Seprod jumps $7 to $46 – Tuesday

Seprod jumped $7.01 to close at $46.

Seprod an IC Insider.com Stock to Watch, for the week, jumped a sharp $7.01 to close at $46 after hitting $47 during the trading session, in trading 69,936 shares, in response to the company reporting a big jump in profit for 2018.
Profit after tax moved from $735 million in 2017 to $1.276 billion from an increase in revenues of 48 percent to $24.4 billion with profit rising over 2,000 percent to $304 million in the December quarter, from a doubling in revenues.
Trading on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended as JSE All Jamaican Composite Index increased by 3,739.64 points to 421,424.01 and the JSE Index advanced 3,398.24 points to 383,952.65.
At the close market activity, the main and US markets traded 38 securities, compared to 34 securities trading on Monday, with 15 advanced, 13 declined and 10 traded with prices unchanged.
Main market activity ended with, 15,805,801 units valued at $87,341,139 compared to 4,631,898 units valued $132,673,939 changing hands, on Monday.
An average of 451,594 units valued at an average of $2,495,461 for each security traded. In contrast to 149,416 units for an average of $4,279,804 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 325,058 shares with a value of $13,668,348 and previously, 313,874 shares with a value of $14,739,721. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units, valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
JMMB Group 7.25% preference share led trading with 11,919,446 shares for 75.4 percent of the day’s volume, Pulse Investments was next with 901,239 shares, accounting for 5.7 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Ciboney ended with 607,166 shares, for 3.8 percent of the day’s volume.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 4 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks closed with lower offers.
In main market activity, Barita Investments declined by $1.49 trading 99,034 shares, to close at $48.01, Berger Paints fell 50 cents to end at $19.50, with an exchange of 4,506 stock units, Caribbean Cement exchanged 24,981 shares but fell 49 cents, to end at $43.01, Grace Kennedy traded 20,001 stock units with a fall of $1.99 to end at $59. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 35 cents to close at $17.50, with 134,109 shares trading. JMMB Group lost 25 cents trading of 82,352 shares at $31.75, Kingston Wharves jumped $1.90 to close at $77, with 1,112 units changing hands, Pulse Investments lost 25 cents to close at $2.90, with an exchange of 901,239 shares. Radio Jamaica rose 24 cents and settled at $1.24, with 366,704 shares, Sagicor Group climbed $1.50 and ended trading of 48,877 stock units at $40, Salada Foods jumped 57 cents trading 8,199 shares at $35, Stanley Motta rose 80 cents to end at $5, with an exchange of 5,850 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments gained 70 cents to end at $13 with an exchange of 24,206 shares and another Stock to Watch, Wisynco Group  gained 80 cents and ended trading of 194,598 shares at $11.80.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 83,275 units valued at US$14,233 units changing hands.  Proven Investments gained 1 cent in trading 54,975 units, with the price closing at 22 US cents, Sterling Investments traded 10,000 units at 0.0385 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments ended with 18,300 units trading unchanged at 9 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index advanced by 3.01 points to close at 174.10.

JSE main market gaining momentum

JSE main market moving higher with strong support from resistance level (Red Line) going back to 2016

