Trading on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Monday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index falling by 425.48 points to 428,025.38 and the JSE Index declined by 386.63 points to 389,951.38.
The newly created Financial Index closed with a decline of 0.44 points to 100.09.
At the close market activity, the main and US markets traded 31 securities, compared to 35 securities trading on Thursday as 13 advanced, 13 declined and 5 traded without changes in prices.
Main market activity ended with 4,168,850 units valued at $82,747,972 compared to 17,063,678 units valued $60,010,887, changing hands, on Friday.
JMMB Group 7.25% Preference led trading with 1 million shares for 24 percent of the day’s volume, Sagicor Group was next with 914,140 units, accounting for 22 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended with 551,459 shares, for13 percent of the day’s volume. Kingston properties traded at an at a 52 weeks’ high of $8.45 before retreating to close at $6.35.
Market activity ended with an average 138,962 units valued at over $2,758,266, in contrast to 533,240 shares valued at $1,875,340 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 342,460 units valued at $2,302,562. Trading for February resulted in an average of 281,016 shares with a value of $11,715,160, for each security traded.
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 4 closing with lower offers.
In main market activity, Barita Investments rose $2 to close at $50.01, trading of 36,820 shares, Berger Paints gained 99 cents and ended at $20.50, with an exchange of 52,405 stock units, Caribbean Cement closed with a gain of $1 to finish at $55, with 42,613 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy jumped $1.13 trading 144,809 stock units to close at $60.50, Jamaica Broilers finished trading 37,111 shares after gaining 99 cents to close at $33.55, Jamaica Producers lost 50 cents and 
closed trading of 31,300 shares, at $22.50, JMMB Group concluded trading of 123,997 shares with a rise of $1 to close at $33. Kingston Wharves jumped $3.50 and settled at $75, with an exchange of 861 units. Mayberry Equities dipped $1 and ended trading of 104,405 shares at $9, NCB Financial Group traded 14,520 shares but rose 30 cents to end at $144.80, PanJam Investment lost $1 to end at $79, in trading 13,940 units. Sagicor Group lost $1.10 in trading 914,140 shares, to close at $39.90, Salada Foods shed 50 cents trading 2,760 units to close at $29 and Supreme Ventures climbed $1 to finish at $23 with 52,756 units changing hands.
Trading in the US dollar market Proven Investment was the only security trading with 1,300 units changing hands at 21.97 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index declined 0.04 points to close at 175.14.
JSE majors 5,000 point short of record high
New ecord high is in sight for the JSE main market.
The JSE Index advanced 3,259.38 points to 390,338.01, within 4,453.88 points, of the record close reached in November, last year. The newly created Financial Index closed up 0.53 points to 100.53.
At the close market activity, the main and US markets traded 35 securities, compared to 38 securities trading on Thursday as 8 advanced, 18 declined and 9 traded without changes in prices.
Supreme Ventures traded at an at a 52 weeks’ high of $25 before retreating to close at $22 and the Jamaica Stock Exchange traded at a record high of $18.22 but ended lower at the close.
Main market activity ended with 17,063,678 units valued $60,010,887 compared to 6,800,119 units valued at $107,742,633, changing hands, on Thursday.
Sagicor Bank led trading with 15 million shares for 88 percent of the day’s volume, Mayberry Jamaican Equities was next with 475,175 units, accounting for 3 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Radio Jamaica ended with 366,987 shares, for 2 percent of the day’s volume.
Market activity ended with an average 533,240 units valued at $1,875,340, in contrast to 206,064 shares valued at $3,264,928 on Thursday. Trading for February resulted in an average of 281,016 shares with a value of $11,715,160, for each security traded.
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.
