The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market bounced back from a brief break in the record run it has been enjoying, on Thursday with the market indices rising just under nine hundred points.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index gained 881.18 points at 584,697.71, the JSE Index rose 800.76 points to 532,325.41 and the JSE Financial Index added 1.11 points to end at 144.28.
Market activity, resulted in 39 securities trading in the main and US dollar markets, leading to 15 securities advancing, 17 declining and 6 trading firm, compared to 39 securities trading on Wednesday. A total of 17,809,196 units, valued at $536,050,805 traded, compared to 11,378,883 units valued at over $167,438,830 changing hands on Wednesday.
At the close of trading, Jamaica Broilers ended at 52 weeks’ high of $39.50, Palace Amusement hit a 52 weeks’ high of $1,500, Radio Jamaica ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.70, after hitting $1.90 earlier in the day. Sagicor Group closed at a record high of $79.99, after hitting an intraday high of $84.98 and Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 52 weeks’ closing high of $24 after trading at a record high of $26.75.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.8 million units for 44 percent of total volume, Caribbean Cement traded 3.77 million for 21 percent of total main market volume, Victoria Mutual Investments followed with 1.3 million shares for 7.4 percent of the day’s volume and Grace Kennedy closed trading with 1.1 million shares and 6 percent of the day’s volume.
The market closed with an average of 494,700 units valued at an average of $14,890,300 for each security traded, in contrast to 316,080 units valued $4,651,079 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 939,424 shares with an average value of $7,772,521, compared to 1,091,901 units at $5,332,139 on the previous trading session. July closed with an average of 1,297,718 shares valued at $17,985,644 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 bids higher than the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments lost $1.90 to end at $88 in trading 38,611 shares, Berger Paints traded 5,240 shares and lost 50 cents to close at $18, Grace Kennedy gave back $2 in trading 1,112,834 units to close at $70, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 98,957 shares and rose 48 cents to close at record high of $39.50. 
JMMB Group shed 80 cents trading 75,788 shares to close at $52.20, Kingston Properties rose 40 cents trading 9,697 shares in closing at $7. NCB Financial rose $5 in exchanging 233,517 units to close $215, Proven Investments exchanged 23,031 shares after falling $4 to close at $36, Sagicor Group jumped $4.99 in trading 300,239 shares to end at record closing high of $79.99. Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost $1 in trading 20,720 shares to end at $11, Scotia Group jumped $4 to close at $57 in trading 328,201 shares and Seprod shed $3 in trading 13,926 shares at $55. Supreme Ventures traded 239,481 shares and lost $1 to end at $28 and Wisynco Group exchanged 391,428 units after falling $1.68 to close at $24.31.
Trading in the US securities market resulted in 241,493 units valued at US$57,196 changing hands. JMMB Group 6% preference share settled at 99 cents with 14,211 stock units trading, Proven Investments lost one cent and closed at 24.01 US cents with an exchange of 126,278 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments traded 101,004 shares to end at 12 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index fell 1.63 points to close at 186.67.
Slight set back for JSE
The Jamaica Stock Exchange to a break from the record run it has been enjoying, at the close of trading on Wednesday as the market indices slipped modestly.
The market, closed with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 857.98 points to close at 583,816.53, the JSE Index dropped 779.68 points to close at 531,524.65 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.69 points to close at 143.17.
Market activity resulted in 39 securities trading in the main and US dollar markets, leading to 15 securities advancing, 17 declining and 6 trading firm, compared to 39 securities trading on Monday. Trading ended with 11,378,883 units valued at over $167,438,830, compared to 19,470,666 units valued $144,572,102 changing hands on Monday.
Jamaica Broilers closed at 52 weeks’ high of $39.02 after trading at an intraday record of $43.63, Radio Jamaica ended at a 52 weeks’ high of at $1.65, Sagicor Group closed at record high of $75 after hitting an intraday high of $84.05 while Pulse Investments traded at an intraday high of $4.15.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 6.5 million units for 57 percent of total volume, Victoria Mutual Investments followed with 1 million shares for 9 percent of the day’s volume and Radio Jamaica with 648,870 shares for 6 percent of total main market volume.
