The junior market surged 81.31 points, pushing the market index over the 2,700 mark for the first time, to end at a record 2,705.63 points at the close on Monday, with 5 securities trading at the close, at new all-time highs.
At the close of trading on Monday the prices of 13 stocks rose, 3 declined with 21 securities trading, compared to 13 trading on Friday. Volume of stocks traded rose 48 percent, from Friday’s low level, ending with a still low volume of just 728,143 units, including one stock in the preference sector changing hands, valued at $4,409,716, up by 65 percent from $2,672,851 on Friday.
An average of 34,673 units with an average value of $209,986 traded, compared to 37,841 units with an average value of $205,604 on the preceding trading day. The average for the month to date is 63,141 units with an average value of $315,280 versus 70,258 units with an average value of $341,603 on Friday. The average for December is 131,147 units, at an average of $672,488.
Securities that had bids above their last selling prices numbered just 4 on Monday and one ended with a lower offer. Since the start of last week there were a number of securities closing with large gaps between bids and last sale prices, with the exception of Eppley that has a bid of $8.01, compared to a last sale of $4.90, they have all traded higher to wipe out the major differences.
At the close of trading, Access Financial Services gained $3 in trading 1,889 units to close at an all-time high of $25, AMG Packaging jumped $1.50 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $28.50 with 399 units changing hands, Blue Power jumped $3.50 and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $34.50 with 3,500 units traded. CAC 2000 traded 7,000 units at $5.25 after gaining 30 cents, Cargo Handlers climbed to a new high of $19.70 after gaining $1.10 with 2,235 shares trading, Caribbean Cream dropped 55 cents with 143,035 units being exchanged to end at $8, Caribbean Flavours added 60 cents while trading 1,000 shares to close at $11.80. C2W Music had 3,334 units changing hands to close with a loss of 1 cent at 34 cents, Consolidated Bakeries ended trading with 5,925 units changing hands at $2.15. Dolphin Cove closed at $15 with 555 shares changing hands, General Accident closed trading with 75,504 units at $3, Honey Bun had 17,127 shares changing hands to close at $5.95 after losing 10 cents, Iron Rock Insurance traded 1,110 units and gained 5 cents to end at $4.05. Jamaican Teas ended at $4.85 with 8,640 shares being exchanged with a rise of 60 cents,
Jetcon Corporation rose 43 cents, to close at a new all-time high of $6.50, with 26,649 shares being exchanged by investors, Lasco Distributors ended with 58,900 units trading with a gain of 20 cents to close at $7.21, Lasco Financial rose 29 cents and closed with 10,912 shares changing hands at $3.94. Lasco Manufacturing rose 24 cents to end at $5.04, with 40,149 units trading, Medical Disposables traded 10,000, shares with a rise of 25 cents to close at $4.45, Paramount Trading ended with 26,700 shares changing hands at $3 and Eppley 8.25% preference share, ended with 283,500 units changing hands at $6.
Jamaican stocks up in early trading – Monday
Stocks on the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged forward first thing Monday morning, with the All Jamaica composite index rising by 1,109.47 at 1 minute after trading opened to trade at a new high and the combined index moved up by 919.92 points.
Market activity resulted in 31 securities traded at 10:45 am, compared to 26 on Friday at 10:45 am. A total of 11 securities advanced and 9 declined, resulting in a volume of 842,68 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $7,961,875, compared of 984,204 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $4,620,010 on Friday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 27,183 units versus 37,854 units on Friday.
Market activity was helped by National Commercial Bank rising to $52.50, with 7,180 shares up from a last trade on Friday of $51.01, Scotia Group trading 8,582 units at $39, representing a rise of 99 cents from Friday’s close. In the junior market, Blue Power jumped $3.50 to a new all-time high of $34.50 with 3,500 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream fell back from Friday’s close of $8.55 to trade at $7.35 with 83,535 units and Jetcon Corporation with 25,946 units traded at a new high of $6.50. Caribbean Cement dropped $3.50 with 9,350 shares to $30.50 but recovered partially to traded 18,350 units up to $33.20.
The all Jamaica Composite Index gained 645.01 points to 214,293.58, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index grew 576.75 points 195,991.13 the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index gained 662.77 points to 208,847.13 and the junior market index rose 12.45 points to 2,636.77.
Jetcon & CWJ set for 2017 top spots
C&W set to be 2017 top stock from the main market.
In the just concluded week, Caribbean Cream (Kremi) and Lasco Financial that entered the IC Insider’s TOP 5 at the end of December, only spent one week in the list. Both stocks climbed during the past week with Lasco Financial moving up 18 percent to $3.67 and Caribbean Cream gained 14 percent to $8.55. Key Insurance rose 14 percent during the week and General Accident was up 7 percent.
