Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange got off to a rocky start coming from the record run on Thursday in the main market and the big gains in the junior market. The performance of the market showed sharp fall in the indices in Friday’s morning session with declines of more than 1.65 percent in the main market indices.
The declines in the main market resulted mainly from National Commercial Bank falling $1 to $44 and Scotia Group dropping to $31.15 from $33.90 at the close on Thursday with 137,276 units but ended at $33.50. Lasco Manufacturing slipped back to a low for the day of $4.50 with the release after trading on Thursday of nine months results to December, but headed back to $5 with 346,640 units. On the positive front, Honey Bun that released results showing a huge increase in sales and profit, hit a record high of $10. Jamaican Teas traded just 64,051 units at a new high of $6. 
Barita Investments ended trading 655,019 units but the price slipped back to $4.28, Gleaner Company saw 1,012,500 traded at $2.77, Jamaica Broilers Group traded 328,619 units but fell to $14.80, Margaritaville Turks had 102,000 trading at a new high of 13.5 US cents, Mayberry Investments had 388,873 units changing hands at $4.65 and Pulse traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $3.95 with 385,173 shares.
Trading after 75 minutes of the market’s opening, ended with 35 securities being active amounting to 4,208,620 units. 13 stocks recorded gains and 11 declined.
The all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 3,216.04 points to 180,150.35, the JSE Market Index dived 2,877.75 points to 162,134.14, the JSE combined index dropped 2,910.04 points to 173,228.84 and the junior market index fell 21.76 points or 0.96 percent to 2,252.95 as this market continues to make recovery from recent declines.
Big losses in early JSE trading
JSE pockets $110m from D&G trade
D&G adds $110m to JSE coffers
The JSE had their best year ever, in terms of earnings last year, as they picked up close to $120 million in fees, when Scotiabank switched their direct share ownership from Canada, to a company set up in the Caribbean, to hold all the shares of the Caribbean based entities.
Trading levels increased in each of the last three quarters last year, ending with the December quarter reaching $11.35 billion or 31 percent higher than the levels in the September quarter. For the year to date, regular trading levels are at $2.689 billion, up 79.6 percent from $1.497 billion for the similar period in 2015. The stock exchange has also increased some of its fees to investors and the brokers for 2016. In addition to the increased trading activity, the exchange in August last year started handling repo transactions, which is expected to enhance income for the full 2016 year as opposed to a few months last year.
The JSE stock has been trading in relatively high volumes, around the $20 range and closing on Thursday at $20 with just over 57,000 units.
Stocks hit record high on Thursday
NCB ended at a new closing 52 weeks’ high of $45 on Thursday
as the JSE Market Index climbed 833.94 points to 165,011.89 the all Jamaica Composite Index closed with a rise of 931.97 points to end at 183,366.39 and the JSE combined index surged 1,215.98 points to close at 176,138.88.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer. At the end of the market activities, Barita Investments ended with a gain of 8 cents as 141,883 units traded to close at $4.56, Berger Paints rose 8 cents to end at $4.28, with 94,400 units traded. Cable and Wireless with 1,265,407 units trading, closed with a fall of 3 cents at $1.52.
Caribbean Cement rose 30 cents to close at $28.90, with 46,195 shares changing hands, Carreras exchanged 375,002 shares at $62.50 with a loss of 50 cents, Gleaner Company traded 81,416 shares but fell 5 cents to $2.65, Grace Kennedy closed at $81.50 with 9,300 units changing hands as the price fell by $1. Jamaica Broilers climbed 20 cents to $15.20 with 145,679 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers ended at $30 with 122,760 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with a gain of 25 cents at $20 with 50,007 units trading, JMMB Group traded 577,792 units but rose 25 cents to end at $11.20. Kingston Wharves traded 12,200 shares at $11, Margaritaville Turks had 21,000 units changing hands to close at a 52 weeks’ high of 12.06 US cents with the rice rising by 0.06 cent. Mayberry Investments had 66,744 shares changing hands with a loss of 10 cents at $4.50, National Commercial Bank traded 16,282 shares and jumped $2 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $45. Pan Jamaican Investment traded 3,187 units at $97.50, Pulse Investments traded 20,000 shares with a gain of 40 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.90.