The market closed with average of 355,590 units valued $5,232,463 for each security traded, in contrast to 556,305 units valued $4,130,631 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 1,135,145 shares with an average value of $5,543,313, compared to 1,496,677 units at $5,687,475 on the previous trading session. July closed with an average of 1,297,718 shares valued at $17,985,644 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 bids higher than the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
In the main market activity, Berger Paints traded 5,240 shares and lost 50 cents to close at $18.50, Caribbean Cement climbed $1.20 trading 168,404 units to close at $80, Grace Kennedy rose $2 in trading 65,768 units to close at $72, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 75,398 shares and rose $1.22 to close at record high of $39.02. Jamaica Producers declined $1.49 trading 31,928 units to close at $27.01, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped $3.15 trading 506,514 shares to end at $24.85, 
JMMB Group rose $2 trading 246,497 shares to close at $53, Kingston Properties rose 60 cents trading 11,300 shares in closing at $6.60. Kingston Wharves jumped $4.16 while trading 695 shares to end at $70, NCB Financial rose $2 in exchanging 206,186 units to close $210, Pulse Investments exchanged 20,500 shares after falling 40 cents to close at $3.10, Sagicor Group jumped $2 in trading 348,243 shares to end at record closing high of $75. Scotia Group dipped $1 to close at $53 trading 206,422 shares and Seprod climbed $3 in trading 32,453 shares at $58.
Trading in the US securities market resulted in 193,550 units valued at US$32,924 changing hands. JMMB Group 6% preference share lost 3 cents and settled at 99 cents with 3,789 stock units trading, Proven Investments closed at 25 US cents with an exchange of 140,900 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 1 cent trading 139,761 shares to end at 12 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index advanced by 0.93 points to close at 188.30.
40th record close for JSE
Sagicor Group jumped $8 on Monday to a record close of $73.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange continues to march forward and ended trading on Monday, at the 40th record close for the year to date as prices of some stocks moved sharply.
The market, closed with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumping 7,542.15 points to end at a record close of 584,674.51, the JSE Index climbed 6,853.83 points to finish at another closing high of 532,304.33 and the JSE Financial Index advanced by 3.31 points to close at 143.86.
Market activity, resulted in 39 securities trading in the main and US dollar markets, leading to 13 securities advancing, 17 declining and 9 trading firm, compared to 37 securities trading on Friday. Trading ended with 19,470,666 units valued $144,572,102, compared to 83,800,065 units valued at $247,863,696 changing hands on Friday.
Fours stock close of trading at a 52 weeks’ record high while Supreme Ventures traded at an intraday high of $34.32. Closing at 52 weeks’ highs are Jamaica Broilers at $37.80 after trading up to $40.53, Radio Jamaica at $1.50, Sagicor Group at $73 and Stanley Motta at $5.56.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 13 million units for 67 percent of total volume, Victoria Mutual Investments followed with 2.7 million shares for 14 percent of the day’s volume and Carreras with 575,039 shares for 3 percent of total main market volume.
The market closed with average of 556,305 units valued $4,130,631 for each security traded, in contrast to 2,464,708 units for an average of $7,290,109 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,496,677 units at $5,687,475. July closed with an average of 1,297,718 shares valued at $17,985,644 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling price and just 4 with lower offers.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments traded 25,430 shares and lost $1.50 to close at $90, Caribbean Cement lost $1.14 trading 78,260 units at $78.80, Grace Kennedy fell $1.99 trading of 26,999 units to close at $70, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 46,586 shares and rose $1.80 to close at $37.80. Jamaica Producers gained $1.50 trading 5,960 units to close at $ 28.50, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed $3 trading 127,271 shares to end at $28, JMMB Group lost $2 trading 53,627 shares to close at $51, Kingston Wharves declined $2.76 while trading 18,738 shares to end at $65.84, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 40 cents to close at $12 in trading 71,575 shares. NCB Financial lost $5 in exchanging 174,222 units to close $208, Palace Amusement added $1 in trading 200 shares at $1,301, Pulse Investments exchanged 158,700 shares after falling 46 cents to close at $3.50, Sagicor Group jumped $8 in trading 33,657 shares to close at a record high of $73. 