Entering the TOP 5 for the first time, is Dolphin Cove, and returning is Jetcon Corporation at 4th and 5th spot, respectively. Investors have lost confidence in Dolphin Cove even as the company continues to produce decent results and having good prospects, with the major expansion in the tourism industry. Profit to September last year, was up 11 percent to $1.17 per share, exceeding the results for the entire 2015.
Jetcon reported in their September quarterly
Dolphin Cove moved into the IC Insider’s TOP 5 junior market stocks.
There were not much movement in the main market stocks during the week. Radio Jamaica moved out of the TOP 5, having gained in price during the week and is replaced by National Commercial Bank, at the number 5 position. The banking group is still selling cheaper than Scotia Group with earnings for the 2017 year to be released by the end of January. IC Insider is forecasting $8 per share earnings for 2017 with increased dividend payments around $3 per share, suggesting the stock has much room for growth. The number 1 main market stock is projected to be Cable & Wireless followed by Barita Investments. Last year this publication stated that Barita was the best main market stock back in September, it is now up by 93 percent since but has much more gains ahead with projected earnings of $1.75 for 2017.
Note: One of our writers is a director of two junior companies, Jetcon Corporation and Jamaican Teas. Connected parties to IC Insider.com may hold shares in companies commented on from time to time.
Majors surge 3,247 points to record close
Bulls pushing Jamaican stock to new highs.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index surged 3,246.81 points, to close at 213,648.57. The JSE Market Index leapt 2,903.22 points to finish at 195,414.38. The JSE combined index jumped 2,748.82 points to close at 208,184.36.
At the close with 10,710,157 units valued at $359,865,498 changed hands, compared to 2,993,596 units valued at $27,027,397 changing hands on Friday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 491,934 units changing hands, valued at $2,672,851. Grace Kennedy with 7,729,745 units valued at $316,822,639 accounted for the bulk of the trades with the price rising 59 cents to close at $40.99.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 378,453 shares compared to an average of 84,869 units traded on Thursday. The average for the month to date is 235,343 versus 132,234 units on the previous trading day, well below the average of 549,379 units, December ended with.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.In market activity, Berger Paints rose 20 cents while trading 1,875 shares to close at $6, Cable & Wireless gained 4 cents to close at 89 cents with 101,180 units trading, Caribbean Cement ended with a $1 rise while trading just 1,000 shares at $34. Carreras gained 75 cents and closed at $66.75 with 12,920 shares changing hands, Ciboney traded 87,962 units and rose 4 cents to end at 20 cents, Investors traded 443,934 shares of 1834 Investments to close at $1.20. Jamaica Broilers fell 10 cents and closed at $14.50 with 11,679 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers rose 45 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $9.85 with 3,700 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 4 cents in trading 20,360 shares, to end at $5.56. JMMB Group traded 53,329 units and added 30 cents to end at $15, Kingston Properties lost 95 cents in trading 13,795 units to close at $8.05, Kingston Wharves jumped by $1.81 in trading 26,062 shares at $21.81, Mayberry Investments ended at $4.80 with 4,270 shares changing hands. National Commercial Bank traded 202,254 shares with a fall of 49 cents to close at $51.01.
Pan Jam Investment traded 3,893 shares at $26.50. Pulse Investments lost 30 cents in trading 53,383 shares at $3.70, Radio Jamaica rose 9 cents to close at $1.35 after 44,324 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group closed with 42,635 shares changing hands at $29.04. Sagicor X Fund ended with 57,375 units trading at $10.50. Scotia Group with 587,294 shares changing hands and closed with a rise of $3.01 at $38.01, Scotia Investments gained $1.02 with 16,000 units trading, to end at $31.02, Seprod rose $2 to $30 with 24,088 units changing hands, after trading at an intraday high, of $30.50, Supreme Ventures had just 7,213 shares trading and gained 9 cents to end at $5.10 and Proven Investments ordinary share traded 667,533 units at 20.5 US cents.
Junior market climbs to highest ever
Blue Power rose $1 to close at a new all-time high of $31.
At the close, a large number of securities, 13, ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none ending with lower offers. Some of the securities with bids higher than their last selling prices have no offer and may not trade. At the close, the securities closing with large gaps between bids and last sale prices, include Access Financial with the $24.01 versus the last sale of $22, with no stocks on offer. Cargo Handlers had a bid at $19.11 with the last trade at $18.60 and an offer at $19.70 and Eppley that ended with a bid of $8.01, compared to a last sale of $4.90.
The prices of 9 stocks rose, 3 declined with 13 securities trading, compared to 16 trading on Thursday. Volume of stocks traded fell 37 percent, from Thursday’s low level, ending with just 491.934 units changing hands, valued at $2,672,851, down by 32 percent from $3,954,032 on Thursday.An average of 37,841 units with an average value of $205,604 traded, compared to 49,187 units with an average value of $247,127 on the preceding trading day. The average for the month to date is, 70,258 units with an average value of $$341,603 versus 81,063 units with an average value of $386,936 on Thursday. The average for December is 131,147 units, at an average of $672,488.
