October down, better in November

The Jamaica Stock Exchange, closed October with the prices of 5 stocks rising and 5 declining as 21 securities changed hands, ending in 1,856,647 units trading, valued at only $6,072,425, in all market segments. The market closed out the month slightly lower than it started at, measured by the market indices, but technical indicators as well as fundamentals, point to a better out turn for November.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower. With Friday being the close of the month, the stronger closing bids are likely engineered by fund managers’ interest in boosting the value of stocks in their portfolios to boost the end of month performance and is worth watching in the coming days.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 98.56 points to 71,706.29 and is down from the 72,238.36 points, September closed at. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 110.21 points to close at 78,888.89 down on the close of September at 79,483.81 and the JSE combined index declined by 95.70 points to close at 73,559.56 compared to 74,034.71 at the end of September.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Ciboney with 100,000 shares trading, rose 1 cent to 8 cents, Desnoes & Geddes traded 36,000 shares, 15 cents higher at $4.95, Grace Kennedy had 21,330 shares changing hands 76 cents higher at $58, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 4,000 shares at $4.15 as the price closed with 5 cents gain and there was dealing in 2,100 Sagicor Group shares to close 1 cent higher to $9.66.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Carreras with 10,050 ordinary shares trading closed at $34.50, Gleaner had 80,708 units trading and closed at $1.05, Proven Investments with 3,650 shares at 18 US cents, Salada Foods with 1,000 shares closed at $7.85 and Supreme Ventures 40,800 shares traded to end at $1.70
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Money Market Brokers had 7,596 ordinary shares changing hands 5 cents lower at $7, followed by National Commercial Bank with 6,000 units as 30 cents were shed to end at $17 and Scotia Group ended trading with 635 units, 15 cents cheaper at $19.60.
Preference| traded units at Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.50% preference share traded 11,000 units at $3.43, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 981,568 units at $3 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 9,616 units at $5.