The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed Wednesday with a big surge in trading volume of 26,534,388 units, valued at $115,148,200 compared to 2,495,496 units valued at $13,050,346 on Tuesday. Three Lasco companies accounted for 24 million of the shares trading in the market.
The Junior Market index dipped 13.70 points to end at 3,114.07 as 20 securities changed hands of which 7 advanced, 10 declined and none trading firm.
The Junior Trading ended with an average of 1,841,847 units for an average of $5,757,410 in contrast to 124,775 units for an average of $652, 517 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 404,342 units valued at $1,833,412 compared to 301,663 units valued at $1,553,127 previously. 
In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Thursday’s activity, as 3 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, the last traded prices of securities and the volume traded and are: AMG Packaging settling with a loss of 50 cents at $3.50 with 84,705 shares, CAC 2000 ended 10 cents higher at $7.95 with 1,600 shares, Cargo Handlers fell 50 cents and concluded trading at $10 with 1,938 shares, Caribbean Cream ending with a loss of 11 cents, at $6.59 with 120,416 units, Consolidated Bakeries with a loss of 30 cents to $1.85 with 41,650 shares, Dolphin Cove with a loss of 10 cents, to close at $17.40 with 3,387 shares. Express Catering lost 10 cents to end at $5 with 89,449 shares, ISP Finance finished $1.24 higher at $18.50 with 1,440 shares, Jamaican Teas added 3 cents higher to $5.18 with 869,166 shares, 
Corporation concluded trading 4 cents higher t0 $5.45 with 62,479 shares, KLE Group ending with a loss of 24 cents to $2.26 with 535,402 shares, Knutsford Express with a loss of 49 cents, finished at $14.50 with 16,444 shares, Lasco Distributors fell 5 cents and finished at $6.75 with 4,559,191 shares, Lasco Financial traded 12,091,213 shares with a loss of 50 cents to end at $3.50, Lasco Manufacturing ending trading 2 cents higher to $4.52 with 7,446,903 shares. Main Event inched 9 cents higher and finished at $5 with 102,913 shares, Medical Disposables climbed 10 cents to $5.30 with 335 stock units, Paramount Trading ended with a loss of 4 cents, to $2.90 with 70,970 shares, Stationery and Office lost 20 cents, to end trading at $3.80 with 429,587 shares and tTech closed with a loss of 94 cents, to $6.50 with 5,200 shares.
JSE prices drop sharply – Wednesday
The main market indices of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped sharply on Wednesday. The All Jamaica Composite Index dived 4,980.99 points to 272,185.53, the JSE Market Index dropped 4,538.24 points to 247,991.85 while the JSE US dollar market index rose 6.51 points to 184.03.
At the close of trading, 27 securities changed hands in the main market with 1 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 10 stocks advancing and 7 declining. The main market ended with 12,794,782 units valued at $308,295,023 changing hands compared to 1,806,656 units valued at $31,094,257 at the close on Tuesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 300,000 units valued at US$71,995.17 bringing the total of all trades to J$317,510,404.
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 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 473,881 units valued at $11,418,334 for each security traded compared to an average of 82,121 units valued at $1,413,375. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at $194,585 units with an average value of $4,058,391 compared with an average of $174,635 units with an average value of $3,532,680 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for July ended at 160,668 units with an average value of $2,691,438.
