Grace Kennedy headed back to $118, with a drop of $6.99 in early trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the Tuesday morning session, while trading 7,052 shares changed hands. Cable & Wireless traded 103,278 shares at $1.29, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference traded 712,998 units at $2.15,
Lasco Distributors trade 200,337 shares at $8 and Lasco Manufacturing traded 606,845 units at $5.
Trading resulted in activity in 24 securities, accounting for a volume of 1,820,517 units as 6 stocks gained and 8 declined. The average number of shares traded amounts to just 75,855 units compared to an average of 30,397 units on Monday. Trading in Honey Bun was halted after the stock traded at $6.40, exceeding the 15 percent permitted before the circuit chips in.
After 75 minutes of trading in the early morning session, on Tuesday, the all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 267.58 points to 177,017.03, the JSE Market Index slipped 239.26 points to 159,326.52, the JSE combined index declined 113.59 to close at 170,828.95 points andthe junior market index rose 10.49 points to 2,245.42.
Grace drops $6.99 in early trades
Stocks start week down – Monday
Grace Kennedy jumped $6.14 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $124.99 on Monday.
Overall, 33 securities changed hands on Monday as the prices of 13 stocks in the overall market rose, 10 declined, including 5 stocks rising and 3 declining, from the junior market. Three stocks ended at a new 52 weeks’ high.
The JSE Market Index fell 205.29 points to end at 159,565.78. The all Jamaica Composite Index declined 229.60 points to close at 177,284.61 and the JSE combined index dropped 187.45 points, to end at 170,942.54. IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded 3,799 shares to end at $4.50, Cable & Wireless lost 1 cent to close at $1.29 after trading 66,713 units, Caribbean Cement traded 27,600 shares and closed at $24. Carreras had 25,043 units trading, to close with a fall of $1 at $63.01. The price of 1834 Investments fell 1 cent and ended at $1.22 with 27,725 units changing hands, Grace Kennedy jumped $6.14 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $124.99, Jamaica Broilers traded 34,545 units changing hands with a gain of 30 cents to close at $14.80. Jamaica Producers traded 48,596 shares and gained $1 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $46, JMMB Group traded 1,509 units at $10. Kingston Wharves traded just 540 shares and rose 47 cents to $12.50, National Commercial Bank traded unchanged at $42, while 138 Student Living traded 500,000 units at $4.50,
Pan Jamaican Investment Trust traded 27,725 shares and rose 50 cents to end at $27. Radio Jamaica closed trading with 229,798 shares with the price gaining 28 cents to end at $1.70, Sagicor Group ended with 9,036 shares changing hands after falling 35 cents to $22.65, Scotia Group fell 30 cents to close at $31.20 with 16,539 units changing hands. Scotia Investments traded 20,095 shares but lost 10 cents to close at $26, Seprod traded 14,400 shares unchanged at $17 and Supreme Ventures ended with a gain of 25 cents with 251,5000 shares traded at $4.75.
Stocks close week positively on Friday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange ended higher at the close of trading on Friday, with all major market indices recording positive movements, while the volume and value of stocks traded rose above the recent low levels. Supreme Ventures was the dominant trade with 3,590,303 units to close unchanged at $4.50 and 138 Student living with 1 million shares closed at $4.50 after gaining by 10 cents.
Overall, 43 securities changed hands on Friday, accounting for 8,594,535 units valued at $114,210,268, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 2,704,040 shares, valued at $10,558,176 of the all trades. Prices of 16 stocks in the overall market rose, 13 declined, including 8 stocks rising and 4 declining, from the junior market. One stock ended at a new 52 weeks’ high.
