rate rose 12 cents to $114.41. The Canadian dollar buying rate inched up 8 cents to $96.30 with dealers buying C$1,987,289 and selling C$2,034,522, at an average selling rate that rose 36 cents, to $98.82. The rate for buying the British Pound fell 44 cents to $176.87 for the purchase of £2,127,681, while £992,180 was sold, the rate climbed 30 cents to $179.17. At the end of trading it took J$141.98 to purchase the Euro, 24 cents less than on Monday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$139.06, as the rate fell 56 cents. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$160,113 while the equivalent of US$382,324, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, closed 10 cents higher at $114.75, the lowest buying rate gained 17 cents to $93.69. The highest selling rate was unchanged $120.05 and the lowest selling rate jumped $17.98 to $111.50. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar declined by 38 cents to end at $98.62. The lowest buying rate closed 12 cents lower, at $78.52. The highest selling rate rose 59 cents to $102.50 and the lowest selling rate moved down 15 cents to $94.60. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, rose 80 cents to $180.50. The lowest buying rate closed 21 cents lower at $143.96, highest selling rate lost 27 cents to $185.59 the lowest selling rate rose 45 cents to $173.45.

Filed Under: FX Market, Stock Market Tagged With: BOJ, British Pound, Canadian dollar, Daily Trading, FX Market, J$ v US$, J$ vs euro, Jamaica dollar, US Dollar

Rising prices hold sway on JSE

December 16, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Add your HTML code here...

Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, continues with a bullish bias and ended in the prices of 10 stocks rising and only 2 declining as 17 securities changed hands, ending in 4,801,191 units trading, valued at $30,772,622, in all market segments. The IC Bid offer indicator is pointing to continuation of rising prices having the upper hand, over declining ones.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 2 stocks with offers that were lower. This is a positive indicator for the market pointing to rising prices ahead.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 190.04 points to 76,113.19, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 212.50 points to close at 83,816.44 and the JSE combined index gained 192.73 points to close at 77,801.62.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Berger Paints finished trading with 46,668 shares with the price rising 9 cents to $1.60, Carreras ended with 195,379 shares, the price jumped $1.10 to $37.25 but at the close there was an offer to sell at $36.20, Hardware & Lumber ended trading with 2,666 shares changing hands to close 4 cents higher at $7.51. Jamaica Broilers completed trading with 2,325,782 shares with the price rising 4 cents to $4.10, National Commercial Bank contributed 420,000 units to trading and put on 10 cents to $18.50, Sagicor Group ended trading with 151,205 shares with an increase of 13 cents to $10.09 and Salada Foods finished trading with 19,200 shares as the price jumped 20 cents to $8.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless finished with 156,869 shares trading at 50 cents, importantly, today’s trade exposes the offer at 55 cents with 95,000 units being offered and just above that, is 97,000 units at 58 cents. The highest bid is now at 48 cents for 1.8 million units. Caribbean Cement ended trading with 27,711 shares changing hands to close at $2.40, Proven Investments ended with 19,520 shares trading at 19 US cents and Scotia Group closed with 104,305 shares changing hands at $20.50.
Declines| The Gleaner Company was the only main stock to end with a loss as there was trading in 59,570 but ended losing 4 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 95 cents.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: Berger Paints, C&WJ, Caribbean Cement, Carreras, D&G, Daily Trading, Gleaner, Hardware & Lumber, Jamaica Broilers, Kingston Wharves, Mayberry, NCB, Proven, Sagicor, Salada Foods, Scotia

Jamaican prices fall expect more

December 16, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Prices increased for October, by a mere 0.1 percent over September this year, in line with the increases in February and June but above a negative 0.3 percent in April. For November, this year, The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin) reveals that as at the Consumer Price contracted by 0.5 percent versus October 2014.
The November fall, represents the lowest inflation rate since the start of the 2014. The division ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ declined by 0.1 per cent, and was mainly due to lower prices for vegetables. A reduction in the cost of electricity and lower rates for water and sewage were the key factors influencing the division ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’, which declined by 3.6 percent. The latest inflation data brings the year to date level to 6.7 percent and the final number for 2014 should end up closer to 6 percent with the price of oil continuing to fall on the world market and local food products coming back in good quantities.

