The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed down on Friday, with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index falling 776.18 points to 319,258.66 and the JSE Index declining by 707.19 points to 290,880.73.
Trading on Friday closed 28 securities changing hands with 10 advancing, 10 declining and 8 trading firm in the main and US dollar markets.
The securities with the largest price changes include, Caribbean Cement with a fall of $1.45 to $31.55, Grace Kennedy with a loss of $1.20 to $43, Salada Foods climbing $1 to $12, Scotia Group that rose by $1.50 to $53.50 and Seprod losing 94 cents to end at $29.05.
Main market activity ended with 4,322,228 units valued at $69,892,327 in contrast to 2,690,310 shares valued at $52,093,635 on Thursday. Ciboney Group accounted for 1,385,481 units and 32 percent of total volume traded, followed by Jamaica Broilers Group accounting for 21 percent of volume traded with 904,680 units changing hands and Sagicor Group with 293,843 units or 6.8 percent.
Trading results in an average of 160,083 shares valued at $2,588,605 for each security traded, in contrast to 92,769 shares valued at $1,796,332 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 204,802 units valued at $3,183,567 and previously, 207,617 units valued at $3,223,626. In contrast, January 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, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
Traded in the US dollar market ended with Proven Investments trading 667,350 shares at 21.99 US cents with a value of US$146,425 as the market index rose 1.03 points to 168.18.
For more details of market activities see – JSE trading picks up on Friday.
JSE trading picks up on Friday
Main Market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange picked up modestly, and ended with 4,322,228 units valued at over $69,892,327 changing hands versus 2,690,310 shares valued at $52,093,635 Thursday.
Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market activity ended with 27 securities traded ending with 9 securities rising, 10 falling, 8 trading firm, leading to market indices suffering a fall. The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index fell by 776.18 points to 319,258.66 and the JSE Index lost 707.19 points to close at 290,880.73.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments closed at $8, with 5,000 shares, Berger Paints ended 20 cents higher at $17.25, with 13,290 stock units, Cable & Wireless concluded trading at $1.25, with 61,100 units, Caribbean Cement finished with a loss of $1.45 at $31.55, with 2,242 shares, Carreras closed $10.95, with 214,710 shares changing hands, Ciboney Group settled with a loss of 2 cents at a 52 weeks’ low of 10 cents, with 1,385,481 shares traded. Grace Kennedy ended trading with a loss of $1.20 at $43, with 202,384 shares, Jamaica Broilers traded 48 cents higher at $18.55, with 904,680 stock units, Jamaica Producers gained 15 cents to end at $15.15, with 40,000 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed 30 cents higher at $7, with 7,400 shares. JMMB Group ended with a loss of 40 cents at $24.60, with 34,724 shares, Kingston Wharves finished at $42.60, with 5,344 stock units, Mayberry Investments settled with a loss of 5 cents at $4.75, with 12,598 units, NCB Financial Group ended trading 9 cents higher at $99.99, with 92,031 shares. PanJam Investment closed at $40.75, with 48,178 stock units, Portland JSX ended 22 cents higher at $10.22, with 800 units, Radio Jamaica finished at $1.05, with 109,000 shares traded, Sagicor Group settled with a loss of 45 cents at $36.55, with 293,843 stock units. 
Sagicor Real Estate Fund settled with a loss of 40 cents at $14.50, with 29,285 shares, Salada Foods ended trading $1 higher at $12, with 5,000 stock units, Scotia Group traded $1.50 higher at $53.50, with 216,374 units, Seprod finished trading with a loss of 94 cents at $29.05, with 81,403 shares, Sterling Investments closed at $13, with 300 shares. Supreme Ventures ended 10 cents higher at $11.90, with 19,328 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments concluded trading with a loss of 1 cent at $4.39, with 188,796 stock units, Wisynco Group fell 10 cents to settle at $10.40, with 198,937 units and in the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.5% ended at $1.02, with 150,000 shares changing hands.
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 fell on Friday.”
Elite Diagnostics grabs 77% of trades
Recently listed Elite Diagnostics dominated trading on Junior Market on Friday with 4 million shares, or 77 percent of trading, with no trade exceeding 172,000 units.
On Thursday the Elite accounted for just over 84 percent of volume of stocks trading, resulting in 6,672,725 units, up from 2,520,373 shares that were exchanged on Wednesday.
