With the Initial Public offerings (IPOS) out of the way, more life returned to the secondary market this past week resulting in some changes to the TOP 10 lists.
Initial Public offerings for 2017 now seem to be over until they reappear in January, with Sygnus Capital Investments planning to be out of the block early. Others that were prepared to go in December could come to market in January, the start of what now appears to be another interesting year for local stocks. Coming Tuesday in the wider market, FosRich Group, the recent IPO will list and start trading on the Junior Market.
Prior to the past week, the focus on IPOs negatively affected trading in the secondary market with the Junior Market giving up almost all the gains make in the first half of the year and is still trading close to the low for the year.
The past week ended with Main Event as the only new entrant into the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks, with Blue Power leaving, as the price rose back to the $44. Sagicor Group returns to the Main Market list pushing out Pulse Investments. Interestingly, General Accident jumped to $3 by week end with limited supplies and slipped to number 2 on the list.
Investors should bear in mind that as the year closes, there will be changes to the TOP list for 2018, with a number on the current list, expected to repeat, but there will be new ones.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 8.1 and a PE of 8.2 for the main market TOP 10. 
The average PE for the overall main market is 14.2 and 12.8 for the Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 36 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and 44 percent for the main market.
Market Watch| The two markets seem to have found support this past week after retreating sharply over the prior two weeks. Investors should still keep a keen eye on Caribbean Cement for which supply seems to be declining fast and a focus on refinancing leased assets is expected to result in major savings in cost for 2018 onwards. FosRich, the recent IPO that starts trading on the Junior Market on Tuesday, General Accident, Cable & Wireless that appears scarce under $1, NCB Financial, Berger Paints, JMMB Group, Main Event, Lasco Financial, Paramount Trading and Stationery and Office.
Supreme Ventures trades 51m shares – Friday
Supreme Ventures 50.86 million trade, was by far the largest on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, accounting for $509 million of the total amount traded, including two main blocks of 25 million units each.
Trading resulted in 52,433,941 units valued at $551,963,793 and closed with 13 securities advancing, 8 declining and 4 traded firm as 25 securities changed hands. At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rose 824.75 points to 304,772.14 and the JSE Index advanced 751.44 points to close at 277,681.88.
In the market activity, Barita Investments concluded trading 20 cents higher at $7.95, with 21,250 units changing hands, Berger Paints finished with a loss of $1 at $16, with 4,850 shares, Cable & Wireless settled with a loss of 5 cents at 95 cents, with 71,897 shares, Caribbean Cement ended trading $2 higher at $33, with 15,171 stock units. Carreras traded 50 cents higher at $11.50, with 229,700 units, Grace Kennedy closed with a gain of 49 cents to $41.99, with 3,550 shares, Jamaica Broilers ended 70 cents higher at $18, with 22,839 stock units, Jamaica Producers concluded trading with a gain of 6 cents to $15.15, with 14,380 units changing hands. Jamaica Stock Exchange finished at $7, with 15,951 shares, JMMB Group settled with a loss of $2.40 at $23.50, with 427,304 shares trading, Kingston Wharves traded with a loss of 30 cents at $32, with 500 units, Mayberry Investments finished trading with a loss of 30 cents at $5.70, with 88,101 shares. NCB Financial Group closed at $99, with 177,145 shares, 1834 Investments gained 1 cent to $1.21, with 2,626 stock units, Palace Amusement jumped $10 to a record high of $560, with just 129 stock units trading, 
PanJam Investment concluded trading $4 higher at $44, with 10,250 units, Portland JSX rose 68 cents to $9.18, with 48,560 shares. Pulse Investments settled at $1.78, trading 800 shares, Radio Jamaica ended trading with a loss of 2 cents at $1.01, with 38,000 stock units, Sagicor Group traded $1.50 higher at $37, with 27,900 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading at $15, with 106,818 shares. Scotia Group ended with a loss of $1.94 at $50.01, with 131,325 stock units trading, Seprod concluded trading $2.50 higher at $30, with 19,000 units and Supreme Ventures settled with a loss of 29 cents at $10.01, with 50,855,895 shares trading. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.5% traded 100,000 units at $1.90 after rising by 5 cents.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “Supreme Ventures dominant trade – Friday.”
Supreme Ventures dominant trade – Friday
Supreme Ventures traded the most shares on the JSE on Friday.
Volumes jumped on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday as Supreme Ventures captured 92 percent of the value of trades, while the market indices rose modestly by less than 1,000 points.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rose 824.75 points to 304,772.14 and the JSE Index advanced by 751.44 points to close at 277,681.88. Trading closed on Friday with 26 securities changing hands, with 13 advancing, 8 declining and 5 traded firm in the main and US dollar markets. Main market trading resulted in 52,433,941 units valued at $551,963,793 trading, compared to 3,826,874 units valued at $91,752,590 from 22 securities changing hands on Thursday and Palace Amusement closing at a record high of $560 trading a small volume.
