Jamaica Stock Exchange reported a 44 percent jump in the first quarter profit to $126 million, from $87 million in 2015 for the three months ending March. The growth in profit flowed from revenues of $327 million, a 29 percent increase over the $253 million in 2015. The increase this year comes against the background that the quarter in 2015 results came from a loss position of $2.3 million.
Earnings per share ended at 89 cents in 2016 versus 62 cents in 2015. Profit before tax, grew from $130 million in 2015 to $187 million, with tax taking $61 million in the 2016 first quarter from $43 million.
Revenues growth benefited from increased trading activities this year over 2015, new business from the handling of repo business and from a big trade in the shares of Desnoes and Geddes, in 2015 there was a large trade in the shares of Scotia Group.
Expenses climbed at a slower pace than income, with an increase of 16 percent to end at $150 million. Wages climbed from $46 million to $57 million due to salary increases and additional staffing. Advertising and amortization is up from $14 million to $20.7 million, while other operating cost rose by $10.6 million from $5 million.
At the end of the quarter, cash and equivalent stood at $589 million and equity capital climbed to $751 million up from $649 million at the end of March 2015.
JSE’s stock traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with the price closing at $21 on Thursday.
JSE first quarter results jump
More losses for JSE on Tuesday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange suffered more losses on Tuesday with declining stocks having the upper hand on advancing stocks as 42 securities changed hands, in all market segments. The market ended with 8 stocks rising and 20 declining. One of the stock rising closed at 52 week’s high.
The market closed with 4,118,840 units valued at $45,574,795 changing hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 1,469,331 units, valued at $8,265,286 units changing hands.
The JSE Market Index fell 385.51 points to end at 152,203.76, the all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 431.14 points to end at 169,051.16 and the JSE combined index lost 1,317.86 points, to close at 159,763.33.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Cable & Wireless traded 426,546 units, to close with a 13 cents loss at $1.07, Caribbean Cement dropped $2 with 11,217 shares changing hands to end at $25, Carreras lost $1.08 in trading 10,055 shares to end at $65.02. Ciboney traded 312,673 shares but lost 2 cents to end at 16 cents, 1834 Investments, formerly Gleaner Company, traded 6,188 units to close with a loss of 23 cents at $1.77. Grace Kennedy closed with 18,330 shares changing hands at $81.90 after losing 10 cents, Jamaica Broilers traded 405,577 units to close at $14.60, after rising 10 cents, JMMB Group dropped $1.20 as 11,401 shares changed hands at $9.70, Kingston Wharves traded 50,500 shares to close at $11.30. Mayberry Investments ended trading 46,068 shares to end at $4. 
National Commercial Bank lost 74 cents with 21,967 shares changing hands to close at $40.50, Pan Jamaican Investments traded 34,232 shares to close at $93, Radio Jamaica traded 87,952 shares but lost 3 cents to close at $1.43. Sagicor Group gained 50 cents and ended with 668,797 shares changing hands at $24, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 6,093 shares to close at $10. Scotia Group traded 15,505 shares to close at $30, Scotia Investments fell $2.85 with only 916 shares changing hands to end at $25.10. Supreme Ventures closed at $4.95 with just 4,867 units changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary shares traded 295,325 units to end at 17.5 US cents up from 17 cents previously and JMMB Group 5.75% preference share traded 180,000 units but gained 14 cents to close at $1.20.
Sharp drop for JSE on Thursday
Sagicor Group traded 16.7m shares
For the overall market, 35 securities changed hands, in all market segments with 11 rising and 14 declining. The market closed with 32,237,793 units valued at $456,983,872
changing hands in all markets. The junior market accounting for 8,572,910 units changing hands, valued at $32,754,372.
The JSE Market Index shed 1,535.93 points to end at 152,082.65, the all Jamaica Composite Index dived 1,716.47 points to end at 168,917.23 and the JSE combined index had 1,668.49 points chop, to close at 160,394.10.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with lower offers, an indication of fluidity in price movements but with a bias for declining stocks to have the upper hand when trading resumes after the long holiday week end.At the end of the market activities, Cable & Wireless traded 22,200 units, to close with a loss of 10 cents at $1.20, Carreras rose by 80 cents in trading 5,268 shares to end at $66.50. Grace Kennedy gained 50 cents in closing with 7,000 shares changing hands at $82.50,
Jamaica Broilers traded 54,394 units to close with a gain of 80 cents at $14, JMMB traded 427,342 shares to close at $10 after falling by 20 cents. Mayberry Investments traded 26,016 shares to end at $4.20 but lost 25 cents, National Commercial Bank rose by 3 cents with 18,868 shares changing hands to close at $41.03, Pan Jamaican gained $1 in trading 62,670 units at $94, Sagicor Group dropped 95 cents while 16,736,871 shares changed hands. Scotia Group lost 11 cents while trading 20,144 shares to close at $30.39 Seprod dropped $2.65 with 72,250 shares changing hands to end at $15.85, Supreme Ventures gained 1 cent to close at $5 with 6,523,950 units changing hands and 73,667 preference shares of JMMB Group 7.5% traded to end at $2.15.
