The Jamaican dollar underwent moderate changes in trading on Monday, as authorized dealers bought US$16 million more than was sold. They purchased the equivalent of US$59,284,131 versus US$35,558,566, on Friday and sold the equivalent of US$43,206,616, compared with US$33,852,780 on Friday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$51,676,419 compared to US$29,263,800 on Friday. The buying rate for the US dollar gained 3 cents to $112.29 and US$38,092,548 was sold versus US$26,297,179 on Friday, the selling rate fell 1 cent to $112.67. The Canadian dollar buying rate, dived $1.06 to $98.87 with dealers buying C$5,612,540 and selling C$4,831,223, at an average selling rate that rose 11 cents, to $101.16. The rate for buying the British Pound fell back by 59 cents to $178.75, for the purchase of £1,581,380, while £418,877 was sold, at $180.93, down by 11 cents. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$148,806, while the equivalent of US$103,868, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, declined 35 cents, to $112.85, the lowest buying and the highest selling rates were unchanged at $91.85 and $117.70 respectively and the lowest selling rate, dropped $1.81 to $91.85. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 10 cents to $100.90, the lowest buying rate rose 12 cents to $79.51, the highest selling rate climbed 44 cents to $102.80. The lowest selling rate was up 15 cents to $95.80. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, jumped $6.50 to $188. The lowest buying rate rose 66 cents to $145.08, the highest selling rate climbed $3.28 to $188 and the lowest selling rate nosedived $22.62 to $151.38.
$16M more US$ bought than sold on Monday
Lousy Monday trading on JSE
Monday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, sank to a low level with only 526,642 units trading, valued at just $2,883,385, in all market segments. At the close the prices of 5 stocks rose and 9 declined as 21 securities changed hands.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell 23.45 points to 71,642.45, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 26.22 points to close at 78,817.51 and the JSE combined index dipped 65.01 points to close at 73,502.73.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras with 17,100 shares trading, gained 10 cents to $34.60, Desnoes & Geddes rose 28 cents to $4.98 in trading 1,000 shares, Grace Kennedy exchanged 9,580 shares at $58, rising by 5 cents and Sagicor Group had 9,850 shares changing hands, 10 cents higher to $9.60.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless with 11,500 units at 29 cents, Ciboney’s 211,200 shares traded to close at 7 cents, Jamaica Broilers 7,200 units at $4, Mayberry Investments with 12,550 shares closed at $1.40, Proven Investments with 16,950 shares ended at 18 US cents and Radio Jamaica had 2,040 units changing hands at $1.15.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Kingston Wharves with 1,230 ordinary shares traded 40 cents lower at $5.10, National Commercial Bank closed with 5,850 units trading after slipping 25 cents to $17.55, followed by Pan Jamaican with 2,000 shares, and closed down 80 cents at $49.20, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 3,000 shares, and closed with a loss 35 cents at $6.65 and Scotia Group had 35,184 shares changing hands and ended 10 cents lower at $19.40.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 5,000 units at $2.
5 stocks traded in junior market 4 fell
The Junior Market closed with 175,408 units valued at $314,853 trading. The JSE Junior Market Index fell 4.59 points to close at 656.81, only 5 securities traded, 1 advanced and 4 declined.
At the close of the market, there were 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to exhibit weakness with 10 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 4 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks that traded on Monday in the junior market are, General Accident with 32,700 shares, the price rose 4 cents to end at $1.55, Lasco Financial Services with 7,600 units, closed at 90 cents, down 10 cents, Lasco Manufacturing had 24,447 units trading to close at 93 cents, after losing 2 cents, Medical Disposables with 75,500 shares, lost 4 cents to end at $1.92 and Paramount Trading had 35,161 units changing hands at $2.55, after dropping 15 cents.
Investors spend $15.7m on Republic’s shares
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Monday, closed with Republic Bank accounting for $15.7 million worth of shares traded, but the stock price declined at the close. There were 14 securities changing hands on the first trading day of the week, 3 advanced in price, 5 declined and 6 traded firm, with a total of 665,955 units, valued at $19,599,985.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index declined by 0.47 points to close at 1,147.18, the All T&T Index fell 0.93 points to end at 1,963.40 and the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 43.38.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, First Citizens Bank traded 1,665 shares and gained 4 cents to close at $36.80, One Caribbean Media increasing 13 cents to end the day at $25.25, in spite of a slight decline in earnings for the year to September of 3 percent to reach $57.8 million and 17.5 percent reduction in the September quarter to $18.4 million. Conversely, West Indian Tobacco gained 2 cents to land at $118.52, while 70 units traded. Profit before taxation for the nine months ended 30 September, climbed 13 percent to $436 million, over the corresponding period in 2013 and profit after tax for the nine months is $329 million, reflecting an increase of 16 percent over 2013. Profit after tax rose 9 percent in the September quarter over that of 2013 as revenues declined slightly.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 2,210 shares, declined by 2 cents to close at $12.53, National Enterprises contributed 39,978 shares with a value of $699,615, closing down 4 cents at $17.50, a 52 weeks’ low, National Commercial Bank with 401,176 shares changing hands for a value of $401,152 to end down 2 cents to 98 cents, National Flour traded 3,000 shares to close with the loss of 4 cents to $1.10, Republic Bank with 130,000 shares traded for $15,743,000 lost 10 cents to end at $121.10
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAL added 18,349 shares valued at $1,213,786 and closed at $66.15, Clico Investment Fund with 60,618 shares valued at $1,340,545 to end at $22.11, Guardian Holdings traded 3,167 shares to close $13.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers had 500 shares changing hands at 45 cents, Massy Holdings traded 22 shares to close at $68.55, Trinidad Cement with 3,200 shares ended at $2.
