Monday, 26th August 2013 | Even as stocks of 26 companies traded on Monday, trading levels continued to be low with 4.67 million units trading valued at $15.4 million of which the Proven preference shares accounted for 1.7 million units valued at $8,692,193 as the stock price closed at $5.09.

There were 6 stocks advancing and 4 declining as the main indices declined with the junior market index closing up marginally to close at 785.19. The all Jamaican composite index closed at 84,691.69 down 263.02 points and the main market index was down 149.48 and closed at 84,936.68.

Cable & Wireless had a volume of 1,141,222 with the price closing firm at 18 cents; Caribbean Cement accounted for 518,445 and closed firm at $3; Desnoes & Geddes 17,385 shares closed at $4.50, down 5 cents; Jamaica Money Market Brokers 12,507 shares closed at $8.03, down 7 cents; Kingston Wharves 50,100 traded firm at $7.40 at the close; Mayberry Investments traded 45,622 units and closed at $2.61, down 2  cents; National Commercial Bank had 12,486 units to close at $18.60, gaining 7 cents; Scotia Group Jamaica chipped in with 96,763 at $21.05 and gained 2 cents.

Junior market | Caribbean Cream 709,724 units at $1.05; Consolidated Bakeries 135,500 traded at $1.50 at the close, up 9 cents; Lasco Financial Services 83,000 at $1.50 up 5 cents; Lasco Manufacturing 25,500 traded firm at $1.58; Paramount Trading, traded 60,000 firm at $3.30.

IC bid-offer Indicator | At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows that bids for 3 stocks were higher with 2 stocks having offers lower than their last selling price. This ratio is now reflecting a weakened position for the market, at least for the time being.

Friday, 23rd August 2013 | The market turned around today having lost altitude fairly sharply on Wednesday and Thursday with the prices of 11 stocks increasing to just 4 the at fell. Importantly, at the end of trading 10 stocks had bids that were above the last traded price with a mere 2 that had offers below the last price — a pretty bullish indicator — but this is after 2 two days of decline and will be worth watching.

The market traded 10,030,006 shares valued at $78.4 million with Jamaica Money Market Brokers being the dominant trade on the last trading day of the week with 6 million units valued at $48.5 million as the price gained 7 cents to end the day at $8.10. Jamaica Money Market Brokers sold 1,992,204 for a client at $8.10 to Mayberry Investments on behalf of a client. JMMB crossed the rest on behalf of clients. Caribbean Cement continues its relentless run with the price closing at a new 52 weeks high of $3 but not before it traded as high as $3.30, having recovered from a low of 60 cents earlier this year. A volume of 431,780 was the level of trading as the price gained 35 cents.

Main Market trades of note | The all Jamaica Index gained just 34.67 points to close at 84,854.71 and the JSE market index moved up by 19.70 to close at 85,086.16. Stocks trading with reasonable volume were Carreras 99,390 units at a value of $4.87 million as the stock closed at $49, Grace Kennedy 73,795 shares valued at $4.2 million and had a closing price of $57 for a gain of 25 cents, Kingston Wharves 389,475 valued at $2.9 million, between $7.40 and $7.70 but closed at $7.40 down10 cents, Sagicor Life Jamaica 149,000 at $1.2 million to close at $8.30 after shaving a cent off Thursday’s price and Scotia Group with 146,208 units with a value of $3 million, the stock closed at 21.03, up a cent.

JMMB 8.75% traded 216,447 at $3 valued at $649,341 and Proven Investment 8% preference shares traded 2.06 million units valued at $10.485 million while the ordinary shares, which are quoted in US dollars, traded 3,900 units at US12 cent.

Junior market | Trade in the junior market was light with stocks of only 7 companies trading, with the index inching up 1.33 to 783.46. Caribbean Cream traded 120,000 units at $1.05 the same price as Thursday, Caribbean Producers gained 7 cents while trading 10,104 units to close at $2.10, Lasco Distributors had trading in 102,609 shares, gained a cent to close at $1.55, Lasco Financial Services traded 45,040 shares, closed down 3 cents to $1.45 and Lasco Manufacturing lost a cents to $1.58.

Eppley shares have still not traded but the bid remains at $400 for 423 units. There are no stocks on offer at the close of trading.