The fall in the price of oil helped in the negative price movement in November

IC Insider stated in November that “the October number brings the yearly inflation to 7.2 percent to date. The shortage of many locally grown food items, pushed up prices and inflation in the food category for the September by 2.1 percent, the worse monthly increase by far for the year. Supplies are coming back to normal and will moderate prices in this category, so there should be lowering of inflation here. The price of oil have fallen on the world market down to the mid US$70 range and local gas prices at the pumps, having declined sharply. The fall in world oil prices will be passed through to consumers in lower fuel rate by JPS. With all of these developments rest of the year should see negative inflation that may pull the full year rate well below 7%. The inflation rate for 2012 was 8.0 percent and in 2013, 9.5 percent.”

Filed Under: Breaking News, Economy, Feature Stories Tagged With: Economy, Fall in oil prices, Inflation in Jamaica, Statin

3 junior stocks rose 1 fell

December 16, 2014 by IC Insider.com

General Accident traded the most in volume on the junior market and had the highest gain

Activity on the Junior Market closed with only 5 securities trading and ended with 1,272,316 units valued at $1,880,973. The JSE Junior Market Index rose 1.50 points to close at 666.99. Trading ended with the price 3 stocks advancing and 1 declining.
At the close of the market, there were 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and no stock with the offer lower. The junior market continues to exhibit weakness with 7 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 8 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
In trading on Tuesday, IC Insider BUY RATED General Accident closed with 640,683 shares trading as the price ended 15 cents higher at $1.80, Lasco Financial saw trading in 578,398 units and put on 8 cents to $1.05, Paramount Trading ended with 14,650 shares changing hands 1 cent higher to $2.56. Eppley traded 107 shares at $380 and Caribbean Producers traded 38,478 shares but lost 8 cents to end at $2.07.

Filed Under: JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: Caribbean Producers (CPJ), Eppley, General Accident, Lasco, Paramount Trading

Massy overshadows with $10M trade

December 16, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Massy Holdings accounted for $10.38 million or 89 percent of the total value of shares traded on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Tuesday while 9 securities changed hands of which 4 advanced, 3 declined and 2 traded firm. A total of 209,437 units, valued at $11,652,953 traded.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 1.30 points to close at 1,144.06, the All T&T Index rose 0.01 points to close at 1,976.93 and the Cross Listed Index increased by 0.34 points to end at 40.73.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Angostura Holdings trading 1,224 shares to close at $13 with a gain of 8 cents. National Commercial Bank with 30,000 shares trading closed 5 cents higher at $1.16, Scotiabank added 8,010 shares valued at $484,685 and gained 1 cent to end at $60.51 and Unilever Caribbean gained 26 cents to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $64.51 while trading 5,000 shares.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund which traded 2,575 shares valued at $59,246 and lost 4 cents to close at $23.01. Massy Holdings had 152,480 shares changing hands for a value of $10,375,955 and closed at $68, down by 24 cents and Republic Bank traded 100 shares and lost 3 cents to close at $119.76.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, First Citizens Bank that traded 9,048 shares valued at $334,776 to close at $37 and Guardian Holdings trading 1,000 shares to close at $13.25.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.

Filed Under: Stock Market, TTSE Market Tagged With: Angostura Holdings, clico, Daily Trading, First Citizens, Guardian Holdings, Massy Holdings, NCB, Republic Bank, Scotia, TTSE, Unilever Caribbean

First Caribbean 2014 profit disappears

December 16, 2014 by IC Insider.com

First Caribbean International Bank reported a big loss of US$151 million, a huge increase from a loss of just US$22 million in 2013. The news may appear gloomy but there is more to that than meets the eye. The news may well be a strong signal that its time to buy shares of this bank that sprawls over the wider Caribbean region.
Management cleaned shop, resulting in loans loss provision climbing 36 percent to US$206 million in 2014 and impairment cost relating to intangible assets of US$115 million. The latter should not repeat in the near term and loan loses may remain subdued with the heavy write off in 2014.
The October 2014 quarter enjoyed a major turn-around in fortunes as after-tax profit rose to US$24.6 million from a loss of US$66 million in 2013. The quarterly result was helped by a sharp drop in loan loss provision, falling from US$76 million in 2013 to US$13 million and operating expenses declining from US$130 million to $88 million. The July quarter also showed positive results, amounting to US$23 million after tax, suggesting that profit could be back on track.
Net interest revenues were down 1 percent for the year, but fell 7 percent in the October quarter, from the similar quarter, in 2013 as revenues fell 6 percent and interest cost was down by 5 percent. Other income fell in the quarter moderately, but was up for the year, by 2 percent. How will the bank grow its income, is the challenge going forward in the medium term, in a region that is suffering from economic stagnation and beset by high levels of national debt?
Customer deposits ended at US$9.2 billion from $9.8 billion at the end of the 2013 fiscal year while loans fell to US$6.14 billion from US$6.33 billion in 2013 and as high as US$6.83 billion at the end of the 2012 fiscal year. The bank’s balance sheet contracted during the year to $10.78 billion from $11.4 billion in 2013 due mainly to contraction in cash balances and loans but investment securities rose from $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion.
A final dividend of 1.5 US cents per share payable in January, was declared, it brings the total for the year to 3 US cents. The stock is listed on the Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago stock exchanges.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Dividends, Firstcaribbean International Bank, TTSE

