Golding hands over Caricom report
Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding handing over the report of the finding and recommendations relating to Jamaica and its relationship with Caricom to current Prime Minister Andrew Holness at Jamaica House on Thursday.
The report was concluded after interviews with several former Prime Ministers and current ones from within the region, along with other interested persons from institutions such as Trade Unions and senior members of political parties and input from the general public were received over the internet.
Modest rise in junior market
Trading on the junior market fell off sharply on Thursday from Wednesday’s levels, as demand declined below the previous day leaving the market index inching up by just 1.16 points to end at 2,991.64.
Market activity ended with only 15 securities trading, similar to the total on Wednesday with advancing and declining stocks ending at a 5 each. A total of 243,100 units valued at $4,441,436 passed through the market, compared to 699,545 units valued at $3,810,910 on Wednesday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 16,207 units for an average value of $296,096 traded, compared to 46,636 units for an average value of $254,061 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 138,835 units and $1,338,271. On the immediate preceding trading day, the average volume and value for the month to date, were 144,675 units and $1,385,643. The average volume and value for February, ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
Trading ended with 10 stocks had bids higher than their last sale prices and 4 ended with lower offers, than the last sale.
At the close of the market on Thursday, AMG Packaging climbed $1 and closed at $6 with 27,916 units changing hands, CAC 2000 lost 5 cents and closed at $7.80 with 31,239 shares trading, Caribbean Cream dropped 8 cents in trading 1,733 units to end at $7.90, Derrimon Trading ended at $8.50 with 3,994 shares changing hands, Honey Bun had 3,952 shares changing hands, rose 70 cents and closed at $7.30. Iron Rock Insurance traded 7,256 shares to end at $3.84, Jamaican Teas traded just 320 shares to close at $7.99, Jetcon Corporation dropped $1 and closed trading with 21,970 shares being exchanged, to end at $11, Knutsford Express lost 11 cents to end at $42 with 80,146 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors ended with 22,522 units trading at $6.70, Lasco Financial fell 40 cents, with 20,000 shares changing hands, to end at $3.60, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 2,420 units changing hands at $5, after falling 5 cents, Main Event closed at $5 with 11,724 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables climbed 75 cents to $6 with 4,808 units trading and Paramount Trading had 3,100 shares changing hands, to close with a rise of 20 cents at $3.80.
Sagicor caught in JSE ownership restriction
The article sets a 10 percent limitation for ownership by any one shareholder. The restriction is meant to prevent anyone shareholder from dominating management of the company. The prospectus when the company sold ordinary shares to the public in June 2103 stated: Ordinary Shares – Special Provisions to Prevent Unacceptable Control Situations. Article 48 of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company contains provisions that are designed to prevent any Shareholder (including a Member Dealer) from holding Shares above the “Prescribed Percentage”, being over 10 percent of the issued share capital of the Company. If the voting power of any person (either alone or together with others) is more than the Prescribed Percentage, the Articles deem that an unacceptable control situation exists. In those circumstances, the same Article also deems that any Shares above the Prescribed Percentage are default shares that no longer carry rights to vote at general meetings of the Company. The Company has a power to give notice to the holder to dispose of any default shares, failing which the Company may dispose of them.
On March 3, a total of 35.3 million units of Jamaica Stock Exchange shares were trading through the market.
Iron Rock underperforms in year 1
Iron Rock came to the general insurance market just about when premium rates for catastrophe coverage is under pressure with consumers enjoying some of the lowest rates in years and with one element of good revenue losing it sting.
Iron Rock ended 2016, their first full year of operations, with a loss of $50 million, before fair value gains on investments of $5.5 million, taking the net position to a loss of $45 million, up from the forecast in the prospectus of $30 million as the company underperformed on most fronts, compared to forecast. Gross premiums written projected at $170 million ended well down, with $127 million generated in the year. Profit before operating expenses came in at $9 million versus $20 million forecasted. Investment income ended at $17 million versus $39 million while foreign exchange gains ended at $15 million with forecast being $7 million. Operating expenses ended at $91 million, lower than the $96 million projected. Underwriting loss before other income ended at $82 million versus $76 million after a lower loss claim of $6 million than the $12 million projected.
On the plus side, the big expansion on the way in the hotel and BPO sectors and other areas will provide an expanded market going forward and thus provide a base that they can expand their income from.