Gains for JSE on Wednesday
Sagicor Group HQ – the stock closed at anew high on Wednesday
For the overall market, 35 securities changed hands, in all market segments with 8 rising and 14 declining. The market closed with 6,441,586 units valued at $51,085,753 changing hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 157,151 units changed hands, valued at only $774,391.
The JSE Market Index shed 428.48 points to end at 153,150.85, the all Jamaica Composite Index lost 478.85 points to end at 170,111.01 and the JSE combined index fell 530.26 points to close at 161,848.77.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with lower offers.At the end of the market activities, Berger traded 35,604 units and gained 23 cents to end at $3.75, Cable & Wireless traded 611,101 units, to close with a loss of 5 cents at $1.30, Caribbean Cement ended at $23 with 12,539 shares trading, Carreras lost 30 cents in trading 1,100 shares to end at $65.70. Grace Kennedy closed with 42,388 shares changing hands at $82,Jamaica Broilers traded 26,235 units to close at $13.20, Kingston Wharves traded 41,719 shares to close at $11.50 after rising by 5 cents.
Mayberry Investments traded 9,391 shares to end at $4.45, National Commercial Bank had 187,106 shares changing hands to close at $41, Pan Jamaican traded 15,039 units at $93, Sagicor Group gained 40 cents while 816,999 shares changed hands to close at new 52 weeks’ closing high of $24. Scotia Group lost 40 cents while trading 245,381 shares to close at $30.50. Scotia Investments put on $2.49 with 2,000 shares changing hands to end at $29.49, Supreme Ventures closed with a fall of 1 cent at $4.99 with 334,200 units changing hands. Proven Investments ordinary share traded 44,050 to close at 20.95 US cents, JMMB 5.75% preference share traded 2,400,000 units at $1.06 after losing 14 cents and 1,421,333 preference shares of JMMB Group 7.5% traded to end at $2.15.
Losses for JSE on Tuesday
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange suffered losses on Tuesday, as declining stocks beat out advancing stocks. Indications continue to show weakness in the overall market. The number of stocks participating is down to lower levels compared to more recent trading and with the IC Indicator reflecting a weak signal.
For the overall market, 35 securities changed hands, in all market segments with 10 rising and 15 declining. The market closed with 3,907,504 units valued at $73,631,745 changing hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 934,404 units changing hands, valued at $3,657,423.
The JSE Market Index shed 428.48 points to end at 153,150.85, the 
all Jamaica Composite Index lost 478.85 points to end at 170,111.01 and the JSE combined index fell 530.26 points to close at 161,848.77.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 11 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Cable & Wireless traded 263,169 units to close with a loss of 4 cents at $1.35, Caribbean Cement ended at $23 with 10,000 shares trading, after rising 35 cents, Carreras gained $1 in trading 123,177 shares to end at $66, Desnoes and Geddes traded 4,074 at $24. Gleaner traded 1,834 shares at $2.09 essentially at the same price as before the media segment was taken over by Radio Jamaica. Grace Kennedy closed with 6,249 shares changing hands at $82, Jamaica Broilers dropped 80 cents in trading 12,999 units to close at $13.20, 
Jamaica Producers closed with a loss of $3 at $30 while trading only 2,000 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped $1.90 in trading 17,993 units to close at $21, Kingston Wharves traded 7,400 shares to close at $11.45. Mayberry Investments traded 40,000 shares to end at $4.45, National Commercial Bank lost 3 cents with 200,254 shares changing hands to close at $41, Sagicor Group fell 14 cents with 2,146,337 shares changing hands to close at $23.60, Scotia Group traded 7,781 shares to close at $30.90. Scotia Investments lost $2.40 with 4,750 shares changing hands to end at $27, Supreme Ventures closed with a rise of 50 cents at $5 with 34,223 units changing hands and JMMB 5.75% preference share traded 40,972 units at $1.20 and 39,116 preference share of JMMB Group 7.5% traded to end at $2.15.
More gains for JSE – Friday
Jamaica Producers traded 2.26m shares
on Friday.
