Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange was moderate on Thursday with 23 securities changing hands resulting in just 3,755,947 units valued at $24,471,583, compared to 8,130,384 units valued at $56,308,791 on Wednesday.
The market closed with gains in 8 securities while 9 declined and 6 traded firm leading to the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dropping 3,468.82 points to close at 313,564.81 and the JSE Index sinking 3,160.49 points to close at 285,693.01.
Trading ended with an average of 163,302 units for an average value of $1,063,982 in contrast to 353,495 units for an average of $2,448,208 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 285,021 units, valued at $3,369,155 and an average of 307,065 units valued at $3,786,627 previously.
In contrast, October closed with average of 185,251 units valued at $16,528,582 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with a lower offer.
Berger Paints rose $1, Caribbean Cement gained 99 cents, Mayberry Investments jumped 75 cents and Sagicor Group lost $2, the other notable trade was Ciboney, with the largest volume traded of 1.59 million shares.
Caribbean Producers in big trade
Caribbean Producers commanded 81% of the total trade on Thursday.
Caribbean Producers traded 12,260,068 units or 81 percent of the total volume passing through the Junior Market on Thursday, with the price climbing 50 cents to end at $4.50 two days after the company posting strong profit in the first quarter.
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange concluded trading on Thursday with 19 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 15,114,679 units valued at $63,009,289 compared to 2,180,177 units valued at $9,696,165 on Wednesday.
At the close of market activities, the prices of 9 securities advanced, 6 declined and 3 remained unchanged. The Junior Market Index advanced by 11.40 points to close at 3,000.66.
Lasco Financial climbed to a new all-time high of $6.30 two days after the company announced acquisition of the CrediScotia’s business but Lasco Distributors traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $5 before closing higher at the end of trading.
Trading ended with an average of 795,509 units for an average of $3,316,278 in contrast to 109,009 units for an average of $484,808 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 127,044 units valued at $604,299 and previously and average of 68,783 units valued at $367,935. In contrast, October closed with an average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 3 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging finished trading 4 cents higher at $3.08, with 8,480 stock units changing hands, Cargo Handlers settled at $10.99, with 1,307 stock units, Caribbean Cream ended trading with a loss of 7 cents at $5.55, with 2,400 shares, Caribbean Producers traded 50 cents higher at $4.50, with 12,260,068 units, Dolphin Cove jumped $2.63 higher to close at $20.18, with 3,650 shares, Derrimon Trading ended 50 cents higher at $6.50, with 117,188 shares. Express Catering finished 9 cents higher at $4.54, with 35,572 stock units, Jamaican Teas ended at $4, with 1,750 units,
Jetcon Corporation traded with a loss of 20 cents at $4.60, with 387,485 shares, Knutsford Express finished with a loss of 69 cents at $11.51, while trading 21,899 shares. Lasco Distributors ended trading 20 cents higher at $5.80, with 297,860 shares, Lasco Financial concluded trading 30 cents higher at an all-time high of $6.30, with 468,946 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing closed 10 cents higher at $4.15, with 101,226 units. Main Event gained 45 cents in closing at $5.95, with 71,396 shares, Paramount Trading finished at $3.50, with 1,244,375 units, Iron Rock traded with a loss of 45 cents at $2.80, with 1,355 shares, Stationery and Office ended with a loss of 3 cents at $5.12, with 73,665 stock units and tTech finished with a loss of 50 cents at $6.50, with 1,057 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
3,469 points chopped off JSE index
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index sank 3,468.82 points to close at 313,564.81 on Thursday and the JSE Index dived by 3,160.49 points to close at 285,693.01 as just 3,755,947 units valued at $24,471,583 changed hands, with the prices of 8 stocks falling.
The market is in a tussle as it tries break clear of the resistance zone, resulting in the market moving up and down as investors fight to trade stocks at the best price they can. The bulls clearly have the upper hand supported by fundamentals and technical support.