At the close of the market, the last traded prices of securities and volume traded are: Barita Investments with 8,593 shares closing at $11.10, Cable and Wireless falling 5 cents to close at $1.15 with 360,547 shares, Caribbean Cement with a loss of 46 cents to end at $28.49 with 41,516 units. Carreras held firm at $108 with 361,378 shares, Grace Kennedy traded $1.49 lower to $40.50 with 1,509,528 shares, Jamaica Broilers rose 50 cents to $17.50 with 1,513,181 stock units, Jamaica Producers jumped $2 to $16 with 1,572,555 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $5.70 with a loss of 77 cents trading 874,717 shares, JMMB Group fell 20 cents to $21 with 782,429 stock units. Kingston Properties gained 80 cents to close at $8 with 5,729 shares, Kingston Wharves ended at $29.50 with 2,000 shares, Mayberry Investments inched up by 9 cents to $4.18 with 4,000 units, NCB Financial Group dropped $3 to $86 with 1,026,736 shares, 1834 Investments closed with a 1 cent gain at $1.35, trading 5,500 shares, 
PanJam Investment closed at $33 with 9,606 shares, Portland JSX added 11 cents to finish at $9.41 with 789,000 shares. Pulse Investments gained 25 cents to $2.20 with 1,000 shares, Radio Jamaica closed with a loss of 5 cents at $1.30 with 17,096 shares, Sagicor Group added 10 cents in closing at $31.60 with 103,700 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 1 cent to conclude trading at $12.05 while exchanging 3,995 units, Salada Foods closed at $10 with 2,000 shares, Scotia Group gained 50 cents and closed at $46.50 with 169,559 shares, Seprod remained at $30 with 15,925 shares, Sterling Investments traded at $14 with 7,000 shares, Supreme Ventures held firm at $8.80 with 3,589,118 shares. Proven Investments US ordinary shares gained US 1 cent and closed at 24 US cents with 300,000 units, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.5% preference share closed at $1.99 with 13,791 shares and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share lost 1 cent to close at $1.15 with 4,583 shares.
Construction boosting Montego Bay economy
The official data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica show that activity in the construction sector grew 0.4 percent in the December 2016 quarter and 0.2 percent in the March 2017 quarter.
New NCB Financial centre being built in Fair View Montego Bay
IC Insider.com took a tour of Jamaica’s two cities to get a glimpse of what was taking place in the sector and we have the pictures to show.
Within the Montego Bay area, the region of Jamaica that is said to be the fastest growing in the country, most buildings are taking place around the 
Fairview area that is next door to Bogue. Commercial activity continues to attract more entities to the western region and they seem to be heading to this location. Building of NCB Financial Centre for the region is in full flight and could be finished very soon, based on where the construction of building reached. Sited two blocks just south west of the Scotiabank centre the building occupies two stories.
Two new buildings going up at Farview, the one to the right is said to be a shopping cenre and a warehiouse to the left
Also going up close by was what is said to be a shopping centre, but that seems to be more like offices that should be ready for occupancy shortly, based on the painting of the exterior. And next to that building is another, that IC Insider.com was advised is a warehouse.Lands have been cleared and marled for what looks like another building or two one of which is a site for Victoria Building Society.
Other the other side of town on the way to adjoin the Pye River cemetery are two new commercial buildings,
New bidong going up at Bogue in Montgo Bay
one fairy advanced and another just going up, and across from what seems a BPO operations.
On the return leg to Kingston, IC Insider.com spotted advanced construction at what is commonly known as Puerto Seco Beach. This is said to be a Guardsman development and seems to be a resort type facility, with restaurants and cabanas in addition to the beach and represents a major upgrading of the popular
Pueto Seco Beach main building
Puerto Seco Beach facilities. This development is set to generate increased business for the Discovery Bay, a town that has been undergoing increased business activities in recent years with more commercial activities and business.
Increased activity within the sector has a number of positives, including increased employment during the construction phase for both skilled and unskilled workers and for workers who are going to be employed in the commercial entities after the constructions are completed. The wider Montego Bay economy will benefit from the business that will be conducted by the increased number of persons who will be employed. Entities such as taxis, buses, shops, restaurants and of course the government who will be collecting more taxes will all benefit for the increase economic activities to be generated.
Wider afield cement producer Caribbean Cement and paint manufactures as well as suppliers of other construction goods, will benefit from the continuing growth in the construction sectors in the region
JSE main market rises on Tuesday
Trading closed on main market stocks of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with gains in the indices up to 1,000 points but with the stocks rising equalling those declining at on Tuesday.
The All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 1,030.80 points to close at 277,166.52, the JSE Market Index gained 939.17 points to 252,530.09 and the JSE US dollar market index declined 0.98 points to 177.52.
At the close of trading, 22 securities changed hands in the main market with 1 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 9 stocks advancing and 9 declining. The main market ended with 1,806,656 units valued at $31,094,257 changing hands compared to 2,163,104 units valued at $46,639,859 at the close on Monday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 104,517 units valued at US$24,043 bringing the total of all trades to J$34,171,703.
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 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 82,121 units valued at $1,413,375 for each security traded compared to an average of 83,196 units valued at $1,793,841. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at $174,635 units with an average value of $3,532,680 compared with an average of 181,752 units with an average value of $3,695,704 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for July ended at 160,668 units with an average value of $2,691,438.
