Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the early morning session resulted in the junior market breaking the 2,800 barrier for the first time and the all Jamaica index sitting just under 214,000 points as a number of stocks hit record close.
Large trades include, Jamaica Broilers Group with 6,876,548 shares at $15.47 and Portland JSX with 10,000,000 at $9.01, both were crossed trades by Victoria Wealth. Trading at new highs are Jamaican Teas with 6,515 units at $7.80, Jamaica Producers with 2,000 shares at $11 and Berger Paints with 20,000 units at $7.80.
Securities changing hands, amount to 27 at 10:45 am, compared to 32 on Friday. A total of 12 securities advanced and 7 declined, resulting in a volume of 17,402,301 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $200,550,750, compared of 34,904,514 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $248,422,322, on Friday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 644,530 units versus 1,090,766 units on Friday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 1,007.72 points to 213,854.59 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index rose 901.09 points to 195,598.60, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index gained 1,163.78 points to 210,261.91 and the junior market index climbed 31.93 points to 2,809.80.
Juniors break 2,800 majors shy of 214,000 – Monday
Main Event heads IC TOP 5 list
The latest junior market offering Main Event Entertainment hits the IC Insider’s TOP 5 list as the top stock. The new entrant pushed Caribbean Flavours just outside the list.
The forecast is for Main Event to get to $6 in 2017 based on its 2016 earnings and higher based on the 2017 earnings. Prices in the junior market, continue to gain with the junior market index gaining almost 7 percent so far and running well ahead of the main market.
Berger Paints remains in the list in spite of a sharp 12.5 percent rise on Friday, following outstanding nine months results to December. IC Insider.com increased the projected earnings from 99 cents to $1.10 with 2018 forecasted at $1.60. The stock seems set to migrate out of the list during this week with limited supply.
In the main market, Caribbean Cement slipped back from $36 to $30.50 during the past week thus enhancing its attractiveness as a buy.
JSE majors close down Friday
Berger closed at a new all-time high on Friday
The market closed with 46 securities changing hands, 18 stocks gained and 14 declined in the overall market, including 9 stocks rising and 7 falling, in the junior market. One security in the main market and one in the junior market closed trading at an all-time high and one in the junior market traded at an intraday high while Portland JSX closed at a new low.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index lost 671.11 points to close at 212,846.87. The JSE Market Index slipped 600.10 points to finish at 194,697.51 and the JSE combined index declined by 392.65 points to close at 209,098.13.
At the close with 38,043,877 units valued at $286,247,575 changed hands, compared to 14,496,376 units valued at $291,803,792 changing hands on Wednesday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 22,999,535 units, changing hands, valued at $127,583,667.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 601,774 shares compared to an average of 367,156 units traded on Wednesday. An average of 515,038 units traded for the month to date, versus 428,302 units on the previous trading day, compared with an average of 549,379 units, December ended with.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
In market activity, Investors reacted positively to nine months results, showing a sharp hike in profit for Berger Paints, pushing the price to a new closing high at $6.75 while trading of 85,937 shares. Cable and Wireless ended with 1,872,517 units at $1.12, after gaining 1 cent, Caribbean Cement traded 58,218 shares to close at $30.50, Carreras closed at $66.75 with 61,025 shares changing hands after rising by 25 cents. Grace Kennedy had 33,738 units trading, to close at $39, Jamaica Broilers rose 50 cents and closed at $15.50 with 47,477 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 1,763,796 shares to end with a fall of 7 cents at $9.53. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 6,119,966 shares, to end at $5.60, JMMB Group traded 2,050,959 units to end at $15.31, Kingston Wharves ended up trading 73,943 units to close at $25.31. National Commercial Bank fell 50 cents in swapping 12,573 shares, to close at $51.50, investors swapped 1 million units of 138 Student Living, at $4.50,
Pan Jam Investment traded 21,420 units with the price slipping 25 cents to end at a $29.75, Portland JSX lost 20 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $9 while trading 23,000 units. Radio Jamaica traded 16,329 units and rose 12 cents to close at $1.40, Sagicor Group closed with 374,817 shares changing hands with a rise of 58 cents at $29.04 Sagicor Real Estate fund lost 22 cents in trading 18,700 units to close at $10, Scotia Group with 137,003 shares changing hands, lost $1 to close at $35. Scotia Investments gained 50 cents with 1,174,023 units trading, to end at $33, Seprod traded 5,739 shares but fell 50 cents in closing at $29.50 and Proven Investments traded 81,000 ordinary shares to close at 23 US cents.