The JSE Market Index rose 429.50 points to end at 159,771.07. The all Jamaica Composite 
Index gained 480.36 points to close at 177,514.21 and the JSE combined index climbed 600.38 points, to close at 171,129.99.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded 21,000 shares to end at $4.50, Cable & Wireless gained 3 cents to close at $1.30 after trading 16,741 units, Caribbean Cement traded 18,552 shares and closed with a loss of 50 cents at $24. Carreras had 2,216 units trading, to close with a fall of 30 cents, at $64.01, the price of 1834 Investments ended at $1.23 with 10,000 units changing hands, Grace Kennedy fell $1.65 and ended trading 92,137 units, to close at $118.85, Jamaica Broilers traded 15,620 units changing hands at $14.50. Jamaica Producers traded 50,500 shares and gained 90 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $45, 
JMMB Group traded 3,900 units at $10. Kingston Wharves traded 12,925 shares and rose by 1 cent to $12.03, National Commercial Bank traded 19,535 shares, to close with a loss of 50 cents at $42, Pan Jamaican Investment Trust traded 144,988 shares and lost 50 cents to end at $26.50. Radio Jamaica closed trading with 601,416 shares with the price falling 36 cents to end at $1.42, Sagicor Group ended with 130,377 shares changing hands after adding 35 cents at $23, Scotia Group gained 50 cents to close at $31 as 88,521 units changed hands and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% preference shares traded 44,390 units at $1,247.
JSE loses ground on Thursday
Charles Johnston – Chairman of JP Group that just hit a new high on Thursday.
The price of 18 stocks in the overall market rose, 13 declined, including 6 stocks rising and 6 declining, from the junior market. One stock ended at a new 52 weeks’ high.
The JSE Market Index dropped 415.75 points to end at 159,341.57. The all Jamaica Composite Index lost 464.97 points to close at 177,033.85 and the JSE combined index fell 366.04 points, to close at 170,529.61.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded 16,450 shares with the price gaining 3 cents, to end at $4.50, Cable & Wireless declined by 15 cents, in closing at $1.27 after trading 61,465 units, Caribbean Cement traded 8,177 shares and closed 50 cents higher at $24.50. Carreras had 2,400 units trading, to close with a fall of 69 cents, at $64.31, the price of 1834 Investments ended at $1.23 with 455,602 units changing hands, Grace Kennedy ended trading 61,191 units, to close at $120.50 after hitting a new 52 weeks high of $121, Jamaica Broilers gained 66 cents with 13,092 units changing hands at $14.50. Jamaica Producers traded 438,100 shares to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $44.10,
JMMB Group traded 14,300 units as the price moved higher by 10 cents to $10. Kingston Wharves traded 29,512 shares and rose by 2 cents to $12.02, National Commercial Bank traded 26,223 shares, to close with a gain of 99 cents at $42.50, Pan Jamaican Investment Trust traded 47,394 shares and ended at $27. Radio Jamaica closed trading with 120,016 shares with the price rising 8 cents to end at $1.78, Sagicor Group ended with 12,500 shares changing hands after falling 24 cents at $22.65, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed with 3,995 shares changing hands after rising 2 cents. Scotia Group fell $1 to close at $31 as 6,621 units changed hands, Seprod traded 5,000 units and gained 10 cents to end at $17 and Supreme Ventures traded 45,944 units to close at $4.50.
JSE cuts sharp morning losses
Pan Jam rose to new 52 weeks’ closing high of $27 on Wednesday.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange lost ground at the end of trading on Wednesday, with the main market major indices declining and the junior market Index moving higher, while the volume of stocks traded, fell to low levels in a moderate day of trading activity.
The main market was recovering from big declines in the early morning session, with the all Jamaica Composite Index dropping 948.35 points, the JSE Market Index losing 847.97 points and the JSE combined index dipping 715.15 points.
A total of 38 securities changed hands on Wednesday, accounting for 1,894,110 units valued at $16,587,522, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 1,190,538 shares, valued at $6,986,614 of the overall trades.
The price of 13 stocks in the overall market rose, 18 declined, including 5 stocks rising and 8 declining, from the junior market. 3 stocks in all markets hit new highs, 2 of which ended at new 52 weeks’ high.
The JSE Market Index dropped 76.61 points to end at 159,757.32. The all Jamaica Composite Index lost 85.68 points to close at 177,498.82 and the JSE combined index rose 69.03 points, to close at 170,895.65.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Barita Investments traded 8,661 units at $3.08, Berger Paints traded 12,200 shares with the price falling 33 cents, to end at $4.47, Cable & Wireless rose 4 cents, in closing at $1.42 after trading 25,500 units, Caribbean Cement traded 90,330 shares and closed at $24. Carreras had 3,780 units trading, to close with a rise of 30 cents, at $65. Ciboney traded 111,000 units but lost 6 cents to end at 17 cents, the price of 1834 Investments traded at $1.40 with just 1,000 units changing hands, and rose by 17 cents. Grace Kennedy gained 50 cents in trading 1,000 units, to close at a 52 weeks high of $120.50, Jamaica Broilers ended with loss of 66 cents but with just 402 units changing hands at $13.84. Jamaica Producers traded 54,000 shares to end at $44.01, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 20 cents trading 360 shares, to close at $21, JMMB Group traded 8,227 units as the price fell 10 cents to $9.90.