The market closed on Friday with 21 securities changing hands, up from 18 on Thursday, resulting in an exchange of 5,241,602 units valued at $19,221,963, compared to 7,902,138 units valued at $25,165,370 on the prior trading day.
The Junior Market index advanced 12.59 points to close at 2,928.28 as the prices of 7 securities advanced, 7 declined and 7 remained unchanged.
Trading ended with an average of 249,600 units for an average of $915,332 compared to an average of 439,008 units for an average of $1,398,076 on Thursday. An average of 288,936 units at an average value of $1,632,571 traded, and previously 291,636 units at an average value of $1,681,793. 
In contrast, January closed with an average of 122,386 shares, valued at $489,704 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and 1 with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended 40 cents higher at $2.45, with 20,000 stock units, Blue Power concluded trading at $34.87, with 910 units, CAC 2000 finished at $9, with 7,000 shares, Caribbean Cream ended trading $1.53 higher at $7.52, with 296,348 shares, Caribbean Producers finished trading 10 cents higher at $4.40, with 70,595 units. C2W Music ended with a loss of 6 cents at $0.45, with 58,350 shares, Dolphin Cove finished 15 cents higher at $17, with 100,200 stock units, Elite Diagnostic settled with a loss of 11 cents at $2.90, with 4,055,011 units, 
Eppley ended trading with a loss of 40 cents at $10.10, with 100 shares. FosRich Group finished trading 10 cents higher at $2.70, with 12,000 shares, General Accident closed with a loss of 5 cents at $2.80, with 61,920 stock units, Iron Rock finished at $3, with 111,500 shares, Jamaican Teas ended trading 28 cents higher at $4.78, with 9,700 stock units. Jetcon Corporation traded at $4.60, with 67,077 units, Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 3 cents at $4.37, with 31,891 stock units, Lasco Financial finished at $5, with 104,930 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled at $4.43, with 2,783 shares. Main Event ended trading at $6, with 5,067 shares, Medical Disposables fell 15 cents to $4.85, with 16,950 shares, Stationery and Office closed with a loss of 6 cents at $5, with 24,091 units and tTech concluded trading 40 cents higher at $5.40, with 185,179 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
All 3 TTSE indices falter – Friday
Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange closed on Friday with trading in 17 securities, against 14 trading on Thursday, resulting in 4 stocks rising, 5 declining and 8 remaining unchanged.
At close of the market the, Composite Index shed 2.02 points on Friday to 1,268.71, the All T&T Indexfell 0.37 points to 1,701.57, while the Cross Listed Index inched 0.51 points lower to close at 112.78.
Trading ended with 1,126,271 shares at a value of $14,736,676, compared to 171,497 shares at a value of $1,699,257.
IC bid-offer Indicator| IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, on Friday, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| First Citizens added 1 cent and ended at $32.11, trading 1,212 shares, JMMB Group gained 2 cents and ended at $1.85, with 315,994 stock units changing hands, Scotiabank rose 5 cents and settled at $61.76, trading 44,460 shares and West Indian Tobacco closed with a gain of 5 cents to settle at $88.55, trading 248 shares.
Losses| Agostini’s fell 45 cents and concluded at $20.55, trading 450,000 shares, Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of 5 cents and completed trading at $3.35, with 32,699 units, National Flour shed 4 cents and settled at $1.86, trading 1,000 shares, NCB Financial Group lost 7 cents and concluded trading at $6.53, with 244,510 shares and Sagicor Financial ended trading 6 cents lower at $7.82, with 15,443 units changing hands.
Firm Traded| Ansa Mcal closed trading at $60, with 100 units changing hands, Clico Investments closed at $20, trading 7,954 units, First Caribbean International Bank settled at $9.30, trading 246 shares, LJ Williams B share concluded trading at 75 cents, with 3,707 stock units. National Enterprises completed market activity at $9.65, with 100 units, Point Lisas closed at $3.81, with 600 units, Prestige Holdings settled at $10, trading 1,171 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL concluded trading at $27.10, trading 6,827 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE trading drops 87% on Thursday
JMMB Group accounted for 31% of volume traded.