Radio Jamaica traded 12,500 shares with a decline of 5 cents to close at $4.45, Sagicor Group fell by 5 cents to close at $23 with 36,417 units changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate X Fund gained 10 cents to close at 52 weeks’ high of $11.70 with 13,447 shares trading. Scotia Group had 501,812 shares changing hands to close with a rise of 1 cent at $33.90. Scotia Investments rose 49 cents with 36,300 units changing hands to end at $27.50. Seprod gained $1.50 in ending at $20.50 while trading just 1,666 units, Supreme Ventures lost 10 cents and closed at $6.25 with 146,780 units changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 9,875 units to close at 22 US cents and JMMB 7.5% preference share traded 23,470 units at $2.10.
JSE post gains in early trading
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in Thursday’s morning session is off with a good with new 52 weeks’ highs being reached in Berger Paints at $4.25, Pulse Investments at $3.90 and Scotia Group at $35.95. Trading has mostly been focused on main market stocks, in the first 75 minutes of trading, with 31 securities traded amounting to 2,430,952 units.
11 stocks recorded gains and 11 declined as investors continue to buy up stocks even as some are taking profits from the run up in the market since 2015.
Volume leaders are General Accident Insurance with 500,000 shares at $2.10, Cable & with 368,638 withe price falling to $1.51, Jamaica Broilers with 113,936 units at $15.31, JMMB Group with 568074 shares at $11 and Scotia Group with 478,201 units at $35.95.
The all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 727.99 points to 183,162.41, the JSE Market Index rose 651.41 points to 164,829.36, the JSE combined index gained 824.84 points to 175,747.74 and the junior market index gained 23.32 points or 1.05 percent to 2,250.46 as this market continues to make recovery from recent declines.
D&G saying good-bye on Wednesday
Desnoes & Geddes was saying goodbye to the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with a block trade representing the purchase of the minority shares amounting to 630,339,249 units carrying a value of $19,439,662,439 (US$163 million) at $30.84 each. At the close there were still over 10,714 shares on offer at $30 or more.
The market closed with 43 securities changing hands in all market segments, 18 of which gained and 8 declined. Five stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs and Sagicor Real Estate Fund trading at an intraday high of $11.65 as 6,392,546 units valued at only $71,121,018 changed hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 1,700,082 units changed hands, valued at $8,831,236.
The JSE Market Index climbed 952.94 points to 164,177.95 the all Jamaica Composite Index closed with a rise of 1,064.96 points to end at 182,434.42 and the JSE combined index gained 984.41 points to close at 174,922.90.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
At the end of the market activities, Barita Investments ended with 64,500 units trading to close at $4.48, in continued response to 2015 full year results, showing 55 cents per share earnings. Investors continued to respond positively to increased nine months results for Berger Paints, by bidding the stock up by 20 cents to end at $4.20, with 117,500 units traded. 
Cable and Wireless with 146,673 units trading closed with a fall of 1 cent at $1.55. Caribbean Cement lost 39 cents to close at $28.60, with 3,500 shares changing hands, Carreras exchanged 35,941 shares at $63 and gained $1.45 in the process, Ciboney traded 100,000 and gained to end at 24 cents, Gleaner Company traded 23,817 shares and rose 6 cents to $2.70, Grace Kennedy closed at $82.50 with 6,094 units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers climbed $1 to $15 with 1,951,667 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers ended at $30 with 21,500 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with a loss of 25 cents at $19.75 with 42,577 units trading, JMMB Group traded 1,098,727 units but rose 4 cents to end at $10.95. Mayberry Investments had 50,655 shares changing hands at $4.60, National Commercial Bank traded 44,444 shares and gained 15 cents to close at $43, 
Pan Jamaican Investment traded 6,30 units to gain $3.50 and close at $97.50, Pulse Investments traded 50,000 shares with a rise of 25 cents to close at $3.50. Sagicor Group closed at $23.05 with 28,350 units changing hands, Scotia Group had 226,400 shares changing hands to close with a rise of 1 cent at $35 but the stock was offered at $34.50 at the close, Seprod added 91,557 units and gained 49 cents in ending at $19 but traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $21.05, Supreme Ventures closed at $6.35 with 305,480 units changing hands. Proven Investments ordinary share traded 20,380 units to close at 22 US cents, down from Monday’s 22.89 US cents, JMMB 7.5% preference share traded 25,000 units at $2.10 and Proven preference share traded 19,400 units at $5.