Salada Foods traded 454 shares and gained 95 cents to close at $34, Scotia Group dipped $1.58 to close at $54 trading 377,500 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 50 cents in trading 89,821 shares at $22.50 and Wisynco Group dropped $1.78 in trading 298,304 and to close at $26.
Trading in the US securities market resulted in 474,402 units valued $82,012 changing hands as, JMMB Group 5.75% preference share finished at US$2 with 816 shares traded, JMMB Group 6% preference share gained 2 cents and settled at $1.02 with 9,486 stock units trading, Proven Investments shed 1 cent to close at 25 US cents with an exchange of 140,900 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments traded 323,200 shares at 11 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index declined by 3.78 points to close at 187.37.
Market watch remains on Junior Market
Focus on the entire Junior Market was the advised investors got last week, as the market remained severely undervalued with technical indicators pointing to a breakout.
The advice remains for the second week as investors switch their focus decidedly on the market that lagged the main market for most of 2019 to date. The market reversed the near 10 percent loss in the first half of the year and moved solidly into the black with a rise of 9 percent to the end of last week. Technical indicators suggest a huge rise in the market as it moves to close the valuation gap with the main market.
In the process, the market rose 152.80 points during the week and ended at a record close of 3,537.21 after breaking the old mark of 3,436.54 points set in September last year.
Jamaica Broilers has just two offers for sale at the close on Friday.
The main market also contributed its fair share of excitement with a new record close and a number of stocks hitting new highs. A number of main market stocks could be coming to a short-term peak as is evident in the pullback of NCB Financial and Caribbean Cement during the past week with the latest quarterly results not lending much fuel to the stock prices.
It will be interesting to see how investors react to announced terms of the rights issue for Barita Investments with the offer of 11 for every 100 units at $45 each.
Jamaica Broilers has just 2 offers to sell, suggesting that the price has a far way to go. Some buying came for Radio Jamaica in the past week but with the price closing at $1.35 on Friday. It is worth noting that supply is drying up with only four offers totaling 115,000 shares posted at the close on Friday.
Sygnus Credit Investments is coming into its own with a limited supply of the stock for sale, the price closed at a record high at the close of the past week and may move higher this week. Jamaica Stock Exchange stock could fall some more with the stock facing increased selling and reduced buying.
Some selling came into the market for Blue Power but buying interest remains at the close on Friday with buying interest around the $12 but with some selling just above. Caribbean Flavours has a 
limited supply of stocks for sale and is worth watching. Elite Diagnostic with rising demand and virtually no supplies could bounce again this week following last weeks’ rise. General Accident moved away from the $4.50 level to close at $4.95 on Friday against declining supplies for sale with just two offers posted on Friday. Jamaican Teas hit new records during the week with investors trying to buy at $8.40, a level over the 30 percent limitation set by the market. The stock last traded at $7.26. Lasco Financial price bounced above $5 last week. The stock remains undervalued and should see increased buying interest, with the release of June quarter results, due out shortly. Lasco Manufacturing released first-quarter numbers at the close of the week with net profit rising 19 percent to $282 million, enough to move the price higher. Lasco Distributors should release quarterly results this week and could move prices of the stocks higher. Limners and Bards climbed to a record high of $3.99 but closed at $3.75 on Friday. Buying interest remains strong but some investors are taking profits, it will be interesting to see which has the upper hand, this week. Medical Disposables looks poised to move higher with the first-quarter numbers, set to play an important role in further gains. Investors await the second-quarter results for Stationery and Office Supplies to determine if higher prices are on the cards anytime soon, but the supply of the stock remains low with only 43,000 units offered for sale at the close on Friday.