The last price at close of the market and the volume of securities traded are, Barita Investments declining 15 cents to $11.10 with 7,675 shares, Berger Paints closing 95 cents lower to $16 with 6,159 units, Cable and Wireless lost 7 cents to close at $1.20 with 102,613 shares, Caribbean Cement ended at $28.95 with 15,949 stock units,Carreras held firm at $108 with 37,181 shares, Grace Kennedyclimbing $2.98 higher to $41.99 with 6,361 units. Jamaica Broilers with a loss of 50 cents, to $17 with 433,797 shares, Jamaica Producers declined 98 cents to $14 with 55,760 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $6.47 with 2,957 stock units, 
JMMB Group closing with a loss of 30 cents to $21.30 with 109,395 shares. Kingston Wharves ended at $29.50 with 340 shares, Mayberry Investments gained 3 cents to $4.09 with 192,037 shares, NCB Financial Group declined 10 cents to $89 with 58,746 shares, PanJam Investment advanced $1.40 to $33 with 9,000 shares and Portland JSX closed at $9.30 with 10,600 shares. Radio Jamaica gained 5 cents to close at $1.35 with 2,240 shares, Sagicor Group traded 50 cents higher to $31.50 with 33,696 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund with a 1 cent gain to $12.06 exchanging 41,250 shares, Scotia Group climbed 97 cents to $46 with 33,173 shares, Seprod gained 16 cents to close at $30 with 165 shares, Sterling Investments traded 70 cents higher to $14 with 22,100 shares, Supreme Ventures ended with a loss of 20 cents to $8.80 with 624,922 shares. Proven Investments US ordinary shares lost US 1 cent and closed at 23 US cents with 104,517 units.
12 Junior stocks rose as 6 fall
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Tuesday with 20 securities changing hands, 12 advanced, 6 declined and 3 traded firm with 2,495,496 units valued at $13,050,346 compared to 4,968,253 units valued at $16,371,552 on Monday.
The Junior Trading ended with an average of 124,775 units for an average of $652, 517 in contrast to 225,830 units for an average of $744,161 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 301,663 units valued at $1,553,127 compared to 315,269 units valued at $1,622,404 previously. In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Wednesday’s activity, as 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded prices are: Access Financial closed 5 cents higher and finished at $46.25 with 12,437 shares, 
AMG Packaging climbed 50 cents and ended at $4 with 70,000 shares, Blue Power climbed $1.50 and settled at $41.50 with 30,840 shares, Caribbean Cream rose 70 cents to $6.70 with 50,972 shares, Consolidated Bakeries traded at $2.15 with 106,223 shares, C2W Music gained 5 cents and closed at 43 cents with 10,000 shares, Dolphin Cove added 9 cents and ended at $17.50 with 4,303 shares, Express Catering with a loss of 15 cents, finished at $5.10 with 167,140 shares, General Accident closed at $2.60 with 53,470 shares, Jamaican Teas settled 15 cents higher at $5.15 with 1,753 shares, Jetcon Corporation with a loss of 29 cents, closed at $5.41 with 3,007 shares,
KLE Group ended 5 cents higher at $2.50 with 12,450 shares, Knutsford Express inched 2 cents higher to finish at $14.99 with 5,102 shares, Lasco Distributors lost 20 cents and concluded trading at $6.80 with 98,840 shares, Lasco Financial moved 5 cents higher to $4 with 210,222 shares, Lasco Manufacturing ended 17 cents higher to close at $4.50 with 1,025,000 shares, Main Event with a loss of 17 cents, finished at $4.91 with 11,664 shares, Stationery and Office trimmed 20 cents and finished at $4 with 411,573 shares as some investors move for the exit after a successful public issue and strong gains in the price after listing, tTech jumped $1.44 higher to $7.44 with 190,000 shares and Derrimon Trading preference share, lost 10 cents in traded 20,500 shares at $2.10.
Supreme Ventures hits new high – Monday
Supreme Ventures closed at a new all-time high of $9.
Stocks rose modestly on the Jamaica Stock Exchange leading the market indices rising around 100 point continuing the much bigger rise on Friday even as Supreme Ventures closed at an all-time high of $9, after climbing 45 cents in trading 12,960 shares.
Investors were responding to strong increase in profit for the six months to June, moving from $649 million to $918 million.