National Commercial Bank traded 25,010 shares, to close with a loss of 49 cents at $41.51, there was a $1 fall, in the price of 138 Student Living, to close with 12,685 shares changing hands at $4.50, Pan Jamaican Investment Trust traded 75,609 shares and ended at 52 week’s closing high of $27. Radio Jamaica closed trading with 105,416 shares with the price falling 30 cents to end at $1.70, Sagicor Group ended with 5,000 shares changing hands after falling 11 cents at $22.89, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed at $10.12 with 21,861 shares changing hands. Scotia Group rose by $1 to close at $32 as 11,641 units changed hands, Seprod traded 10,000 units, gained 10 cents to end at $16.90, Supreme Ventures traded 22,570 units to close at $4.50 and JMMB 7.5% preference share lost 1 cent, to close at $1.03, while trading 95,300 shares.
Grace hits $120 & stock split coming
Group Chief Executive Officer, Don Wehby announced a proposed 3 for 1 stock split for the company.
A total of 35 securities changed hands on Monday, accounting for 22,588,186 units valued at $114,452,207, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 7,943,352 shares, valued at $36,689,714 of the overall trades.
The price of 13 stocks in the overall market rose, 15 declined, including 5 stocks rising and 8 declining, from the junior market as 4 stocks in all markets hit new highs, four of which ended at new 52 weeks’ high.
The JSE Market Index dropped 1,266.89 points to end at 159,833.93. The all Jamaica Composite Index lost 1,416.85 points to close at 177,584.50 and the JSE combined index slipped 1,126.86 points, to close at 170,826.62.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with lower offers.At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded just 1,734 shares with the price rising 30 cents, to end at $4.80, Cable & Wireless lost 2 cents, in closing at $1.38 after trading 201,389 units, Caribbean Cement fell 25 cents, in trading 16,386 shares and closed at $24. Carreras had 101,167 units trading, to close with a loss of 98 cents, at $65.02. The price of 1834 Investments traded at $1.23 with 6,840,665 units changing hands, compared to 10,000,000 shares on Monday, Grace Kennedy jumped $10 in trading 247,831 units, to close at a 52 weeks high of $120, after it traded as high as $120.50, Jamaica Broilers ended with 260,971 units changing hands at $14.50, after adding 75 cents. Jamaica Producers traded 223,976 shares to end 1 cent higher at a 52 weeks’ high of $44.01, but traded as high as $45, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 80 cents trading 41,900 shares, to close at $20.80, JMMB Group traded 2,200 units as the price gained 1 cent to $10, Kingston Wharves ended trading 9,975 stock units at $12. National Commercial Bank traded 26,750 shares, to close with a loss of $1 at $42,
Pan Jamaican Investment Trust traded 15,116 shares and ended at $26.50, Radio Jamaica closed trading with 6,485,157 shares down from 10,249,651 shares on Monday with the price falling 22 cents to end at $2, Sagicor Group ended with 15,200 shares changing hands with at $23. Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 12 cents to close at $10.12 with 38,492 shares changing hands. Scotia Group slipped $1.49 to close at $31 as 13,594 units changed hands, Seprod traded 41,367 units, gained 30 cents to end at $16.80, Supreme Ventures traded 7,063 units to close at $4.50 and Proven Investments lost 1.49 US cents, to close at 18 US cents, while trading 54,081 shares.
JSE stocks ride on up
RJR closed at a new 52 weeks high of $2.22 after trading 10m shares.
A total of 36 securities changed hands on Monday, accounting for 26,280,948 units valued at $158,936,391, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 1,803,816 shares, valued at $8,745,258 of the overall trades.
