The junior market inched forward at the close on Monday, after trading 1,306,308 shares valued at $6,667,614. The market index added 10.11 points to end at 2,156.91, while a total of 14 securities traded, with 5 advancing and 5 declining.
The junior market closed on a soft note with a total of 5 stocks closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 ended with lower offers.
At the end of trading, Blue Power traded 560 units and gained $1.50 to close at $13.50, Caribbean Cream traded 793,503 units and gained 9 cents to end at $4.80, Consolidated Bakeries ended with 5,000 shares changing hands at $1.23, Dolphin Cove had 40,524 shares trading with a gain of 4 cents to end at $12.55. Honey Bun lost 25 cents to end at $18 with 27,551 shares trading, ISP Finance traded 20,719 shares but fell 10 cents to close at $2.70, Jamaican Teas traded 5,000 shares to end at $3.90. 
Jetcon Corporation closed at $3 while 5,044 units traded, KLE Group fell 60 cents in trading 53,000 shares and closed at $1.60, Lasco Distributors closed with 41,950 units trading, to close with a gain of 5 cents at $7.55, Lasco Financial closed with a rise of 2 cents at $3.49 with 38,362 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing closed at $4.50 with 252,544 shares trading, Paramount Trading ended with 175 shares changing hands at $10.80, after losing 5 cents and tTech fell 20 cents and ended with 22,376 shares changing hands, to close at $4.25.
Juniors inch up on Monday
Juniors slipped mildly on Friday
Jetcon traded the most shares on the junior market with 785,615 units at $3 on Friday.
The junior market closed on Friday after undergoing a day of subdued activity with 1,443,534 shares valued at $5,505,458 traded. The market index slipped 6.11 points from Thursday’s close, to end at 2,146.80. A total of 12 securities traded, with 3 advancing and 4 declining.
The junior market closed on a soft note with a total of 3 stocks closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 ended with lower offers.
At the end of trading, Caribbean Cream traded 25,000 units and rose 1 cent to end at $4.71, Consolidated Bakeries ended with 51,500 shares changing hands at $1.23, General Accident ended trading with 1,541 shares, to close at $2.60. Honey Bun gained 5 cents to end at $18.25 with 7,290 shares trading, as investors interest in the stock continues with the proposed stock split is expected to be approved later in May. 
Iron Rock Insurance traded 37,000 shares at $3.40, Jamaican Teas traded 33,174 shares to end at $3.90 with a loss of 1 cent. Jetcon Corporation closed at $3 while 785,615 units traded, KLE Group jumped 37.5 percent in trading 16,550 shares to gain 60 cents and closed at $2.20, Lasco Distributors closed with 185,483 units trading, to close at $7.50, Lasco Financial closed with a loss of 2 cents at $3.47 with 178,184 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing fell 10 cents to close at $4.50 with 121,972 shares trading and tTech ended with 225 shares changing hands, to close at $4.45.
Mayberry Q1 profit hardly moved
Total comprehensive income for the March quarter at investment bankers, Mayberry Investments, increased 165 percent to $364 million, compared to $137.6 million in the 2015 quarter. The more investment sensitive number, net profit, was just $94 million compared to $82 million in the corresponding 2015 quarter.
Earnings per share ended at 8 cents, up from 7 cents in 2015, making the stock at $3.40, fully priced based on current market valuation measures. Profit was boosted by $209 million in realised trading gains compared with $53 million in 2015 but suffered from unrealised investment loss of $94 million versus a gain of $12 in 2015.
Income from fees and commissions jumped 204 percent to $38.9 million. Net interest income suffered a reduction of 34 percent or $33.4 million to reach $65 million, dividend income declined from $57 million to $18.6 million and net foreign exchange gains ended at $34 million, down from $40 million.
The decrease in net interest income was as a result of the reduction in the size of the repo portfolio. A general decline in the global bond market due to speculation about US interest rates and changes in the market conditions which impacted the bond prices in the portfolio.
