As if to make up for lost time the Jamaica Stock Exchange is now on a gallop, putting in another day of outsized gains. The market unlike most of the past 5 days, shot out of the box with a number of trades within 5 minutes of opening. By the close the prices of 16 securities rose with 8 of them closing at 52 weeks’ high and pushing the market to its highest level since mid-November 2011.
The prices of only 2 stocks declined as 23 securities changed hands, ending in 3,992,674 units trading, valued at $35,124,269, in all market segments. Even the junior market that has been a laggard this year, moved up sharply on Friday and is now just 29 points away from its all-time high reached in 2013. 
The JSE Market Index gained 2,824.66 points to 96,089.09, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 3,158.10 points to close at 106,150.35, just below the level reached on November 11, 2011 and the JSE Combined Index leaped 2,890.21 points to close at 97,932.95.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable & Wireless ended with 1,037,588 units to close lower by 4 cents at 48 cents, Caribbean Cement with 902,807 shares changing hands, closed higher by 15 cents to $4,in continued response to excellent Q1 results. Carreras finished with 8,774 shares trading with a gain of 42 cents to a new 52 weeks’ high of $47.50, Desnoes & Geddes finished trading with only 28,000 shares, gaining 47 cents to a new 52 weeks’ high of $6.49, Grace Kennedy concluded trading with 172,590 shares but the price dropped 39 cents to $63.60, Jamaica Broilers ended up trading 66,500 units to close with a gain of 35 cents to $5.10. Jamaica Producers finished trading with just 2,812 shares, with the price rising $1.25 to $18.50.
There was dealing in 168,500 units of Mayberry Investments as the stock put on 5 cents to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $2.65, National Commercial Bank contributed 433,054 shares to end with an increase of 42 cents to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $30.50, the stock traded as high as $31. Sagicor Group ended with 212,335 units changing hands and put on 52 cents, to a new 52 weeks’ high of $11.53 after trading as high as $12.20. Scotia Group closed with 8,627 units and put on $2.26 to a new 52 weeks’ high of $25.49, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 140,900 units to end at $2.30 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share had 80,000 units changing hands at $3.20.
JSE jumps Thursday up 11% for April
NCB closed at a new 52 weeks’ high at $30.08 and is up 77% from the low in summer last year.
The strong market activity on Thursday, resulted in the prices of 23 stocks rising, 5 declining as 34 securities changed hands, ending in 7,695,548 units trading, valued at $109,643,238, in all market segments. The JSE Market Index gained 1,987.22 points to 93,264.43, the
JSE All Jamaican Composite index jumped 2,221.80 points to close at 102,992.25 and the JSE combined index gained 2,133.14 points to close at 95,042.74. At one point during trading, the market recorded more than 3,000 points gain on the all Jamaica Composite index.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 2 with offers that were lower. This out turn indicates another strong day ahead for price movements.
The main stocks trading| Caribbean Cement traded only 100 shares, gained 55 cents to end at $3.85, but closed with the bid at $3.88, Carreras ended trading with 31,886 shares to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $47.08, but ended with a bid at $47.49, followed by Desnoes & Geddes with only 500 units in closing at a new 52 weeks’ high of $6.02. Hardware & Lumber had only 480 units changing hands, gained 45 cents to end at $7.50,
Jamaica Broilers closed with 24,500 shares at $4.75, after falling by 35 cents, Jamaica Producers lost 25 cents with 60,000 shares to end at $17.25. JMMB Group gained 50 cents and closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $8 with 13,250 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves traded 16,105 units with the price declining 56 cents to $5.95. Mayberry Investments had 711,200 units changing hands a new 52 weeks’ high of $2.60, National Commercial Bank traded 3,066,787 shares between $29.50 and the closing price and closed with a gain of $1.58 at a new 52 weeks’ high of $30.08. Pan Jamaican Investment price fell $3 with only 885 units trading at $57, Sagicor Group had 290,390 shares and closed 21 cents higher for a new 52 weeks’ high of $11.01. Scotia Group traded 58,380 shares to gain 25 cents and end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $23.25, Scotia Investments traded just 910 units to gain $2.90 and closed at $27, Seprod had only 630 units trading, to end at $18.50 and Supreme Ventures traded 515,400 units to close at $3.50, but traded as high as $3.75, for a new 52 weeks intraday high.