Trading ended with an average of 2,097,358 units for an average of $22,078,552 in contrast to 182,232 units for an average of $4,369,171 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 317,967 units valued at $5,039,655 and previously, 132,613 units valued at $3,067,560. In contrast, November closed with average of 349,084 units at an average of $5,801,440 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and the US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Proven Investments US ordinary share traded in the US dollar market, with 2,000 units changing hands in closing at 23 US cents, with the JSE USD Equities Index closing unchanged at 174.66.
New contents at Palace Amusement this week end.
The major movers at the close, are Supreme Ventures with the largest volume amounting to 50.8 million units with a value of $508 million, Berger Paints dropping $1, while Caribbean Cement rose $2, JMMB Group dropped $2.40, PanJam Investment dropping $5, Palace Amusement rising $10 to a record $560, Sagicor Group rose $1.50, while Scotia Group lost $1.94 and Seprod climbed $2.50.
For more details of market activities see – “Supreme trades 51m shares – Friday.”
JSE main market falters on Thursday
PanJam Investment drops $5 in trading on Thursday.
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange pulled back at the close on Thursday with increased volume of shares trading, after rising strongly with very moderate trading on Wednesday.
Trading on the Main Market ended on Thursday with 21 securities changing hands, of which 9 advanced, 7 declined and 2 traded firm resulting in 3,826,874 shares valued at $91,752,590 changing hands, compared to 868,056 units valued at $20,860,689 from 22 securities changing hands on Wednesday.
The market activity resulted in The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declining 1,614.44 points to close at 303,947.39 and the JSE Index falling 1,470.94 points to 276,930.44 at the close. .
Trading ended with an average of 182,232 units for an average of $4,369,171 in contrast to 39,457 units for an average of $948,213 on Wednesday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 132,613 units valued at $3,067,560 and previously, 127,855 units valued at $2,927,387. In contrast, November closed with average of 349,084 units at an average of $5,801,440 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and the US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Proven Investments US ordinary share traded in the US dollar market, with 2,450 units changing hands in closing at 23 US cents, with the JSE USD Equities Index closing unchanged at 174.66. JMMB Group 6% US dollar preference share ended trading at US$1.20, with 290 units trading and resulted in value of US$912 traded in the market.
The major movers at the close, are Berger Paints rising $1.50, JMMB Group jumped $1.92 while trading 3,063,904 units, NCB Financial Group shedding 99 cents, PanJam Investments dropping $5 while Caribbean Cement rose 99 cents, Sagicor Group rose 85 cents, while Scotia Group rose $1.85.
For more details of market activities see – “Rising stocks edge out falling ones.”
Rising stocks edge out falling ones
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange pulled back at the close on Thursday leading the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index to drop by 1,614.44 points to 303,947.39 while the JSE Index fell 1,470.94 points to 276,930.44.
Trading ended with 21 securities changing hands, of which 9 advanced, 7 declined and 2 traded firm, resulting in 3,826,874 shares valued at $91,752,590 changing hands.
In the market activity, Cable & Wireless settled 1 cent higher at $1, with 62,773 shares, Caribbean Cement ended trading 99 cents higher at $31, with 300 stock units, Carreras traded 50 cents higher at $11, with 64,737 units, Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of 50 cents at $41.50, with 121,270 shares, Jamaica Broilers ended with a loss of 40 cents at $17.30, with 9,000 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange finished with a loss of 20 cents at $7, with 24,500 shares, JMMB Group settled $1.92 higher at $25.90, with 3,063,904 shares, Kingston Wharves traded 30 cents higher at $32.30, with 3,475 units, Mayberry Investments finished trading at $6, with 100,788 shares. NCB Financial Group closed with a loss of 99 cents at $99, with 42,547 shares, PanJam Investment concluded trading with a loss of $5 at $40, with 10,105 units, Pulse Investments settled 8 cents higher at $1.78, with 10,000 shares, Radio Jamaica ended trading with a loss of 2 cents at $1.03, as 33,567 stock units changed hands.
Sagicor Group traded 22,758 units and gained 85 cents to close at $35.50, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading at $15, with 200 shares, Scotia Group ended $1.85 higher at $51.95, with 117,552 stock units, Seprod concluded trading 50 cents higher at $27.50, with 485 units and Supreme Ventures settled with a loss of 26 cents at $10.30, with 105,825 shares. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% traded 150 units at $2.49 and the 7.5% closed at $1.85 with 19,937 shares and JMMB Group 7.5% ended trading at $1.15, with 13,001 units trading.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market falters on Thursday.”
