Kingston Properties’ bid $5.85 was $6.80 earlier

The market fell sharply on Thursday but the movement does not tell the true story of some of the positive developments taking place. At the close of trading, Kingston Properties was in strong demand with bids in to buy as high as $5.85, as well as a bid to buy 1 million units at $5.20.
Earlier in the week, the stock had a bid of $6.80 to purchase 200,000 and another of 1,000,000 shares at $6. IC Insider understands that there is interest to buy as high at $7. The net asset value of the stock is just over $12, well ahead of the last price of $4, the stock traded. There have been no stocks on offer for some time. The company reported earnings per share of 7 cents for the nine months to September but comprehensive income which includes foreign exchange gains on translation of the overseas subsidiary, brings the earnings to 70 cents. The company announced in June this year a program to buy back some shares.
Thursday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange fell below normal, with only 15 securities changing hands. Price movements were mostly negative with the prices of only 2 stocks rising and 8 declining. The total of all active stocks ended in 1,548,128 units trading, valued at $14,446,018, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator is showing a slight bias to the upside with 4 stocks having bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index dropped 987.64 points to 75,036.71, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 1,104.33 points to close at 82,612.78 and the JSE combined index gained declined by 983.77points to close at 76,796.34.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras finishing with 9,761 shares changing hands at 4 cents higher to $36.20 and Proven Investments closed at 19 US cents by gaining 0.05 cents while trading 300,000 units.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Mayberry Investments ended with 15,940 shares trading at $1.49 and Sagicor Group completed trading with 57,353 shares changing hands to close at $9.96.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement closed with 3,711 units trading as the price slipped 1 cent to $2.40, Desnoes & Geddes finished trading 102,207 shares trading 1 cent lower to $4.65, Jamaica Broilers ended with 169,738 shares while losing 1 cent to $4.05, National Commercial Bank concluded trading with 11,070 units and closed 10 cents lower at $18.40 and Scotia Group closed with 106,732 units as the price slipped 50 cents to $20.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share finished with 143,500 units changing hands to close unchanged at $3.