Thursday, 22 August 2013 | Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange fell to the lowest levels for months as just $12 million was invested in stocks on a day when 11 stocks fell and just 6 increased in price as 3.5 million units traded with Cable & Wireless accounting for 1.5 million and closing firm at 17 cents.

The all Jamaica index declined by 259.76 to close at 84,920.04, the main market index closed at 85,066.46, a decline of 147.63. The junior market index put on a marginal increase to close at 782.13.

Main Market | Carreras lost 10 cents in trading 10,710 units to close at $49 as the stock remains under pressure. Grace Kennedy traded 10,100 shares to close at $56.75, down 24 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers contributed 71,009 to close at $8.03 up 3 cents. Jamaica Stock Exchange  chipped in with 70,350 units and closed at $3.10 off 15 cents. National Commercial Bank exchanged 38,300 shares and gained 3 cents to close at $18.53, Sagicor Investments put in 150,500 units, lost 20 cents and closed at $16.55, Sagicor Life Jamaica traded just 11,092 units to close at $8.31, off 9 cents and Scotia Investments saw 12,000 units trading firm at $26.15, Proven Investment Preference shares traded 1,009,800 to close at $5.07, off 2 cents for a value of $5,119,882. Jamaica Producers traded a small volume but lost 75 cents to close at $17.50. Caribbean Cement traded at a new 52 weeks high of $3 during trading but closed back at $2.65, yesterday’s 52 weeks high.

Junior market | Caribbean Creams traded 279,793 and closed firm at $1.05, Honey Bun traded 16,500 firm at $3.50, Lasco Financial Services chipped in with 21,447 units firm at $1.50 and Lasco Manufacturing 183,860 trading at $1.59 down a cent.

Consolidated Bakeries did not trade but it had a bid at $1.44 versus the last sale price of $1.41 and Lasco Distributors bid was at $1.50 versus last sale of $1.45.

IC bid-offer Indicator | At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows that bids for 6 stocks were higher with 2 stocks having offers lower than their last selling price.

Wednesday, 21 August 2013 | Prices on both the main & junior markets took a dive today as declining stocks barely outnumbered advancers once more, with 7 advancing and 8 declining. In the process, the market took back more than it gained on Monday and Tuesday. The number of stocks trading amounted to 5.2 million valued at just $15.4 million as General Accident, Cable and Wireless and Jamaican Teas traded relatively large volumes.

The All Jamaican index fell by 814.28 to close at 85,179.80, the main market index was down by 462.79 points to 85,214.09 and the junior market down 12.12 point to close at 781.99.

Trading was moderate in the main market with Cable & Wireless trading 1.4 million units as it closed at 18 cents up 3 cents from the last price on Tuesday. Caribbean Cement scored another 52 weeks high as the stock hit $2.65 at the end of trading, a gain of 43 cents as 147,400 units traded. Carreras is holding around the $49 region as 23,931 units traded firm at $49.10, Grace Kennedy traded 40,255 units at $56.99, up 4 cents. National Commercial Bank traded 53 311 units at the closing price of $18.5, off a cent, Sagicor Life Jamaica had 93,000 units trading while losing 60 cents in closing at $8.40, Scotia Group 16,500 firm at $21.01. Scotia Investments traded 8,000 units and gained 14 cents to close at $26.15. However, the stock traded in Trinidad at the equivalent of $32.70, a huge differential. JMMB, which did not trade, is selling in Trinidad at $9 equivalent compared with $8 in Jamaica.

Junior market | General Accident with 1.87 million shares valued at $3.47 million was the big mover in the junior market as the stock traded firm at $1.85. The market was characterised by selling as 6 junior market stocks fell in price with none advancing. Blue Power Group traded 3,300 units at $9.20, slipping a cent from the last traded price on Tuesday. Caribbean Cream traded 99,207 units at $1.05, down 2 cents, Caribbean Producers traded firm at $2.03 with 162,100 shares, Jamaican Teas lost 40 cents on trading 977,993 units valued at $3.9 million, Lasco Distributors traded at $1.45 at the close down a cent with 92,000 shares, Lasco Financial Services closed at $1.50 off 2 cents while trading 28,272 units and Lasco Manufacturing closed at $1.60 with 57,000 units as the stock closed off a cent.

Eppley closed with a bid of $400 for 423 shares but has not traded since listing on July 29.

IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows that bids for 6 stocks were higher with 1 stocks having offers lower than their last selling price.