Berger’s stellar performance
Berger price jumped on Friday after posting strong 2016 results.
For the quarter, earnings were $185 million versus $80 million in the 2015 quarter, with revenues climbing 17.8 percent in the December quarter to $895 million.
Berger ended with cash of $158 million in December, having generated $370 million from operations before build up in working capital. The gross cash inflows, places it in a good position to continue to pay out a rich dividend, which they should do later in the year. According to the cash flow statement, receivables jumped by $378 million over the March 2016 position. That would put it at $700 million, as of December 2016. The majority of this amount should be cleared by the end of March.
Unfortunately, the Berger report does not conform to international standards for reporting interim results. The effect is there is no information on direct and indirect cost and gross profit and the balance sheet carries little information as to the composition of the current assets and liabilities. Accordingly, investors, cannot make proper assessment of its performance.
A final dividend of 20 cents per share totalling $42.864 million was paid July 2016. The stock responded well to the numbers, with investors pushing it to a new record high of $6.75 in early morning trading on Friday, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. IC Insider.com forecast earnings of $1.10 for the full year to March 2017 and $1.60 for the 2018 fiscal year.
Value of Jamaican stocks slip – Wednesday
Jamaica Producers traded at a new high of $10.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index lost 211.20 points to close at 213,310.21. The JSE Market Index slipped 188.86 points to finish at 195,111.82 and the JSE combined index fell 262.00 points to close at 209,274.40.
The market closed with 40 securities changing hands, 14 stocks gained and 14 declined in the overall market, including 3 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market. One security ended trading at a new high and two at new lows, while one traded at an intraday high.
At the close with 6,870,141 units valued at $43,857,890 changed hands, compared to 4,982,675 units valued at $90,430,065 changing hands on Tuesday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 1,865,673 units, changing hands, valued at $12,828,651.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 217,586 shares compared to an average of 138,833 units traded on Tuesday. An average of 528,824 units traded for the month to date, versus 489,448 units on the previous trading day, compared with an average of 549,379 units, December ended with.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.In market activity, Berger Paints ended trading of 49,420 shares to close at $6, Cable and Wireless ended with 3,797,843 units at $1.13, after falling 17 cents, Caribbean Cement traded 12,872 shares to close at $32, Carreras closed at $66.30 with 10,000 shares changing hands after falling by 20 cents. Grace Kennedy had 2,813 units trading, with the price falling 55 cents, to close at $40.10, Jamaica Broilers rose 88 cents and closed at $15.50 with 3,000 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 62,060 shares to end with a rise of 50 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $10. Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped 4 cents in trading 6,300 shares, to end at $5.56, JMMB Group traded 283,799 units to end at $15.20, Kingston Wharves lost 20 cents in trading 13,200 units to close at $25.31, but retreated from an intraday high of $26.75. Mayberry Investments gained 5 cents in trading 170,522 units and ended at $4.75.
National Commercial Bank fell 21 cents swapping 21,233 shares, to close at $51.54, Portland JSX lost 20 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $10 while trading 958 units, Pulse Investments traded 57,791 units and dropped 80 cents to close at $3.70. Sagicor Group closed with 62,000 shares changing hands with a rise of 20 cents at $28.50, Scotia Group with 38,123 shares changing hands, rose 10 cents to close at $36.60, Scotia Investments gained $1 with 1,000 units trading, to end at $33.49. Seprod traded 700 shares but rose 49 cents in closing at $30, Supreme Ventures lost 4 cents in trading 2,000 units at $5.11 and Proven Investments traded 356,514 ordinary shares to close at 22 US cents.