Several IC TOP 10 changes
The Jamaica Stock Exchange saw new record highs for the main and Junior Market, with attention moving decisively in favour of the latter that lagged the main market for the greater part of the year.
Prices of Consolidated Bakeries and Caribbean Flavours rose, pushing them out of the Junior Market Top 10. They were replaced, by Caribbean Cream that closed the week, with the price down at $4.25 and Everything Fresh.
In the Main Market TOP 10, Victoria Mutual Investments jumped to a record high of $9, after the company reported 9 cents in earnings per share for the June quarter and 17 cents for the half-year, just below IC Insider.com forecast of 50 cents for the full year. The stock closed at a record high of $8.20 and exited the TOP 10. Pulse Investments climbed to close the week at $3.26 and fell from the top list. 
Earnings for Sterling Investments were revised downwards to 23 cents per share, resulting in it leaving the TOP 10. New entrants are Grace Kennedy, Proven Investments and Scotia Group.
In the past week, the main market continued its record-breaking run, closing the week at an all-time high on its way to over 800,000 points for the All Jamaica Index as momentum continues to move the market away from long-term resistance at 520,000 points. The Junior Market rose during the week and recovered all of the 2019 losses and surpassing the previous all-time high of 3,436 points in September last year. Technical indicators point to the record be taken out soon and could happen this week with more results due. The market closed over 3,500 points for the first time in the past week.
The three most attractive Junior Market stocks are Caribbean Producers with projected gains of 233 percent, followed by Iron Rock with projected gains of 196 percent and tTech with possible gains of 167 percent.
Berger Paints heads the main market with potential gains of 122 percent followed by Radio Jamaica with 122 percent and Palace Amusement in third spot and likely to gain 92 percent by March next year.
The main market closed the week with the overall PE at 16.4 and the Junior Market moved up from 11.4 last week to 12.3 as the market shifts from consolidation in the first half of the year to be bullish now. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages 8.3 versus 7.6 last week and the main market PE is now 10 4 compared to 9 at the start of last week. These levels, point to big gains for TOP 10 stocks over the next 12 months and Junior Market stocks in particular as they lag, the values of the main market by a third.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 33 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks and main market stocks trade at a discount of 37 percent to the overall market.
TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns within a 12 months period. Projected earnings, for each company’s current fiscal year, are used in determining, the selected stocks. The PE for and projected earnings for each stock are computed to show potential gains for the year, which are ranked in descending order. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis as new information is received that can result in changes in and out of the list.
This report is compiled by persons who may have an interest in the securities commented on.
Record August start for JSE
The Jamaica Stock Exchange started August on a positive note with rising stocks beating out declining ones and driving the market to the 39th record close for the year to date.
The market closed, with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index rising 1,882.17 points to end at a record close of 577,132.36, the JSE Index gained 1,710.40 points to close at another high of 525,450.50 and the JSE Financial Index advanced by 1.17 points to close at 140.55.
Market activity resulted in 37 securities trading in the main and US dollar markets, leading to 21 securities advancing, 11 declining and 8 trading firm, compared to 40 securities trading on Wednesday.
At the close of trading, Jamaica Broilers ended at a 52 weeks’ record close of $36 after trading at an all-time high of $38, Sagicor Group ended at a record close of $65 and Victoria Mutual Investments ended at a record closing of $8.20, after hitting $9 during the day. Seprod traded at an all-time high of $70 but pulled back to close at $55. Trading ended with 83,800,065 units valued at over $247,863,696, compared to 53,548,880 units valued at $758,601,832 changing hands on Wednesday.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 72.7 million units for 87 percent of total volume, Mayberry Investments followed with 3.3 million shares for 4 percent of the day’s volume and Victoria Mutual Investments with 2.9 million shares for 3.5 percent of total main market volume.