Main Market activity of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended the total volume traded falling by 87 percent on Wednesday compared to Wednesday as 2,690,310 shares valued at $52,093,635. JMMB Group accounted for 971,565 units or 36.11 percent of shares traded. Trading on Wednesday amounted to 20,208,278 shares valued at $255,279,222.
Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market activity ended with 29 securities traded ending with 9 securities rising, 9 falling, 11 trading firm, leading to market indices to just eking out a minute change. The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index adding just 0.28 points to 320,034.84 and the JSE Index rising by a minute 0.25 points to 291,587.92.
In the main market activity, Berger Paints ended 5 cents higher at $17.05, with 1,680 stock units, Cable & Wireless concluded trading with a loss of 11 cents at $1.25, with 156,030 units being exchanged Carreras finished at $10.95, with 205,552 shares, Caribbean Cement settled with a loss of 2 cents at $33, with 8,520 shares, 
Ciboney Group ended trading with a loss of 4 cents close at 52 weeks’ low of 12 cents, with 322,400 shares. Grace Kennedy traded at $44.20, with 81,830 stock units, Jamaica Broilers finished trading with a loss of 93 cents at $18.07, while exchanging 240,916 units, Jamaica Producers closed with a loss of 15 cents at $15, with 38,889 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended 49 cents higher at $6.70, with 3,634 shares. JMMB Group concluded trading at $25, with 971,565 shares, Kingston Properties finished at $6.65, with 3,899 stock units, Kingston Wharves settled at $42.60, with 27,033 units, Mayberry Investments ended trading with a loss of 1 cent at $4.80, with 3,500 shares. NCB Financial Group lost 10 cents to end at $99.90, with 33,214 shares, PanJam Investment ended 20 cents higher at $40.75, with 1,000 units changing hands, Radio Jamaica settled at $1.05, with 34,939 shares, Sagicor Group ended trading 50 cents higher at $37, with 33,518 stock units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading at $14.90, with 20,956 shares, Salada Foods traded with a loss of $1 at $11, with 77,119 units,
Scotia Group finished trading at $52, with 50,562 shares, Seprod closed at $29.99, with 143 shares, Sterling Investments ended 95 cents higher at $13, with 48,026 shares. Supreme Ventures concluded trading 15 cents higher at $11.80, with 709 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments finished 10 cents higher at $4.40, with 126,721 units and Wisynco Group settled with a loss of 19 cents at $10.50, with 143,855 shares. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market 7.5% traded 5 cents higher at $2, with 300 stock units, JMMB Group 7.5% closed at $1.02, with 300 shares, Productivity Business finished at $100, with 43,500 stock units, Proven Investments settled 10 cents higher at $5.15, with 10,000 units changing hands.
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 in steady trading.”
JSE main market in steady trading
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange remained steady at the close on Thursday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index increased by a mere 0.28 points to 320,034.84 and the JSE Index advanced by just 0.25 points to 291,587.92.
Trading on Thursday closed with as 9 securities advancing, 9 declining and 13 trading firm for the main and US dollar markets.
The securities with the largest price changes include, Caribbean Cement with a fall of $3 to $32, Jamaica Broilers fell 93 cents to $18.07, Salada Foods traded $1 down to $11 and Sterling Investments rose by 95 cents to higher to $13.
Main market activity ended with 2,690,310 shares valued at $52,093,635 in contrast to 20,208,278 shares valued at $255,279,222 on Wednesday. JMMB Group accounted for 971,565 units and 36.11 percent of total volume traded.
Trading results in an average of 92,769 shares valued at $1,796,332 for each security traded, in contrast to 777,241 shares valued at $9,818,432 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 207,617 units valued at $3,223,626 and previously, 215,943 units valued at $3,334,894. In contrast, January 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, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Traded in the US dollar market ended with Margaritaville closed at 19 US cents and with 220 shares and Proven Investments traded 109,220 shares at 21.99 US cents. Total trading in the US market came to 109,220 units with a value of US$23,719 as the market index fell by 1.63 points to 167.15.
For more details of market activities see – JSE trading drops 87% on Thursday.
Elite Diagnostics dominates trading with 84%
Elite Diagnostics accounted for 84.4% of Thursday’s Junior Market trading.
Recently listed Elite Diagnostics accounted for just over 84 percent of volume of stocks trading resulting from 6,672,725 units, up from 2,520,373 shares that were exchanged on the Junior Market, on Wednesday.
