Local Stock Market Review
For the week ended Friday, the majority of the Jamaica Stock Exchange indexes closed lower than the previous week. The JSE Junior Market Index declined 2.75%, the JSE Combined Index declined by 1.84%, the JSE Index decreased by 1.77%, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 1.76% and the JSE USD Equities Index declined by 0.94%. The biggest winner this week was Portland JSX Limited, rising by 25.00% to close at J$9.00. The biggest loser was Salada Foods Jamaica Limited falling by 18.57% to close at J$30.00.
|
Index |
1/03/2020 | 1/10/2020 | 12/31/2019 | Week/Week | Year-to-Date |
| JSE Main Market |
512,395.40 |
503,336.51 | 509,916.44 | -1.77% |
-1.29% |
| JSE Junior Market |
3,378.19 |
3,285.36 |
3,348.97 |
-2.75% |
-1.90% |
| JSE Combined Market | 507,852.34 |
498,510.46 |
505,253.98 |
-1.84% |
-1.33% |
| JSE USD Equities Market | 232.03 | 229.84 | 226.23 |
-0.94% |
1.60% |
Local Dividend Schedule
| Security | Div/Share | Record Date | X Date | Payment |
| MTL | US $0.00223 | 22-Nov-19 | 21-Nov-19 | 15-Jan-20 |
| ECL | US$0.000245 | 22-Nov-19 | 21-Nov-19 | 15-Jan-20 |
| SGJ | $0.55 | 24-Dec-19 | 23-Dec-19 | 15-Jan-20 |
| JP | $0.15 | 20-Dec-19 | 19-Dec-19 | 17-Jan-20 |
| PJAM | J$0.25 | 8-Jan-20 | 7-Jan-20 | 31-Jan-20 |
| SEP | J$0.50 | 3-Jan-20 | 2-Jan-20 | 31-Jan-20 |
| PBS | US$0.00811 | 2-Jan-20 | 31-Dec-19 | 24-Jan-20 |
| CPFV | BBD$0.024 | 30-Dec-20 | 27-Dec-19 | 9-Jan-20 |
FX Market
| Currency Pair | 1/03/2020 | 1/10/2019 | 12/31/2019 | Week/Week | Year-to-Date |
| JMD: USD | 133.97 | 135.74 | 132.57 | -1.32% | -2.39% |
| JMD:CAD | 104.58 | 104.69 | 100.70 | -0.10% | -3.96% |
| JMD:GBP | 172.77 | 174.94 | 170.64 | -1.25% | -2.52% |
Unit Trust Performance
| Unit Trust Fund | 1/02/2020 | 1/07/2020 | Week/Week Return |
Year-to-Date Return |
1 Year Return | Yield |
| Capital Growth | 96.79 | 95.50 | -1.33% | -0.92% | 38.9% | – |
| Money Market | 14.3659 | 14.2935 | -0.50% | -0.50% | 3.17% | 1.97% |
| Income Portfolio | 100.00 | 100.00 | – | – | – | 3.10% |
| FX Bond Portfolio (US$) | 1.3421 | 1.3379 | -0.31% | -0.31% | 6.99% | 1.74% |
| Real Estate Portfolio | 5,144.80 | 5,142.14 | -0.05% | -0.50% | -0.50% | 0.19% |
| FX Growth Portfolio | 0.8957 |
0.8949 |
-0.09% | -0.90% | 14.78% | – |
Stock Market Weekly Report
January 10, 2020 – Download here
International Update
International Equity Market
| Index | 1/03/2019 | 1/10/2019 | 12/31/2019 | Week/Week | Year-to-Date |
| Dow Jones | 28,634.88 | 28,823.77 | 28,462.14 | 0.66% | 1.27% |
| S&P 500 | 3,234.85 | 3,265.35 | 3,234.85 | 0.94% | 0.94% |
| NASDAQ 100 | 9,020.77 | 8,966.64 | 8,733.07 | -0.60% | 2.67% |
| FTSE 100 | 7,622.40 | 7,587.85 | 7,542.44 | -0.45% | 0.60% |
| Euro Stoxx 50 | 3,773.37 | 3,791.30 | 3,748.47 | 0.48% | 1.14% |
US News & Data:
The US trade deficit narrowed to US$43.1 billion in November 2019 from a revised US$46.9 billion in December 2019 and below market expectations of US$43.8 billion. The trade gap shrank for the third straight month to the lowest since October 2016. Imports slumped 1% to the lowest value in 2 years due to falling purchases of aircraft, computers and cell phones. Exports increased 0.7% to US$209 billion, boosted by sales of drilling and oilfield equipment, jewellery, autos, diamonds and aircraft engines. The goods trade deficit with China narrowed 15.7% to US$26.4 billion, with imports dropping 9.2% and exports jumping 13.7%. Year-to-date, the total deficit decreased US$3.9 billion. The trade war with China seems to be the main cause behind the lowest trade gap. Non-farm payrolls in the US increased by 145 thousand in December 2019, following a downwardly revised 256 thousand rise in the previous month and below market expectations of 164 thousand. Notable job gains occurred in retail trade and health care, while mining lost jobs. The decline can be partially due to a later-than-normal Thanksgiving Day in 2019, which could have shifted hiring of seasonal workers, and to a boost in November from the return of workers from a GM strike.