Trading on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Friday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumping 2,500.28 points to 417,412.66 and the JSE Index climbing by 2,275.58 points to 380,307.12.
At the close market activity, the main and US markets traded 39 securities, compared to 32 securities trading on Wednesday, with 18 advanced, 13 declined and 8 traded firm.
Main market activity ended with, 3,327,691 units valued at $215,403,267 changing hands, compared to 20,917,776 units valued at $2,473,285,188 on Thursday.
Eppley, Jamaica Stock Exchange and 138 Student Living preference share closed trading at 52 weeks highs but PanJam Investment traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $82 but fell back by the close.
NCB Financial Group led trading for the second consecutive day with 1,062,496 shares for 32 percent of the day’s volume, Radio Jamaica was next with 672,252 shares, accounting for 20 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Jamaica Broilers ended with 336,124 shares, for 10 percent of the day’s volume.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 9 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 closing with lower offers.
An average of 97,873 units valued at $6,335,390, in contrast to 674,767 shares valued at $79,783,393 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 351,464 shares with a value of $16,773,070 and previously, 318,056 shares with a value of $9,511,657. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units, valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
In main market activity, Barita Investments lost $1.10 in closing at $49.50 in trading 167,000 shares, Berger Paints fell 50 cents to end at $20, with 18,072 stock units trading, Caribbean Cement exchanged 40,126 shares with a loss of 50 cents, to end at $43. Eppley climbed $3.90 and ended trading of 1,000 shares, at a 52 weeks’ high of $13, Grace Kennedy traded 6,862 stock units with a gain of 50 cents to end at $58.50, Jamaica Producers rose 50 to close at $22.50, with 7,370 shares trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $17.50, with 83,338 shares trading. JMMB Group lost $1.30 in trading of 19,904 shares at $31.70, Kingston Wharves rose $1 to close at $76, with 1,589 units changing hands, Mayberry Investments lost 85 cents and ended trading of 6,119 shares, at $8.05, 138 Student Living lost 30 cents trading 25,200 shares at $5.50. PanJam Investment fell 50 cents trading 19,320 units to close at $79.50 after hitting earlier a 52 weeks high of $82, Sagicor Group gained $1 and ended trading 53,548 stock units at $38.50, Salada Foods rose 50 cents trading 5,200 shares at $33. Scotia Group rose $1.99 trading 5,498 shares at $53.99, Stanley Motta shed 33 cents to end at $4.67, with an exchange of 2,000 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 50 cents to end at $11.50 with an exchange of 88,000 shares and Wisynco Group gained 35 cents and concluded trading of 43,108 shares at $11.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 152,096 units valued at US$31,930 changing hands.  JMMB Group 6% preference share concluded trading of 1,300 units at $1.04, Margaritaville traded 3,895 shares at 24 US cents, Proven Investments traded 129,301 units, with the price closing at 21.99 US cents, Sterling Investments trading 10,000 units to close at 4 us cents and Sygnus Credit Investments ended with 7,600 units trading at 11 US cents after falling 1 cent. The JSE USD Equities Index rose 0.33 points to close at 175.38.

Valentine’s gift for JSE investors – Thursday

NCB Financial traded 16.55m shares on the JSE on Thursday.

Gains in 15 stocks against 9 with losses sent the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surging at the end of trading on Thursday. NCB Financial traded more than $16.5 million shares but had little impact on the indices.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 5,188.44 points to 414,912.38 and the JSE Index surged 4,722.16 points to 378,031.54.
The main and US markets traded 32 securities, compared to 35 securities trading on Wednesday, with Jamaica Stock Exchange and Wisynco Group trading at 52 weeks intraday highs but PanJam Investments ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high as supply of the stock is very limited.
Main market activity ended with, 20,917,776 units valued at $2,473,285,188 changing hands, compared to 9,650,019 valued at $141,880,042 on Wednesday.
NCB Financial Group led trading with 16.55 million shares for 79 percent of the day’s volume, Wisynco Group was next with 1,492,528 shares, accounting for 7 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Radio Jamaica ended with 944,409 shares, for 4.5 percent of the day’s volume.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 13 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 closing with lower offers.
An average of 674,767 units valued at $79,783,393 compared to 292,425 units valued at an average of $4,299,395 for each security traded, on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 351,464 shares with a value of $16,773,070 and previously, 318,056 shares with a value of $9,511,657. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units, valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
In main market activity, Barita Investments rose 60 cents to close at $50.60, in trading 4,169 shares, Berger Paints jumped $1 to end at $20.50, with 4,755 stock units trading, Caribbean Cement finished with a gain of 35 cents to end at $43.50, with an exchange of 9,975 shares. Grace Kennedy traded 82,237 stock units but lost $1.50 to end at $58, Jamaica Broilers finished trading 58,596 shares and lost 30 cents to end at $33.50, Jamaica Producers fell 41 to close at $22, with 26,953 shares trading, JMMB Group gained 25 cents in concluded trading of 408,504 shares at $33,. Kingston Wharves rose $4 to close at $75, with 23,515 units changing hands, 183 Student Living rose 80 cents trading 1,100 shares at $5.80. PanJam Investment  jumped $4.99 in ending at a 52 weeks closing high of $80, trading 48,795 units, Sagicor Group  gained 40 cents and ended trading 153,890 stock units at $37.50,  Scotia Group added 75 cents trading 20,694 shares at $52,  Stanley Motta  gained 50 cents to end at $5, with an exchange of 31,684 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments rose $1.20 to end at $12 with an exchange of 41,700 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments  rose 35 cents to settle at $4.05, with 30,867 shares changing hands and Wisynco Group fell 25 cents and concluded trading of 1,492,528 shares $10.65, after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $12. Trading over the past 4 days have significantly dried up supply of the stock.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 36,975 units valued at US$8,057 changing hands with Proven Investments being the sole stock trading, with the price closing at 21.99 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index fell 0.79 points to close at 175.05.