The price of 14 stocks in the overall market rose, 12 declined, including 7 stocks rising and 2 declining, from the junior market as 4 stocks in all markets hit new highs, three of which ended at new 52 weeks’ high.
The JSE Market Index rose 438.15 points to end at 161,100.82. The all Jamaica Composite Index gained 490.02 points to close at 179,001.35 and the JSE combined index climbed 705.35 points, to close at 171,943.48.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded 10,259 shares with the price rising 1 cent, to end at $4.50, Cable & Wireless lost 7 cents, in closing at $1.40 after trading 46,675 units, Caribbean Cement fell 25 cents, in trading 34,161 shares and closed at $24.25. Carreras had 1,206,443 units trading, to close with a loss of 98 cents, at $65.02. The price of 1834 Investments rose 6 cents, to $1.23 with 10,000,000 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy dropped $5 in trading 1,443 units, to close at $110, Jamaica Broilers ended with 33,115 units changing hands at $13.75, after shedding 25 cents, Jamaica Producers traded 51,610 shares to end at $44. Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 80 cents trading 25,000 shares to close at $20, JMMB Group traded 2,027,654 units as the price lost 1 cent to end at $9.99, Kingston Wharves rose by 20 cents in trading 23,106 stock units at $12,
National Commercial Bank traded 1,150 shares, to close with a gain of $1 at $43. Pan Jamaican Investment Trust traded 51,241 shares and ended at $26.50, Pulse Investments closed with 100,000 shares trading at $3, Radio Jamaica closed trading with 10,249,651 shares with the price rising 12 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $2.22, Sagicor Group ended with 399,062 shares changing hands with a rise of 1 cent at $23. Scotia Group slipped 48 cents to close at $32.49 as 15,680 units changed hands, Seprod traded 62,258 units and declined 38 cents to end at $16.50, Supreme Ventures traded 101,443 units to close at $4.50 and Proven Investments closed at 19.5 US cents while trading 29,900 shares.
Buy Rated stocks set for growth
TTSE has declined almost 10% from peak and could fall another 9% from May to hit support around 1,600 points. (See orange trendline).
In Trinidad, the market drifted from a peak in the all T&T index at 1,956.55 on December 8, 2015 to a 2016 low of 1,758.40 on May 19. The movements the Jamaica’s junior market saw the index peaking at 2,357.20 on 12th of January and bottomed out on the 7th of April at 1,762.87 points, for a decline of 24.5 percent but have since recovered most of the decline.
Much have happened with companies releasing results since with a number of the results in Trinidad being flat to declining, while most in Jamaica show good increased profit, while interest rates have declined in Jamaica and been static in Trinidad. Added to the profit out turn, a few companies in Jamaica announced stocks splits which have driven the respective prices of all the companies up strongly. Grace Kennedy, one of IC Insider Buy Rated stocks that has been lagging in performance, came to life as the company reported strong increase in the March quarter results, with the price jumping to $115 and seems to have more room to grow, based on the improved results. Pan Jamaican Investment gained 42.5 percent since it was last reported on at the end of April, helped by a 5 for 1 stock split and is up 82 percent since selected to the BUY RATED list. The company has good long term growth prospect but may have plateaued at the current price, around $26.50.
Honey Bun one of IC Insider’s 2015 additions to the BUY RATED list is now placed on Market Watch
Honey Bun added to the BUY RATED list in November 2015, gained 112 percent since April and 387 percent since being added to the list. Strong growth in profits and a 5 for 1 stock split helped in moving the value of the stock. ISP Finance added in April, is up 20 percent but there is little supply to be obtained, a recipe for a strong rally in the price ahead. Knutsford Express was put on hold when last reported on and has slipped 20.5 percent, is now restored to a buy below $20 while Lasco Distributors placed on a Watch list last time, is up 52.6 percent and is now placed on watch list at current price at $7.60, supply seems to be drying up for this stock, following release of full year’s results. While investors have priced in a potential big inflows from their law suit claim with Pfizer, at a PE ratio around 20 times fiscal 2017 operating profit, investing at the levels could result in an investment that may underperform the market in the medium term.
Cable & Wireless is up 22.5 percent since April and 332 percent since it debuted on the list in February 2014. The company reported a small profit from operation, for this year to March, and seems headed for earnings around 20 cents per share for 2017. The price should be heading higher before too long, but demand is not electric currently.