Operating expenses for the period rose 27 percent to $204 million from $161 million for the corresponding period in 2014, “The increase in expense is due to increased costs for consultancy as well as legal and professional services” Gary Peart, Chief Executive Officer stated. Additional provision for credit losses of $7.5 made during the period compared to a write back during 2015 of $5 million contributed to the increase.
Gary Peart, Chief Executive of Mayberry Investments.
The group made investments in four associated companies since July 2015, making Lasco Financial Services, Blue Power Group, Caribbean Producers and Iron Rock Insurance Company associates and contributed $28 million in profit, there was no income from associates in the 2015 period.
At the end of the period stockholders’ equity was $6.6 billion, an increase of $2.3 billion over the corresponding period in 2015. Net book value ended at $5.50 per share and big premium to the last traded price of $3.40 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Eppley jumps $76 on Monday
Eppley jumps sharply to close at a new high of $580.76
At the close, there were two 52 weeks’ highs with 14 active securities trading, with 8 advancing and 3 declining. Volume traded is just 534,047 shares valued at $3,394,975, while 4 stocks closed with bids higher than the last selling prices and 3 ended with lower offers.
At the end of trading in a market, Caribbean Cream traded 19,811 units and fell 15 cents to end at $4.20, Caribbean Flavours had 104,812 shares changing hands at $8.50, Consolidated Bakeries gained 10 cents in trading 40,000 shares to close at $1.35, Dolphin Cove had 16,144 shares changing hands at $12.50. Honey Bun rose 75 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $17.95 with 500 shares trading.
Iron Rock Insurance traded at $3.40 at the close while 4,000 shares changed hands, with a gain of 5 cents, Jamaican Teas traded 1,817 shares and gained 1 cent to end at $4, Jetcon Corporation ended at $2.90 while 66,153 units traded. Key Insurance traded 5,300 shares but gained 30 cents to end at $2.80, Lasco Distributors fell 10 cents and ended at $7.50 with 213,679 shares trading, Lasco Financial gained 25 cents to close at $3.40 with 25,585 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing rose $1.05 to close at $4.60 with 27,458 shares trading and tTech ended with 8,688 units changing hands to end with a loss of 30 cents at $4.15.
3 Lascos dominate on Friday
The Lasco companies traded the most shares on Friday.
Trading on the junior market saw more stocks rising than declining, but a fall of $1.30 in the price of Lasco Manufacturing resulted in the junior market index falling by 38.55 points to end at 2,064.85 as the three Lasco listed companies accounted for the bulk of the volume for the day. .
There were 12 active securities trading, with 8 advancing and 3 declining. At the close, 9 stocks closed with bids higher than the last selling prices and 3 ended with lower offers. Volume traded is 2,216,522 shares valued at $11,878,080.
At the end of trading in a market, AMG Packaging traded 16,841 shares at $13, Caribbean Cream traded 68,200 units to gain 15 cents and end at $4.35, Honey Bun rose 20 cents to end at $17.20 with 305 shares trading. Iron Rock Insurance traded at $3.35 at the close while 8,800 shares changed hands, with a gain of 5 cents,
Jamaican Teas traded 25,571 shares and fell 1 cent to end at $3.99, Jetcon Corporation gained 20 cents to end at $2.90 while only 500 units traded. Knutsford Express traded 9,600 shares but fell $2.10 to $16.80, Lasco Distributors rose 35 cents and ended at $7.60 with 998,711 shares trading, Lasco Financial gained 15 cents to close at $3.15 with 569,195 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing fell $1.30 to close at $3.55 with 488,299 shares trading, Medical Disposables rose by 10 cents in trading 30,000 shares to close at $3.20 and tTech ended with 500 units changing hands to end with a gain of 27 cents at $4.45.
Trading falls for juniors – Thursday
Lasco Financial traded the largest volume of 1,397,376 units on Thursday.
At the close, 7 stocks closed with bids higher than the last selling prices and 3 ended with lower offers. Volume traded is 3,938,670 shares valued at $14,970,710.