European News & Data:
The Business Climate Indicator for the Euro Area fell by 0.04 points from November 2019 to -0.25 in December 2019, the lowest level since August 2013 and below market expectations of -0.16, as managers’ assessments of past production and stocks of finished products declined sharply. Also, their assessments of overall order books and export order books worsened, while production expectations improved firmly.
Germany’s trade surplus narrowed to EUR$18.3 billion in November 2019 from EUR$20.2 billion in the same month the previous year, as exports fell 2.9 percent on the back of lower sales to both the EU (-2.4%) and non-EU countries (-3.5%). Meanwhile, imports declined at a softer 1.6% as purchases from the EU dropped 1.4% and those from third countries fell 1.8%.
G20 News & Data:
China’s annual inflation rate unexpectedly steadied at 4.5% in December 2019, the same as in the previous month and less than market expectations of 4.7%. Still, it remained the highest inflation rate since January 2012, as pork prices surged 97% on the back of a prolonged African swine fever epidemic. The government previously said it will use its reserves to provide sufficient pork supply to meet higher demand ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays later in January. Food inflation eased to 17.1% from 19.1% while non-food cost rose at a faster 1.3%.
The Consumer Confidence Index in Japan increased 0.4 points from the previous month to 39.1 in December 2019, the highest since May and above market expectations of 38, as three of the four sub-indices improved: willingness to buy durable goods (up 1.3 points to 36.6); overall livelihood (up 0.4 points to 38.4); and income growth (up 0.1 points to 40.2).
The Ivey PMI for Canada fell to 51.9 in December 2019 from 60 in the previous month and missing market forecasts of 53.8. Decreases were seen in inventories (52.5 vs 59.1 in November) and supplier deliveries (49.3 vs 52.7) while employment (51.4 vs 50.3) and prices (59.5 vs 54.9) went up.
Australia’s trade surplus widened to AUD$5.80 billion in November 2019 from a downwardly revised AUD$4.08 billion in the previous month and above market consensus of AUD$4.15 billion. Exports rose 2 percent while imports dropped 3%.
News
KLE Group, franchisers of the fast-casual dining restaurant, Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records (UBT&R), has acquired full ownership of the Montego Bay location, meaning that with the original Kingston restaurant, it now owns all of the local restaurants... read more
First Rock Capital Holdings welcomed local brokers PROVEN Wealth Limited, Scotia Investments Limited, Barita Investments Limited and Mayberry Investments Limited as selling agents to the public for its initial public offering (IPO) at the lead brokers signing on Monday at First Rock headquarters in Kingston...read more
JMMB Securities Limited lowered its rating on shares of Caribbean Cement Company, CCC, and also set a new target price of $67.05...read more
The directors of Jamaican Teas Limited meets on January 14, 2019 to consider two subjects: a possible increase in the authorized share capital of the company and a sub-division of the companies issued and outstanding shares...read more

