The pace at which murders in Jamaica are now being committed is progressing at an accelerated lower rate of 17 percent for the year to date, compared to the similar period in 2023 and a reduction of 16 percent at the end of August and 14.5 percent to July 6, according to data released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force up to the end of the first week of September.
The report shows the period with 163 fewer murders than for the similar period in 2023 when 969 persons lost lives at the hands of criminals, resulting in 806 murders being recorded to date, holding the trend of less than 1,200 for the year.
Murders drop 17% in Jamaica
Eric Solis trades up
Eric Solis Marketing that was listed on the SME market of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday had just two shares trading at $4.60, up 60 cents from the IPO price of $4. Trading activity in the overall market resulted in a mild fall in the volume of stocks traded with the value dropping 16 percent from Monday’s trades with 14 securities trading compared with 19 on Monday and ending with prices of four stocks rising, five declining and five ending firm.
The market closed with trading of 117,520 shares valued at $1,266,739 compared to 123,765 stock units at $1,510,113 on Monday.
An average of 8,394 shares were traded at $90,481 compared with 6,514 units at $79,480 on Monday, with trading month to date averaging 14,535 shares at $174,459 compared with 15,330 units at $190,372 on the previous day and for an average for August of 21,741 shares at $142,770.
The Composite Index shed 1.00 points to settle at 1,065.13, the All T&T Index sank 3.41 points to finish at 1,603.25, the SME Index remained at 87.78 and the Cross-Listed Index popped 0.22 points to wrap up trading at 68.48.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Citizens Group skidded 50 cents to finish at $43 after an exchange of 25 shares, FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $6.90 with a transfer of 41,702 stocks, GraceKennedy fell 24 cents to $3.41 and closed after 3,000 shares changed hands. Guardian Media ended at $1.55 with 14 stock units crossing the market, JMMB Group popped 4 cents in closing at $1.05 after investors ended trading 100 shares, Massy Holdings closed at $3.50 after 29,147 stock units passed through the market. National Enterprises dipped 3 cents to $3.02 with 27,734 units changing hands, NCB Financial lost 2 cents and ended at $2.58 in an exchange of 3,000 stocks, Republic Financial remained at $112 with traders dealing in 1,726 units. Scotiabank slipped 1 cent to close at $53.54 after an exchange of 10,895 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $5 with 35 stocks being traded, Unilever Caribbean climbed 90 cents to end at $11.50 with 101 stock units crossing the market and West Indian Tobacco rose 27 cents to close at $8.31 with investors trading 39 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Mixed trading on the JSE USD Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market closed modestly higher at the close on Monday, with the levels of market activity declining compared with Friday, with the volume of stocks traded dropping 35 percent valued at 523 percent more than on Friday, resulting in exchange of nine securities, compared to seven on Friday with prices of three rising, two declining and four ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 107,733 shares for US$45,990 compared to 166,468 units at US$7,387 on Friday.
Trading averaged 11,970 shares at US$5,110 compared to 23,781 shares at US$1,055 on Friday, with a month to date average of 171,852 shares at US$4,908 compared with 212,964 units at US$4,856 on the previous day and August that ended with an average of 297,880 units for US$8,245.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased just 0.70 points to end the day at 235.48.
The PE Ratio, one of the most popular measure to determine appropriate stock values, averages 8.1.The PE ratio is calculated based on last traded prices divided by projected earnings computed by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, First Rock Real Estate USD share popped 0.1 of a cent to finish at 4.1 US cents after an exchange of 216 stocks, Margaritaville increased 2 cents to 10 US cents, with 218 units changing hands, Proven Investments ended at 10 US cents with investors trading 2,037 shares. Sterling Investments ended at 1.61 US cents after 547 stock units crossed the market, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 7 US cents as investors exchanged 6,951 shares and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.12 of a cent to close at 2.13 US cents in switching ownership of 74,107 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share sank 8 cents to US$1.10 after an exchange of 1,800 units, JMMB Group 5.75% climbed 9 cents to finish at US$1.85 with investors dealing in 21,706 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments US 8% ended at US$10 after an exchange of 151 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Eric Solis lists on Trinidad Exchange
Eric Solis Marketing following a successful Initial Public Offer, was listed on the SME market on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday with no trading activity but closed with buying interest for 103 units at $4 and selling of 2,500 shares at $4.60. Elsewhere the trading plunged, with the volume of stocks traded declining 74 percent with a 44 percent lower value than on Friday and ending with trading in 19 securities compared with 20 on Friday resulting in prices of five stocks rising, eight declining and six ending firm.
The market closed with trading of 123,765 shares valued at $1,510,113 compared with 469,652 stock units at $2,680,153 on Friday.
An average of 6,514 shares were traded at $79,480 compared to 23,483 units at $134,008 on Friday. Trading for the month to date averages 15,330 shares at $190,372 down from 17,324 units at $215,454 on the previous day and an average for August of 21,741 shares at $142,770.
The Composite Index gained 1.87 points to wrap up trading at 1,066.13, the All T&T Index climbed 9.90 points to cease trading at 1,606.66, the SME Index remained unchanged at 87.78 and the Cross-Listed Index shed 0.94 points to conclude trading at 68.26.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Agostini’s ended at $65 with an exchange of 3 stocks, Angostura Holdings declined 25 cents to $17.50 with 69 units changing hands, Ansa McAl sank 20 cents to end at $62.80 with investors swapping 1,010 shares. Ansa Merchant Bank remained at $41.50 in an exchange of 1,542 stock units, Calypso Macro Investment Fund climbed 62 cents and ended at $24.22 with traders dealing in 14 shares, First Citizens Group increased 50 cents to finish at $43.50 after an exchange of 5,627 stock units. FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $6.90 with a transfer of 950 units, Guardian Holdings popped 50 cents to finish at $14 after an exchange of 10,032 stocks, JMMB Group lost 4 cents and ended at a new 52 weeks’ low of $1.01 with investors trading 1,701 shares. Massy Holdings skidded 8 cents to end at $3.50 with 16,662 stock units crossing the market, National Enterprises slipped 2 cents in closing at $3.05 after a transfer of 2,881 units, National Flour Mills shed 1 cent to close at $1.79 with 2,986 stocks crossing the market. NCB Financial dipped 10 cents to $2.60 as investors exchanged 9,467 units, One Caribbean Media edged 1 cent higher to finish at $3.01 and closed, with an exchange of 10,000 stock units, Prestige Holdings remained at $11.50 with 22 shares crossing the exchange. Republic Financial ended at $112 with investors dealing in 3,809 stock units, Scotiabank fell $1.45 in closing at $53.55 in an exchange of 2,813 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL remained at $5 with investors trading 51,121 units and West Indian Tobacco rose $1.04 to $8.04 after 3,056 stocks passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Scotia Group hikes dividend
Scotia Group increases dividend payment by 12.5 percent to 45 cents per share, to be paid in October. The payment brings to $1.65 the amount paid per share for the year to date amounting to a total of $5.134 billion.
The group increased the dividend payment to 40 cents in October last year, from 35 cents in July 2023. The increase is in line with profit for the nine months to July. Based on historical trends, the increase is consistent with payments of 45 cents per quarter until July 2025 with a likely increase in the October payment. That would put the dividend yield at more than 4 percent at $1.80 per annum.
Scotia reported earnings per share of $1.75 for the July quarter and $4.50 for the nine months to July, the dividends represent a pay out ratio of 28 percent versus 27 percent for 2023.