In Friday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 8 stocks rose and 5 declined as 20 securities changed hands resulting in 1,746,200 shares trading valued at $24,040,907.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained just 56.60 points to 70,096.77 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite moved up a mere 63.30 points to end at 77,089.13.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Jamaica Broilers with 1,229 units to close with a gain of 3 cents at $4.60, Pan Jamaican Investment 310,586 shares, gaining 5 cents to close at $48.06, Sagicor Group with 1,000 shares to close of 50 cents higher at $9, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 14,350 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents at $6.10, Scotia Group with 403,811 shares closed 1 cents higher at $19.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 15,900 shares closing at $6.70, Kingston Wharves 20,295 units changing hands to close at $5.02, Proven Investments 3,790 units to close at 18 US cents, Pulse Investments 60,000 units to close at 30 cents.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 35,500 units to close at $3.03 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 2,000 units to close at $5.08.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Barita Investments with 15,976 units as the price slipped 13 cents to close at $2.20, Cable & Wireless with 480,786 shares to lose 3 cents in closing at 31 cents, Caribbean Cement 22,040 units as the price lost 20 cents to close at $2.30 and National Commercial Bank ended at $18.01 for a 2 cents fall, as 21,322 units traded.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index edged up by 11.44 points to close at 720.30 with only 5 securities traded, with 3 advancing and 1 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Caribbean Producers with 1,000 units to close with a 5 cents increase at $2.70, Lasco Distributors with 48,000 units to gain 10 cents to end at $1.30 and Lasco Manufacturing with 276,875 shares as it gained 4 cents to end at $1.10.
Firm Trades| The only stock in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the previous trading day is Lasco Financial Services with 3,000 units to close at $1.
Declines| Dolphin Cove traded 8,740 units to close at $8.50 while shedding a cent, was the only stock in the junior market to decline.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Jamaica stocks fall again
In Friday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange there were more prices declining than rising as 24 securities traded, 6 stocks rose and 10 declined resulting from 3,903,650 shares trading valued at $25,770,886.
Main Market| 5 companies in the main market advanced and 8 declined as the indices lost altitude with the JSE Market Index erasing 599.73 points to close at 70,257.92 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index falling 670.61 points to close at 77,269.32.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Carreras in exchanging 326,379 shares to close with a gain of 20 cents at $$34.20, Mayberry Investments with 4,280 shares changing hands, gained 5 cents to close at $1.70, Sagicor Group with 78,268 units changing hands, rose by 5 cents to end at $8.95, Sagicor Real Estate Fund had just 710 units changing hands at $6.70 for a 20 cents gain and Scotia Group with 102,134 shares closed at $19.60 with a 60 cents gain, minutes before trading ended.
Firm| There were only 5 stocks in the main market to close without a price change as Cable & Wireless with 122,189 shares changing hands closed at 28 cents, Gleaner traded 50,000 units and closed at $1.10, Jamaica Money Market Brokers traded only 2,700 shares in closing at $7, followed by Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share with 154,000 units to end at $2 and the Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 141,925 shares to close at $3.03.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Barita Investments with 5,000 shares to close at $2.25 while losing 5 cents, Desnoes & Geddes 28,300 units to close at $4.25 with the price slipping by 20 cents, Grace Kennedy traded 69,030 to close a cent lower at $54, Jamaica Broilers 24,927 shares to close at $4.70 while losing 5 cents, Jamaica Producers traded only 2,700 units in closing at $18.25 with a fall of a cent, National Commercial Bank 159,772 shares to close at $17.45, down 5 cents, Scotia Investments had 44,161 shares changing hands to close at $23 falling back by the same amount it gained the previous day of $2.49 and Supreme Ventures 60,000 units in closing at $2 but fell by a cent.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 1.33 points to close at 721.71 as only 6 stocks traded with one advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Lasco Manufacturing traded 2,429,994 shares to close at $1.12 and gained 2 cents as the only stock to record a gain in the junior market.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the previous trading day are Consolidated Bakeries which traded just 1,000 units to close at 80 cents, Jamaican Teas 15,839 shares as the price closed at $3.21 and Lasco Financial put through 14,400 units at $1.15.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Blue Power with 50,942 shares to close at $9.01 with 9 cents decline and Caribbean Producers 15,000 units to close down 10 cents at $2.65.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Declining stocks dominate trade
The Jamaica Stock Exchange continues to lose ground with more stocks falling than rising as the prices of only 5 stocks rose and 12 declined with 25 securities traded resulting in 2,034,342 shares trading valued at $8,897,265 but the junior market index rose although the two main market indices fell.