The JSE Market Index recovered 473.06 points to end at 153,083.07, the all Jamaica Composite Index added 528.67 points to end at 170,035.26 and the JSE combined index gained 380.86 points to close at 162,181.88.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Cable & Wireless traded 106,517 units to close at $1.37, Caribbean Cement ended at $23.50 with 109,949 shares trading, after gaining $1, Carreras traded 38,075 shares and rose by $1 to $65, Desnoes and Geddes traded 14,000 shares but lost 73 cents to close at $24. Gleaner lost 1 cent and closed at $2.09 with 181,862 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy closed with 29,093 shares trading with a loss of 1 cent at $82.99, well below the $97 equivalent, it last traded at in Trinidad. Jamaica Broilers traded 389,818 units to close at $14.09, Jamaica Producers traded 2,261,978 units to close with a gain of 72 cents at $31, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 45 cents in trading 11,784 units to close at $22, JMMB Group had 129,188 units changing hands but fell 5 cents in closing at $10. Kingston Wharves traded 3,366 shares to close with a loss of 5 cents at $11.45, Mayberry Investments traded 41,168 shares but rose 25 cents to end at $4.45.
National Commercial Bank with 833,006 shares changing hands, closed 10 cents higher at $40, Pan Jamaican investment fell $1.98 to close at $93.02 with 6,096 shares, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 9,000 units and gained 1 US cent in closing at 21 US cents, Radio Jamaica ended with 27,747 units changing hands for 24 cents higher to close at $4.99. Sagicor Group gained 48 cents with 684,972 shares changing hands at $23, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 9,100 shares and rose 90 cents to close at $10.90, Scotia Group had 33,980 shares changing hands to close at $30.51 after rising 1 cent. Seprod traded 57,544 shares and fell 69 cents to close at $18.51, Supreme Ventures closed with a loss of 5 cents at $5 with 11,600 units changing hands and JMMB 7.5% preference share traded 50,000 units but lost 5 cents to end at $2.10.
Solid gains for JSE – Thursday
Sagicor Group HQ – the stock traded 1.8m units
Main market stocks collectively made further recovery on Thursday, with advancing stocks edging out declining stocks. For the overall market, 39 securities changed hands, in all market segments with 15 rising and 13 declining while 3 closed at record highs. The market closed with 6,927,350 units valued at $96,137,248 changing hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 1,654,174 units changing hands, valued at $16,966,569.
The JSE Market Index recovered 862.19 points to end at 152,610.01, the all Jamaica Composite Index added 963.55 points to end at 169,506.59 and the JSE combined index gained 840.57 points to close at 161,801.02.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Caribbean Cement ended at $22.50 with 400 shares trading after gaining $2.50, Desnoes and Geddes traded only 1,000 shares but rose $1.13 to $24.73, Gleaner closed at $2.10 with 250,029 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy closed with 10,752 shares trading with a gain of 40 cents at $83, well below the $97 equivalent, it last traded at in Trinidad. Jamaica Broilers traded 31,174 units to close at $14.09, Jamaica Producers traded 542,984 units to close with a loss of 2 cents at $30.28, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 15 cents in trading 1,550 units to close at $22.45, JMMB Group had only 25,250 units changing hands but fell 5 cents in closing at $10.05. Kingston Wharves traded 3,000 shares to close at $11.50, Mayberry Investments traded 1,957,711 shares but lost 20 cents to 
end at $4.20 National Commercial Bank with 25,525 shares changing hands, to close $1.10 lower at $39.90, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 232,356 units and fell 1 US cent in closing at 20 US cents, Pulse Investments traded 10,000 shares to gain 40 cents and end at $3.30, Radio Jamaica ended with 11,124 units changing hands 25 cents higher to close at $4.75. Sagicor Group gained 42 cents with 1,823,949 shares changing hands at $22.52, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 27080 shares and lost 35 cents to close at $10, Scotia Group had 81,015 shares changing hands to close at $30.50 after falling 60 cents. Supreme Ventures closed with a gain of 5 cents at $5.05 with 33,200 units changing hands and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 205,077 at $5.02 after rising 2 cents.