The market closed with an average of 2,464,708 units valued at $7,290,109 for each security traded. In contrast to 1,447,267 units valued at an average of $20,502,752 on Wednesday. July closed with an average of 1,297,718 shares valued at $17,985,644 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling price and just 2 with lower offers.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments traded 8,100 shares and lost $3.50 to close at $91.50, Caribbean Cement rose $1.94 trading 7,300 units at $79.94, Grace Kennedy rose $1.99 in the trading of 50,453 units to close at $71.99, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 45,352 shares and rose $2 to close at $36. Jamaica Producers fell $1.50 trading 66,201 units to close at $27, Jamaica Stock Exchange dived $5 trading 150,179 shares to end at $25, Kingston Wharves declined $1.40 while trading 1,405 shares to end at $68.60, Mayberry Investments rose 25 cents to close at $9 in trading 3,311,186 shares. 138 Student Living lost 40 cents in exchanging 1,434 units to close $3.60, PanJam Investment jumped $5 in trading 54,339 shares in closing at $105,
Pulse Investments exchange 613,290 shares after rising 96 cents to close at $3.96, Sagicor Group jumped $2 in trading 866,828 shares to close at record high of $65. Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 74 cents to end at $12.25 while trading 36,577 shares, Salada Foods traded 7,447 shares and lost $2.95 to close at $33.05, Scotia Group dipped 42 cents to close at $55.58 trading 45,245 shares, Seprod dropped $5 trading 18,752 units to close at $55. Supreme Ventures lost $1 trading of 157,071 units to end at a record high of $29, Victoria Mutual Investments traded 2,923,292 and gained 20 cents to end at a record high of $8.20 and Wisynco Group traded 214,850 and gained 28 cents to close at $27.78.
Trading in the US securities market resulted in 392,506 units valued $68,915 changing hands as, JMMB Group 6% preference share settled at $1 with 28,783 stock units trading, Proven Investments gained 10 cents and closed at 26 US cents with an exchange of 823 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments traded 362,900 shares at 11 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index rose 3.90 points to close at 191.15.
July’s record run for JSE
JSE main market had 14 days of record close in July and heading much higher going forward.
Jamaica Stock Exchange’s main market ended July with the 14th record close for the month and the 38th for 2019 and 38 percent gain for the year to date, to remain the world’s top-performing market for the past 12 months.
The market closed July with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumping 7,284.40 points to a record close at 575,250.19 points, the JSE Index climbed 6,619.61 points to close at another high of 523,740.10 and the JSE Financial Index advanced by 1.02 points to close at 139.38.
Market activity, resulted in 40 securities trading in the main and US dollar markets, leading to 21 securities advancing, 11 declining and 8 trading firm, compared to 35 securities trading on Tuesday.
At the close of trading, Barita Investments inched higher to a record close of $95 after it rose to a high of $100, Victoria Mutual Investments ended at a record closing high of $8 and Sygnus Credit Investments closed at 52 weeks’ high of $22. Trading ended with 53,548,880 units valued at $758,601,832, compared to 184,796,002 units valued $1,610,513,368 changing hands on Tuesday.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 24.8 million units for 46 percent of total volume, JMMB Group 7.5% followed with 10 million shares for 19 percent of the day’s volume and Sagicor Group with 7.9 million shares for 15 percent of total main market volume.
The market closed with average of 1,447,267 units valued at an average of $20,502,752 for each security traded. In contrast to 5,774,875 units for an average of $50,328,543 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,297,718 shares valued at $17,985,644 changing hands, compared to 1,290,587 shares valued at $17,854,655 for each security traded. June closed with an average of 1,608,485 units valued at $19,605,318 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 bids higher than the last selling price and just 1 with a lower offer.