JSE now at 40 months’ high
Carreras closed $2 higher, at a new 52 weeks’ high of $47 on Wednesday.
Trading resulted in the prices of 15 stocks rising, 4 declining as 22 securities changed hands, ending in 2,104,274 units trading, valued at $19,545,760, in all market segments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 1,419.14 points to 91,277.21, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,586.66 points to close at 100,770.45 and the JSE Combined Index gained 1,533.53 points to close at 92,909.60. The market is at its highest since January 5, 2012 when it closed then at 101,108.42 on the all Jamaican Composite index.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with offers that were lower.
Wednesday session closed with, Caribbean Cement gained 30 cents in trading 91,665 units at $3.30, Carreras having 4,200 units changing hands to end with a gain of $2, at a new 52 weeks’ high of $47, Gleaner closed with 295,600 shares being active to end at 95 cents, up by 5 cents. Grace Kennedy put on 51 cents with 198,238 shares traded, at $63.50, Jamaica Broilers traded 14,200 units at a new 52 weeks’ high of $5.10,for a 30 cents increase, JMMB Group traded 151,000 units at $7.50, Kingston Wharves
traded 66,666 shares at $6.51,as the price fell 46 cents. Mayberry Investments traded 200,000 units at a new 52 weeks’ high of $2.55, after putting on 30 cents on the price.
National Commercial Bank had 17,584 units changing hands for 50 cents higher to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $28.50. Sagicor Group traded 6,755 shares at a new 52 weeks’ high of $10.80, after gaining 14 cents, Scotia Group exchanged 10,923 shares for a new 52 weeks’ high of $23, with an increase of 28 cents, Supreme Ventures gained 30 cents in trading 20,000 units, at a new 52 weeks’ high of $3.50. Proven Investments traded 55,171 ordinary shares at 20 US cents, for a 2 cents increase, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share, traded 185,000 units at $2.10 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 54,700 units at $3.20.
Big gains in Buy Rated stocks
TCL posted the highest gains of 172% of all IC Insider’s Buy Rated selections
IC Insiderreports on the listing from time to time do investors can see the movements in the individual stocks. In 2014, the Trinidad companies were out performing those in Jamaica and worse most of the junior market stocks that took a hammering, as interest rates climbed up to the first quarter of 2014. Much has changed since then and now stocks in Jamaica are beating the performance of those in Trinidad.
IC insider’s selections have been doing well for JSE main market but so well for the juniors.There have been 5 winners and 9 losers in the junior market providing an average loss of just 2 percent. The JSE main market has 12 winners, so far and 4 losers, for an average gain of 22 percent and TTSE has an average gain of 11 percent with 7 winners and 6 losers. Two previous winners were removed from the Trinidad list.
A number of the Jamaican companies are reporting strong results for the first quarter of 2015 this bodes well for stock prices, the same can’t be said for the Trinidad companies that are mostly reporting flat profits. The other critical factor is that interest rates have been rising in Trinidad which is negative for stocks and they are falling in Jamaica which has already given stocks a big shot in the arm. Currently investors are focused on the bigger main market stocks but the junior will come into their own later on.
NCB has gained 65 percent since last year’s low but should head much higher, Carib Cement with very strong first quarter result should be well up from the $3 it close at on Tuesday. Trinidad is clearly not the place for much investment, unless ones eyes are on the longer term future.
Carib Cement impressive profit
Caribbean Cement posted impressive first quarter results for 2015, with profit after tax rising sharply to $248 million versus just $35 million the year before, from revenues of $3.58 billion. Revenues were just slightly less than the $3.6 billion generated in 2014.
Domestic sales volumes fell 3 percent, while exports declined sharply from 61,000 tonnes to 40,000, however, an increase in clinker sales from 44,261 tonnes to 55,371 mitigated the decline in cement sales somewhat. Lower energy costs, improvements in operational efficiencies, effective control of fixed costs and lower financing costs, were the major factors helping in the improved profit out turn. These results suggest that full year earnings could rise to $1 per share for 2015 and may well exceed it, if energy cost remained contained at current levels.