At the close of trading, Blue Power jumped $1 and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $31 with 10,979 units traded, Caribbean Cream jumped $1.15 with 21,100 units being exchanged to end at $8.55. Caribbean Flavours lost 80 cents while trading 2,900 shares to close at $11.20, Caribbean Producers gained 50 cents in trading 2,000 units at $3.75. Derrimon Trading gained 5 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.80 with 10,000 shares changing hands, General Accident rose 1 cent and closed trading with 3,200 units at $3,
Jamaican Teas ended at $4.25 with 54,784 shares being exchanged. Jetcon Corporation gained 6 cents, to close at a new all-time high of $6.07, with 141,959 shares being exchanged by investors, KLE Group climbed 30 cents and closed with 76,000 shares trading at $2.20, Knutsford Express traded just 200 shares and gained 50 cents in closing at $23. Lasco Distributors ended with 21,000 units trading with a loss of 9 cents to close at $7.01, Lasco Financial rose 15 cents and closed with 50,362 shares changing hands, at $3.65 and Lasco Manufacturing fell 20 cents to end at $4.80, with 97,450 units trading.
Jamaican$ ended mixed on Friday
On Friday the central bank reported net inflows US$2.9 million with the buying and selling rates for the main currencies for the Jamaican dollar being mixed.
At the close of the market, dealers bought the equivalent of US$73,405,937 of all currencies and sold US$70,539,453, compared to US$36,967,257 purchased and US$39,708,349 sold on Thursday.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$70,170,675 compared to US$30,748,354 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 60 cents to close at $128.09. A total of US$69,102,218 was sold versus US$35,784,226 on Thursday, with the selling rate remaining unchanged at $128.55.
The Canadian dollar buying rate fell $1.59 to $93.54, with dealers buying C$1,672,927 and selling C$680,212 at an average rate that slipped 41 cents to end at $96.30. The average rate for buying the British Pound climbed just 5 cents to $155.84 for the purchase of £1,529,299 while £360,627 was sold with a decline of 30 cents to end at $156.93.
At the end of trading on Friday, dealers sold €456,848 with the selling rate for the Euro, closing with a rise of $2.02 to $135.15, according to data from Bank of Jamaica. Dealers purchased €123,157 of the European common currency at $129.42 after falling 14 cents. The US dollar equivalent of other currencies traded, amounts to US$28,507 being bought and selling of US$7,109.
Highs & Lows| Notable changes to the highest and lowest rates for the regularly traded foreign currencies on Friday, include a rise in the lowest selling rate of the US dollar by $16.68 to $120. A rise of $1.50 in the highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar to end at $100 while the lowest selling rate grew $1.30 to $92.30. The highest buying rate for the British Pound dropped $1.80 to $158 and the lowest selling rate rose $2.50 to $153.50, while the lowest selling rate for the Euro put on $3.55 to close at $129.80.
3 TTSE stocks rise 3 fall
The Trinidad stock market closed Friday with the two main indices falling with advancing stocks equalling each other. Trading ended with 222,518 units changing hands, valued at $4,418,139 compared to Thursday’s 326,391 units valued at $3,531,245.
Trading closed on with 11 securities changing hands, the same as Thursday with 3 stocks advancing, 3 declining and 5 remaining unchanged.
The Composite Index fell 0.43 points to 1,211.75 points, the All T&T Index dropped 1.11 points to 1,834.09 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.04 points to close at 78.80 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 4 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| Guardian Media gained 1 cent and closed at $19 with 2,000 units traded, Scotia Investments closed at 52 weeks’ high of $2.05, adding 4 cents with 6,000 units trading and Scotiabank gained 3 cents to close at $58.80 with 130 shares changing hands.
Losses| Clico Investments suffered a loss of 19 cents, closing at $22.60 with 8,706 shares trading, Republic Financial Holdings closed at $108.43, a loss of 1 cent with trades of 15,472 shares valued at $1,677,630 and Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 49 cents to $20.50 after trading 107,200 units valued at $2,197,600.
Firm Trades| Grace Kennedy closed trading at $2.67 trading 840 units, Guardian Holdings held firm at $13 with an exchange of 2,700 shares. JMMB Group was unchanged at 92 cents trading 23,075 units, Massy Holdings closed at $52 with 1,900 units changing owners and National Flour Mills traded 54,495 shares closing at $2.40.
Jamaican stocks pull back on Friday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange pulled back from Thursday’s close in a moderate trading on Friday morning, resulting in sharp fall from Thursday’s intraday high for the main market and the junior market’s record close.