In the main activity, Barita Investments finished trading at $8, with 6,852 units, Berger Paints settled $1 higher at $16, with 72,420 shares, Cable & Wireless ended trading with a loss of 8 cents at 97 cents, with 531,733 shares, Caribbean Cement ended 99 cents higher at $33, with 4,350 stock units. Carreras ended trading with a loss of 9 cents at $11.41, with 243,091 units, Ciboney Group closed 2 cents higher at 22 cents, with 1,594,730 shares traded, Grace Kennedy traded at $43, with 6,370 shares, Jamaica Broilers rose 43 cents to $18.99, with 10,730 stock units. Jamaica Producers finished trading with a loss of 40 cents at $15.55, with 12,800 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished at $7, with 36,100 shares, JMMB Group closed with a loss of 50 cents at $26.50, in trading 45,350 shares, Kingston Wharves ended at $33, with 5,284 units. Mayberry Investments finished 75 cents higher at $5.80, with 45,017 shares, NCB Financial Group finished trading with a loss of 50 cents at $103.50, with 66,396 shares,
1834 Investments finished with a loss of 11 cents at $1.30, with 21,848 stock units, PanJam Investment traded with a loss of 40 cents at $41.60, with 43,458 units, Pulse Investments settled with a loss of 5 cents at $1.75, while trading 41,073 shares. Radio Jamaica finished trading 3 cents higher at $1.13, with 62,694 stock units, Sagicor Group ended trading with a loss of $2 at $36, with 87,792 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished at $15, with 7,620 shares, Scotia Group ended at $52, with 28,752 stock units and Supreme Ventures settled 30 cents higher at $11.80, exchanging 204,713 stock units. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% ended with a loss of 5 cents at $1.90, with 576,774 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
T-bill rates drop again
Rates on Government of Jamaica Treasury bills fell again in November, with the latest offer resulting in the rate on the 91 days instrument falling to 4.26 percent from 4.58 percent previously and the 181 days rate slipping to 4.89 percent from 5.11 percent.
In April the 91 days rate was at 5.71 percent and fell in August to 5.49 percent before dropping sharply in September and October to reach 4.58 percent then.
In April the 182 days rate was at 6.4 percent and fell in August to 5.99 percent before dropping sharply in September and October to help push the current rate under 5 percent. As indicated in the attached chart the rates seems headed for 4 percent for the 182 days instrument and should be there by January or February if current trends continue.
Investors in equities, Money Market Instruments and real estate should pay keen attention to this critical development that will have profound implications for values in the market.
Lasco Financial lifts Junior Market
Lasco Financial
Following the news that Lasco Financial acquired CrediScotia, the stock jumped $1.10 on Wednesday to a record close, helping to push the Junior Market Index up by 40.48 points on Wednesday, bettering the 28.05 points decline on Tuesday, to close at 2,989.26 when trading ended.
At the close of market activities, 20 securities changed hands, down from 22 trading Tuesday leading to the prices of 8 rising, 5 declining and 7 remaining unchanged, in an exchange of 2,180,177 units valued at $9,696,165 compared to 1,809,393 units valued at $9,170,104 on Tuesday. While Lasco Financial closed at a record high for the day its sister Lasco Distributors closed at a 52 weeks’ low at the closed of trading.
Trading ended with an average of 109,009 units for an average of $484,808 in contrast to 82,245 units for an average of $416,823 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 68,783 units valued at $367,935 and previously 64,720 units, valued at $356,129 previously.
In contrast, October closed with a slightly higher average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 3 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging traded 4 cents higher at $3.04, with 30,700 stock units, Cargo Handlers ended at $10.99, with 4,643 stock units, Caribbean Producers ended 15 cents higher at $4, with 244,630 units, Consolidated Bakeries ended with a loss of 16 cents at $2.20, with 12,847 stock units, Dolphin Cove settled at $17.55, with 2,500 shares, Derrimon Trading traded with a loss of $1 in closing at $6, with 3,394 shares. Express Catering settled with a loss of 10 cents at $4.45, with 13,900 stock units, General Accident closed at $2.70, with 4,000 shares, Honey Bun ended trading at $4.80, with 3,862 shares, 
Jamaican Teas finished trading at $4, with 71,805 units. Jetcon Corporation ended trading 30 cents higher at $4.80, with 100,710 shares, Knutsford Express ended at $12.20, with 2,810 shares, KLE Group finished trading 1 cent higher at $2.51, with 502,226 units, Caribbean Cream ended at $5.62, with 13,930 shares. Lasco Distributors traded 60 cents higher at $5.60, with 362,543 shares, Lasco Financial traded $1.10 higher at $6, with 589,625 stock units, after investors attempted to trade it at $6.50 which was outside the range it could trade at for the day. Medical Disposables concluded trading 9 cents higher at $5.29, with 24,000 shares, Main Event lost 30 cents to close at $5.50, with 6,891 shares, Paramount Trading ended with a loss of 49 cents at $3.50, trading 106,600 units and Stationery and Office settled 15 cents higher at $5.15, with 78,561 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Main market index dives
The main market with fell sharply as 8,130,384 units valued at $56,308,791 traded on Wednesday. 23 securities changed hands, 8 advanced, 10 declined and 3 traded firm leading to the All Jamaican Composite Index diving 2,309.99 points to 317,033.63 and the JSE Index dropping 2,104.66 points to 288,853.50.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments ended trading with a loss of 30 cents at $8, with 549,876 units changing hands, Berger Paints closed with a loss of $1.25 at $15, with just 4,757 shares, Cable & Wireless concluded trading with a loss of 3 cents at $1.05, with 1,676,000 units, Caribbean Cement finished trading with a loss of 99 cents at $32.01, with 1,900 stock units, Carreras traded 50 cents higher at $11.50, with 124,283 shares. 
