Mayberry climbs 21% as JSE starts 2015 up

Mayberry Investments gained 21 percent and Salada 15 percent in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange to start off trading for 2015. The market started the year with strong gains in the main market indices, but on very low volumes.
The prices of 10 stocks rose and 5 declined as 22 securities changed hands, ending in a mere 610,207 units trading, valued at $3,977,611, 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 shows 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 644.11 points to 76,997.50, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 720.15 points to close at 84,805.09 and the JSE combined index gained 616.43 points to close at 78,839.88. On the first trading day last year, the all Jamaican Index rose 560.09 with a small volume, valued at $3.6 million but traded below on the days after, until the third week of the month.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless, the stock that tripled in price in 2014, ended the first day of trading of the new year with 77,500 shares changing hands, 2 cents higher to 50 cents. Carreras finished with 30,725 shares trading with a gain of 60 cents at $37, Mayberry Investments gained 21 percent at the end of trading with 4,240 shares changing hands to close higher by 32 cents to $1.84, in response to the sale of Access shares that will contribute to a big one off boost in profit for 2014. National Commercial Bank ended trading with 15,600 shares changing hands, to close with a gain of 49 cents at $18.99, Salada Foods concluded trading with 4,500 shares changing hands, with a gain of $1.30 to $10 for a 15 percent increase. The stock is reacting to a strong boost to the company’s 2014 profit out turn and Scotia Group ended with 2,490 shares with the price rising 49 cents to $20.50.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Caribbean Cement that finished with 590 units trading at $2.41, Grace Kennedy with 11,118 shares trading at $61, Jamaica Money Market Brokers closed with 600 shares trading at $7.10 and Pan Jamaican Investment ended with only 500 shares at $59.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes finished with 4,965 shares trading lower by 1 cent to $4.94, Sagicor Group ended trading with 54,388 shares changing hands to close lower by 25 cents to $10 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed with 19,224 units as the price slipped 1 cent to $7.10.
Preference| Proven Investments 8% preference shares traded 119,700 units ended trading at $5.10.