More gains for JSE main market – Monday

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Barita Investments dominated trading with 1.1 milliobn shares changing hands.

The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Monday with a second day of strong gains in the market indices with the prices of 16 rising, 13 declining and 4 remaining unchanged.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 3,028.23 points to close at 413,439.04 and the JSE Index climbed 2,756.09 points to close at 376,690.60 after both rose by more than 2,944 points on Friday.
Importantly, NCB financial that played a big role in many of the big movements in recent months had little impact in Mondays move and suggesting that investors’ interest is more broad-based now than a few weeks ago.
The main and US markets traded a total of 33 securities, compared to 31 securities trading on Friday.
Main market activity ended with, 3,396,161 units valued at $104,302,598 changing hands, in contrast to 7,016,682 units valued at $207,252,597, on Friday.
Barita Investments led trading with 1,113,243 units for 33 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Wisynco Group with 628,630 shares and accounting for 19 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Seprod with 443,979 stock units for 13 percent of the day’s volume.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 10 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 closing with lower offers.
An average of 106,130 units valued at an average of $3,259,456 for each security traded, in contrast to 241,955 units valued at an average of $7,146,641 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 324,089 shares with a value of $11,497,407 and previously, 358,447 units valued $13,030,049. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units, valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
In main market activity, Barita Investments surprisingly, added 51 cents to close at $50.01, with the trading a large volume of 1,113,243 shares up to $52. Berger Paints gained 50 cents and ended at $20, with an exchange of a mere 100 stock units, Caribbean Cement rose 90 cents in trading 1,500 shares at $43, Jamaica Broilers climbed 50 cents in trading of 51,600 units, to close at 52 weeks’ closing high of $33.50. Jamaica Producers lost 50 cents to close at $22.50 and trading 6,000 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained $1 and closed trading with 34,786 units changing hands, at a record close of $15, JMMB Group fell 70 cents concluded trading at $32.10, with 57,512 shares. Kingston Wharves rose $3.48 cents and settled at $72, with 6,449 units changing hands, Pulse Investments traded 2,000 units and lost 50 cents to close at $2.70, Salada Foods traded 10,860 units, but lost 50 cents to close at $38.50. Seprod rose $1.65 to finish trading of 443,979 shares at $36.50, Supreme Ventures lost 80 cents and finished trading 42,611 units at $19 and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 90 cents to end at $10.25 with an exchange of 49,018 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 54,933 units valued at $57,130 changing hands as the sole stock trading, JMMB Group 6% preference share, lost 2 cents and concluded trading with 54,933 units at US$1.04. The JSE USD Equities Index closed at 163.88.