Main Market| Only 2 companies in the main market advanced at the end of trading and one from the US dollar market and 6 declined as the indices moved down with the JSE Market Index erasing 432.21 points to close at 72,697.29 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index lost 483.28 points to close at 79,996.96.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless in trading 51,164 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents at 34 cents, Margaritaville gained 2 US cents to close at 12 US cents with 340 units changing hands for the first time since listing to close at a new high and Sagicor Group swapped 177,506 units 5 cents higher to end at $9.30.
Firm| There were 6 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with Grace Kennedy trading 1,000 units and closed at $55, Jamaica Broilers 156,467 shares closing at $4.70, National Commercial Bank 25,550 shares to close at $18, Radio Jamaica 30,895 shares closing at $1.29, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 4,940 units in closing at $6.60, Scotia Group 109,624 shares to close at $19.70.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 30,316 shares while losing 20 cents to end at $3.30, Carreras 11,000 shares to close at $34.75 with a $1.20 decline, Gleaner 74,821 stock units to close with a cent down at $1.10, Pan Jamaican Investment as it traded 15,486 shares to close at $48.10 with the price falling by 40 cents, Salada Foods down by 10 cents while trading 2,830 units at $7.90, Scotia Investments 10,635 shares to close at $23.50, a decline of $2 and Supreme Ventures 316,847 stock units to close with a loss of 10 cents to $2 for a new 52 weeks low.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index rose 3.56 points to close at 729.12 as only 9 stocks traded with 2 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Jamaican Teas with 49,530 units to close at $3.45 as the price rose by 24 cents and Lasco Financial Services traded 31,500 shares to close 5 cents higher at $1.15.
Firm Trades| The 2 stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Caribbean Producers with 50,000 shares closing at $2.73 and Lasco Distributors with 222,054 units to close at $1.40.
Declines| Five stocks declined in the junior market at the end of trading are AMG Packaging in trading 5,000 units to close at $3.30, down 19 cents, for a 52 weeks low, Caribbean Flavours with 53,065 units to close with a 20 fall to $2.50, followed by Consolidated Bakeries 157,299 as the price declined by 18 cents in light of the reduced profits reported for the March quarter to end at 92 cents. The company saw profits fall 48 percent to $7.4 million in the March quarter from reduced gross profit margin in spite of a 14 percent rise in sales revenues to $197 million. General Accident 200,198 shares to close at $1.48 with a one cent fall and Lasco Manufacturing that is expected to report final results for the year to March by the end of May traded 246,275 units to close with a one cent loss at $1.14.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Little price movements on Wednesday
In Wednesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 4 stocks rose and 3 declined as only 20 securities traded resulting in 7,422,171 shares changing hands valued at $29,572,563.
Main Market| On a day when few stocks recorded price changes, only 3 companies in the main market advanced and 3 declined as the indices moved down marginally with the JSE Market Index slipping by 40.55 points to 72,978.93 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index easing 45.34 points to close at 80,311.88.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are National Commercial Bank with 6,320 shares to close with a gain of 25 cents at $18, Pan Jamaican Investment had 35,274 changing hands to close up by 14 cents to end at $48.20 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 20,100 units, closed with a 10 cents gain at $6.60.
