Friday, 31 January 2014 | The Jamaica stock market closed the first month of the year up 4 percent measured by the All Jamaica and the junior market indices. The market closed out the week on a high, continuing the strong gains recorded on Wednesday and Thursday.
The overall market recorded 11,559,237 shares changing hands for a value $99,774,593.75. The advance decline ratio changed from Thursday with only 7 prices closing with gains versus 9 that fell, even as the main market indices rose strongly with gains from Scotia Group and Desnoes and Geddes. Three stocks closed at 52 weeks high, Desnoes & Geddes, Knutsford Express and Cargo handlers.
The JSE Market Index gained 1,072.34 points to end at 82,387.81 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite advanced by 1,626.66 points to close at 85,382.43.
Main market gains | The number of stocks that rose were less than on Thursday as the following recorded gains; Desnoes & Geddes with 42,800 units as it hit a new 52 weeks high of $5.50 as the price rose by 50 cents; Caribbean Cement with 153,200 units close 10 cents higher at $4.75; Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 159,671 units at 5 cents higher at $3.05; Sagicor Real Estate X Fund 91,192 units at $6.75 for a 25 cents gain and Scotia Group having 1,569,595 units trading to close up $1.43 at $21.94.
Firm Trades | Cable & Wireless traded firm with 1,584,941 shares at 25 cents; Hardware & Lumber 1,000 shares at $8.08; Jamaica Broilers Group 10,000 units at $4.75; Jamaica Producers Group 2,370 shares at $18.75; Jamaica Stock Exchange 888 shares at $2.10; Kingston Wharves 23,466 shares at $6.06; National Commercial Bank 63,871 units at $18; Radio Jamaica 1,312 shares $1.60; Sagicor Group 165,098 shares at $10 and Sagicor Investments Jamaica just 1,286 units at $20.
Losers | Proven Investments ordinary share with 236,350 units to close at US16 cents as the price slipped; Gleaner 3,000 shares at $1.10, a 2 cents fall; Jamaica Money Market Brokers 6,902,685 shares at $7.40 valued at $51,637,516 as the price slipped by 9 cents; Berger Paints 10,000 units at $1.75, down 10 cents; Carreras with 86,604 units to close at $33.50 down 49 cents; Pan Jamaican Investment 5,139 shares as the price slipped by 49 cents to $48.50 and Grace Kennedy 7,177 units at $55.50 off by 50 cents.
The JSE Junior Market Index inched up 2.69 points to close at 784.48 as more shares gained than lost.
Junior market gains | There were 3 stocks recording gains in the junior market as Cargo Handlers exchanged 5,292 shares as the price gained 43 cents to close at a new all-time high of $14.03; Lasco Distributors traded 50,000 units to close up 3 cents at $1.45; and Knutsford Express 1,690 units at $5.17 for a cent increase to a new all-time high.
Firm trades | Blue Power Group 5,000 shares at $9.80; Caribbean Cream 400units at 85 cents; Medical Disposables 69,267 shares at $2.10.
Losers | There were few losing stocks in the junior market as Lasco Financial traded 265,000 shares to close at $1.39 losing a cent and Lasco Manufacturing traded 39,500 units for 2 cents fall to $1.31.
IC bid-offer Indicator | At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 9 stocks with bids higher than the last selling prices and only 1 stock with a offer lower.