Compelling case to watch Fontana & Wisynco

Fontana Waterloo Road branch now nearing completion.

Two compelling buys this week that investors should be watching over the next few weeks, are Fontana in the Junior Market and Wisynco in the main market of Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Last week, the results of a few companies were released, but only the results of Wisynco, had the potency to move the stock price, without much delay. More companies will release quarterly reports this week and they are worth watching.
Wisynco reported strong half-year results to December and encountered good buying interest on Friday with nearly 2.7 million shares trading, with little price movement. Trading on Friday may have removed quite a bit of supply to help pave the way for an inevitable price rise at some point in time. The company is yet to reap the full benefit from the new production lines they installed last year and effective providing room for greater profit margin. In addition, they added sugar distribution to the product line up starting in January this year. The company is ripe to add more products for distribution could well add new brands to the lineup that will boost revenues and profit if that happens.  At current price of $10.40 and with a strong increase 36 percent in profits for the December quarter, investors with limited inventory of the stock would be unwise not to add it to their portfolios.

Wisynco could enjoy much increased revenues going forward as new products as added to the line up.

The recent quarterly report of AMG Packaging showed a big improvement of 68 percent in profit to $16.1 million, resulted in garnering increased buying interest around the $2.50 level. The price could move higher with sellers trying to get out around $2.70 level.
Elite Diagnostic rose in price this past week with increased buying interest and may go higher in the coming weeks as the quarterly results for December should show a big improvement over the $1.8 million profit reported in the first quarter to September and point to a much brighter future for this expanding entity.
PanJam Investment has limited supply of the stock offered on the market currently. At the close on Friday, just 79,000 units were shown on the JSE trading platform for sale compared, to 781,000 on the buy side. The lowest offer was 51,000 units at $80. It will be interesting to see what will happen with the price during the week.
Demand for Fontana shares is gradually eating away at supply of the stock with the price closing at $3.60, on Friday. The bid closed at $3.60 on Friday and the price could move higher during the week.  With IC Insider.com projected earnings for the current year at 50 cents per share and the opening of its latest branch this year, the stock has lots of potential gains ahead of it.
General Accident enjoyed lower demand in the past week with the price slipping from $4 to $3.90. The stock is a big value play with the 2018 results likely to come out in the region of 45 cents per share and 2019 even higher and provide solid incentive for the buyers to pick up the stock. Interim results for the full year, are expected to be released this week. Jamaica Stock Exchange shares hit a new high of $14, during the past week, with increasing interest shown in the stock. Exposed supply is currently not high, with expected continued buoyancy in

Seprod shares now trades at $34.85 each.


the market and a big increase in new listings this year, investors seem more aggressive to buy into what should be another year of increased profit for the company. Seprod price moved up to $34.85 with increased demand for the shares continuing against the background of declining supply. The price seems poised to move even higher in the coming weeks as the stock remains attractively priced.
Lasco Manufacturing’s profit for the December quarter was effectively flat at $197 million but is up 32 percent for nine months period. With EPS at 17 cents for the year, to December, there was little fire power to move the stock price during the week. The same is true for Lasco Distributors, with a 24 percent rise in profit to $157 million for the December quarter and 16 percent increase for the nine months to December, to $620 or 18 cents per share. Lasco Manufacturing with EPS close to Lasco Distributors should really see the stock price moving closer to the latter than the $3.10 it closed at on Friday.
NCB Financial remains on the Watch List with strong gains in operating profit for the December quarter, but the stock is finding it hard to break through resistance at the $150 level and may need something out of the ordinary if the price is to move decidedly higher before the summer months.
Barita Investments is worth watching but with the price falling, having gone ex rights during the past week.