Jamaican stocks cede ground on Tuesday
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, ceded some grounds to close out Tuesday ‘s trading. Advancing stocks being just below decliners.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index lost 118.15 points to close at 213,521.41 and is just 9 points adrift from the all-time high reached on January 6. The JSE Market Index slipped 105.65 points to finish at 195,300.68 and the JSE combined index fell 50.23 points to close at 209,536.40.
The market closed with 40 securities changing hands, 16 stocks gained and 11 declined in the overall market, including 6 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 4,982,675 units valued at $90,430,065 changed hands, compared to 24,599,887 units valued at $157,873,358 changing hands on Monday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 1,234,173 units, changing hands, valued at $7,873,809.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 138,833 shares compared to an average of 688,233 units traded on Monday. The average for the month to date, is 489,448 versus 840,062 units on the previous trading day, well below the average of 549,379 units, December ended with.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints ended trading of 32,268 shares to close at $6, Cable and Wireless ended with 1,623,683 units at $1.30, after gaining 15 cents, Caribbean Cement ended with a fall of $1 while trading 255,458 shares to close at $32, Carreras closed at $66.50 with 7,191 shares changing hands after falling by 25 cents. Grace Kennedy had 112,010 units trading, with the price rising 55 cents, to close at $40.65, Jamaica Broilers fell 88 cents and closed at $14.62 with 54,101 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 30,807 shares to end at $9.50, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 72,932 shares, to end at $5.60, JMMB Group traded 79,284 units to end at $15.20. Kingston Wharves gained 51 cents in trading 11,095 units to close at 52 weeks’ high of $25.51, National Commercial Bank fell 25 cents swapping 10,672 shares to close at $51.75, investors swapped 877,115 units of 138 Student Living at $4.50. Pan Jam Investment traded 47,415 units with the price jumping $3.40 to end at a $30, Portland JSX traded 3,242 units to end with a loss of 80 cents at a 52 weeks’ low of $10.20.
Pulse Investments traded 24,651 units and gained 50 cents to close at $4.50, but ended trading with the offer at $4. Radio Jamaica traded 337,368 shares to close at $1.28, Sagicor Group closed with 4,900 shares changing hands with a rise of 9 cents at $28.30, Scotia Group with 49,400 shares changing hands, rose 50 cents to close at $36.50, Scotia Investments fell 1 cent with 16,232 units trading, to end at $32.49. Seprod traded 21,012 shares but lost 89 cents in closing at $29.51, Supreme Ventures lost 14 cents in trading 37,216 units at $5.15 and Proven Investments traded 14,970 ordinary shares to close at 21.99 US cents.
Jamaican stocks close at new high on Monday
Seprod closed at 52 weeks’ high on Monday of $30.40.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index jumped 2,649.71 points to close at 213,639.56 and is just 9 points adrift from the all-time high reached on January 6. The JSE Market Index surged 2,369.31 points to finish at 195,406.33 or 8 points below the high on the 6th of January. Thanks to moderate gains in the junior market, the JSE combined index climbed 2,217.41 points to close at an all-time high of 209,586.63.
The market closed with 40 securities changing hands, 16 stocks gained and 11 declined in the overall market, including 7 stocks rising and 3 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 24,599,887 units valued at $157,873,358 changed hands, compared to 34,147,320 units valued at just $169,240,005 changing hands on Friday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 7,394,074 units, changing hands, valued at $28,781,077.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 688,233 shares compared to an average of 1,241,085 units traded on Friday. The average for the month to date, is 840,062 versus 991,892 units on the previous trading day, well below the average of 549,379 units, December ended with.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints ended trading of 616,346 shares to close at $6, Cable and Wireless ended with 1,036,695 units at $1.15, after gaining 7 cents, Caribbean Cement ended with a fall of $3 while trading 36,007 shares to close at $33, Carreras closed at $66.75 with, 9,147 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy had 37,432 units trading, with the price falling 35 cents, to close at $40.10, Jamaica Broilers rose by 50 cents and closed at $15.50 with 1,161,456 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 88,336 shares to end at $9.50, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 405,100 shares, to end at $5.60, JMMB Group traded 1,148,746 units to end at $15.20. 1 Kingston Wharves gained 44 cents in trading 6,985 units to close at $24.99, National Commercial Bank traded 11,735 shares to close at $52, investors swapped 8,566,723 units of 138 Student Living at $4.50. Pan Jam Investment traded just 950 units with the price jumping $3.40 to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $30, Portland JSX traded 2,000 units to end with a gain of 75 cents at $11.