Ciboney Group ended 1 cent higher at 20 cents, with 451,323 units, Grace Kennedy settled $1.50 higher at $43, with 54,448 shares trading, Jamaica Broilers ended trading 6 cents higher at $18.56, with 4,258 stock units, Jamaica Producers rose 85 cents to $15.95, with 128,472 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange ended 20 cents higher at $7, with 152,521 shares, JMMB Group concluded trading with a loss of $2 to $27, with 333,294 stock units, Mayberry Investments finished trading with a loss of 45 cents at $5.05, with 2,020 shares, NCB Financial Group ended at $104, with 197,658 shares. PanJam Investment traded with a loss of $1 at $42, while trading 88,396 units, Pulse Investments settled at $1.80, with 55,231 shares,
Radio Jamaica traded with a loss of 3 cents at $1.10, with 554,984 stock units, Sagicor Group ended $3.40 higher at $38, with 2,300 units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 45 cents to end at $15, with 16,082 shares, Scotia Group ended trading $1 higher at $52, with 62,403 stock units, Seprod finished trading at $30, with 2,504 units and Supreme Ventures concluded trading with a loss of 30 cents at $11.50, with 127,554 shares.
In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group concluded trading at $1.10 with 3,540,000 stock units and Proven 8.25% share traed 120 units at $5.20. In the US equity market, Productivity Business Solutions traded 3,921 shares at 57 US cents after falling 0.51 cents and Proven Investments fell 2 cents in trading 398 ordinary shares at 21 US cents. JMMB Group 6% US dollar preference share traded at $1.121 US cents with 11,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE main market retreats again
Stock prices mostly fell for the second consecutive day in trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday with 23 securities changing hands, 8 advanced, 10 declined and 3 traded firm
The main market with 8,130,384 units valued at $56,308,791 compared to 17,396,748 units valued at $218,089,928 on Tuesday. The US dollar market traded just 3 securities accounting for 15,319 units valued at just US$14,671 while the market index fell 12.29 points to close at 166.33.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dived by 2,309.99 points to close at 317,033.63 and the JSE Index dropped 2,104.66 points to close at 288,853.50.
Trading ended with an average of 353,495 units for an average of $2,448,208 in contrast to 756,380 units for an average of $9,482,171 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 307,065 units valued at $3,786,627 with an average value of 302,442 units valued at $3,919,890 previously. In contrast, October closed with average of 185,251 units valued at $16,528,582 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
At the close of trading, Berger Paints fell $1.25, Grace Kennedy rose $1.50, PanJam Investment fell by $1, Sagicor Group rose $3.40 and Scotia Group rose $1.
Profit taking hits majors – Tuesday
NCB Financial Group dropped $3 to help pull JSE down.
With most companies having reported earnings for the third quarter the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange failed to be inspire investors to buy into the stocks aggressively, leading profit taking in a number of stocks on Tuesday, with prices mostly falling.
At the end of trading to market closed with a total of 23 securities changing hands with 5 advancing, 11 declining and 7 traded firm as 17,396,748 units valued at $218,089,928 changed hands.
Market activity concluded with a fall in the All Jamaican Composite Index by 1,833.47 points to 319,343.62 and a dip in the JSE Index by 1,670.50 points to close at 290,958.16.
In market activity, Barita Investments finished with a loss of 55 cents to end at $8.30, in exchanging 5,860 units, Berger Paints closed $1.25 higher at $16.25, with 30,850 shares, Cable & Wireless settled 3 cents higher at $1.08, with 1,502,200 shares. 