At the end of trading in a market, AMG Packaging traded 1,848 shares at $13, Caribbean Cream traded 133,566 units to gain 20 cents and end at $4.20, Consolidated Bakeries rose 8 cents in trading 18,782 shares to close at $1.25, Honey Bun rose $1.20 to end at $17 with 4,000 shares trading.
Iron Rock Insurance traded at $3.30 while 9,786 shares changed hands with a gain of 20 cents, ISP Finance had 50,000 shares changing hands and rose 29 cents to close at $2.74, Jamaican Teas traded 5,000 shares and gained 30 cents to end at $4, Jetcon Corporation fell 15 cents to end at $2.70 while 880, 327 units traded. Lasco Distributors rose 5 cents and ended at $7.25 with 272,349 shares trading. Lasco Financial lost 10 cents to close at $3 with 1,397,376 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing rose 15 cents to close at $4.85 with 1,213,474 shares trading and tTech ended with 2,162 units changing hands to end with a gain of 3 cents at $4.18.
Juniors climb sharply – Wednesday
Lasco Financial traded the most shares on the junior market on Wednesday.
Trading on the junior market resulted in more stocks rising exceeding declining ones by a wide margin and ended with the index rising 42.37 points to end at 2,109.90 on Wednesday. There were 20 active securities in the junior market with 10 advancing and 4 declining. .
At the close, 2 stocks closed with bids higher than the last selling prices and 2 ended with lower offers. Volume traded is 7,092,876 shares valued at $25,938,952.
At the end of trading in a market, Access Financial Services closed at $16.50 with 12,000 units changing hands, AMG Packaging traded 11,000 shares at $13, Cargo Handlers closed at $45, with 525 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cream traded 92,870 units, but recovered the 17 cents it lost on Tuesday to end at $4. Caribbean Producers gained 11 cents to end at $4.01 while trading 475,000 units. Consolidated Bakeries rose 7 cents in trading 1,000,000 shares to close at $1.17. C2W Music gained 3 cents while trading 106,324 units to end at 35 cents, Dolphin Cove traded 250 shares with a loss of 50 cents at $12.50, General Accidents closed at $2.65 with 147,688 shares changing hands, Honey Bun lost 20 cents to end at $15.80 with 206,720 shares trading. Iron Rock Insurance traded at $3.10 while 63,000 shares change hands,
ISP Finance had 50,000 shares changing hands and rose 29 cents to close at $2.74, Jamaican Teas traded 397,510 shares and gained 20 cents to end at $3.70, Jetcon Corporation climbed 35 cents to end at $2.85 while 352,125 units traded. KLE Group traded 1,000,000 shares with a rise of 5 cents to $1.45, Lasco Distributors gained 68 cents and ended at $7.20 with 265,511 trading. Lasco Financial closed at $3.10 with 1,493,865 shares changing hands but rose 10 cents, Lasco Manufacturing fell by 5 cents to close at $4.70 with 597,108 shares trading, Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 21,500 units changing hands to end with a loss of 2 cents at $2.12 and Eppley 10% reference share traded 799,880 units at $6.10.
Juniors dip as 8 stocks fall – Tuesday
Lasco Manufacturing had the largest trade in the junior market
Trading on the junior market resulted in more stocks declining than rising by a wide margin and ended with the index dropping 37.33 points end at 2,067.53 on Tuesday. A volume of 3,312,315 shares valued at $12,515,372 traded, including two large trades, with Lasco Manufacturing accounting for 1,106,586 shares and Caribbean Producers with 1,063,150 shares.
The market closed with 16 active securities, 2 of which advanced and 8 declined while 2 stocks closed with bids higher than the last selling prices and 3 ended with lower offers.