Sagicor Group closed with 254,756 shares changing hands with a loss of 83 cents at $28.21, Scotia Group with 35,233 shares changing hands, rose 98 cents to close at $36, Scotia Investments gained $1 with 114,529 units trading, to end at $32.50, Seprod traded 334,564 shares to gain 40 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $30.40. Supreme Ventures lost 11 cents and traded 3,224,068 units at $5.29, Proven Investments traded 25,000 ordinary shares to close at 21.99 US cents, JMMB US 6% preference share ended at US$1.09, with 36,325 units changing hands and JMMB 7.25% preference share ended at $1.50, with 64,216 units being traded.
Jamaican stocks jump in early trading
Jetcon trades at a new high of $9 on Monnday.
Investors seem to be reacting positively to an announcement by Jetcon Corporation of a likely dividend and stock split as they drove the stock up by a $1 to a new high of $8 in trading 171,500 units, shortly after opening and shot up to $9 where trading is frozen for an hour with 172,334 units trading in all. Caribbean Producers, traded 500,000 shares and rose 40 cents to $4, General Accident Insurance traded 4,413,793 shares at $2.90, tTech rose 10 cents to $6 with 180,684 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing had 1,600,000 units trading at $5.08. Caribbean Cream traded 6,000 at $6.55 and then recovered to $7 with 47,823 units trading. In the main market, Berger Paints traded 616,346 units to end at $6,
Cable & Wireless climbed to $1.12 with 426,500 units and then fell back to $1.05 with 499,382 units, JMMB Group had 1,122,175 shares trading at $15.30 and Supreme Ventures lost 32 cents and traded 3,205,834 units at $5.08.Volumes rose sharply with high volume in some selected stocks as 32 securities traded at 10:45 am, compared to 29 on Friday. A total of 11 securities advanced and 11 declined, resulting in a volume of 12,710,223 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $68,889,688, compared of 1,490,866 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $16,271,265 on Friday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 397,194 units versus 51,409 units on Friday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index jumped 2,246.61 points to 213,236.46, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index gained 2,008.86 points 194,985.46, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index climbed 1,964.37 points to 209,277.56 and the junior market index rose 9.88 points above the record close on Friday to 2,769.35.
Jamaican stock indices eased again on Friday
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, lost some more grounds at the close on Friday but the junior market hit a new closing high, even as advancing stocks beat out declining ones 2 to 1.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index , fell 208.15 points to close at 210,989.85 The JSE Market Index lost 186.11 points to finish at 193,037.02. Thanks to moderate gains in the junior market, the JSE combined index fell by a smaller 107.92 points to close of 207,369.22.