JSE make gains – Wednesday
D&G dropped $6.39 on the JSE on Wednesday
The JSE Market Index recovered 274.33 points to end at 151,747.82, the all Jamaica Composite Index added 306.58 points to end at 168,543.04 and the JSE combined index gained 417.91 points to close at 160,960.45.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Berger Paints rose 10 cents and ended with 5,000 shares trading at $3.50, Cable & Wireless closed at $1.37 with 122,214 units changing hands, Caribbean Cement ended at $20 with 81,142 shares trading. Carreras lost 50 cents to close at $64, while trading 28,704 units, Desnoes and Geddes traded only 800 shares but fell $6.39 shares to $23.60, Gleaner closed at $2.10 with 131,961 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy closed with 28,233 shares trading with a loss of 89 cents at $83.60, well below the $97 equivalent, it last traded at in Trinidad. Jamaica Broilers traded 45,915 units but lost 41 cents to close at $14.09, Jamaica Producers traded 13,125 units to close with a loss of 20 cents at $30.30, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 20 cents in trading 5,000 units to close at $22.30, JMMB Group had only 1,000 units changing hands but fell 20 cents in closing at $10.10. Kingston Wharves traded 3,520 shares to rise by 5 cents to $11.50, 
National Commercial Bank with 110,881 shares changing hands, to close at $41, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 452,650 units and rose 1 US cent in closing at 21 US cents, Radio Jamaica ended with 10,255 units changing hands 15 cents higher to close at $4.50. Sagicor Group traded 56,670 shares changing hands at $22.10, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 49,790 shares and gained 35 cents to close at $10.35, Scotia Group had 272,706 shares changing hands to close at $31.10 after rising by $11.0. Supreme Ventures closed with a loss of 15 cents at $5 with 8,250 units changing hands, JMMB 5.75% preference share traded 32,087 units to close at $1.20 and JMMB 7.5% preference share traded 1,032,461shares to close at $2.15 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 229,000 at $5.
D&G back at $30 – Thursday
D&G traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $7
The market closed with 11,655,021 units valued at $94,676,748 changing hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 8,580,380 units changing hands, valued at $31,720,793.
The JSE Market Index gained 562.77 points to 153,605.25 the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 628.93 points to end at 170,618.82 and the JSE combined index gained 43.88 points to close at 162,103.43.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Cable & Wireless closed with a gain of 1 cent to $1.41 with 666,711 units, Caribbean Cement dropped $3.80 to more than erase the $3 rise on Wednesday to end at $19.20 with 145,972 shares trading. Carreras fell 1 cent to close at $64.99, while trading 402,191 units, Ciboney traded 109,574 units at 22 cents, Desnoes and Geddes jumped $7.12 with 60,280 shares changing hands to close at $29.99, Grace Kennedy closed with 12,897 shares trading at $83.50, well below the $97 equivalent, it traded at, in Trinidad on Thursday. Jamaica Broilers shed 5 cents after trading 188,789 units to close at $14.50,
Jamaica Producers traded 489,450 shares but lost $2.72 to close at $30.28. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 3,000 shares to end with a gain of $1 at $22, JMMB Group had 52,994 units changing hands but rose 21 cents in closing at $10.60, Margaritaville Turks had 199,000 shares trading at 13.1 US cents after slipping 0.90 cent, National Commercial Bank had 61,270 shares changing hands at $41 at the close. Pulse added 15 cents to close at $2.55 with 344,533 units changing hands, Sagicor Group gained 15 cents with 189,757 shares changing hands at $23.15, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 44,310 shares at $11. Scotia Group had only 16,079 shares changing hands to close at $30.50. Seprod fell $2.80 with 11,625 units changing hands at $19.20 and Supreme Ventures closed at $4.70 with 274,835 units changing hands after shedding 29 cents.
JSE majors fall on Monday
Jamaican stocks lost ground on Monday, as declining stocks overpowered advancing ones 19 to 10 fell as 44 changed hands, in all market segments. At the close 2 stocks traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high with 19,358,874 units valued at $311,620,982 changed hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 729,681 units changing hands, valued at $3,325,492.
The JSE Market Index fell 505.02 points to 155,242.80 the all Jamaica Composite Index lost 564.38 points to end at 172,448.89 and the JSE combined index dipped 339.27 points to close at 164,438.28.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
At the end of the market activities, Barita Investments traded 9,000 units and lost 20 cents to end at $3.52, Berger Paints gained 37 cents while trading 13,159 shares at $4.37, Cable & Wireless put on 1 cent in closing at $1.51 with 281,758 units, Caribbean Cement dropped 39 cents to end at $23.11 with 122,871 shares trading. Carreras fell by 90 cents to close at $64.10, while trading 576,410 units, Gleaner had 154,500 shares trading with the loss of 1 cent at $2, Grace Kennedy ended with 11,320 shares trading to close at $83, Jamaica Broilers gained 36 cents after trading 444,293 units to close at $14.36, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 6,330 shares to end at $23. 
JMMB Group had 401,491 units changing hands but lost 1 cent in closing at $10.40, Kingston Wharves had 14,069,404 shares trading with a loss of 9 cents at $11.30, National Commercial Bank had 2,112,047 shares changing hands to close at $41 but the price rose $1 by the close. 138 Student Living fell 13 cents in trading 8,584 shares at $5.67. Pan Jamaican Investments traded 20,000 units at $95. Sagicor Group closed with 7,522 shares changing hands at $23.55, Scotia Group had 13001 shares changing hands to close with a loss of $1.50 at $30.50, Scotia Investments dropped $3.45 with 252,400 units changing hands at $26.55 and Supreme Ventures closed at $5.25 with 107,124 units changing hands.