“The biggest change to stocks this coming week may well be guided by the recent cut in interest rates, with Treasury bill rates falling and Bank of Jamaica cutting its overnight rate by 25 basis points.” That was part of last week’s opening statement for the TOP 10 stocks report by IC Insider.com.
During the week main market stocks surged to record levels on 3 days with Friday closing with the third highest daily gain in the market’s history. The main market sits just below the critical 290,000 point mark and seems headed to break through that level, based on the shortage of supply for Scotia Group shares on Friday with a closing bid of $52. The cut in BOJ’s bench mark rate would translate to the all Jamaica Composite Index climbing to 298,000 points.
At the close of last week, there were no changes to the TOP 10 Junior list but two new companies swapped places in the main market with Barita Investments returning, as investors cooled on the stock following a run up in the price following news out of the company that the directors were considering a bid to acquire majority shares. Based on the third quarter results showing unrealized investment gains more than doubling the level at the end of September last year to $1.1 billion at June, the company should see major gains going forward in this area, with falling interest rates and rising stock prices. Salada Foods fell in price to $8.50 and along with Barita pushed out Sagicor Group and Pan Jam Investment, both of which rose in price during the week.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 7.3 and the PE for the main market TOP 10, ends the week at 6.9. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.4 and 13.3 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 45 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and it remains at 48 percent for the main market.
Junior market in steady trading – Wednesday
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Wednesday with 23 securities changing hands resulting in an exchange of 2,037,393 units valued at $8,042,722 compared to 2,320,590 units valued at $10,336,084 on Tuesday.
The market index inched higher by just 0.07 points to 3,093.44 at the close, as 10 stocks advanced, 6 declined and 7 traded with prices remaining unchanged.
Trading ended with an average of 88,582 units for an average of $349,684 in contrast to 89,253 units for an average of $397,542 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 241,379 units valued at $1,469,345, in contrast to 249,420 units valued at $1,528,275 previously. July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Thursday activity as 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, the volume of stocks changing hands and their last traded price are: C2W Music that caused investors to take a second look at it after attempts were made to trade it at 50 cents in the end it settled 2 cents higher for the day at 45 cents with 183,500 units changing hands. Trading ended with the bid posted at 50 cents to buy 40,000 units with only two offers posted at the close at $1.23 and $1.35. The day’s activity in the stock is in contrast to two weeks ago when the price dipped to 38 cents and looked as if it would trade lower. Cargo Handlers settled with a loss of 40 cents, at $9.60 with 450 shares, Caribbean Cream traded at $6.50 with 34,280 units, Caribbean Flavours traded at $13 with 1,000 stocks units, Caribbean Producers traded at $3.80 with 31,258 units, Derrimon Trading ended at $7.90 with 2,000 shares, Express Catering concluded 5 cents higher at $4.20 with 138,183 stocks, General Accident finished with a loss of 2 cents, at $2.80 with 107,700 shares, Honey Bun closed with a loss of 20 cents, at $4.80 with 3,598 units, Jamaican Teas settled with a loss of 7 cents, at $4.83 with 11,737 stocks, Jetcon Corporation finished with a loss of 20 cents, at $4.80 with 1,085,266 units, KLE Group climbed 14 cents higher at $3.15 with 270,971 shares, Key Insurance rose 10 cents higher to $3.10 with 7,947 stocks units, Knutsford Express closed 10 cents higher at $14.50 with 7,606 stocks, Lasco Distributors ended 15 cents higher at $7.15 with 27,962 units, Lasco Financial finished 39 cents higher at $3.99 with 100 units, Lasco Manufacturing closed with a loss of 5 cents, at $4.40 with 4,299 units, Main Event concluded market activity 55 cents higher, at $5.05 with 3,823 stocks, Medical Disposables concluded trading 1 cent higher at $4.26 with 28,521 units, Paramount Trading ended at $2.70 with 38,304 units, Stationery and Office concluded trading at $4 with 11,782 units, tTech finished 50 cents higher at $6.55 with 16,378 shares and Derrimon Trading closed with a loss of 3 cents, at $2 with 20,728 shares.
Trading jumps from Monday’s levels
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Tuesday with 26 securities changing hands with 11 advancing, 9 declining and 6 trading unchanged. The market index inched higher by 3.19 points to 3,093.37.
The volume traded amounted to 2,320,590 units valued at $10,336,084, compared to 1,303,888 units valued at $6,225,235 on Monday.
Trading ended with an average of 89,253 units for an average of $397,542 in contrast to 65,194 units for an average of $311,262 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 249,420 units valued at $1,528,275, in contrast to 258,319 units at an average of $1,591,093 previously. In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Wednesday’s activity as 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, the volume of stocks changing hands and their last traded price are: Access Financial settled at $47 with 2,250 shares, Blue Power traded at $40 with 1,300 shares, CAC 2000 finished with a loss of 9 cents, at $7.86 with 4,068 stocks trading, Caribbean Cream traded at $6.50 with 56,600 stocks, Caribbean Producers finished 15 cents higher at $3.80 with 15,000 stock units exchanged. Consolidated Bakeries traded 29 cents higher at $2.30 with 4,500 stocks, Derrimon Trading closed 80 cents higher at $7.90 with 4,000 units, Dolphin Cove concluded trading with a loss of 20 cents, at $17.30 with 2,050 stocks, Express Catering settled 15 cents higher at $4.15 with 436,106 units, General Accident finished 22 cents higher at $2.82 with 67,500 stocks, Honey Bun closed 20 cents higher at $5 with 22,869 shares. ISP Finance settled with a loss of $1, at $19 with 400 units, Jamaican Teas concluded with a loss of 10 cents, at $4.90 with 90,678 shares, Jetcon Corporation ended with a loss of 21 cents, at $5 with 69,256 units, KLE Group closed 1 cent higher at $3.01 with 40,899 stocks, Knutsford Express concluded trading 34 cents higher at $14.40 with 6,770 stocks. Lasco Distributors traded at $7 with 186,808 shares, Lasco Financial settled with a loss of 20 cents, at $3.60 with 204,349 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing concluded market activity with a loss of 15 cents, at $4.45 with 45,888 shares, Main Event closed at $4.50 with 343,513 shares, Medical Disposables closed with a loss of $1.25, at $4.25 with 42,000 shares. Paramount Trading ended 10 cents higher at $2.70 with 10,500 stocks, Stationery and Office finished with a loss of 10 cents, at $4 with 655,536 stocks after trading at a low for the day of $3.50, Derrimon Trading preference share concluded trading 3 cents higher at $2.03 with 7,000 stocks, Eppley 9.5% preference share finished 5 cents higher at $7.25 with 500 units and Eppley 10% preference share traded at $6.60 with 250 stock units changing hands.