Trading on Friday ended with just 496,232 units, valued at $1,411,394 changing hands from a total of 11 securities that traded. The price of 5 stocks declined and 3 advanced with the junior market index losing 2.90 points to close at 966.98.
At the close, 5 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 4 had no stocks being offered for sale and 5 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and none closed with lower offers.
Stocks trading are, Access Financial traded 4,840 shares to close with a 18 cents fall to $12.02, Blue Power eased 40 cents to close at $13.60 with 25,000 units trading, Derrimon Trading ended with 15,000 shares changing hands and closed at $2.65, for a gain of 5 cents, Dolphin Cove closed with 1,131 shares changing hands at $12.52, for a 38 cents decline, Honey Bun traded 
5,000 units at $3.98, after adding 3 cents. Jamaican Teas had 2,774 shares changing hands, 25 cents higher at $3.50, KLE Group traded unchanged at 50 cents with 5,000 units changing hands, Knutsford Express with 100 shares changing hands ended at $6, Lasco Distributors fell 11 cents to $1.80, after it traded as high as $1.92 and ended with 76,000 units changing hands. Lasco Financial ended with 146,387 shares changing hands at $1.87 and Derrimon Trading 11.75% preference share, ended with 215,000 units changing hands with the price slipping 1 cent to $2.39.
Quiet day for juniors
Carib Flavours dominates juniors
Caribbean Flavours dominated junior market
At the close, 5 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 5 had no stocks being offered for sale and 4 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 2 with lower offers.
Stocks trading are, Caribbean Flavours traded 1,221,984 units firm at $2.70 in three trades, Caribbean Producers traded 159,738 units at $2.50, after the company reported good full year’s
results on Tuesday. Dolphin Cove traded 2,100 shares at $12.90, a fall of 10 cents, General Accident Insurance ended with 81,279 shares trading unchanged at $1.42 at the close. Honey Bun had 17,080 shares trading at $3.95 but lost 30 cents, Lasco Distributors was up 14 cents to $1.94, with 9,030 units changing hands, after trading at $2 and Medical Disposables traded 137,035 shares to close unchanged at $2.50.
7 stocks up 3 down for juniors
Blue Power jumped to a 52 weeks’ high of $14 on Monday
At the close, 5 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 4 had no stocks being offered for sale and 4 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and none with the offer being lower.
Stocks trading are, Access Financial ended at $16.50 with a gain of $3.50 with 13,547 units changing hands, Blue Power rose $1.70 to a new 52 weeks’ high of $14 while 3,000 shares traded, Caribbean Cream ended with 300,018 shares changing hands at $2 for a 30 cents increase. Caribbean Producers traded 10,006 units at $2.51, for a decline of 9 cents, Consolidated Bakeries traded 17,950 shares at $1.20 after shedding 9 cents, Dolphin Cove
gained 85 cents to $13, while 62,000 shares traded, General Accident Insurance traded 30,000 units at $1.42, Honey Bun with 11,358 shares changing hands, closed with a gain of 25 cents at $4.25, for a 52 weeks’ high, Jamaican Teas had 4,149 shares trading, to close at $3.10, Lasco Distributors was up 8 cents to $1.70, with 224,468 units changing hands. Lasco Financial closed with 57,133 units trading to end at $1.65, after rising 1 cent, Lasco Manufacturing gained 10 cents in closing at $1.90 with 129,204 units changing hands and Medical Disposables traded 22,000 shares to close unchanged at $2.50.
Profit jumps 129% at Honey Bun
Profit jumped 129 percent over the June 2014 quarter, after taxes for Honey Bun to $17 million for the June 2015 quarter and growth for the nine months period to $64 million versus $41 million, an increase of 58 percent, and cash flow from operation of $98 million from increased sales of 17.5 percent, to $672 million.
For the quarter sales grew 20 percent to $218 million from $181 million in 2014, whilst gross profit was up by a larger 24 percent. The company attributes the increase in sales to a strategic restructuring of the sales department. Gross profit margin increased to 45.5 percent up from 44 percent in the June quarter of 2015 versus 2014 and 44.9 percent for the nine months in 2015.
Export sales increased by 48 percent year to date. “The major increase in exports is as a result of our placement in ASDA stores in the UK” Michelle Chong, Chief Executive Officer said, in response to IC Insider.com enquiry, and is in keeping with the Company’s objective of increasing exports.
The problem in the past has been the last quarter with a tendency for lower sales and losses, is the company over this? “The company services a lot of schools and so the summer months are normally reduced due to the holiday season for July and August. We will always have this challenge but we have somewhat overcome a significant portion of it by way of the development of new products that are not directly geared for schools and by targeting other markets also. This has made a significant impact,” Chong stated in response to questions posed to her by IC Insider.com.
