Steppe Cement Share Discussion Threads

[jeanesy] 03/11/2021 20:05

Looks like the 199k sell was the catalyst for the fall. I am fairly sure there will be no interim dividend now .. no replies and no confirmation RNS .

[stun12] 03/11/2021 16:49

Likewise. No idea how to read charts properly but previous bounces seem to have been off the 35-17p area. Not sure if I want to wait that long, but happy to add if we keep going south.

[fozzie] 03/11/2021 16:08

I would be very happy to pick some more up under 40p if they should dip that far.

[jeanesy] 03/11/2021 14:34

just got back in from being out. Should have gone with my gut instinct and sold out first thing! Clearly others did just that. Company needs to think how it treats its investors .

[spawny100] 03/11/2021 11:32

No pretty. Back to the bottom of the trend channel from May 2020. Needs a bounce here.

[11_percent] 03/11/2021 10:32

Seller is back.....we are going to make a lower low....

[jeanesy] 03/11/2021 07:37

Thanks for the inf. Yes inflationary pressures are very real. Coming back to STCM , I am disappointed to report no response to my email. That is poor show from them. They clearly don't care about their investors. Has anyone else had a response ?

[wilo101] 03/11/2021 03:36

Press-Release No20

The base rate raised to 9.75%

October 25, 2021 Nur-Sultan


The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan has made
a decision to set the base rate at 9.75% per annum with the interest rate corridor of +/- 1.00
percentage points. Consequently, the rate for the liquidity provision standing facilities set on 10.75%
and for the liquidity withdrawal standing facilities at 8.75%.
The decision was taken due to the continuing pro-inflationary pressure in the economy,
resulted in inflation forming above the forecast range of 7.5-8.5% in 2021, rising prices in world
markets, accelerating inflation in trading partner countries and high inflationary expectations within
the country.
The external inflationary background remains unfavorable. It is stipulated by high world food
prices, disruptions in supply chains, rising costs for transportation, raw materials and energy, as well
as by the recovery of domestic demand. The FAO Food Price Index in September 2021 increased by
32.8% year-on-year as a result of prices increase for all subgroups of food products.
Inflation in the main trading partner countries remains at an elevated level. In China, as a
result of higher prices for coal and products of energy-intensive industries, the producer price index
rose to 10.7%. Annual inflation in the EU in September this year accelerated to 3.6%, in Russia – to
7.4% and continues to accelerate, as evidenced by weekly inflation in October, which amounted to
7.8% in annual terms.
In Kazakhstan, in September 2021 annual inflation was 8.9%. Acceleration is observed across
all the components. The main contribution to the acceleration of annual inflation continues to be
made by the increase in food prices (4.5 percentage points out of 8.9%).
Food inflation in September 2021 continued to accelerate, despite the seasonal decline in
prices for fruit and vegetable products and amounted to 11.5% in annual terms. The main drivers of
the acceleration of food inflation are the annual increase in prices for meat (10.3%), bakery (8.7%)
and dairy products (8%) as a result of the increase in the producers’ cost due to the increase in prices
for fodder crops, diesel fuel, electricity and wheat. Additional inflationary pressure is exerted by the
growth of world prices. In September 2021, the FAO index for meat increased to 26.3% in annual
terms, for dairy products - 15.2%, and the increase in world prices for wheat was 41%.
Non-food inflation at the end of September 2021 amounted to 7.5% in annual terms. The
main contribution to this acceleration is the annual increase in prices for household items, clothing
and footwear, fuel and solid fuels. Prices for clothing and footwear are rising due to higher prices for
imported goods, the recovery of consumer demand and the growth of real money incomes of the
population. In turn, the prices of fuels and lubricants and solid fuels increased due to the growth in
costs and due to the recovery of economic activity.
The inflation of paid services accelerated in September 2021 to 6.8%. The dynamics is
resulted from an increase in prices for regulated services by 5.6%, education services - by 8.4% and
rental housing - by 18.6%. Among regulated services, an increase in the price of electricity by 8.3%
and liquefied transported gas by 6.4% was noted in September.
Inflation expectations remain at an elevated level. At the same time, there is a gradual
decrease from the maximum values recorded in July-August 2021. In September 2021, the
quantitative assessment of inflation for the year ahead increased and amounted to 9.0%. The share
of respondents expecting the accelerating and remaining current rate of inflation decreased to 59%
(in August – 61.5%). In the estimates of price dynamics in the past month, the share of respondents
who noted a very high price increase also decreased from the maximum in July and amounted to 52%
(in July – 65.7%).
The dynamics of the real sector development coincides with the expectations of the National
Bank. According to the results of 9 months of 2021, GDP growth amounted to 3.4%, following the
optimistic scenario of the National Bank. The economic recovery continued amid the rising world
prices on commodity markets and the easing of quarantine restrictions. Manufacturing, trade,
construction, information and communications, and the public sector demonstrate high growth rates.
In addition, for the first time since March 2020, there is a positive growth rate in transport. According
to the optimistic scenario, economic growth this year will be 3.7-4.0%.
Consumer activity continues to recover confidently amid the improvement in the
epidemiological situation. After a slight slowdown in July-August 2021, retail turnover recovered its
growth rates and in September 2021 amounted to 5.6% in annual terms. In the structure of retail
turnover, there was a more active dynamics of food trade with simultaneous entry into the growth
zone of non-food goods turnover. The dynamic recovery of domestic demand is supported by the
growth of nominal and real incomes. For 8 months, nominal income growth was 12.9%, real growth
was 4.9%. High demand is reflected in the acceleration of consumer goods’ imports. In 8 months of
2021, consumer imports increased by 23.9% to $7.7 billion.
The current situation on the world oil market is generally assessed positively. World prices
for Brent crude oil have risen to $86 per barrel for the first time since October 2018 amid a decline in
global oil reserves due to increased demand, rising prices for additional energy sources (gas, coal),
as well as more restrained oil supply from OPEC+ countries. Thus, from the beginning of the year to
October 22, the price of Brent crude oil rose by 63%, and averaged $69.3 per barrel.
According to EIA estimates, the growth rate of global oil demand will outpace its production
until mid-2022, supporting the shortage of oil on the market. Starting from the second half of 2022,
due to the expected increase in oil production in OPEC+ and non-OPEC countries, an excess of it may
appear on the market, which may put pressure on oil prices. Thus, the optimistic scenario of the
forecast round "August-September 2021" is being implemented, which assumes that the trajectory
of oil prices is at the level of $70 per barrel on the forecast horizon.
Following the developing countries, some central banks of developed countries are
beginning to enter a cycle of tightening monetary conditions. Since the beginning of 2021, 31 central
bank raised key rates, including developed countries as Norway and South Korea.
The Central Bank of Russia is actively continuing the cycle of tightening monetary policy, raising
the key rate at the last meeting by 0.75 percentage points to 7.5%. This decision is justified by a
significant deviation of the actual inflation from the forecast values. By the end of 2021, inflation in
Russia is expected to be in the range of 7.4–7.9%. The regulator also notes that inflationary processes
are becoming stable due to the fact that the expansion of domestic demand significantly outstrips