During the quarter interest cost remained fairly static with $65.5 million incurred, compared with $66 million in 2014 but depreciation charge climbed from $84 million to $93 million.
At the end of the period, cash increased from $178 million to $543 million. As impressive as the results are, the company has an operating deficit of $7 billion that will take years to wipe out, even at the level of profits now being generated. There are capital gains on the books of $1.4 billion, that can be used to offset the operating deficit, thus reducing the overall amount, nevertheless, the resumption of paying dividends is years away.
The stock which was elevated to BUY RATED in 2013 continues to hold that status and traded at $3 on the Jamaica Stock exchanged on Tuesday in response to the results.
JSE breaks resistance & heading higher
Pan jam gained $3.95 in closing at $60 on Tuesday
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 1,387.58 points to 89,858.07, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 1,551.38 points to close at 99,183.79 and the JSE combined index climbed by 1,275.93 points to close at 91,376.07. At the close the market had pierced the resistance just under 99,000 points on the all Jamaica composite Index and seems poised to test the next major level of 109,000 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 17 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 2 with offers that were lower.Cable & Wireless traded 1,365,296 shares at 52 cents, Caribbean Cement traded 9,060 units at $3, up by 30 cents, there was an attempt to trade at $3.30 but that trade was cancelled as it exceeded the level permitted at that time of the trade. The stock was responding to a big jump in the company’s first quarter results for 2015 with profit after tax of $248 million versus just $35 million the year before, these results suggest that full year earnings could rise to $1 per share, as such the stock has much more room to run. Jamaica Broilers ended with 39,344shares at $4.80,
Jamaica Producers gained 50 cents with 12,000 units changing hands at $17.50, the Jamaica Stock Exchange had 150,000 units changing hands at $2.90. National Commercial Bank traded 13,860 shares to close at $28, for a gain of 99 cents. At the close there was a bid for 10,000 units at $28.10 and 600,000 units at $28. Pan Jamaican Investment climbed $3.97 to $60 with 6,550 shares, Sagicor Real Estate X Fund had a large trade of 873,309 units at $6.55,Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 246,146 units at $3.20 after gaining 13 cents. Scotia Group traded only 27,306 shares to close at $22.72 with a gain of 5 cents, Seprod traded only 353 units as the price jumped $2 to $18 and Supreme Ventures closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $3.20 by gaining 10 cents with 49,476 shares trading.
Market up so far & heading higher
Jamaica Stock Exchange activity was off to a slow start on Tuesday but trading picked and is continuing on its bullish stance of recent days, with the all Jamaica composite Index
being up 1,181.01 points to 98,813.42and the JSE market Index gained 1,056.32 points to 89,526.81.Only 3 securities have traded in the junior market so far with Lasco Distributors being the lead trade in this market with 75,720 shares at $1.30 down by 7 cents.
In the main market Caribbean Cement traded 9,060 units at $3, up by 30 cents, Jamaica Producers gained 50 cents with 10,000 units changing hands at $17.50, National Commercial Bank traded 1,440 shares at $27.99, Pan Jamaican Investment climbed $3.97 to $60 with 6,550 shares, Sagicor Real Estate X Fund had a large trade of 873,309 units at $6.55, Supreme Ventures posted 43,900 shares at 3.10 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers Ltd 8.75% preference share traded 196,146 units at $3.20 after gaining 13 cents.