Last year there were problems and added cost in the distribution department, it appears that the company is over that for 2015 fiscal. “We have outsourced over 50 of the distribution that was costing us excessively very successfully and last year we were also suffering from 2 of our major distribution vehicles being out of service and so we had to pay a lot for other vehicles to service the deliveries. These critical vehicles are now back in service” Chong said.
Honey Bun would have enjoyed savings in electricity and flour cost with the reduction of prices of oil and wheat on the world market. Chong agrees and indicated, “yes but besides the reduced rates we have also undertaken significant energy conservation on our own. We have also commenced the first phase of a large solar energy project”.
Receivables remained static at $56 million over June 2014 figure while Inventories fell to $45 million from $51 for the same period while payables were up to $59 million from $55 million. The company ended the quarter with $72 million in cash and investments, borrowed funds of $38 million and equity of $363 million. During the fiscal year a dividend totalling $11 million was paid more than twice the $4.7 million paid in the prior fiscal year.
IC Insider’s project a slight loss in the final quarter ending September this year with earnings for the full year to end at 66 cents versus 68 cents reported for the three quarters to June and 43 cents for the fiscal year to September 2014.
Trading volume picks up for juniors
Caribbean Flavours fell 20 cents on Friday although profit to June 2015 climbed 21.7%
At the close, 4 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 2 had no stocks being offered for sale and 4 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 1 with the offer being lower.
Stocks trading are, AMG Packaging finished with 28,175 shares to close at $3.65, with a loss of 9 cents, Caribbean Cream ended with 222,048 shares changing hands at $1.70, Caribbean Flavours traded 10,000 units at $2.55, for a decline of 20 cents. The company
released audited financial statements showing profit of $58 million or 64 cents per share, versus $47 million or 56 cents in 2014, from sales revenue that were up to $307 million from $255 million in 2014. Caribbean Producers traded 49,061 units at $2.55, Honey Bun with 1,100 shares changing hands, closed with a gain of 30 cents at $4, Lasco Financial closed with 50,633 units trading, to end at $1.64, after shedding 16 cents and Lasco Manufacturing gained 10 cents in closing at $1.90 but with only 3,300 units changing hands.
Lasco Manufacturing trades 14m shares
Lasco’s water treatment machines – there was more than 12M units trading on Wednesday.
At the close, 4 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 3 had no stocks being offered for sale and 3 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 2 with the offers being lower.
Stocks trading are, Access Financial Services with 100 shares to close at $11, with a gain of 50 cents. At the close the bid was at $12 to buy 2,000 units, AMG Packaging closed with a loss of 21 cents at $3.74 with 290,000 units changing hands, Blue Power closed with 4,806 units changing hands to close at $12.30 with a loss of 5 cents. Caribbean Producers traded just 939 units with a loss of 17 cents at $2.72, Consolidated Bakeries traded 30,000 shares at $1.29 after shedding 24 cents, General Accident Insurance traded 70,200 units with the price closing unchanged at $1.50, Honey Bun ended with 17,662 shares trading unchanged at $3.70, Jamaican Teas had only 196 shares trading to close at $3.12.
Lasco Distributors closed with 1,594,030 units trading, ended with a gain of 2 cents at $1.62. Lasco Financial ended with 124,699 shares changing hands at $1.80, for a rise of 17 cents, Lasco Manufacturing gained 2 cents in closing at $1.72 with 12,053,445 units changing hands. Medical Disposables traded 13,000 shares to close unchanged at $2.50, Paramount Trading ended with 3,975 units changing hands unchanged at $6 and Eppley cumulative preference share 2019, ended with 50,000 units changing hands at $6.05.
Access drops 46% on junior market
Access Financial Services has lost 46 percent in three trading days on the JSE junior market, ending at $10 on Monday. Trading finished with 4 stocks declining and 6 gaining out of 13 securities that traded, resulting in 920,177 units, valued at $2,765,138 changing hands. The market lost 34.14 points to close at 948.73, having shed nearly 100 points since it peaked earlier in the month.
At the close 4 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 5 had no stocks being offered for sale and 2 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 5 with the offers being lower.