In spite of the loss, the company ended with a capital base of $560 million and holds investments of $366 million with $85 million in quoted equities. There is also an additional $70 million in short term investments. With growth in local equities the company should enjoy above average returns from this area that will boost the overall investment performance that could push them into an overall profit in 2017, but they are unlikely to see the same levels of foreign exchange gains enjoyed in 2016. Overall investment income realized or accrued could end up around $50 million in 2017 and would be well ahead of forecast.
Prices steady on TTSE
The last prices of stocks on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange ended on Wednesday without any change from the last traded price at the close on Tuesday. Based on the weighted average price movements, used in computing the market indices, the market recorded mostly falling values.
Trading levels fell to very low level with just 90,080 shares valued at $621,874 compared to Tuesday’s 178,508 units valued at $2,180,740 with 11 securities changing hands, the same as the day prior.
The Composite Index fell 5.36 points to 1,234.51, the All T&T Index declined by 11.56 points to 1,812.63 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.13 points to 88.03.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 10 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 12 with lower offers.
Firm Trades| Stocks changing hands on Wednesday with the last traded price unchanged are, Clico Investment closing at $22.50 with 4,158 units traded, JMMB Group at $1.22 with 43,325 units changing hands, National Enterprises closing at $10.88 with trades of 5,010 units. Point Lisas traded 6,117 shares at $3.65, after trading earlier at $3.75, Prestige Holdings closed at $10.75 trading 100 units, Republic Financial Holdings exchanged 500 shares to end at $105.48 but traded as low as $102. Sagicor Financial held firm at $9.01 with an exchange of 18,217 units, Scotiabank closed at $59.01 with 1,169 shares changing hands, Scotia Investments traded 115 shares at $2.30, but traded as high as $2.50, Trinidad Cement closed at $4.17 trading 7,629 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL remained at $22.71 with 3,740 units traded, after being as high as low as $21.50.
Sharp price moves push stocks down – Tuesday
Trading levels in main market ended at 5,715,510 units valued at $62,017,146 compared to 2,602,058 units valued at $19,772,383 at the close on Monday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 375,830 units valued at US$112,160.
The All Jamaica Composite Index declined 652.58 points to close at 244,600.84 the JSE Market Index fell 594.58 points to finish at 222,859.09 and the JSE US dollar market index gained 5.36 points to close at 215.57.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 122,740 units, compared to an average of 53,047 units on Monday. The average volume for the month to date ended at 136,817 units versus 150,894 units on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for February ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
In market activity, Berger Paints slid $1.95 to $11.05, with 92,502 shares changing hands, Cable and Wireless lost 1 cent to close at $1.29 with trades of 255,042 shares, Caribbean Cement closed $1.20 lower to $31 with an exchange of 38,790 units. Carreras traded at $72, gaining $3 with 25,245 shares exchanged, Grace Kennedy advanced 90 cents to $43.90 with 170,701 units changing owners, Jamaica Broilers traded 124,547 shares at $15.99, for a loss of 1 cent, Jamaica Producers closed at $16 with 143,221 shares exchanged, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed 53 cents lower at $7, with trades of 861,904 units. JMMB Group closed at $16.81, losing 19 cents with 62,377 units traded, Kingston Properties closed at $16.35 trading 2,250 shares, Kingston Wharves lost 25 cents to close at $31.50, with 133,133 units changing hands, Mayberry Investments closed 10 cents lower at $4.60 with an exchange of 63,659 shares, NCB Financial Group gained 40 cents to close at $61.90, after exchanging 39,418 shares, 1834 Investments closed at $1.50, losing 10 cents trading 24,112 units, Palace traded 900 units at $200, Pan Jamaican closed at $35, with a loss of 1 cent trading 59,159 shares. Pulse Investments closed at $8.40, losing 5 cents with an exchange of 2,654 units, Radio Jamaica gained 30 cents to close at $1.90 exchanging 30,300 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $33.50 trading 151,851 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund lost 6 cents to close at $10.50 with 184,285 shares traded, Scotia Group was down 99 cents, to close at $38.01, with 513,417 units exchanged, Scotia Investments traded $1.95 higher to $40 with a mere 1,000 units changing hands, Supreme Ventures advanced 35 cents to $6.35 trading 4,710 shares. Proven closed at 30 US cents, gaining 1 cent with an exchange of 375,830 ordinary shares and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share lost 1 cent to close at $1.08 with trades of 2,730,333 units.