Carreras closed with a loss of 50 cents at $11, trading 130,758 units, Grace Kennedy settled with a loss of 51 cents at $41.50, with 51,585 shares, Jamaica Broilers ended at $18.50, with 16,125 stock units, Jamaica Producers concluded trading with a loss of 45 cents at $15.10, with 26,605 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 10 cents to $6.80, with 14,785 shares, JMMB Group concluded trading 10 cents higher at $29, with 39,907 shares, Kingston Properties traded 6,096 stock units at $8, Kingston Wharves concluded trading at $33, with 9,767 units. Mayberry Investments traded 50 cents higher at $5.50, with 236,821 shares, NCB Financial Group dropped $3 to $104, with 79,253 shares, 1834 Investments concluded trading with a loss of 7 cents at $1.41, with 115,372 stock units, 138 Student Living ended trading at $6, with 10,000 shares, 
PanJam Investment finished trading 50 cents higher at $43, with 20,683 units, Pulse Investments finished with a loss of 20 cents at $1.80, exchanging 8,688 shares. Sagicor Group traded 1,145,023 units with a loss of $2.90 to end at $34.60, Sagicor Real Estate Fund concluded trading with a loss of 35 cents at $15.45, with 17,074 shares, Scotia Group finished with a loss of 50 cents at $51, with 84,315 stock units, Seprod finished at $30, with 3,792 units and Supreme Ventures traded 13,741,689 shares to settled at $11.80. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market Brokers finished trading at $1.85 with 99,500 stock units and in the US equity market, Proven Investments traded 1,369 ordinary shares and lost 1 US cents to end at 22 US cents.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Junior Market drops
The Junior Market Index declined by 28.05 points, to close at 2,948.78 on Tuesday with 22 securities changing hands, the same numbers as on Monday.
At the close, the prices of 5 securities gained, 7 declines and 10 remained unchanged. Market activity resulted in an exchange of 1,809,393 units valued at $9,170,104, compared to 1,906,761 units valued at $16,655,143 on Monday.
Trading ended with an average of 82,245 units for an average of $416,823 in contrast to 86,671 units for an average of $757,052 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to $64,720 units valued at 356,129 and an average of 62,529 units valued at $348,543 previously. In contrast, October closed with a slightly higher average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial ended trading 51 cents higher at $43.01, with 5,000 shares, AMG Packaging ended trading with a loss of 15 cents at $3, with 7,538 stock units, CAC 2000 finished trading with a loss of 40 cents at $6.50, with 21,110 shares, Caribbean Producers ended trading 20 cents higher at $3.85, with 202,809 units, Derrimon Trading traded at $7, with 14,000 shares. Express Catering settled with a loss of 3 cents at $4.55, with 5,046 stock units, Eppley concluded trading $1 higher at $12.50, with 61,000 units, Honey Bun finished trading at $4.80, with 2,382 shares, Jamaican Teas ended trading at $4, with 27,675 units. Jetcon Corporation traded with a loss of 30 cents at $4.50, with 47,131 shares, 
Knutsford Express closed at $12.20, with 26,259 shares, Key Insurance settled at $3.99, with 9,429 stock units, KLE Group finished trading at $2.50, with 880 units. Caribbean Cream ended trading 2 cents higher at $5.62, with 1,070 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 95 cents at $5, with 153,244 shares, Lasco Financial ended trading at $4.90, with 763,065 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing finished trading with a loss of 7 cents at $4.05, with 23,602 units. Medical Disposables traded at $5.20, with 69,250 shares, Main Event ended at $5.80, with 4,441 shares, Paramount Trading jumped 69 cents to $3.99, with 341,058 units trading, Stationery and Office finished at $5, with 21,764 stock units and tTech traded with a loss of 7 cents at $7, with 1,640 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE main market stocks tumble
All Jamaica Composite index broken out of channel but facing some headwinds before it moves away from the resistance zone.
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday concluded with a fall in the All Jamaican Composite Index by 1,833.47 points to 319,343.62 and a dip in the JSE Index by 1,670.50 points to close at 290,958.16.
A total of 23 securities changed hands in the main market, 5 advanced, 11 declined and 7 traded firm with 17,396,748 units valued at $218,089,928 changing hands, compared to 13,891,915 units valued at $50,338,524 on Monday. The US dollar market traded just one security accounting for 1,369 units valued at just US$324 while the market index rose 12.28 points to 178.62.
Trading ended with an average of 756,380 units for an average of $9,482,171 in contrast to 631,451 units for an average of $2,288,115 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 302,442 units valued at $3,919,890 previously 252,248 units with an average value of $3,304,830. In contrast, October closed with average of 1,185,251 units valued at $16,528,582 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
NCB Financial Group dropped $3, Sagicor Group traded with a loss of $2.90 while Berger Paints rose $1.25 while Supreme Ventures had the largest trade of 13.7 million units.