Stocks trading are, Access Financial Services traded 21,500 shares to close at $10, with a fall of $3. The stock has been trading on thin volumes, with support mostly around the $10 region, leaving a big gap that the bulk of buying is at and $19, the price it ran up to earlier the month. AMG Packaging closed at $3.95 with 6,200 units changing hands, Blue Power closed with 7,777 units changing hands with a gain of 5 cents at $12.35, Caribbean Cream traded 96,271 units to close 19 cents lower at $1.80. Caribbean Producers traded just 2,305 units at $2.72. Dolphin Cove finished with 2,120 shares while shedding 85 cents to end at $12.15, 
General Accident Insurance traded 205,537 units with the price closing 20 cents higher at $1.50, Honey Bun with 78,140 shares changing hands and closed with a gain of 5 cents at $3.70, Jamaican Teas had 2,070 shares trading to close with a gain of 2 cents at $3.12. Lasco Distributors closed with 4,877 units trading, 1 cent up at $1.80, Lasco Financial ended with 447,738 shares changing hands at $1.65 for a fall of 1 cent, Lasco Manufacturing with 37,642 units changing hands, closed at $1.85, up 1 cent and Jamaican Teas variable rate bond traded 8,000 units to close at $100.
Increased activity on junior market
Access fell $2.99 to $15.51on Thursday
At the close 4 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 3 had no stocks being offered for sale and 3 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 3 with the offers being lower.
Stocks trading are, Access Financial Services traded 200 shares to close at $15.51 with a fall of $2.99, AMG Packaging closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.95 with 31,398 units changing hands 30 cents higher, Cargo Handlers ended with 950 shares changing hands and closed at $31, Caribbean Cream traded 10,100 units at $1.99, after gaining 19 cents. Dolphin Cove traded 150 shares and closed at $13, General Accident Insurance traded 2,150 units with the price closing 15 cents lower to a 52 weeks’ low of $1.30, Honey Bun with 46,734 shares
changing hands, closed with a loss of 30 cents at $3.70, Knutsford Express had 518 shares trading to close at $6. Lasco Distributors closed with 283,526 units trading, 15 cents higher at $1.95, Lasco Financial ended with 85,300 shares changing hands to end at $1.80. Lasco Manufacturing with 291,740 units changing hands, closed at $1.84 after dropping a cent, Medical Disposables traded 102,000 shares to close with a gain of 25 cents at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.50 but closed with the offer at $2.30 to sell 13,085 units and Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 88,300 units changing hands at $6.05.
Trading expands to 14 junior stocks
Derrimon traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $2.50 on Tuesday.
The market ended with 4 securities closing with no bids to buy, while 6 had no stocks being offered for sale and 2 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and only 2 with the offers being lower.
Stocks trading are, Access Financial Services traded 100 shares to close with a loss of 50 cents at $18.50, Blue Power closed with 978 units changing hands at $12.28, Caribbean Cream traded 246,315 units to close 2 cents lower at $1.80, Caribbean Flavours traded 67,516 units at $3, while gaining 18 cents. Caribbean Producers traded 40,012 units for 10 cents gain at $2.80, Derrimon Trading ended with 5,113 shares changing hands to end 10 cents higher at $2.50, for a new 52 weeks’ high. Dolphin Cove traded 3,433 shares and closed at $13 after trading earlier as low as $12.15. General Accident Insurance traded 80,419 units with the price falling 15 cents, to $1.45 as investors continue to react negatively to the company reported profits for the June of just $457,000, and $26.6 million for the first
half of 2015, compared with $88 million and $187 million respectively. Honey Bun with 103,320 shares changing hands, closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $4 after gaining 60 cents. Jamaican Teas had 1,070 shares trading to close with a loss of 43 cents, at $3.10, Lasco Distributors closed with 48,964 units trading, 14 cents lower at $1.81, Lasco Financial Services traded 45,689 units to close at $1.80, after slipping 3 cents. Lasco Manufacturing with 287,629 units changing hands, closed 5 cents higher at $1.85 and Eppley cumulative redeemable preference shares 2019 ended with 326,469 units changing hands at $6.05.
Juniors make moderate gain
Honey Bun closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.40
The market ended with 5 securities closing with no bids to buy, while 6 had no stock being offered for sale and 4 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and only 3 with the offer being lower.
Stocks trading are, Access Financial Services traded 100 shares to close at $19 with a gain of 88 cents, AMG Packaging closed at $3.65 with 2,114 units changing hands, Blue Power closed with 1,000 units changing hands and lost $1.22 to close at $12.28. Caribbean Cream traded 63,793 units, to close at $2. Caribbean Producers traded 13,489 units for a 10 cents
gain at $2.70, Derrimon Trading ended with 11,746 shares changing hands, lost 25 cents to $2.20, Honey Bun with 4.450 shares changing hands, closed with a gain of 40 cents at $3.40, for a 52 weeks’ high. Jamaican Teas had 1,000 shares trading, to close at $3.53, the stock closed with an offer to sell at $3.50, Lasco Distributors closed with 1,229,090 units trading, 4 cents higher to $1.80, Lasco Financial Services traded 38,137 units to close at $1.80 after falling 10 cents and Lasco Manufacturing with 256,367 units changing hands, closed at $1.95 for the loss of 5 cents.