JSE main market drops – Thursday

Trading picked up over that on Wednesday on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Thursday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index falling by 1,009.17 points to 407,175.49 and the JSE Index declining by 918.47 points to 370,989.95.
Main market activity ended with, 4,986,769 units valued at $74,552,633, in contrast with 2,541,810 units valued at $57,485,785 on Wednesday.
The main and US markets traded a total of 31 securities, with prices of 13 rising, 9 declining with 9 remaining unchanged, compared to 34 securities trading on Wednesday.
JMMB Group 7.5% preference share led trading with 2,001,000 units for 40 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Jamaica Broilers with 1,531,165 shares and accounting for 21 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Wisynco Group with 589,188 stock units for 12 percent of the day’s volume.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 9 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 closing with lower offers.
An average of 184,695 units valued at $2,761,209, in contrast to 42,483 units valued at $1,358,497 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 523,805 units valued $16,891,062 and previously, 523,805 units valued $16,891,062. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units, valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
In main market activity, Barita Investments fell $1.52 to close at $49.48, with 5,691 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement shed 95 cents to finish at $42.05, trading 15,476 shares, Jamaica Broilers dropped $3.51 in trading of 1,531,165 units, to close at $29. Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading with 35,508 units changing hands, with a rise of 45 cents to a record close of $13.95. JMMB Group concluded trading with 12,319 shares but rose 80 cents to $32.80, Kingston Wharves lost $1.10 and settled at $68.90, with 6,557 units changing hands, 138 Student Living rose 41 cents to $3.40, in trading 1,000 units, PanJam Investment rose $1 to end at $75 with 11,974 units changing hands. Sagicor Group fell by 20 cents in trading 30,407 stock units, to close at $38.55, Scotia Group climbed $2.94 and finished trading of 59,319 shares at $53.99 and Seprod lose $1.41 to end at $34.92 with an exchange of 13,581 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 10,022 units valued at US$4,728 changing hands. JMMB Group 6% preference share concluded trading with a gain of 2 cents to settle at $1.06 with 950 units, JMMB Group 5.75% preference share finished with a rise of 1 cent to $2 with 486 shares trading, JMMB Group 5.5% preference share settled ended at $2 with 486 shares and Proven Investments traded 8,100 units and rose 1 cent to close at 22 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index was unchanged at the close at 169.42.

Robust JSE main market gain – Wednesday

Trading on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Wednesday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 1,683.64 points to 408,184.66 and the JSE Index advancing by 1,532.33 points to close at 371,908.42.
Main market activity ended with just 2,541,810 units valued at $57,485,785, in contrast with 1,062,072 units valued at over $33,962,415 on Tuesday.
The main and US markets traded a total of 34 securities, with prices of 7 rising, 12 declining with 15 remaining unchanged, compared to 29 securities trading on Tuesday.
Supreme Ventures led trading with 622,892 units for 24.5 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Wisynco Group with 539,782 shares and accounting for 21 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share with 415,445 stock units for 16 percent of the day’s volume.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 6 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 closing with lower offers.
An average of 81,994 units valued at an average of $1,854,380, in contrast to 42,483 units valued at $1,358,497 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 523,805 units valued $16,891,062 and previously, 684,936 units valued at $22,375,029. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
In main market activity, Barita Investments fell 40 cents to close at $51, with 158,787 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers fell by 49 cents in trading of 21,422 units at $32.51, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading with 46,997 units changing hands with a rise of 50 cents to $13.50. Kingston Wharves gained 80 cents and settled at $70.00, with 3,678 units changing hands, 138 Student Living rose 68 cents to $2.99, in trading 100 units, PanJam Investment lost $1 to end at $74 with 4,680 units changing hands. Sagicor Group fell by 25 cents trading 22,412 stock units, to close at $38.75, Scotia Group lost $1.95 and finished trading of 16,288 shares at $51.05 and Seprod lost 99 cents to end at $33.51 with an exchange of 12,894 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 61,777 units valued at $6,450 changing hands. Margaritaville  ended trading 477 shares at 24 US cents, Proven Investments traded 6,300 units and rose 1 cent to close at 22 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments closed trading of 55,000 units to close at 9 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index advanced 0.33 points to close at 169.42.