Big jump in JSE main market – Wednesday
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with a big rise in the market indices as investors continue shaking off the sell-off leading up to the four Initial Public Offers that were on the market and closed last week and earlier this week.
The market activity resulted in a surge of 2,953.90 points in the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index to close at 305,561.83 while the JSE Index jumped 2,691.33 points 278,401.38 at the close of a moderate day of market activity.
At the close of the market, 22 securities changing hands, securities changing hands, 11 advanced, 5 declined and 5 traded firm with 868,056 units valued at $20,860,689 compared to 1,747,498 units valued at $52,030,701 from 22 securities changing hands on Tuesday.
Trading ended with an average of 39,457 units for an average of $948,213 in contrast to 79,432 units for an average of $2,365,032 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 127,855 units valued at $2,927,387 and previously, 137,727 units valued at $3,179,073. In contrast, November closed with average of 349,084 units at an average of $5,801,440 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and the US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
Proven Investments US ordinary share was the sole trade in the US dollar market, with 3,925 units valued at over US$903 changing hands in closing at 23 US cents, with the JSE USD Equities Index closing unchanged at 174.66.
The major movers at the close, are Berger Paints rising $1.50, JMMB Group rising 97 cents, Mayberry Investments rising 82 cents, PanJam Investment jumping $3.50 while Caribbean Cement fell $1.21, Grace Kennedy with a loss of $1, Sagicor Group falling $1.85, while Scotia Group lost 90 cents.
For more details of market activities see – “Stocks rise in moderate trading.”
JSE stocks rise in moderate trading
Bulls pushing Jamaican stocks.
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with 22 securities changing hands, of which 11 advanced, 5 declined and 5 traded firm with just 868,056 units valued at a mere $20,860,689.
Trading resulted in the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 2,953.90 points to close at 305,561.83 and the JSE Index advanced by 2,691.33 points to close at 278,401.38.
In the market activity, Berger Paints finished $1.50 higher at $17, with 8,715 shares, Caribbean Cement ended trading with a loss of $1.21 at $30.01, with 5,500 stock units, Carreras traded 15 cents higher at $10.50, with 168,396 units, Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of $1 at $42, with 31,693 shares. Jamaica Broilers ended at $17.70, with 11,221 stock units, Jamaica Producers concluded trading with a loss of 1 cent at $15.09, with 5,239 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished 20 cents higher at $7.20, with 31,833 shares, JMMB Group settled 97 cents higher at $23.98, with 44,686 shares. Kingston Wharves traded at $32, with 3,927 units, Mayberry Investments finished trading 82 cents higher at $6, with 150,597 shares, NCB Financial Group closed at $99.99, with 96,102 shares, 1834 Investments ended at $1.20, with 336 stock units, PanJam Investment closed trading with a rise of $3.50 to $45, with 4,959 units. Pulse Investments settled 20 cents higher at $1.70, with 47,159 shares, Radio Jamaica ended trading 5 cents higher at $1.05, with 20,362 stock units, 
Sagicor Group traded with a loss of $1.85 at $34.65, with 52,540 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading 51 cents higher at $15, with 6,698 shares. Salada Foods Jamaica closed 24 cents higher at $9.85, with 5,450 shares, Scotia Group ended with a loss of 90 cents at $50.10, with 25,560 stock units, Sterling Investments finished at $12, with 14,527 shares and Supreme Ventures settled 31 cents higher at $10.56, with 130,956 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% ended trading at $1.15, with 1,600 units trading.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “Big jump in JSE main market – Wednesday.”
Rising stocks beat out decliners
At the close of the Main Market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, 22 securities changed hands, of which 8 advanced, 5 declined and 7 traded firm as 1,747,498 units valued at $52,030,701 traded.
Trading resulted in the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 1,009.83 points to close at 302,607.93 and the JSE Index rising 920.06 points to close at 275,710.05.
In the market activity Barita Investments concluded trading at $7.75, with 150 units, Berger Paints gained 95 cents higher to end at $15.50, with 3,724 shares, Cable & Wireless settled 5 cents higher at $0.99, with 259,242 shares, 
Caribbean Cement ended trading with a loss of 63 cents at $31.22, with 1,771 stock units, Carreras traded at $10.35, with 39,108 units. Grace Kennedy closed 1 cent higher at $43, with 103,842 shares, Jamaica Broilers ended 60 cents higher at $17.70, with 200 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished at $7, with 9,619 shares changing hands, JMMB Group settled with a loss of 98 cents at $23.01, with 324,315 shares. Kingston Wharves traded at $32, with 1,038 units trading, Mayberry Investments finished trading with a loss of 77 cents at $5.18, with 58,159 shares, NCB Financial Group closed 49 cents higher at $99.99, with 102,237 shares changing hands, Pulse Investments settled at $1.50, with 12,800 shares. Radio Jamaica ended trading at $1, with 93,566 stock units, Sagicor Group traded $1.70 higher at $36.50, with 32,430 units, 
Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading at $14.49, with 6,025 shares, Salada Foods Jamaica closed 11 cents higher at $9.61, with 3,117 shares. Scotia Group ended with a loss of $1 at $51, with 527,032 stock units trading, Seprod dived $2.52 t0 $27, with just 835 units changing hands and Supreme Ventures settled 5 cents higher at $10.25, with 53,188 shares. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.5% traded just 100 units at $1.85 and JMMB Group 7.5% ended trading at $1.15, with 115,000 units trading.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE majors head higher – Tuesday.”