Firm| 11 stocks in the main market closed without a change in price as Berger Paints traded 55,000 shares in closing at $1.67, Cable & Wireless traded 640,000 units and closed at 30 cents, Caribbean Cement 42,175 units to close at $3.50, Carreras 79,670 shares to end at $34.75, Desnoes & Geddes 400 shares to close at $4.40. Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share, 700,000 units at $2 and the 8.75% preference share traded 1,839,490 units at $3.03, Sagicor Group 798,136 units to close at $9.35, Scotia Group with 45,660 shares to close at $19.70, Scotia Investments 5,010 shares at $24.50 and Supreme Ventures 2,789,233 units to close at $2.10.
Declines| The stocks that declined in the main market are Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 7,382 units while losing 5 cents to end at $7.35, Kingston Properties with 13,500 shares to close with a 10 cents loss at $4 and Kingston Wharves with 80,504 shares as the price closed at $5 with a fall of 75 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.34 points to close at 732.85 as only 3 stocks traded with 1 advancing and none declining.
Gains| Caribbean Producers was the only stock gaining at the end of trading in the junior market as 54,733 units traded to close at $3, up a cent.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the trading day before are Access Financial with 207,002 units at $11.50 and Dolphin Cove that closed at $8.10 with 2,582 units changing hands.
Declines| There were no stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading on Wednesday.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the close of the market the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 8 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main indices up but junior eases
In Tuesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 8 stocks rose, 11 declined as 31 securities traded resulting in 7,099,320 shares changing hands valued at $45,025,458.
Main Market| Seven (7) companies in the main market rose, 5 declined as the indices moved up with the JSE Market Index gaining 526.88 points to 73,019.48 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moving up 589.14 points to close at 80,357.22.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Carreras trading 60,623 shares to close with a gain of 75 cents at $34.75, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 5,000 units to close at $7.40 with a 10 cents gain, Radio Jamaica with 4,462 shares to close with a gain of a cent at $1.29, Sagicor Group with 534,732 units to close with a gain of 20 cents at $9.35, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 119,402 shares to close 20 cents higher at $6.50, Scotia Group 357,781 units to close at $19.70 as the price rose by 19 cents and Scotia Investments 9,780 shares to close with a gain of $1.40 at $24.50.
Firm| 7 main market stocks closed without a change in price as Berger Paints with 7,899 shares closed at $1.67, Cable & Wireless with 1,076,240 units closed at 30 cents, Jamaica Broilers 482,878 shares to close at $4.71, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share 75,000 units and closed at $2, Jamaica Producers 5,201 shares to close at $18.26, Kingston Wharves 8,106 units as the price closed at $5.75 and Mayberry Investments 2,040 shares to close at $1.75.
Declines| The stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 3,036 shares trading while losing 10 cents to end at $3.50, Desnoes & Geddes with 3,002,000 shares in closing at $4.40 for a 9 cents loss, Grace Kennedy 14,320 units to close at $55 with a loss of $1.50, National Commercial Bank 512,600 shares to close at $17.75, down by 35 cents, and Seprod with 40,667 units in closing at $10.75 for a 50 cents decline.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 2.45 points to close at 733.19 as 12 stocks traded with 1 advancing and 6 declining.
Gains| Blue Power traded 200,000 shares to close 9 cents higher at $9.10 as was the only junior market stock to rise.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial with 24,575 units changing hands to close at $11.50, AMG Packaging with 5,558 units at $3.49, Derrimon Trading with 286,000 shares to close at $2.28, Knutsford Express traded 3,020 units to close at $5.17 and Lasco Distributors 41,000 units in closing at $1.35.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Cargo Handlers with 220 units at $14.31 with a fall of 4 cents, Caribbean Cream with 12,530 units to close with a fall of 7 cents at 72 cents, Caribbean Producers with 32,900 shares to close at $2.99 with an fall of 11 cents, Dolphin Cove 19,700 units at $8.10 for a 10 cents decline, Lasco Manufacturing 128,850 shares to end with a fall of 14 cents at $1 and Medical Disposables with 23,200 units in closing at $2 for a 4 cents fall.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 8 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
JSE Market gives up much ground
In Wednesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the market slipped more than it gained on Tuesday as big capitalisation stocks, Desnoes & Geddes, Sagicor Group and Cable & Wireless slipped in value with the prices of 5 stocks rising and 9 declining as 24 securities traded resulting in 8,461,785 shares changing hands valued at $29,734,524. At the close market sentiment was reflecting continued negative movements for a while.