JSE trading volume drops 95% on Tuesday

The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange major indices roseat the close on Tuesday, but with sharply lower volume that dropped 95 percent from Monday’s levels.
Main market activity ended with just 1,062,072 units valued at over $33,962,415, in contrast with 22,820,352 units valued at $1,138,660,815 on Monday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 335.04 points to end at 406,501.02 and the JSE Index gained 304.93 points to close at 370,376.09.
The main and US markets traded a total of 29 securities, with prices of 9 rising, 11 declining with 9 remaining unchanged, compared to 32 securities trading on Monday.
Scotia Group led trading with 216,870 units for 24 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Mayberry Jamaican Equities with 140,980 units and accounting for 22 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Supreme Ventures with just 86,305 units for 8 percent of the day’s volume.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 9 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 closing with lower offers.
An average of 42,483 units valued at $1,358,497, in contrast to 786,909 shares valued at $39,264,166 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 684,936 units valued at  $22,375,029 and previously 952,625 units valued at $31,131,917. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
In main market activity, Jamaica Broilers jumped $3 to finish trading of 66,896 units at $33, Jamaica Producers lost $1 to close at $22, with 12,548 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading with 62,328 units changing hands with a rise of 35 cents to $13, JMMB Group fell 50 cents to close at $32, trading 10,248 shares. Kingston Wharves gained 80 cents and settled at $70.00, with 3,678 units changing hands, Sagicor Group fell 99 cents trading 53,111 stock units, to close at $39, Salada Foods jumped $1.25 to $39.25 in trading 1,067 units. Scotia Group lost 97 cents and finished trading of 216,870 shares at $53 and Seprod rose $1.48 cents to end at $34.50 with an exchange of 20,208 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 236,650 units valued at $83,993 changing hands. JMMB 5.75% preference share traded 5,000 units and lost 1 cent to end at a 52 weeks’ low of US$1.99, JMMB 6% preference share concluded trading of 52,960 units at US$1.04, Proven Investments traded 26,040 units and rose 1 cent to close at 22 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments closed trading of 152,650 units to close at 9 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index advanced 3.46 points to close at 169.09.

Heavy trading continues for JSE majors – Monday

The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange major indices suffered sharp lossesat the close on Monday, with the market having another day of big volume.
Main market activity ended with 22,820,352 units valued at $1,138,660,815 compared with 34,337,150 units valued at $729,254,221, on Friday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 8,017.57 points to close at 406,165.98 and the JSE Index plunged 7,297.03 points to close at 370,071.16. Adjustment to the average price of NCB Financial compared to that on Friday, was the major contributing factor to the sharp correction to the indices with the JSE reported closing price being $142.81 versus $148.99 on Friday as opposed to the last traded price of $145 on both days.
The main and US markets traded a total of 32 securities, with prices of 10 rising, 11 declining with 11 remaining unchanged, compared to 33 securities trading on Friday.
Sagicor Group led trading with 5,552,292 units for 24 percent of the day’s volume, followed by  Scotia Group with 4,982,116 units and accounting for 22 percent of the total main market volume changing hands, NCB Financial Group traded 3,598,470 shares and 15.8 percent of main market volume. Also trading in large volumes are, Victoria Mutual Investments with 2,402,133 units, JMMB Group exchanging 2,333,919 shares and Jamaica Stock Exchange with 1,011,290 shares changing hands.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 10 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 closing with lower offers. The reading is far less bullish than the reading at the close of Friday, of 15 to 2.
An average of 786,909 units valued at $39,264,166, in contrast to 1,107,650 shares valued at $23,524,330 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 952,625 units valued at $31,131,917. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
In main market activity, Barita Investments lost 30 cents in closing at $51.50, with 5,650 shares changing hands, Berger Paints gained $1 to end at $21.00, with just 136 stock units trading, Jamaica Producers rose 70 cents to close at $23, with 660 shares changing hands. Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading with 1,011,290 units changing hands compared to 2,677,014 units on Friday with a decline of 35 cents to $12.65, JMMB Group fell 49 cents to close at $32.50, trading 2,333,919 shares, Proven Investments dropped $8 trading 893,487 units to close at $28. Sagicor Group rose 49 cents trading just under 5.6 million stock units, to close at $39.99, Salada Foods dropped $4 to $38 in trading 10,084 units, Scotia Group climbed $3.67 and finished trading of 4,982,116 shares at $53.97 and Seprod lost 48 cents to end at $33.02 with an exchange of 22,224 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 840,023 units valued at $179,653 changing hands. JMMB Group  5.75% preference share traded 400 units at US$2, JMMB Group 6% preference share concluded trading of 3,040 units at US$1.04 and Proven Investments traded 836,583 units at 21 US cents The JSE USD Equities Index closed unchanged at 165.63.

