Portfolio adjustment pressure prices

A realignment of pension portfolio following the merger of Sagicor Investments with Sagicor Group In placed pressure on the prices of some stocks as the pension fund disposed of shares to bring the portfolio in line with the pension requirement. The realignment was not completed at the end of trading IC Insider sources advised.
In trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of a mere 3 stocks rose and 10 declined as 23 securities traded resulting in 8,747,969 shares trading valued at $91,511,864.
Main Market| Only 2 companies in the main market rose and 8 declined as the indices lost altitude for yet another day with the JSE Market Index inching fell by 925.16 points to 71,355.85 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index erased 1,034.48 points to close at 78,497, this is the lower the index has reached since December 20 last year went it closed at 78,575.66.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Barita Investments with 3,780 shares to close with a gain of a cent to end at $2.30 followed by Seprod with 98,565 units changing hands as the price closed with a 20 cents gain at $11.
Firm| There were only 5 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with Berger Paints trading 65,394 shares as the price closed at $1.67, Grace Kennedy with 56,859 units and closed at $55, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share 128,400 units to close at $3.03, Kingston Wharves 5,000 shares to close at $5 and Mayberry Investments with 66,992 units in closing at $1.71.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Cable & Wireless 62,277 shares while losing 4 cents to close at 35 cents, Carreras traded 1,329 units at $35.26 while losing 54 cents, Hardware & Lumber 20,000 shares to close down 20 cents at $10, Jamaica Broilers 1,486,786 units in closing at $4.70 for a 5 cents fall, National Commercial Bank 2,614,665 units to close down 56 cents at $17, Sagicor Group 3,508,391 as the price lost 30 cents to end at $9, Scotia Group with 95,460 shares with the price closing down by 30 cents at $19.30 and Scotia Investments 28,235 units to close at $23.10 with a 40 cents fall.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.74 points to close at 730.97 as 8 stocks traded with 1 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| The only stock recording gain at the end of trading in the junior market is General Accident with 10,000 units to close at $1.50 with a 2 cents rise.
Firm Trades| 5 stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before with Caribbean Producers exchanging 540 shares to close at $2.75, Consolidated Bakeries 301,953 shares to end at 80 cents, Knutsford Express Services 37,868 shares at $5.16, Lasco Financial Services 2,500 units to close at $1.15 and Paramount Trading 2,575 units to close at $2.68.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Caribbean Cream traded 100,000 units to close at 70 cents with a 3 cents fall and Lasco Manufacturing with 50,400 units lost 2 cents to close at $1.12.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.