JSE post gains in morning session
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the morning session on Wednesday is off to a bright start with new 52 weeks’ highs being reached in Berger Paints and Pulse Investments.
Trading volumes are up across the board after 75 minutes of trading, with 34 securities traded amounting to 2,039,201 units. 11 stocks recorded gains and 10 declined.
Scotia Bank traded 186,800 units at $34.99 but has an offer to sell at $32 as this stock seems set to continue its sharp up and down movements that it has been doing from 2015. Caribbean Producers had a good volume of 663,072 units but slipped back to $5.10 from the closing price of $5.50 on Tuesday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 561.17 points to 181,930.63, the JSE Market Index rose 502.14 points to 163,727.15, the JSE combined index gained 532.63 points to 174,471.12 and the junior market index gained 6.55 points to 2,224.19 as this market continues to make recovery from recent declines.
Scotia gives market major push – Tuesday
Berger Paints traded at a 52 weeks’ high on Tuesday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with 43 securities changing hands in all market segments, 18 of which gained and 16 declined. Five stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs and Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded at an intraday high of $11.65 as 6,392,546 units valued at only $47,425,214 changed hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 2,288,351 units changed hands, valued at $8,386,950.
The JSE Market Index climbed 1,693.42 points to 163,225.01 the all Jamaica Composite Index closed with a rise of 1,892.50 points to end at 181,369.46and the JSE combined index gained 1,543.79 points to close at 173,938.49.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
At the end of the market activities, Barita Investments ended with 135,900 units trading to close at $4.48 with a gain of 20 cents, in response to 2015 full year results, showing 55 cents per share earnings.
Investors also responded favourably to increased nine months results for Berger Paints, by bidding the stock up by 37 cents to end at $4, with 300,001 units traded. Caribbean Cement climbed 39 cents to close at $28.99, with 9,884 shares changing hands, Carreras exchanged 33,751 shares at $61.55 but lost 45 cents. Ciboney traded 1,035,533 and gained 1 cent to end at 24 cents, Gleaner Company traded at 85,044 shares and rose 4 cents to $2.64, Grace Kennedy fell 50 cents and closed at $82.50, with 5,280 units changing hands but the stock traded in Trinidad at $4.20 (J$79.50) on Tuesday. Jamaica Broilers fell 45 cents to $14 with 40,770 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers gained 85 cents to end at $30 with only 5,250 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed $20 with 73,700 units trading, JMMB Group traded 9,500 units but fell 9 cents to end at $10.91. Mayberry Investments had 4,278 shares changing hands but rose 10 cents to $4.60, National Commercial Bank traded 20,628 shares but fell 14 cents to close at $42.85, Pulse Investments traded 27,417 shares with a rise of 3 cents to close at $3.25. Sagicor Group closed at $23 with 57,009 units changing hands, 
Scotia Group had 607,506 shares changing hands to close with a rise of $3.43 at $34.99 but the stock was offered at $32.50 at the close, Scotia Investments had 5,750 shares trading to close with a loss of $2.89 at $27.01. Seprod added 10,303 units and lost $1.49 in ending at $18.51, Sterling Investments had 92,266 units changing hands to close at $13, Supreme Ventures closed at $6.35 after gaining 25 cents with 98,920 units changing hands. Proven Investments ordinary share traded 151,161 units to close at 22 US cents, down from Monday’s 22.89 US cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.5% preference share traded 469,000 units at $2.10 after dropping back by 15 cents and Proven Investments preference share traded 48,900 units at $5.