The market closed with 44 securities changing hands, 1stocks gained and 11 declined in the overall market, including 11 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 34,147,320 units valued at $169,240,005 changed hands, compared to 6,801,958 units valued at $105,007,240 changing hands on Thursday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 1,879,103 units, changing hands, valued at $12,784,650.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 1,241,085, shares compared to an average of 242,331 units traded on Thursday. The average for the month to date, is 991,892 versus 742,670 units on the previous trading day, well below the average of 549,379 units, December ended with.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the 
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments lost 17 cents, and ended trading 24,311 shares, to close at $6, Berger Paints traded 18,379 units at $6, Cable and Wireless ended with 603,857 units to end at $1.08, after gaining 10 cents, Caribbean Cement ended with a rise of 60 cents while trading just 15,154 shares to close at $36. Carreras recovered 75 cents and closed at $66.75 with 16,835 shares changing hands. 1834 Investments rose 4 cents to end at $1.32 with 102,524 units changing hands, Grace Kennedy had 3,256 units trading, with the price falling 20 cents, to close at $40.45. Jamaica Broilers declined by 50 cents and closed at $15 with 14,107 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 66,566 shares and rose by 9 cents to end at $9.50, Jamaica Stock Exchange in trading 67,603 shares, ended at $5.60, 
JMMB Group traded 23,852 units and gained 19 cents to end at $15.20. National Commercial Bank traded 30,975 shares to close at $52, 138 Student Living ended trading with 30,734,795 shares at $4.50, Portland JSX traded 12,922 units at $10.25 after falling 72 cents. Sagicor Group closed with 246,978 shares changing hands with a rise of 94 cents to end at $29.04, Scotia Group with 88,319 shares changing hands, rose 1 cent to close at $35.02, Scotia Investments with 24,440 units trading, ended at $31.50, Seprod traded 5,546 shares in closing at $30. Supreme Ventures traded 50,536 units to gain 29 cents to close at $5.40 and Proven Investments traded 11,998 ordinary share to close at 22 US cents.
Large trades in C&W shares – Wednesday
Mayberry crossed 40m C&W shares.
There has been increased interest in the stock with bids growing in numbers after the price collapsed late last year to a low of 65 cents, as the release of the company’s next set of financials draws close.
The gain in Cable & Wireless did not prevent the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, losing more grounds on Wednesday, following Tuesday’s fall, even as advancing stocks beat out declining ones as a big fall in the price of Scotia Group did damage to the indices. Also helping are a $1 decline of NCB and Kingston Wharves dipping more than $1.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index , dropped 1,537.30 points to close at 211,280.08. The JSE Market Index lost 1,374.61 points to finish at 193,296.53. Thanks to moderate gains in the junior market, the JSE combined index fell 1,193.40 points to close of 207,236.56.
The market closed with 38 securities changing hands as 17 stocks gained and 12 declined in the overall market, including 5 stocks rising and 6 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 55,154,094 units valued at just $80,360,424 changed hands, compared to 7,603,225 units valued at just $132,166,453 changing hands on Tuesday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 3,135,713 units, changing hands, valued at $16,330,699.The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 2,261,669 shares compared to an average of 1,243,069 units traded on Tuesday. The average for the month to date, is versus 224,468 units on the previous trading day, well below the average of 549,379 units, December ended with.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints ended trading 17,080 shares to close at $6, Caribbean Cement ended with a fall of 40 while trading just 15,000 shares to close at $34, Carreras recovered 16 cents and closed at $66.75 with 5,019 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy had 45,709 units trading, with the price rising 9 cents, to close at $40.10. Jamaica Broilers rose by 20 cents and closed at $14.80 with 56,061 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers lost 29 cents to end at $9.41 with 5,976 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose by 2 cents in trading 10,000 shares, to end at $5.59, JMMB Group traded 331,250 units and gained 35 cents to end at $15.45. Kingston Wharves dropped $1.49 in trading 1,325 units to close at $23.50,
Mayberry Investments lost 5 cents and ended at $4.75 with 13,796 shares changing hands, National Commercial Bank traded 21,750 shares while falling of $1 to close at $51. Pan Jam Investment traded 1,447 shares and rose 2 cents to close at $26.52, Radio Jamaica climbed 10 cents to close at $1.45 after 118,808 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group closed with 24,466 shares changing hands with a loss of 50 cents at $28.50, Sagicor X Fund ended with 5,988 units trading at $10.50. Scotia Group with 17,900 shares changing hands, dropped $3.50 to close at $34.50, Scotia Investments gained 5 cents with 30,000 units trading, to end at $31.10. Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share gained 15 cents in trading 68,132 units to close at $2.15 and JMMB US 6 percent preference shares rose 1 cent and ended at US$1.11, with 34,760 units changing hands.