The All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 101.60 points to close at 276,135.72, the JSE Market Index gained 92.57 points to 251,590.92 and the JSE US dollar market index declined 6.86 points to 178.50.
At the close of trading, 26 securities changed hands in the main market with 3 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 10 stocks advancing and 10 declining. The main market ended with 2,163,104 units valued at $46,639,859 changing hands compared to 7,943,772 units valued at $101,876,271 at the close on Friday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 6,508 units valued at US$1,904 bringing the total of all trades to J$46,883,517.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 7 to 1 with 7 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
The main market ended trading with an average of 83,196 units valued at $1,793,841 for each security traded compared to an average of 294,214 units valued at $3,773,195. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 181,752 units with an average value of $3,695,704 compared with an average of 187,965 units with an average value of $3,854,192 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for July ended at 160,668 units with an average value of $2,691,438.
At the close of the market, the last traded prices and the volume of securities changing hands are: Barita Investments with a loss of 35 cents, to end at $11.25 with 767 shares, Berger Paints closing $2.45 higher to $16.95 with 19,700 shares, Cable and Wireless gaining 7 cents to $1.27 with 549,196 shares, Caribbean Cement with gains of 45 cents, ended at $28.95 with 16,055 shares, Carreras held firm at $108 with 41,241 shares, Grace Kennedy falling $2.04 to $39.01 with 262,645 shares. Jamaica Broilers rising $1.29, to $17.50 with 247,206 shares, Jamaica Producers climbing $1.23, to $14.98 with 47,619 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closing at $6.47 with 28,865 shares. JMMB Group continues inn strong demand following the 604,000 shares traded on Friday with an exchange of 332,817 shares to finish at $21.50. In other main market activity, 
Kingston Wharves closed at $29.50, losing 50 cents with 123,007 shares trading, Mayberry Investments fell 11 cents, to $4.06 with 3,117 shares, NCB Financial Group declined $1.85 to $89.10 with 54,845 shares, 1834 Investments closed at $1.34 with 30,000 shares, PanJam Investment closed at $31.60, losing $1.40 with 2,100 shares and Portland JSX gained 5 cents, to end at $9.30 with 1,200 shares. Pulse Investments rose 1 cent, to $1.95 with 33,620 shares, Radio Jamaica lost 5 cents to $1.30 with 14,702 shares, Sagicor Group traded 75 cents lower, to $31 with 81,938 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund closed at $12.05, losing 1 cent in trading 10,525 shares, Salada Foods gained 50 cents to close at $10 with 250 shares, Scotia Group declined $1.96 to $45.03 with 130,119 shares, Scotia Investments traded 50 cents higher to $35.51 with 4,500 shares, Seprod gained 9 cents to close at $29.84 with 6,210 shares. Proven Investments US ordinary share gained 1 US cent to end at 24 US cents with 5,663 units, Margaritaville Turks US ordinary share lost 3 US cents, to 30 US cents with 421 units, JMMB Group US 6% preference share closed at US$1.10 with 424 units and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.5% preference share closed at $1.99 with 107,900 units.
Junior market inched higher on Monday
The majority of Junior Market stocks gained at the close of trading on Monday as 22 securities changing hands. The prices of 9 stocks rose, 7 declined and 6 traded firm, with the market Index rising 7.61 points to end at 3,132.76.
The market closed with 4,968,253 units valued at $16,371,552 changing hands compared to 1,716,953 units valued at $8,024,988 on Friday. KLE Group accounted for 46 percent of trading volume and recently listed Stationery and Office 19 percent.