Main Market| Only 4 companies in the main market advanced and 8 declined as the indices plummeted with the JSE Market Index dropping by 2,428.50 points to 73,614.29 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index shedding 2,715.48 points to close at 81,022.33.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Hardware & Lumber trading 64,500 shares to close with a gain of $1.30 cents at $11.80, National Commercial Bank with 7,976 units changing hands to close at $18.50and gained 40 cents, Caribbean Cement with 84,939 shares to close at $4, with an increase of 10 cents and Scotia Group only 500 shares to close at $20.55 for a 5 cents gain.
Firm| There were only 6 stocks in the main market to close without a price change as Jamaica Broilers with 22,080 shares closed at $4.85, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.50% preference share traded 10,000 units and closed at $3.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share closed at $3.03 while exchanging 221,600 shares, Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 612,900 units at $5.09 followed by Seprod with 171,083 units at $10.80 and Supreme Ventures with 17,000 units to close at $2.10.
Declines| On a day when declining stocks overwhelmed advancing ones, the number of stocks that declined in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 1,903,766 shares as investors tried to get out of the stock as it the closed at 40 cents having slipped by 4 cents, Desnoes & Geddes with 697,860 shares while losing 40 cents to end at $4.10, Gleaner with 8,000 shares to close 5 cents lower at $1.10, Grace Kennedy 40,258 units in closing at $56.50 as the price slipped a cent, Pan Jamaican Investment with 97,716 shares in closing at $48.51 down by 54 cents, Radio Jamaica 24,000 units traded to close 4 cents lower at $1.28 and Sagicor Group with 576,077 shares closed at $8.90 with the fall of 13 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 2.99 points to close at 750.39 as 7 stocks traded with only one advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Lasco Financial traded 41,000 units to close at $1.30, up 10 cents, was the only stock with a gain at the end of trading in the junior market.
Firm Trades| 4 stocks in the junior market traded to close at the same price as the day before with Caribbean Flavours trading 11,121 units at $2.70, Caribbean Producers 121,513 shares to end at $3, Consolidated Bakeries 40,000 units in ending at $1.10 and Lasco Manufacturing with 1,066,000 shares to end at $1.20.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Dolphin Cove trading 222,681 units at $8.20 for a 3 cents fall and Lasco Distributors 2,399,215 shares at $1.30 down 5 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator flashed negative sentiment showing 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 9 stocks with offers that were lower.
JSE Market gains 2,000 points
Scotia Group traded as high as $22.89 before closing at $20.50 and was the main factor in the big jump in the Jamaica Stock Exchange two main indices while the prices of 9 stocks rose and 8 declined as 27 securities traded resulting in 5,724,168 shares trading valued at $32,909,845.
Main Market| The prices of 5 companies in the main market advanced and 6 declined as the indices jumped as the JSE Market Index gained 2,054.10 points to 76,042.79 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index jumped by 2,296.84 points to close at 83,737.81.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 1,290,256 units to close with a 2 cents gain at 44 cents, Carreras traded 3,594 shares to close with a gain of a cent at $33.57, Gleaner gained 5 cents to close at $1.15 with 20,000 units changing hands, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 1,494 units to close at $7.27 up by 5 cents and Supreme Ventures with 79,975 shares to close with a gain of 5 cents at $2.10.