Market activity resulted in 26 securities traded at 10:45 am, 
compared to 29 on Thursday at 10:45 am. A total of 14 securities advanced and 6 declined, resulting in a volume of 984,204 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $4,620,010, compared of 1,153,658 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $6,116,182 on Thursday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 37,854 units versus 39,781 units on Thursday.
Noted trades were junior market listed Jetcon Corporation with 128,319 units at $6.06, Lasco Financial gaining 15 cents to $3.65 with 3,962 units trading and Blue Power trading at a new high of $31 with 10,979 shares and Proven Investments traded 577,533 units at 22.99 US cents.
The all Jamaica Composite Index lost 493.48 points to 209,908.28, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index fell 441.26 points 192,069.90 the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index declined 501.40 points to 204,934.14 and the junior market index eased 8.97 points to 2,609.84.
Majors pull back for first time in 2017
Prices of stocks, on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, pulled sharply on Thursday, as the market closed with 42 securities changing hands of which 15 gained while 15 declined in the overall market, including 7 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index fell sharply 2,014.74 points, to close at 210,401.76. The JSE Market Index dropped 1,801.53 points to finish at 192,511.16. The JSE combined index pulled back 1,327.76 points to close at 205,435.54.
At the close with 2,993,596 units valued at $27,027,397 changed hands, compared to 3,784,854 units valued at $25,405,860 changing hands on Thursday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 2,710,965 units changing hands, valued at $12,580,140.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 84,869 shares compared to an average of 70,171 units traded on Wednesday. The average for the month to date is 132,234 units and December ended with an average of 549,379 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 21 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments slipped 50 cents while trading 19,334 shares to close at $6, Cable & Wireless gained 3 cents to close at 85 cents with 268,474 units trading, Caribbean Cement ended with a $1 loss while trading 1,259 shares at $33. Carreras closed at $66 with 6,348 shares changing hands, Investors traded 219,390 shares of 1834 Investments to close with a fall of 2 cents at $1.20, Grace Kennedy fell 9 cents to close at $40.40 with 167,066 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers gained 10 cents and closed at $14.6 with 19,700 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers shed 10 cents to end at $9.40 with 4,490 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 4 cents in trading 14,215 shares, to end at $5.56. JMMB Group traded 52,800 units and added 10 cents to end at $14.70, Kingston Wharves slipped $2 and traded 42,898 shares at $20, Mayberry Investments gained 5 cents to end at $4.80 with 1,721 shares changing hands. National Commercial Bank traded 6,836 shares with a gain of $1.25 to close at $51.50. The closest offer for NCB is at $54.80 to sell 18,500 units, PANJAM Investment traded 35,107 shares and shed $1 to close at $26.50. 
Portland JSX gained 5 cents in trading 45,400 units at $11, Pulse Investments traded 19,715 shares at $4, Radio Jamaica lost 2 cents to close at $1.26 after 388,684 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group closed with 227,944 shares changing hands at $29.04. Sagicor X Fund ended with 250,230 units trading, with a gain of 30 cents to close at $10.50. Scotia Group with 16,835 shares changing hands and closed with a fall of $3.30 at $35, Scotia Investments lost $1.50 with 13,874 units trading, to end at $28, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 74,000 units at 22 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5 percent preference share traded 300,000 units $1.08.
All round rise for TTSE market indices
Trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday maintained Wednesday’s performance but with 11 securities changing hands compared to 8. The market closed on Thursday with 3 stocks advancing, 2 losing and 6 unchanged as 326,391 units were traded at a value of $3,531,245 compared to Wednesday’s 117,706 shares valued at $3,555,197.
The Composite Index advanced 0.73 points to 1,212.18 points, the All T&T Index gained 0.43 points to 1,835.20 and the Cross Listed Index rose 0.14 points to 78.76 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator |The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| Massy Holdings closed at $52 and gaining of 1 cent with 779 units trading, National Enterprises added 3 cents to close at $10.68 with 17,250 shares changing hands and Sagicor Financial ended the day’s trading at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $7.91, up 5 cents with an exchange of 6,873 units.
Strong> Losses| First Citizens bank lost 2 cents to close at $34.98 with 428 shares changing owners and Clico Investments was down 1 cent to $22.79 with 150 shares trading.
Firm Trades | Guardian Holdings held firm at $13 with an exchange of 210,092 shares valued at $2,614,196, JMMB Group was unchanged at 92 cents trading 64,442 units while National Commercial Bank closed at $3.05 with 1,000 units changing owners. Point Lisas closed at $3.75 with trades of 10,000 shares, Republic Financial Holdings with 92 units traded, closed at $108.44 and Trinidad & Tobago NGL traded 24,285 shares closing at $20.99 with a value of $509,742.