JSE powering up to break resistance
JSE closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $2.90 by posting a gain of 89 cents
Monday’s reading suggest a continuation of the bullish tone, although it suggest that there could be less stocks gaining in the main market than on Monday.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 1,055.74 points to 88,470.49, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 1,180.37 points to close at 97,632.41 and the JSE combined index increased by 953.26 points to close at 90,100.14. In all, 28 securities changed hands, ending in 1,437,587 units trading, valued at $28,055,047, in all market segments and 4 stocks closed at new 52 weeks’ high.In trading, Barita Investments closed with 130,500 shares trading at $2.07, for a 12 cents gain, Caribbean Cement had 26,500 units changing hands 20 cents higher at $2.70. Carreras closed trading with 12,563 shares at $45 but traded as high as $46.50 for a new 52 weeks’ intraday high but lost $1 at the end. Grace Kennedy put through 26,573 units to gain 43 cents and end at $62.99, Jamaica Broilers put on 20 cents with 11,628 shares trading, at $4.80. Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with 37,512 units trading at $2.90, after putting on 89 cents gain, to end at a 52 weeks’ high, National Commercial Bank traded at a new 52 weeks’ intraday high of $28, with 840,067
shares changing hands, the stock closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $27.01 with an increase of 29 cents. Pan Jamaican Investment traded just 500 shares to close with a gain of 75 cents at $56.03, Sagicor Group traded 34,338 units at $10.61, to record a gain of 6 cents, Scotia Group had 30,477 shares trading, to close at $22.66 for a 66 cents gain, to close at a 52 weeks’ high. Supreme Ventures closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.10 with just 20,000 shares changing hands and put on 23 cents and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 76,000 units at $3.07 as the price slipped by 13 cents.
Bulls take over JSE with 6 new highs
Seprod traded at 52 weeks’ high on Thursday at $16
Stocks closing at 52 weeks’ high on Thursday are Carreras, Knutsford Express from the junior market, National Commercial Bank, Seprod, Supreme Ventures and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 346.41 points to 86,646.17, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 387.31 points to close at 95,592.74 and the JSE combined index gained 412.97 points to 88,407.34.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 2 with offers that were lower.In market activity, Cable & Wireless traded 123,000 shares, in closing at 52 cents, after trading as high as 54 cents. Caribbean Cement had 46,061 units trading, to gain 25 cents in ending at $2.50, Carreras traded only 15,934 shares between $43 and the last traded price of $45.05, in posting a gain of $1.05. Grace Kennedy’s price fell 80 cents, while trading 5,801 shares at $62.20, Jamaica Producers had 173,904 units trading at $16.80 for a gain of 84 cents but had 1,569,027 shares on the bid at $16, at the close. National Commercial Bank put through only 25,149 units between $26.01 and the closing price of $26.70 with an increase of 20 cents. The banking group reported improved results in the quarter of $1.32 versus $1.24 per share in March 2014. Pan Jamaican Investment gained 37 cents in trading 9,054 shares at $55.50 but traded as low as $55.19. Radio Jamaica lost 25 cents in trading just 1,000 shares at $1.75,Sagicor Group posted 65,992 shares to end at $10.57 and gain just 2 cents. Scotia Group swapped
48,477 shares to close at $22, after trading at $22.50, Scotia Investments had 10,000 shares changing hands at $23.80, for an increase of 20 cents. Seprod put on $1.93 but with a mere 200 shares to end at $16, Supreme Ventures had the ownership of 51,600 units changing to close with a gain of 11 cents at $2.95. Proven Investments had 77,330 shares trading to close at 17.5 US cents but traded as high as 17.99 US cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 227,950 units at $2.30 and gained 28 cents or 14 percent, which is indicative of what now happening to interest rates, that have been declining from April last year, and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 174,738 units at $3.20.
JSE gives back much of Monday’s gains
Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the main market indices falling back sharply to erase a large portion of Monday’s gains as Scotia Group remained at the $22 level. 
At the close the prices of 7 stocks rising, 7 declining as 26 securities changed hands, ending in 4,715,400 units trading, valued at $63,481,771, in all market segments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 1,526.09 points to 85,825.43, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 1,706.24 points to close at 94,675.11 and the JSE combined index dropped by 1,524.04 points to close at 87,548.18.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 2 with offers that were lower.
Caribbean Cement closed with 486,513 units trading at $2.25, Gleaner Company traded 220,242 shares to end at 85 cents after trading as high as 87 cents,
Kingston Properties had 64,130 shares trading to end at $7, Sagicor Group traded 43,053 shares between $10.50 and $10.60 to end at $10.50. National Commercial Bank traded at a new intraday 52 weeks’ high of $26.70 and ended with 2,171,735, units at $26. Broker GK Capital Management crossed 2 million units at $25.85. Scotia Group traded 94,930 shares to end at $22.02 for a decline of but was up as high as $23.5 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 82,669 units at $3.10.