J$ loses against US & euro Monday

December 15, 2014 by IC Insider.com

The Jamaican dollar lost value against the United States dollar and the euro but gained on the Pound and the Canadian dollar on Monday, a day of robust foreign exchange trading.
Overall there was buying of the equivalent of US$56,094,979 versus US$60,517,416 on Friday, and selling of the equivalent of US$47,505,422 compared to US$56,937,674 on Friday. In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$49,500,391 compared to US$56,245,001 on Friday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 11 cents to $113.65 and US$43,962,004 was sold versus US$44,323,676 on Friday. The selling rate rose 17 cents to $114.29. The Canadian dollar buying rate fell $2.03 to $96.22 with dealers buying C$2,054,639 and selling C$1,104,263, at an average selling rate that lost $1.43, to $98.46. The rate for buying the British Pound climbed 78 cents to $177.31 for the purchase of £2,944,023, while £1,463,435 was sold, the rate fell 86 cents to $178.87. At the end of trading it took J$142.22 to purchase the Euro, 98 cents more than on Friday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$139.64, a rise of $1.36. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$261,706 while the equivalent of US$301,699, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, closed 10 cents higher at $114.65, the lowest buying rate was unchanged at $93.52. The highest selling rate gained 21 cents to $120.05 and the lowest selling rate fell $1.84 to $93.52. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar declined by 70 cents to end at $99. The lowest buying rate closed 38 cents lower, at $78.64. The highest selling rate remained unchanged at $101.91 and the lowest selling rate moved down 45 cents to $94.75. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, lost 15 cents to $179.70. The lowest buying rate closed 21 cents higher at $144.17 and highest selling rate climbed $3.08 to $185.86, the lowest selling rate fell 45 cents to $173.

Filed Under: FX Market, Stock Market Tagged With: BOJ, British Pound, Canadian dollar, Daily Trading, euro, FX Market, j$ v euro, Jamaica dollar, US Dollar

Kingston Properties gains 49.5%

December 15, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Monday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 7 stocks rising and 5 declining as 19 securities changed hands with Kingston Properties closing 49.5 percent higher to a new high of $6. The stock ended with the bid at $5.85 on Friday which would have allowed it to trade as high as 30 percent higher at $7.60 under the new circuit breaker that came into effect recently. Trading ended with activity in 1,926,843 units, valued at $29,060,020, 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 had 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 611.01 points to 75,923.15, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 683.19 points to close at 83,603.94 and the JSE combined index gained 545.66 points to close at 77,608.89.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes ending with 33,866 changing hands to end 1 cent higher at $4.71, Grace Kennedy ended trading with 90,314 shares with the price rising 2 cents to $63, Jamaica Broilers had trading in 5,500 shares with the price rising 1 cent to $4.06. Kingston Properties finished trading with 106,000 units and put on $1.98 to hit a new high of $5.98, <a href="http://icinsider.com/pan-jam-profit-up-29-for-q2/” title=”Pan Jam profit up 29% for Q2″>Pan Jamaican Investment contributed just 100 shares in rising $3.90 to $60, new 52 weeks’ high and Scotia Group ended trading with 1,060,362 units, and put on 49 cents to $20.50.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless ending with 453,837 shares at 50 cents. Jamaica Producers finished with 8,343 shares to close at $17.50, Mayberry Investments ended with 29,000 units at $1.45 and Proven Investments ended trading 610 ordinary shares to end at 19 US cents.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, National Commercial Bank ended with 4,742 shares trading at 10 cents lower at $18.40 and Sagicor Group lost 4 cents in closing at $9.96 with 6,000 shares changing hands.
Preference| Proven Investments 8% preference share ended with 5,600 units trading to end at $5.50.