Firm| There were 6 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with Desnoes & Geddes trading 1,064 shares and closed at $4.50, Jamaica Broilers 715,645 units and closed at $4.85, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share, 654,081 units to close at $3.03, Jamaica Producers 96,627 units at $18.26, Mayberry Investments 2,040 shares in closing at $1.70 and Scotia Group 868,539 shares to close at $20.50 but traded as high as $22.98.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Berger Paints with 10,000 units in losing a cent to end at $1.67, Caribbean Cement with 25,899 shares to close at $3.90 by falling by a cent, Hardware & Lumber 36,100 shares to close at $10.50 for a $1.20 fall, National Commercial Bank 57,933 shares to close at $18.10 for a 20 drop, Pan Jamaican Investment 2,400 units to end 23 cents lower at $49.05 and Sagicor Group with 23,157 shares in closing at $9.03 for a 47 cents fall.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 6.86 points to close at 747.40 as 10 stocks traded with 4 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Dolphin Cove that traded 1,000 units to close at $8.23 with a gain of 3 cents, Medical Disposables 391,382 shares to close with a one cent gain at $2.05, Jamaican Teas up 29 cents to end at $3.50 for 49,470 shares and Lasco Manufacturing traded 1,035,268 units to close up a cent at $1.20.
Firm Trades| 4 stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before with Access Financial Services trading 4,044 units at $11.50, Caribbean Producers with 200,000 units to close at $3, Consolidated Bakeries 108,000 to close at $1.10 and Lasco Financial Services 31,200 shares at $1.20.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are General Accident that traded 7,000 units at $1.50 as the price lost 10 cents and Lasco Distributors with 8,000 units, closed 5 cents lower at $1.35.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had only 3 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
TTSE: Citizens jumps
Tuesday, 15th April 2014 | The Trinidad market traded with a slight upward bias as there was trading in 17 securities of which 5 advanced 3 declined and 9 traded firm with209,501 stocks trading with a value of $2,914,123.
The Composite Index advanced by 2.10 points to close at 1,164.95, the All T&T Index gained 3.94 points to close at 1,983.48 and the Cross Listed Index put on .03 points to end at 45.43.
Gains | Stocks increasing in price at the close are First Citizens Bank with 21,283 shares traded for $745,097 to close with a gain of 56 cents to end at $35.06. The stock has found support that has attracted buying interest and could be going higher once more. Guardian Holdings closed with a 2 cents gain to end at $13.12 as 2,000 shares traded; National Flour Mills 20,350 with a value of $24,420 to close with a 3 cents gain at $1.20; National Enterprises 400 shares to end at $18.28, up by 3 cents; One Caribbean Media with 912 units at $20.30 for 5 cents gain with another new 52 weeks high.
Declines | Agostini’s lost 5 cents to end at $17.70 with 300 shares; ANSA McAL traded 200 shares and fell a cent to close at $66.49 and Clico Investment Fund closed with 74,928 shares valued at $1,607,206 as the price declined by 5 cents to $21.45.
Firm Trades | Stocks closing without a change in their prices are Angostura Holdings 2,782 shares at $11; Grace Kennedy with 22,706 shares changing hands for a value of $79,472 to close at $3.50; Jamaica Money Market Brokers 15,165 shares valued at $8,189 to close at 54 cents; Neal & Massy 1,696 to close at $66.35; Praetorian Property Mutual Fund 4,000 units at $3.41; Sagicor Financial Corporation 13,883 shares to closed at $7.05; Scotia Investments 13,512 shares at $1.60; Trinidad Cement 14,788 shares at $2.20 and West Indian Tobacco 596 shares at $118.
IC bid-offer Indicator | At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
JSE: Sharp jump in stocks rising will it last?
Tuesday, 8th April 2014 | In today’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of 15 stocks rose and 6 declined as 28 securities traded resulting in 6,273,690 shares trading valued at only $18,352,886. Cable & Wireless with 1,850,500 shares and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference shares with 2,827,574 units dominated the volume of stocks trading.
Main Market | Nine companies in the main market advanced and so did Proven US denominated ordinary shares and only 3 declined as the indices fell, with the JSE Market Index declining by 105.87 points to 76,289.54 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index falling by 118.34 points to close at 84,012.93.