Drop for JSE majors in Januray

Trading levels rose sharply on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with the market indices rising sharply with advancing stocks beating declining ones by 40 percent, that left the market still 1.6 percent below the 2018 close.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index surged 4,736.13 points to 410,369.67 and the JSE Index climbed 4,310.50 points to 373,897.06.
Main market activity ended with 5,924,559 units valued at $242,360,666 compared to 2,161,352 units valued at $54,090,319 on Wednesday.
The main and US markets traded a total of 32 securities, with prices of 14 rising, 10 declining with 8 remaining unchanged, compared to 36 securities trading on Wednesday.
Caribbean Cement led trading with 2,041,592 units for 34.5 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Scotia Group with 1,233,769 units and accounting for 21 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Sagicor Group with 761,021 units and 13 percent of the day’s volume.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 15 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 closing with lower offers.
An average of 219,428 units valued at an average of $8,976,321 for each security traded, in contrast to 65,496 units for an average of $1,639,101 on Wednesday.  The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 101,980 units valued at $3,042,494 compared to 97,161 units valued at $2,776,359, previously. Trading for December ended, with an average of 835,037 units with a value of $25,906,477, for each security traded.
In main market activity, Caribbean Cement lost $1 to close at $42.50, with 2,041,592 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy traded 499,561 stock units and gained $1.40 to close at $59.90, Jamaica Broilers gained $1.10 to close at $30, with an exchange of 63,683 units, Jamaica Producers rose $1.20 to close at $23, with 12,015 shares changing hands. JMMB Group fell 50 cents to close at $32 trading 159,216 shares, NCB Financial Group climbed $7.90 trading 92,786 shares to end at $152.90, PanJam Investment lost 85 cents and ended at $71.15, with 153,775 units trading, Proven Investments traded 2,196 units with a rise of $1.50 to close at $28. Pulse Investments lost 40 cents and finished at $2.80, with an exchange of just 100 shares, Sagicor Group rose $2.55 in trading 761,021 stock units, to close at $41.05, Salada Foods jumped $4 and ended trading at an all-time high of $42, with 7,180 stock units trading. Scotia Group dropped $1.69 to end trading of 1,233,769 shares at $50.31, Seprod rose $1.12 to end at $33.12 with an exchange of 19,046 shares and Stanley Motta gained 25 cents in trading 7,000 units to close at $5.25.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 1,399,848 shares valued at US$319,369 changing hands. JMMB 6% preference share fell 3 cents and concluded trading of 18,207 units at $1.04, JMMB Group 5.75% preference share fell 5 cents and settled at US$2.01, trading 5,000 shares, Productivity Business traded 18,608 stock units at 59 US cents. Proven Investments traded 1,312,533 units at 21 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments Jamaica dollar denominated shares traded 45,500 units to close at 8 US cents after rising 1 cent. The JSE USD Equities Index advanced by 1.16 points to close at 165.52.