Majors drop juniors up in early trading

Caribbean Cement reported a small loss due partly to the closure of its plant for upgrading in the September quarter and investors marked the stock down at the start of trading to $31.50 from the closing price of $33 on Friday. The fall of Cement helped push the market index down in early trading.
Junior market index rose due mainly to a 50 cents rise in the price of Access Financial and gains in Lasco Manufacturing. Apart from a few stocks, trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange continues to be moderate on in early trading on Monday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index dipped 683.11 points to 186,156.68, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index lost 610.82 points to 167,498.95, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index eased by 464.71 points to close at 180,403.82 and the junior market index climbed 9.90 points to 2,440.10.
At 10:45 am, a total of 20 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 4,494,219 shares changing hands carrying a value of $8,329,082, compared to 548,724 shares changing hands carrying a value of $3,478,798, on Friday.
The average number of shares traded amounts to 224,711 units compared to 26,130 on Friday. Market activity resulted in 4 stocks falling while the prices of 6 securities rose.
In trading activity, Cable & Wireless had 100,000 shares changing hands at 85 cents, JMMB Group 7.50% preference shares traded 290,100 units at $1.08, trading in 1834 Investments resulted in 3,343,870 shares changing hands at $1.20 and General Accident Insurance traded 633,843 shares at $3.