The market closed on Thursday with 18 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 7,902,138 units valued at $25,165,370 compared to 4,892,740 units valued at $17,902,241 on Wednesday.
The Junior Market index advanced 24.40 points to close at 2,915.69 as the prices of 4 securities advanced, 6 declined and 8 remained unchanged.
Trading ended with an average of 439,008 units for an average of $1,398,076 down from an average of 212,728 units for an average of $778,358 on Wednesday. An average of 291,636 units at an average value of $1,681,793 traded, and previously 282,425 units at an average of $1,699,526. In contrast, January closed with an average of 122,386 shares, valued at $489,704 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 5 cents at $2.05, with 302,021 stock units, CAC 2000 finished with a loss of 99 cents at $9, with 13,372 shares, Cargo Handlers settled at $10.90, with 2,000 shares, Caribbean Cream ended trading at $5.99, with 109,883 shares, Elite Diagnostic settled with a loss of 2 cents at $3.01, with 6,672,725 units. Eppley ended trading at $10.50, with 1,356 shares, Express Catering traded 10 cents higher at $4.70, with 22,638 shares, FosRich Group finished trading 10 cents higher at $2.60, with 208,907 shares, Honey Bun concluded trading with a loss of 12 cents at $5.13, with 92,847 shares. Iron Rock finished at $3, with 2,099 shares, KLE Group closed at $2.30, with 60,000 shares, 
Knutsford Express ended $1.90 higher at $15, with 300 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading at $4.40, with 80,604 stock units. Lasco Financial finished at $5, with 170,459 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled 3 cents higher at $4.43, with 57,395 shares, Main Event ended trading with a loss of 50 cents at $6, with 22,170 shares, Stationery and Office closed at $5.06, with 34,000 units and tTech concluded trading with a loss of 40 cents at $5, with 49,362 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Trinidad stocks inched higher – Thursday
Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange was moderate on Thursday with trading in just 14 securities, against 11 trading on Wednesday. The market closed with 4 stocks rising, 3 declining and 7 remaining unchanged.
At close of the market the, Composite Index gained 0.87 points on Thursday to 1,270.73, the All T&T Indexrose 0.73 points to 1,701.94, while the Cross Listed Index inched higher by 0.14 points to close at 113.29.
Trading ended with 171,497 shares at a value of $1,699,257, compared to 143,873 shares with a value of $1,406,116.
IC bid-offer Indicator| IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, on Thursday, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 3 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Agostini’s finished 13 cents higher and ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $21, trading 6,502 shares, JMMB Group rose 3 cents and completed trading at $1.83, with 18,346 stock units changing hands, Massy Holdings added 30 cents and ended at $47.30, with 1,061 stock units trading, and Republic Financial Holdings gained 1 cent to $101.52, with 3,650 stock units changing hands.
Losses| Clico Investments traded with a loss of 35 cents and settled at $20, with 18,360 units, First Citizens closed with a loss of 1 cent and ended at $32.10, trading 4,737 shares and Scotiabank fell 1 cent and concluded trading at $61.71 with 2,124 shares. 
Firm Traded| Angostura Holdings completed trading at $15.67, with 650 stock units changing hands, Grace Kennedy settled at $3.40, with 4,000 units, LJ Williams B share ended at 75 cents, trading 80,000 units, National Enterprises settled at $9.65, with 25,000 units. National Flour concluded market activity at $1.90, trading 1,000 shares, One Caribbean Media closed trading at $12.50, with 2,275 stock units changing hands and Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $27.10, trading 3,792 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE main market enjoyed big bounce
Bulls may be lurching to pounce on Jamaican stocks.
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Wednesday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index increased by 2,161.69 points to 320,034.56 and the JSE Index advanced by 1,969.54 points to 291,587.67.
Trading ended on Tuesday with 9 stocks advancing, 6 declining and 11 trading firm.
The securities with the largest price changes include, Caribbean Cement settled $3.80 higher at $35, Salada Foods traded $1 higher at $12, Seprod closing 99 cents higher at $29.99 and Sterling Investments rising $2.74 higher to $12.05.
Market activity ended with 20,208,278 shares valued at $255,279,222 in contrast to 2,910,640 shares valued at $68,467,853 on Tuesday.