Profit results stimulate JSE
Investors are reacting to recent results of companies list on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the morning session on Tuesday. Investors bought up Barita Investments 98,900 shares on 
offer at $4.28 and placed a bid to buy 464,239 units at $4.28 and they pushed Berger Paints to $4 with 219,850 units trading and Jamaican Teas trading 40,299 units at $5.10 with the bid at $5.05 to buy 46,845 shares.
After 75 minutes of trading 29 securities had traded amounting to 2,317,296 units with 8 stocks rising and 11 falling. The all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 347.45 points to 179,824.41, the JSE Market Index rose 310.90 points to 161,842.49, the JSE combined index gained 177.53 points to 172,572.23 and the junior market index fell 12.80 points to 2,210.70.
24 stocks rose on JSE – Monday
Berger Paints reported a 61% increase in profits for the 9 months to December 2015, after trading closed.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with 40 securities changing hands in all market segments, 24 of which gained and 8 declined with the junior market index climbing over 2 percent.
Two stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs one at a 52 weeks’ low and one traded at intraday highs as 12,148,016 units valued at only $49,596,056 changed hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 1,032,255 units changed hands, valued at $4,390,508.
The JSE Market Index climbed 1,182.30 points to 161,531.59 the all Jamaica Composite Index closed with a rise of 1,321.29 points to end at 179,476.96 and the JSE combined index gained 1,554.59 points to close at 172,394.70.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
At the end of the market activities, Berger Paints lost 7 cents to end at $3.63 as 26,559 units traded, the company released results to December with an increase of 61 percent in after tax profit of $153.6 million from $95.3 in 2014 for the nine months period on sales that rose 11 percent.
Cable and Wireless ended with 172,447 units changing hands to close at $1.59, Caribbean Cement climbed $1.95 to close at $28.60, with 8,800 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy fell 50 cents and closed at $82.50, with 15,670 units changing hands but the stock traded on Friday in Trinidad at $4.15 and closed with a bid at $4.18 (J$78.16) on Monday. Jamaica Broilers fell 4 cents to $14.45 with 15,237 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 29 cents to $20 with 3,500 units trading, JMMB Group traded 26,728 units but gained 10 cents to end at $11, Kingston Wharves traded 9,245 units to close with a gain of 10 cents at $11.19. Mayberry Investments had 4,386 shares changing hands but rose 15 cents to $4.50, National Commercial Bank (NCB) traded 57,900 shares but rose $1.89 to close at $42.99 two trading days after the banking group released interim results to December, last year with a 12 percent increase in aftertax profit to $2.4 billion, from $2.1 billion. NCB stock traded in Trinidad on Friday at the equivalent of $5.20. 
Pan Jamaican Investment dropped $4 with just 2,930 units changing hands to close at $94, Pulse Investments traded 10,002,000 shares with a fall of 3 cents to close at $3.22 as Barita Investments crossed 10 million units. Sagicor Group gained 10 cents to close at $23 with 102,424 units changing hands, Scotia Group had 77,925 shares changing hands to close with a rise of 56 cents at $31.56, Scotia Investments had 1,000 shares trading to close with a gain of $1.90 at $29.90. Supreme Ventures closed at $6.20 and gained of 20 cents with 70,381 units changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 77,700 units to close at 22.89 US cents and JMMB 7.5% preference share traded 179,778 units at $2.25 after regaining 15 cents.
JSE lukewarm to election
The Jamaica Stock Exchange in the first day of trading since Sundays announcement by Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller announcement of general elections in Jamaica is responding in a luke-warm manner with very moderate trading to start the day but the market indices posted good gains so far.
The PM announced February 25 as election day, with polls showing her party having slipped by 2 percentage points in the latest public opinion poll but with her opponents falling by over 6 percentage points.
After 75 minutes of trading, only 21 securities traded accounted for a mere 667,467 units changing hands with 8 stocks rising and 4 falling. The all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 709.62 points to 178,865.29, the JSE Market Index rose 634.97 points to 160,984.26, the JSE combined index gained 942.93 points to 171,783.04 and the junior market index fell 38.11 points to 2,212.92.
Caribbean Producers with just 1,500 shares was one of the highlights of the early morning session as it added 40 cents to trade at $5.90.