Gains | Stocks recording gains at the end of trading are Cable & Wireless with 1,850,500 shares trading with a cent gain to close at 48 cents; Desnoes & Geddes closed at $5 as the price gained 55 cents with only 2,500 units changing hands; Gleaner 16,000 units to end at $1.20 for a 7 cents gain; Jamaica Broilers 435,184 shares to close 3 cents higher at $4.90; National Commercial Bank 45,340 shares in closing at $19.00 as the price put on $1; Pan Jamaican, a mere 158 units as the price ended a cent higher at $49.61; Proven Investments US dollar ordinary, 1,000 units at a new high of 18.5 US cents for a gain of 0.5 US cent; Sagicor Group 31,112 shares to close 10 cents up at $9.90; Sagicor Real Estate Fund 4,295 units as it closed up 5 cents at $6.75 and Scotia Group gained 30 cents to end at $21.50 as 52,480 shares changed hands.
Firm Trades | The stocks in the main market to close without a price change are Hardware & Lumber with 500 shares closing at $11.80; Jamaica Money Market Brokers that traded 1,000 units and closed at $ 7.20; Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share with 2,827,574 units at $3.03; Jamaica Producers with only 200 units at $18.26; Mayberry Investments 10,720 shares at $1.85; 1,000 units Proven Investments 8% preference shares at $5.09 and Salada Foods with 10,000 shares at $8.
Declines | The stocks that declined at the end of trading are Carreras while losing 50 cents to end at $35.25 with 16,950 shares; Grace Kennedy with 4,500 shares as the price closed at $56.01 for a fall of 79 cents; Radio Jamaica had 4,500 units in closing at $1.28, down by 2 cents and Seprod with 150,000 shares to close at $11.05 after shedding $1.95.
Junior Market | The JSE Junior Market Index advanced by 7.63 points to close at 751.68 with only 7 securities traded.
Gains | Caribbean Flavours traded just 2,221 units to close at $2.80, up 35 cents; Dolphin Cove traded only 804 shares to end at $8.11 for a 1 cent gain; Jamaican Teas 22,060 shares as it closed with 5 cents gain to $3.20; Lasco Distributors 108,959 units in closing at $1.50 for an increase of 10 cents and Lasco Manufacturing which ended trading with 75,000 shares as the price gained 5 cents to end at $1.30.
Firm Trades| There were no junior market stocks trading firm.
Declines | Caribbean Producers traded 312,000 units to close at $2.75, down 25 cents and Medical Disposables 287,133 units as the price faded by 10 cents to $2.
IC bid-offer Indicator | At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Rising inflation & interest rates affect stocks
Rising interest rates in Ghana is affecting demand for stocks in this West African Country. The country is seeing high levels of inflation with the latest data showing the monthly change rate for February at 1.1 percent, against the 3.9 percent recorded in January 2014 and fiscal deficit that is running around 10 percent of GDP and devaluation of the country’s currency which are influencing investors to demand more interest on savings.
Interest rates which were in the order of 18.5 percent at the end of December last year is now at 23.69 percent for the 91 Days Treasury Bills and is up strongly from end of February at 21.21 percent. The exchange rate has slipped by 18 percent against the United States dollar since the start of the year which has effectively wiped out the gains of 11.24 percent in the main index and 17.14 percent in the financial index for the year to date, in real terms.
In the past week, the Ghana Stock market declined and has been doing so from the week starting February 24 and seems poised to decline some more as buying interest recedes with only 14 bids in the market at the close on Friday March 28 and is down from 19 bids on Wednesday and compared to 23 offers on Friday. For the week only 4 stocks enjoyed price gains and 11 declined compared to 8 rising the week before to 6 that declined.
The Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index closed the week at 2,386.39 points and was down from 2,388.74 at the end of the previous week and the Ghana Stock Exchange Financial index ended at 2,092.75 points compared to 2,110.94 at the end of the prior week.