The Junior Trading ended with an average of 225,830 units for an average of $744,161 in contrast to 85,848 units for an average of $401,249 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 315,269 units valued at $1,622,404, 
compared to 322,723 units valued at $1,695,591 previously. In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Tuesday’s activity, as 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, the last traded prices of stocks trading and the volume of securities changing hands are: AMG Packaging ending with 11,050 shares at $3.50, Blue Power traded 1,757 shares at $40, CAC 2000 finished with 20,800 shares at $7.85, Cargo Handlers lost 50 cents and settled at $10.50 with 15,000 shares, Caribbean Cream dropped 74 cents, to end at $6 with 28,405 stock units, Caribbean Producers rose 1 cent and settled at $3.61 with 116,193 shares, Consolidated Bakeries closed at $2.15 with 626,000 shares, Derrimon Trading added 10 cents and finished trading at $7.10 with 10,800 shares, Dolphin Cove ended with a loss of 9 cents, at $17.41 with 14,197 units, Express Catering closing 2 cents higher to settle at $5.25 with 320,722 shares, Honey Bun ending 20 cents higher at $5 with 5,904 shares,
Jamaican Teas settling at $5 with 55,118 shares, Jetcon Corporation climbing 20 cents higher to $5.70 with 95,850 shares, KLE Group finished trading 2,305,004 shares, 35 cents higher to $2.45, Knutsford Express concluded trading with a loss of 3 cents, traded at $14.97 with just 190 units. Lasco Distributors concluded trading 30 cents higher, to $7 with 206,005 shares, Lasco Financial jumped 55 cents higher to settle at $3.95 with 106,434 shares, Lasco Manufacturing lost 41 cents to finish at $4.33 with 20,206 shares, Main Event inched 8 cents higher to $5.08 with 26,603 shares, Paramount Trading finished at $2.94 with 15,000 shares, Stationery and Office declined 29 cents, to $4.20 with 961,015 shares, Sweet River traded just 863 units at $3.52 and tTech with a loss of 90 cents, settled at $6 with 6,000 shares changing hands.
Increased Jamaica Producers’ investments
Jamaica Producers to introduce a new line of banana chips.
Jamaica Producers has been undergoing major changes for a number of years as it morphs from a predominant banana marketing company to a much more diversified group.
The group sold its banana ripening and fruit distribution business in the United Kingdom years ago bought a juice business in Holland and more recently bought more heavily into Kingston Wharves that is now considered a subsidiary.
It also bought out the Tortuga Rum Cake business and relocated production to Kingston. With all of that its core business has only recently started to show sign of profitability that the level of investment demands. In furtherance of improving return on investment in the legacy business as well as newer ones, the group says they will continue a programme of investment that is designed to improve its product and service offering while enhancing its operating efficiency.
In line with this programme, prior to the end of this year, Kingston Wharves will launch new logistics facilities for the warehousing of general cargo, and the storage of bulk and automotive cargo for domestic and transshipment markets. The location of this is slated for lands adjacent to the Tinson Pen airport.
The subsidiary, “JP Tropical Group will commission new state-of-the-art cold storage and ripening facilities at Retirement Road in Kingston for its banana and pineapple business and will introduce a new variety of St. Mary’s banana chip for the first time in 20 years.”
“The group’s head office activities will move from Oxford Road in New Kingston to the locations in Kingston where operations are centred. This will mean that we will enter the 2018 financial year operating from purpose built corporate offices in Newport West with a lower overhead cost base,” the company reported.
“These new initiatives will build on the recent completion of a high specification bakery in Kingston to consolidate the production for international markets of Tortuga Rum Cakes, the launch of a new packaging facility for fresh pineapples in St. Mary, and a new juice line in the Netherlands that deploys high pressure processing technology to extend the shelf life of fresh juice produced by us. We are particularly pleased to report that these completed capital programmes are all contributing positively to the performance of the Group,” Jamaica Producer advised shareholders in a report accompanying the half year results.
The shift of Tortuga Rum Cakes production to Kingston will result in major cost savings for this operation than the other locations within the region, with lower cost and economies of scale for that operation.
Big price gains in Scotia & NCB – Friday
NCB jumped $3.85 on Friday
At the close of trading, 27 securities changed hands in the main market with 2 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 10 stocks advancing and 10 declining. The All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 3,084.30 points to close at 276,034.12, the JSE Market Index climbed 2,810.15 points to 251,498.35 and the JSE US dollar market index gained 6.31 points to 185.36.
The main market ended with 7,943,772 units valued at $101,876,271 changing hands compared to 11,248,931 units valued at $225,049,422 at the close on Thursday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 118,113 units valued at US$28,984 bringing the total of all trades to J$105,586,231.
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 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.The main market ended trading with an average of 294,214 units valued at $3,773,195 for each security traded compared to an average of 468,705 units valued at $9,377,059. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 189,965 units with an average value of $3,854,192 compared with an average of 180,487 units with an average value of $3,861,556 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for July ended at 160,668 units with an average value of $2,691,438.