In main market activity, Barita Investments closed at $48.01, with the trading of 6,279 shares, Berger Paints lost 49 cents and ended at $19.51, with an exchange of 4,897 stock units, Caribbean Cement closed with a gain of $1 to finish at $55, with 42,613 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy gained 53 cents trading 89,379 stock units at $59.37. Jamaica Broilers finished trading 28,707 shares after falling $1.84 to close at $32.56, JMMB Group concluded trading 44,055 shares with a loss of $1 to close at $32, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost $1 and
ended at $17, with 360,982 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves dropped $3.50 and settled at $71.50, with an exchange of 3,346 units. Mayberry Equities rose 90 cents and ended trading of 475,175 shares at $10, NCB Financial Group traded 96,803 shares but fell 50 cents to end at $144.50, PanJam Investment gained 55 cents to end at $80, trading 4,986 units. Sagicor Group added 95 cents in trading 5,281 shares to close at $41, Salada Foods shed $2 trading 5,018 units to close at $29.50, Scotia Group lost 40 cents trading 24,927 stock units at $53, Seprod lost $1.88 and closed at $42.52, trading 9,628 shares. Supreme Ventures jumped $2 to finish at $22 with 118,409 units changing hands and Wisynco Group lost 45 cents and ended trading of 80,089 shares at $11.50.Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 141,624 units valued at over $91,276 changing hands. JMMB Group 5.75% preference share closed at $2 trading 2,500 shares, Margaritaville ended trading of 2,505 shares at 24 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments exchanged of 4,554 shares at 11 US. The JSE USD Equities Index rose 0.06 points to close at 175.18.
Modest gains for JSE majors – Tuesday
Trading on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Tuesday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rising 282.49 points to 425,064.12 and the JSE Index advancing 256.70 points to 387,260.45.
At the close market activity, the main and US markets traded 32 securities, compared to 31 securities trading on Monday as 11 advanced, 13 declined and 8 traded without changes in prices. Main market activity ended with 8,311,096 units valued $195,683,562 compared to 3,016,645 units valued $84,766,098, changing hands, on Monday.
Wisynco Group led trading with 1,990,579 shares for 24 percent of the day’s volume, 
Carreras was next with 1,182,543 units, accounting for 14 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Seprod ended with 738,968 shares, for 9 percent of the day’s volume.
Market activity ended with 286,590 units valued at over $6,747,709, in contrast to 104,022 shares valued at $2,922,969 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 296,080 shares with a value of $12,795,751 and previously, 296,580 shares with a value of $13,133,046. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units, valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
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 4 stocks closed with lower offers.
In main market activity, Barita Investments gained 50 cents to close at $50, in trading 218,453 shares, changing hands, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.40 after exchanging 333,970 shares, to end at $50, Grace Kennedy rose 52 cents in trading 14,383 stock units to close at $58.52, Jamaica Broilers fell $1.25 and finished trading of 397,700 units, 
at $33. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 35 cents to end at $17.50, with the trading of 62,384 shares, Kingston Properties rose 48 cents and settled at $6, with an exchange of 90,092 units, Mayberry Investments lost 80 cents trading 296,539 shares to close at $9.20. PanJam Investment rose $2 in trading just 544 units, to close at $79, Portland JSX lost 50 cents to close at $7.50 in trading 56,500 shares. Salada Foods shed $2.25 in trading 47,618 units to close at $36, Scotia Group climbed $1.45 trading of 57,292 stock units at $53 and Seprod shed $3.80 trading 738,968 shares at $42.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 357,609 units valued at over $132,253 changing hands. JMMB Group 6% USD preference share traded 72,000 units at US$1.04, Proven Investments trading 256,409 units, to close at 21 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments exchanged of 29,200 shares at 12 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index lost 0.69 points to close at 173.10.
JSE majors falter on Friday
Trading on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Friday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dropping 1,899.50 points to 423,682.08 and the JSE Index falling 1,726.09 points to 386,004.58.
At the close market activity, the main and US markets traded 30 securities, compared to 36 securities trading on Thursday as 11 advanced, 12 declined and 7 traded without changes in prices.
Main market activity ended with 2,838,523 units valued at $72,200,499 compared to 10,610,997 units valued at $1,075,805,493, changing hands, on Thursday.