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 only 1 stock with the offer that is lower.
Profit climbs 21% at Margaritaville
Revenue jumps 30.7 percent to US$1.7 million, in the first quarter, ending August and pushed up gross profit by 33.24 percent to hit US$1.267 million, as margin improved over the similar quarter in 2013, at Margaritaville Turks Ltd. It was not all good sailing for the second US dollar listed stock on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, as administrative cost climbed faster that revenues at 37.76 percent, and kept growth in profit to US$245,000, for a 21.18 percent increase.
Full year profit| For the current year, based on the growth in revenues so far, profits should climb to US$1.6 million, up from US$732,000 in twelve months to May this year and result in earnings per share of 2.4 US cents and put the PE of the stock at 4.6 making it an attractive buy currently. The standalone business depending on ships docking is not without added risk, a factor that investors should be cognizant of. The shares are not in great supply but there are offers ranging from 11 US cents to 18 cents but there has been no buying interest for weeks.
Construction of a new restaurant, is to commence in the second quarter of the financial year and end in the third quarter, to expand their offerings to customers.
Concerns| The company has little debt, but has a big jump in the amounts owing to creditors, growing from $716,000 to $973,000 while amounts owing by related companies to it, jumped sharply, from $424,000 to $987,000. This is not a good sign and there is not even an ounce of comment by management about this unusual buildup of these amounts. While all of this is happening, cash is down to only $4,000 from $58,000 a year ago.
Margaritaville is new to listing on the stock exchange, but they need to get a few things right. The prospectus stated that the shares would be listed on the stock exchange main market, the audited statement for 2014 says the same, and the current report repeats it as well. These are all incorrect as the shares are listed on the US dollar denominated market, which differs from the main market. The actual financial statement does not provide readers with the number of shares issued, this should be a part of the financial statement. The listing of the number of shares issued in the top 10 shareholders is not a part of the financials and investors should not have to look there for it.
Rosa Manor welcomes you for J$50m
Rosa Manor, Kingston, Jamaica
Rosa Manor units at 1 Rosa Place, Widcombe, Kingston 6, Jamaica.
Interior of Townhouse at Rosa Manor
The architect if Revi Gardener & Associate and the developers is Rosa Manor Development Company Limited.
Berger surges to the top
Berger Paints surged to the top of the list of stocks on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange that should return the highest gains to investors, in the months ahead, with the potential to reach 500 percent.
Next in line is Trinidad Cement with 300 percent. Scotiabank has fallen to $58 from a high of $73.12 earlier this year. At the close of trading for the week, Scotiabank’s price seems set to decline further, with selling pressure still overwhelming buying interest, at the current price level. The decline so far has put the stock back in the list of top buys, with potential gain of 40 percent at the last traded price. The bank reported poor results in the first half of the fiscal year, but showed strong gains in the July quarter including good pick up in loans. This suggest that 2015 earnings should move up attractively, subject to continued growth in the loan portfolio. Importantly the PE has fallen in line with Republic Bank at around 16 times earnings and only slightly above the rest. Berger has surged based on the latest results, putting profit for the six months to September at $1.122 million, a big improvement over than the $240,000 earned in the 2013 period and almost ensuring that the full year’s earnings of $2.93 million to March this year, will be bettered by a good degree. 
Berger’s profit improvement is flowing from reduced cost rather than sales growth. Sales fell slightly to $29.8 million for the half year, compared to $30.1 million in the 2013 period. IC Insider is forecasting $1.10 per share, around $6 million after tax for the current year.
Rounding out the top list of the stocks that virtually select themselves are, Sagicor Financial, Point Lisas, Guardian Holdings, National Flour Mills, Massy Holdings, First Citizens Bank, Ansa Merchant Bank, Republic Bank and Scotiabank.
The 2014 financial year for a number of the companies have ended in September, with more results to be released soon. Investors’ minds will start to focus on 2015 when the results for some of the companies will show improvement over 2014, making the stocks cheaper now than they are likely to be a few months from now when the results for 2015 starts to flow.
Trinidad Cement released their nine months results to September which point to earnings from continuing operations being 13 cents for the quarter and annualised at 52 cents per share. The agreement to supply Venezuela with 240,000 tonnes of clinker will help boost the group’s profit, while the contract is being satisfied. While debt is a negative, the present cash flow if continued, will see them out of danger within 3-4 years.