[wilo101] 03/11/2021 03:34

hxxps://www.nationalbank.kz/en
hxxps://www.nationalbank.kz/file/download/70964
the possibility of increasing production. In these conditions, manufacturers transfer increased costs
to prices. In turn, in this regard the inflation expectations of the population have increased, which
have reached a five-year high.
External institutions do not expect a rapid decline in inflation. According to IMF forecasts,
developed countries are expected maximum inflation values to be reached by the end of the year,
followed by a return to pre-pandemic values by mid-2022. In developing countries, inflationary
pressures will continue due to higher prices for food, oil and imported goods as a result of the
exchange rates weakening. Ahead of the upcoming meeting, the US Federal Reserve notes that high
pressure on prices would continue as the economy opens. According to the regulator, inflation will
remain at an elevated level for longer than previously expected, before it starts to decline. In this
regard, the inflation forecasts for 2021 have been adjusted upwards.
Under increased external and internal inflationary background, the National Bank continues
to normalize monetary policy in order to enter the 4-6% corridor in 2022. The achievement of this
goal also depends on the effective implementation by the Government and local executive bodies of
an Anti-Inflationary Response Package. The National Bank will continue to pursue a deflationary
monetary policy, including on the basis of an analysis of the taken anti-inflationary measures
effectiveness.
The next planned decision of the Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of the
Republic of

[wilo101] 03/11/2021 03:30

the NBRK increased interest rates again yesterday, so one can get more than 10% on KZT deposits and with oil and metals high the KZT will appreciate finally.

[finctastic] 01/11/2021 18:00

You may not get a personal reply but if numerous shareholders are asking the same question, you would think that should merit a response. If you don't ask you don't get as they say.

[jeanesy] 01/11/2021 13:12

So did I . I doubt they will reply tbh. It's just a feeling.

[eggbaconandbubble] 01/11/2021 12:55

Yup, I did too! No reply as yet.

[gary1966] 01/11/2021 12:36

Not sure if anyone else has sent a message to the company re an interim dividend but I did on Friday and have had no response so far.

[wilo101] 30/10/2021 03:34

Perhaps makes sense for one large payment to be made after the final 2021 results are audited to avoid any potential tax issues. Meanwhile interest on deposits is 9% and with oil increasing the KZT ought to appreciate finally.

[zangdook] 29/10/2021 08:57

If we're not getting one, they're unlikely to announce that we're not getting one, so why not ask them? If something which was never announced is not going to happen, that is not new or inside information, it's simply confirmation of the status quo. Of course, if they are going to pay one then they'd have to reply on the lines of "an announcement will be made in due course".

[eggbaconandbubble] 29/10/2021 08:19

That's very pessimistic. I think we just need to be patient and hope as per past performance the ex-div date and payment date follow on very quickly after an announcement.

[jeanesy] 29/10/2021 08:01

No dividend RNS - perhaps we will not be getting one this year ?

[zangdook] 29/10/2021 01:54

"just announce a few days after the Q3 update that a divi will be paid on such a such date i.e. ex-div date and payment date."

20 days, to be precise.

[eggbaconandbubble] 28/10/2021 17:41

They did what last year?

[zangdook] 28/10/2021 17:14

They did last year, yes.

[eggbaconandbubble] 28/10/2021 16:57

They don't do they? They just announce a few days after the Q3 update that a divi will be paid on such a such date i.e. ex-div date and payment date.

[zangdook] 28/10/2021 15:33

Indeed. They've said nothing about an interim this year.

[jimmladd1] 28/10/2021 15:26

Difficult to extrapolate or "predict" from a sample of one. Not enough data.

[zangdook] 28/10/2021 14:16

last year it was the last Thursday in October.