At the end of trading in a market, Access Financial Services closed at $16.50 with 5,000 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream traded 109,925 units but lost 17 cents to end at $3.83, Caribbean Flavours lost 5 cents to close at $8.50 while 1,222 shares were traded, Caribbean Producers fell 10 cents to end at $3.90. Consolidated Bakeries fell 10 cents in trading just 122,376 shares to close at $1.20, C2W Music had 29,019 units changing hands at 32 cents, 
General Accidents closed at $2.65 with 136,177 shares changing hands, Honey Bun rose 50 cents to end at $16 with 8,527 shares trading. Iron Rock Insurance fell 40 cents to $3.10 while trading 118,926 shares, ISP Finance had 19,300 shares changing hands, at $2.45, Jamaican Teas traded 74,583 shares at $3.50, KLE Group traded 331,000 shares at $1.40, Lasco Distributors lost 98 cents and ended at $6.52 with 115,359 units trading. Lasco Financial closed at $3 with 43,200 shares changing hands but with a loss of 3 cents, Lasco Manufacturing gained 20 cents to close at $4.75 and tTech fell 3 cents and ended with 27,965 shares changing hands at $4.15.
Juniors jump 8% on – Friday
Cargo Handlers traded at a new high of $45.
The junior market index jumped sharply by 159.72 points or 8 percent on top of the 72.93 points it gained on Thursday to end at 2,114.08 on Friday. As was the case on Thursday Lasco Distributors and Manufacturing made big impression on the market index. The volume traded ended with 2,723,962 units valued at $12,229,768, changing hands. The market closed with 16 active securities, 9 of which advanced and 3 declined while one stock closed at a 52 weeks’ high.
At the close of trading 4 stocks closed with bids higher than the last selling prices and just 4 ended with lower offers.
At the end of trading in a market with price gains dominated by the Lasco companies, AMG Packaging closed with a loss of 2 cents in trading 5,540 units to end at $12, CAC 2000 traded 1,400 shares 40 cents higher to close at $6.90. Cargo Handlers ended with 100 shares changing hands for a gain of $1.49 and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $45, Caribbean Cream traded 233,322 units at $4, Caribbean Producers traded 100,000 units to end at $4, Consolidated Bakeries gained 11 cents in trading 7,870 shares to close at $1.21, Dolphin Cove traded 714 shares to close at $13. Iron Rock Insurance 28,000 units on the bid at $3.50, 
ISP Finance had 20,719 units changing hands but lost 5 cents to close at $2.45, Jetcon Corporation had 575,835 shares trading with a gain of 3 cents at $2.50, Key Insurance rose by 5 cents to close at $2.55 after 30,114 shares changed hands, Lasco Distributors jumped $1.29 to end at $7.50 with 528,460 units trading, Lasco Financial gained 4 cents to close at $3.03, with 117,447 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing gained 56 cents with 977,026 shares changing hands to close at $4.70, Medical Disposables closed at $3.10 with 50,000 shares trading with a loss of 5 cents, tTech ended with 47,415 shares changing hands with a gain of 1 cent at $4.18.
Juniors jump on – Thursday
Lasco Distributors dominated trading on the junior market on Thursday.
At the close of trading 7 stocks closed with bids higher than the last selling prices and just 5 ended with lower offers.
At the end of trading, AMG Packaging closed with a loss of 98 cents in trading 960 units to end at $12.02, Caribbean Cream traded 74,315 units at $4, the stock is encountering more selling than buying. Caribbean Producers traded 2,400 units to end at $4, General Accident traded 1,150,656 shares to close at $2.65, ISP Finance had 7,500 units changing hands at $2.50.
Iron Rock Insurance still has 5,003,000 units on the bid at $3.10, while the stock last traded at $3.50. Key Insurance closed at $2.50 after 7,500 shares changed hands, KLE Group traded 155,115 units at $1.40 for a 3 cents loss, Knutsford Express traded 9,415 shares unchanged at $19, Lasco Distributors gained 41 cents to end at $6.21 with 5,469,528 units trading, Lasco Financial gained 4 cents to close at $2.99, with 4,000 shares changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing gained 42 cents with 952,192 shares changing hands to close at $4.14, tTech ended with 9,829 shares changing hands at $4.17 as 2 cents were added and Eppley 10 percent preference share traded 34,120 units at $6.10.