Overall the TTSE market average PE is at 14.4 with 12 stocks above this levels and 10 stocks below.
Jamaican$ loses value against all on Friday
The Jamaican dollar lost value on Friday, against the British Pound, the US and Canadian dollars, as authorized dealers purchased the equivalent of US$35,558,566 versus US$30,974,409, on Thursday. The equivalent of US$33,852,780 was sold, compared with US$30,021,063 on Thursday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$29,263,800 compared to US$27,235,385 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar was up 3 cents to $112.26 and US$26,297,179 was sold versus US$27,684,459 on Thursday, the selling rate rose 2 cents to $112.68. The Canadian dollar buying rate, climbed $1.47 to $99.93 with dealers buying C$3,703,602 and selling C$5,296,001, at an average selling rate that rose 38 cents, to $101.05. The rate for buying the British Pound moved up 59 cents to $179.34, for the purchase of £1,792,631, while £1,687,902 was sold, at $181.04, up 48 cents. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$134,294, while the equivalent of US$94,382, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, declined 75 cents, to $113.20, the lowest buying and the highest selling and the lowest selling rates, were unchanged at $91.85, $117.70 and $93.66 respectively. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 30 cents to $100.80, the lowest buying rate fell 29 cents to $79.39, the highest selling rate dropped 44 cents to $102.36. The lowest selling rate was down $1.65 to $95.65. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, rose 90 cents to $181.50, the lowest buying rate declined 21 cents to $144.42, the highest selling rate fell $1.73 to $184.72 and the lowest selling rate dived $2.30 to $174.
Scotiabank drops set for more decline
In trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Friday, Scotiabank drops to $58, with continuing selling pressure at the end of trading that seems set to push the price down further. At the close of the market 15 securities changed hands, of which 5 advanced, 4 declined and 6 traded firm, ending with a total of 378,604 units rading, valued at $12,047,355.
At the conclusion of trading, the Composite Index lost 0.79 points to close at 1,147.65, the All T&T Index fell by 1.50 points to close at 1,964.33 and the Cross Listed Index fell by a mere 0.01 points to end at 43.38.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Angostura Holdings that traded 400 shares, closed with a gain of 4 cents to end at $12.55, Ansa Merchant Bank traded 78 units while adding a cent to close at new 52 weeks’ high of $39.41, Massy Holdings traded 23,613 shares valued at $1,618,907 to close with a gain of 1 cent at $68.56. Sagicor Financial Corporation with 100,000 shares changing hands for a value of $624,295 and ended up 5 cents at $6.25 and West Indian Tobacco gained 18 cents to end the day at $118.50 with 1,500 shares.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Point Lisas Industrial Port Development with 119 units, closed a cent lower at $4, while Republic Bank added 30,000 shares valued at $3,636,000 to close at $121.20 with a 5 cents decline, Scotiabank dropped 49 cents to close at a new 52 weeks’ low of $58, Scotia Investments traded 18,000 units to close 5 cents lower at $1.40.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAL with a volume of 50,000 shares being traded for $3,307,500 to close at $66.15, Clico Investment Fund with 82,431 shares valued at $1,821,725 ended at $22.10, First Citizens Bank traded 3,188 shares to close at $36.76, Guardian Holdings traded 20,000 shares at $13.50, Grace Kennedy with 12,765 units closed at $3.85 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers contributed 30,000 shares to end at 45 cents.
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.
Trading picks up 12 stocks rise
Grace gained $1.34 to close at $57.95 on Friday
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower, suggesting fluidity in price movements in the short term.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 114.23 points to 71,665.90, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 127.73 points to close at 78,843.73 and the JSE combined index was up by only 45.79 points, to close at 73,567.74 as the junior market index fell.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras with 105,570 shares trading, rose 16 cents to $34.50, Caribbean Cement with 1,500 shares, closed 7 cents higher at $2.20, Gleaner had 3,900 shares changing hands, 5 cents greater at $1.10, Grace Kennedy put through 2,900 units with a gain of $1.34 to $57.95, Mayberry Investments with 2,453,103 shares, was up 4 cents at $1.40, Pan Jamaican Investment closed higher at $50 with 69,616 units, to gain 90 cents, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 7,800 shares traded 40 cents up to $7, Seprod had 50,000 units being active and added 5 cents to $11 and Supreme Ventures had only 2,000 shares changing hands, 12 cents higher at $1.72.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless having 38,861 shares changing hands at 29 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 25,300 ordinary shares, closed at $7, Kingston Wharves with 450 shares, ended at $5.50, Proven Investments traded 24,460 ordinary shares and ended at 18 US cents and Scotia Group with 22,534 shares closed at $19.50.Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the close of the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes trading 5,570,641 shares at $4.70, after slipping 9 cents, National Commercial Bank saw trading in 45,159 shares as the price ended 19 cents down at $17.80 and Sagicor Group with 465,779 units, fell 5 cents to close at $9.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 2,332,279 units 2 cents up to $3, the Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 718,300 units at $2, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% preference share traded 200 units at $1,006.10 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 1,800 units at $5.
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