JSE hits 2014 low

In Friday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 3 stocks rose and 7 declined as 22 securities traded resulting in 10,829,685 shares changing hands valued at $38,848,598.
Main Market| The prices of only 2 companies in the main market rose and 6 declined as the indices dropped to the lowest level for the year, with the JSE Market Index erasing 1,032.29 points to 72,026.03 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index dropping by 1,154.27 points to close at 79,246.38. The previous low for the JSE All Jamaica Index was at 79,357.40 on December 27, last year.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Desnoes & Geddes with 500,000 shares to close with a gain of 20 cents at $4.50 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 24,100 ordinary shares changing hands, gained a cent to close at $7.31.
Firm| There were 7 stocks in the main market closing without a change in price as Berger Paints with 19,500 shares closed at $1.67, Caribbean Cement traded 5,062 units and closed at $3.50, Carreras traded 10,000 units to close at $33.65, Gleaner 100,000 units in closing at $1.10, Grace Kennedy 394 units at $56, National Commercial Bank 467,250 shares at $18 and Salada with 6,065 units to close at $8.
Declines| The number of stocks declining in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 3,189,689 units while losing 5 cents to end at 30 cents, Jamaica Broilers with 1,933,332 units changing hands to close at $4.80 as the price fell 5 cents, Pan Jamaican Investment 14,874 shares to close at $48.06 for a fall of 44 cents, Sagicor Group 156,333 units to close at $9 with a loss of 10 cents, Scotia Group 470,716 shares to close at $19.50 as the price lost 56 cents and Seprod with 4,300 units as the price declined by 45 cents to close at $10.55.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.59 points to close at 746.24 as 5 stocks and one bond traded with none advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| There were no stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market at the close of the week.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the previous trading day are 5,603 Cargo Handlers shares traded at $14.35, Consolidated Bakeries with 70,230 units to close at $1.10, 66,600 units of Eppley 9.5% preference share changing hands at $6.02, Lasco Distributors had 39,000 units traded to close at $1.35, Lasco Manufacturing traded 2,309,867 shares in closing at $1.20 and 9,000 Access 9% Unsecured Short Term Notes traded to end at $99.50.
Declines| Only one stock declined in the junior market at the end of trading with Lasco Financial with 1,436,770 units changing hands with a loss of 5 cents to close at $1.20.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 8 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 10 stocks with offers that were lower.