General Accident and Honey Bun are placed on the watch list with the former unable to get profit to rise outside the range of 30 cents per share and the latter now being priced at a PE of 18, well ahead of the average for the junior market. Honey Bun supply notwithstanding the 5 for 1 stock split, is scarce but profit growth could continue to be strong thus lending support to the stock going forward.Companies in Trinidad are not doing well but their performance is not disastrous in the main with the price of a number of stocks have pulled back sharply and will offer good entry points when it is time to buy into that market. The time may not be right to enter that recession affected market just yet. Technical reading of this market shows it peaking at 2,032 points and have lost 13.5 percent since then and could fall another 9 percent from the May 2016 levels to reach 1,600 points before the decline is over. A look at the trading report shows that the prices of some major companies remain under pressure and is likely to fall as demand remains weak.
Technical and fundamental assessments suggest that Access Financial, Caribbean Cream, Medical Disposables and National Commercial Bank are due for a break out sooner than later, with Caribbean Cement to follow.
5% jump in 8 days for JSE
RJR traded at a new high on Friday.
A total of 33 securities changed hands on Friday, accounting for 5,276,551 units valued at $50,291,976, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 2,520,895 shares, valued at $12,191,278 of the overall trades.
The price of 16 stocks in the overall market rose, 5 declined, including 6 stocks rising and 4 declining, from the junior market as 4 stocks in all markets hit new highs, three of which ended at new 52 weeks’ high.
The JSE Market Index surged 1,069.13 points to end at 160,662.67. The all Jamaica Composite Index jumped 1,195.68 points to close at 178,511.33 and the JSE combined index climbed 1,153.53 points, to close at 171,248.13.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 10 with lower offers.At the end of market activities, Cable & Wireless gained 2 cents in closing at $1.47 after trading 450,430 units, Caribbean Cement rose $1.20 in trading 8,800 shares and closed at $24.50, Carreras had 43,851 units trading, to close with a gain of 19 cents at $66. The price of 1834 Investments rose 2 cents, to $1.17 with 103,300 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy traded 4,215 units, to close at $115, Jamaica Broilers ended with 3,300 units changing hands at $14, Jamaica Producers traded 2,505 shares and gained $1.99 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $44. JMMB Group traded 3,413 units as the price gained 30 cents to $10,
National Commercial Bank traded 15,130 shares, to close with a gain of 90 cents at $42. Pan Jamaican Investment Trust traded 24,973 shares and ended at $26.50, Radio Jamaica closed trading with 328,001 shares with the price rising 18 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $2.10. Sagicor Group ended with 290,437 shares changing hands with a rise of 20 cents at $22.99, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 294,111 shares at $10, Scotia Group slipped 2 cents to close at $32.97 as 590,571 units changed hands, Seprod traded 33,377 units to end at $16.88. Supreme Ventures traded 419,994 units to close at $4.50 and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share, traded 136,380 units at $1.04.
Market index chopped – Friday
Trading in the early morning session of the Jamaica Stock Exchange saw the main market indices being chopped sharply from Thursday close by nearly 1 percent but the junior market index climbed by almost 2.5 percent in contrast.
Honey Bun fresh from a 5 to 1 stock split, trading at a new high $5.01 and pulled back to $5, but the bid is now at $5.05. Radio Jamaica also traded at a new high of $2 and Consolidated Bakeries traded 46,296 units at a new one year high of $2.13
Stocks trading over 100,000 units in the main market include Cable & Wireless with 364,430 units at $1.48, Radio Jamaica 103,710 at a new high of $2, Supreme Ventures 348,904 shares at $4.50. In the junior market and Lasco Financial traded 164,400 shares at $3.30.
Trading resulted in activity in 25 securities, accounting for a volume of 1,356,891 units as 10 stocks gained and 4 declined. The average number of shares traded amounts to 54,276 units compared to an average of 135,568 units on Thursday.
After 75 minutes of trading in the early morning session, on Friday, the all Jamaica Composite Index was chopped by 1,080.88 points to 176,234.77, the JSE Market Index fell 966.48 points to 158,627.06, the JSE combined index fell 356.36 points, to 169,738.24 and the junior market index jumped 52.67 points to 2,202.72.