VM Investments in TOP 10
VM Investments press conference for launch its IPO. from left is Michael McMorris – Chairman of VMBS, Courtney Campbell Group CEO, Devon Barrett CEO of VMIL and Janice McKenley – Group Chief Financial Offer.
Initial Public offerings were all the rage in Jamaica Stock Market this past week, with three IPOS opening and closing during the week all being oversubscribed and one new one coming to market to open on Monday and expected to close on the same day.
The focus on IPOs negatively affected trading in the secondary market with the Junior Market giving up almost all of the gains make in the first half of the year. The week ended with no movement in and out of the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks but VM Investments is a new one in the Main Market list along Pulse Investments that returned with a fall in the stock price during the week, and out goes Wisynco and Sagicor Group.
As indicated last week, the bulk of Wisynco’s gain should come in the latter part of 2018, based on current operations 
that should deliver earnings of 70 cents for the current year and $1 for the next fiscal as the company continues to recover from the ravages of the fire back in 2016. Much is expected from VM Investments that is priced to bounce well. Investors ought to bear in mind that that has the year closely, they will be changes to the TOP list for 2018, quite a number on the current list are expected to repeat in 2018.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended the week at 7.9 and a PE of 8 for the main market TOP 10. The average PE for 
the overall main market is 14.1 and 12.6 for the Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, discount for both the main and Junior markets have virtually merged, with the IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trading at an average discount of 44 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and 46 percent for the main market.
Market Watch| The two markets retreated sharply over the past two weeks and broken through support levels with some individual stocks pulling back and pushing the market index down markedly, but the main market seems to have found a bottom and may be on the way up now 
that the major IPOs are closed. The junior market could be going through a consolidation phase for a while, at least that is what the market seems to be suggesting.
Investors should still keep a keen eye on Caribbean Cement for which supply seems to be declining fast, Cable & Wireless that appears scarce under $1, NCB Financial, Berger Paints, JMMB Group, Main Event, Lasco Financial, Paramount Trading and Stationery and Office.
9 JSE stocks rise 6 fall – Thursday
Berger Paints price jumped $2.45 on Thursday
When trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index fell 954.19 points to 303,596.51 and the JSE Index declined by 869.38 points to 276,610.75 as the prices of 9 stocks advanced, 6 declined and 4 traded firm resulting in 714,979 units valued at $14,275,297 trading.
In the main market activity, Berger Paints jumped $2.45 higher to $17, with 2,243 shares, an indication that selling at lower levels is limited. Cable & Wireless settled with a loss of 2 cents at $1, with 19,950 shares, Carreras traded with a loss of 10 cents at $10.50, with 54,125 units, Grace Kennedy closed $1 higher at $43, with 24,781 shares, Jamaica Broilers ended 54 cents higher at $17.70, with 1,864 stock units. 
Jamaica Producers concluded trading 90 cents higher at $15.10, with 10,000 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange finished with a loss of 50 cents at $6.50, with 3,000 shares, JMMB Group settled with a loss of $1 at $24, with 48,960 shares, Kingston Wharves traded 20 cents higher at $32.70, with 11,539 units. NCB Financial Group closed with a loss of $1.65 at $92.25, as 66,022 shares traded, Portland JSX finished 20 cents higher at $8.50, with 1,929 shares, Pulse Investments settled 30 cents higher at $1.75, with 61,000 shares, Radio Jamaica ended trading at $1, with 2,316 stock units. Sagicor Group traded at $38, with 28,366 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 
finished trading at $14.50, with 10,279 shares, Salada Foods closed 69 cents higher at $9.50, with 60,000 shares, Scotia Group ended 20 cents higher at $53, with 18,587 stock units. Seprod finished at $30, with 25,000 shares and Supreme Ventures ended trading with a loss of 1 cent at $10, with 101,330 stock units. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.5% preference share ended trading at $1.90, with 6,837 units and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share ended trading at $1.15, with 156,851 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
For more details of market activities see report “JSE main market falls back – Thursday.”