Victoria Mutual Investments led trading with 557,353 shares for 19.6 percent of the day’s volume, Radio Jamaica was next with 471,723 units, accounting for 16.6 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Scotia Group ended with 222,559 shares, for 8 percent of the day’s volume.
Market activity ended with 101,376 units valued at over $2,578,589, in contrast to 321,545 shares valued at $32,600,166 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 307,278 shares with a value of $13,736,085 and previously, 318,948 shares with a value of $14,410,836. Trading for January resulted in an average of 101,980 units, valued at $3,042,494, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 stocks closed with lower offers.
In main market activity, Barita Investments climbed $1 and closed at $49.50, with 201,000 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement dropped $5.50 after exchanging 33,024 shares, to end at $46. Jamaica Broilers rose $1.71 and finished trading of 4,478 units, at $35.51. JMMB Group gained 50 cents trading of 36,897 shares, to close at $33, NCB Financial fell 78 cents to close at $144.01, with
an exchange of 176,620 shares, Sagicor Group dropped $1.95 to settle at $40.05, with 212,986 shares changing hands. Scotia Group gained 45 cents and ended trading of 222,559 stock units at $53.90, Seprod added $1.99 trading 32,368 shares at $46.99 and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 22 cents with 51,793 units trading, to end at $13.72.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 34,410 units valued at over $7,260 changing hands. Proven Investments rose 1 cent in trading 34,110 units, to close at 21.5 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments traded 300 units and rose 1 cent to end at 12 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index advanced 4.87 points to close at 173.83.
Carib Cement jumps $8 to $51 – Wednesday
Caribbean Cement an IC Insider.com TOP 10 BUY RATED stock jumped a sharp $7.99 to close at $51 in response to the company reporting a big 122 percent jump in profit for 2018 over 2017.
Profit after tax moved from $1.11 billion in 2017 to $2.47 billion from an increase in revenues of just 6.4 percent, to $17.57 billion.
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 3,366.43 points to 424,790.44 and the JSE Index advancing 3,059.10 points to close at 387,011.75.
At the close market activity, the main and US markets traded 33 securities, compared to 38 securities trading on Tuesday, 
9 advanced, 13 declined and 11 traded with unchanged prices.
Main market activity ended with 6,849,263 units valued $129,072,474, compared to 15,805,801 units valued at $87,341,139 changing hands, on Tuesday.
An average of 228,309 units valued at an average of $4,302,416 for each security traded, in contrast to 451,594 units valued at an average of $2,495,461 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 318,762 shares with a value of $13,014,911 and previously, 325,058 shares with a value of $13,668,348. 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 1,863,840 shares for 27 percent of the day’s volume, JMMB Group ordinary share was next with 1,588,456 shares, accounting for 23 percent of the total main market volume changing hands and Wisynco Group ended with 548,081 shares, for 8 percent of the day’s volume.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with the reading showing 7 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks closed with lower offers.
In main market activity, Barita Investments gained 49 cents trading 71,190 shares, to close at $48.50, Berger Paints rose 50 cents to end at $20, with an exchange of 1,387 stock units, Caribbean Cement exchanged 347,372 shares, to end at $51 after jumping $7.99. Grace Kennedy traded 24,003 stock units and rose 99 cents to end at $59.99, 
Kingston Wharves dropped $1.20 to close at $75.80, with 6,198 units changing hands, NCB Financial lost 45 cents to close at $144.50, with an exchange of 118,906 shares. PanJam Investment fell 89 cents to end at $76.10, exchanging 16,747 shares, Scotia Group gained 93 cents and ended trading of 22,820 stock units, at $53.93 and Seprod rose $1 trading 174,703 shares at $47.
Trading in the US dollar market resulted in 2,032,362 units valued US$237,397 changing hands. Proven Investments traded 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 lost 5.30 points to close at 168.80.
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
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.
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.
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.