Wisynco Group was the leading security trading with 16,421,906 units accounting for 81.26 percent of share traded, followed by Caribbean Cement with 1,663,767 units or 8.2 percent and Ciboney Group with 791,013 units or 3.91 percent of total volume traded.
December closed with average of 777,241 shares valued at $9,818,432 for each security traded, in contrast to 111,948 units for an average of $2,633,379 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 215,943 units valued at $3,334,894 and previously, 176,923 units valued at $2,847,692. 
In contrast, January 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, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Traded in the US dollar market ended with Productivity Business finished unchanged at 56 US cents with 54,799 shares and Proven Investments traded 544,500 units at 21.99 US cents down from 22 US cents before. Total trading in the US market came to US$150,012 as the market index inched higher by 0.18 points to 168.78.
For more details of market activities see – Wisynco Group corners 81% of trading.
Elite Diagnostics shares jump 52%
Heavily oversubscribed Initial Public Issue, Elite Diagnostics rose $1.03 for a 52 percent gain from the IPO price, to close at $3.03 after trading as high as $3.40, as a total of 2,520,373 shares were exchanged on the Junior Market, on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, GWest dropped to $2.50 following investors’ reaction to the results for the December quarter that showed a loss of $48 million and $76 million for the nine months. The results are in line with the company’s forecast in the prospectus of $111 million for the full year so it is interesting that investors are now reacting negatively to the numbers after they traded in heavy volumes after it listed in December as high as $4. GWest closed with a weak bid to buy just 5,000 units at $2.16.
GWest dropped to $2.50 after reporting a loss for the nine months to December.
Caribbean Cream traded at a 52 weeks’ low of $4.65 but stockbroker, Stocks and Securities posted a bid to 6.4 million units at $5.99 and the price moved up to close at $5.99. Unconfirmed report is that the company is in takeover talks for an entity that is in similar field to it.
The Junior Market index advanced 7.61 points to close at 2,891.29 on Wednesday, as the prices of 9 securities advanced, 7 declined and 7 remained unchanged.
The market closed with 23 securities changing hands compared to 18 securities trading on Tuesday, but the level of trading fell sharply with just 4,892,740 shares valued at $17,902,241 trading, with 24,250,087 shares valued at $100,904,262 securities changing hands.
Trading ended with an average of 212,728 units for an average of $778,358 down from an average of 1,347,227 units for an average of $5,605,792 on Tuesday. An average of 282,425 units, averaging $1,699,526 traded, and previously 806,402 units at an average value of $1,779,476. In contrast, January closed with an average of 122,386 shares, valued at $489,704 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed with a loss of 2 cents at $45, trading 5,000 shares, 
AMG Packaging ended at $2.10, with 205,479 stock units, Blue Power concluded trading $1.02 higher at $34.87, with 10,000 units, CAC 2000 finished at $9.99, with 1,863 shares, Cargo Handlers settled at $10.90, with 3,027 shares. Caribbean Cream ended trading $1.09 higher at $5.99, with 195,881 shares, Derrimon Trading concluded trading 15 cents higher at $7.15, with 1,000 shares, Eppley settled at $10.50, with 300 units, FosRich Group traded with a loss of 1 cent at $2.50, with 327,958 shares. General Accident finished trading 5 cents higher at $2.85, with 163,298 shares, GWest Corporation closed with a loss of 24 cents at $2.50, with 5,400 stock units, Honey Bun ended at $5.25, with 14,273 units, Jamaican Teas settled at $4.50, with 1,444 shares. Jetcon Corporation ended trading at $4.60, with 100 stock units, Knutsford Express closed at $13.10, with 4,285 shares,
Lasco Distributors ended with a loss of 10 cents at $4.40, with 1,232,072 shares, Lasco Financial concluded trading with a loss of 20 cents at $5, with 19,707 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing finished with a loss of 5 cents at $4.40, with 66,248 units, Main Event settled 74 cents higher at $6.50, with 4,899 shares, Stationery and Office finished trading with a loss of 34 cents at $5.06, with 96,695 stock units and tTech ended 40 cents higher at $5.40, with 11,507 shares. In the junior market preference segment, Eppley 9.5% concluded trading 5 cents higher at $7.25, with 1,931 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.