At the close of market activity, Barita Investments lost 40 cents and closed at $11.60 with 1,098 shares changing hands, Berger Paints gained 50 cents to close at $14.50 with 1,200 shares, Cable and Wireless traded 446,329 shares at $1.20 at the close, Caribbean Cement traded $2 higher to close at $28.50 with 895 shares,Carreras held firm at $108 with 64,088 shares, Grace Kennedy closed $2.05 higher to $41.05 with 3,430 shares. Jamaica Broilers ended with gains of 21 cents, at $16.21 with 218,929 shares, Jamaica Producers declined $1.25, to $13.75 with 604,110 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 2 cents to close at $6.47 with 2,500 shares, JMMB Group ended with gains of 50 cents, in closing at the last traded price of $21.50 with 782,460 shares, after it traded at $23 in the morning session as supply totally dried up at one stage when only a small volume was available at $29. At the close less than 240,000 units were offered for sales, with most at $22.50. Kingston Wharves closed at $30, rising 48 cents with 6,247 shares,
Mayberry Investments gained 17 cents to end at $4.17 with 20,000 shares, NCB Financial Group jumped $3.85 to $90.95 with 194,935 shares, PanJam Investment closed at $33 with 171,350 shares, Portland JSX lost 5 cents, closing at $9.25 with 18,400 shares. Proven Investments lost 1 cent to close at $25.01 with 100,000 shares, Pulse Investments eased 1 cent, to $1.94 with 1,780 shares, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.35 with 29,950 shares, Sagicor Group traded 24 cents lower, closing at $31.75 with 10,292 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed at $12.06 with 500,400 shares, Scotia Group climbed $2.99 to $46.99 with 440,247 shares, Seprod lost 25 cents to close at $29.75 with 143,605 shares, Sterling Investments closed at $13.30 with 160,000 shares, Supreme Ventures closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $8.55 with 5,000 shares after gaining 50 cents. Proven Investments US ordinary shares lost 0.99 US cent and closed at 23.01 US cents with 117,203 units, JMMB Group US 6% preference share closed at US$1.10 with 910 units, Proven Investments 8.25% preference share closed at $5 with 14,527 units, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% preference share closed at $1,302 with 2,000 units and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share lost 1 cent to close at $1.16 with 4,000,000 units.
Advancing Junior stocks edge out decliners
Jamaican Teas one of teh more active stocks on the Junior Market after the company released 9 months results.
Trading closed with 20 securities changing hands, 7 advanced, 5 declined and 8 traded firm with 1,716,953 units valued at $8,024,988 compared to 13,753,371 units valued at $73,391,001 on Thursday.
Trading ended with the Junior Market Index rising 1.89 points to close at 3,125.15. The market closed with an average of 85,848 units at an average of $401,249 trading, in contrast to an average of 687,669 units at an average of $3,669,550 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 322,723 units valued at $1,695,591 compared to 309,916 units valued at $1,627,630 previously. In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking strong for Monday’s activity as 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded price are: AMG Packaging with 21,000 shares at $3.50, Blue Power trading 700 shares at $40, CAC 2000 closed 35 cents higher at $7.85 with 3,000 shares, Caribbean Cream rose 4 cents to $6.74 with 54,000 shares, Caribbean Producers gained 21 cents to end at $3.60 with 32,362 shares, Consolidated Bakeries closed at $2.15 with 22,500 shares, Express Catering inched higher by 3 cents to $5.23 with 158,852 shares, General Accident closed at $2.60 with 11,757 shares, Honey Bun lost 20 cents and closed at $4.80 with 110 shares,
Jamaican Teas closed 5 cents higher at $5.00 with 221,554 shares, after it traded at $5.30 in the morning session. Jetcon Corporation closed 9 cents higher at $5.50 with 95,280 shares, KLE Group closed at $2.10 with 277,000 shares, Knutsford Express closed at $15 with 4,171 shares, Lasco Distributors closed at $6.70 with 6,450 units, Lasco Financial lost 40 cents and ended at $3.40 with 155,500 shares, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 36 cents higher to $4.74 with 7,390 shares, Medical Disposables declined by 10 cents, to $5.20 with 13,000 shares, Paramount Trading closed at $2.94 with 2,872 shares, Stationery and Office Supplies traded 422,213 units with the price sliding 31 cents to $4.49 and tTech ended with a loss of 10 cents, at $6.90 with 207,242 shares changing hands.