In the main market activity, Caribbean Cement fell $1.99 trading 161,377 units at $78, Eppley traded 7,553 after losing 50 cents to end at $16.40, Grace Kennedy lost $2 in the trading of 153,600 to close at $70, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 1,135,364 and rose $1.25 to close at $34. Jamaica Producers fell 50 cents trading 9,595 units to close at $28.50, JMMB Group gained $2 trading 107,504 shares to end at $53, Kingston Properties traded 141,647 shares and rose 50 cents to end at $6, Mayberry Investments fell 25 cents to close at $8.75 in trading 92,573 shares. 
Mayberry Jamaica Equities traded 3,752,372 to gain 50 cents and ended at $12.50, NCB Financial lost $2 exchanging 162,275 units to close $213, Proven Investments lost 70 cents trading 5,326 shares in closing at $35.80, Sagicor Group jumped $5 in trading 7,879,535 shares to close at a record high of $63. Sagicor Real Estate Fund climbed $1.98 to end at $12.99 while trading 102,792 shares, Scotia Group dipped 25 cents to close at $56 trading 109,341 shares, Seprod jumped $5 trading 13,758 units to close at $60. Sygnus Credit Investments jumped $3.50 trading of 109,800 units to end at a record high of $22, Victoria Mutual Investments traded 2,051,094 and gained 68 cents to end at a record high of $8 and Wisynco Group traded 214,850 but fell 49 cents to close at $27.50.
Productive Business Solution 9.5% preference share traded 83,400 units and gained $1.99 to end at $107.99.
Trading in the US securities market resulted in 19,171 units valued US$8,433 changing hands with, JMMB Group 6% preference share settled at $1 with 7,000 stock units trading, Proven Investments closed at 25 US cents with an exchange of 771 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments traded 11,4000 shares at 11 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index shed 0.16 points to close at 187.25.
New record close for JSE – Tuesday
Barita’s stock price jumped $10.95 to close at $94.95.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange All Jamaican Composite Index ended at another record close on Tuesday, with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumping 6,251.80 points to a record close of 567,965.79.
The JSE Index climbed 5,681.25 points to close at another high of 517,120.49 and the JSE Financial Index advanced by 2.08 points to close at 138.36.
Market activity, resulted in 35 securities trading in the main and US dollar markets, leading to 15 securities advancing, 9 declining and 11 trading firm, compared to 43 securities trading on Monday.
At the close of trading, Barita Investments, Victoria Mutual Investments and Sygnus Credit Investments all closed at 52 weeks’ highs. Trading ended with 184,796,002 units valued $1,610,513,368 compared to 20,389,377 units valued at $139,918,047 changing hands on Monday.
Radio Jamaica led trading with 110.8 million units for 60 percent of total volume, Wigton Windfarm followed with 62.8 million shares for 34 percent of the day’s volume and NCB Financial Group with 5.8 million shares for 3 percent of total main market volume.
The market closed with average of 5,774,875 units valued at an average of $50,328,543 for each security traded, in contrast to 522,805 units at $3,587,642 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,290,587 shares valued at $17,854,655 changing hands, compared to 1,097,715 shares valued at $16,324,221 for each security traded. June closed with an average of 1,608,485 units valued at $19,605,318 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling price and 4 with lower offers.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments jumped $10.95 to end at record close of $94.95 trading 7,397 stock units trading, Caribbean Cement rose $3.19 trading 107,206 units at $79.99 Jamaica Producers gained $1 trading 9,251 units to close at $29, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 74,749 shares to close at $30 after falling $3. JMMB Group traded 81,953 shares and lost $2 to end at $51, Kingston Wharves ended trading 1,250,637 shares and lost $1 to end at $70, 
NCB Financial lost $3 exchanging 128,922 units to close $215, Mayberry Investments gained 60 cents to close at $9 in trading 635,380 shares, Sagicor Group rose 90 cents trading 39,006 shares in closing at $58. Scotia Group gained $1.26 to close at $56.25, trading 40,958 shares, Seprod jumped $6.99 trading 11,905 units to close at $48.01. Supreme Ventures gained $1 trading 38,906 shares in ending at $30, Sygnus Credit Investments closed trading of 50,400 units and gained 50 cents to end at a record high of $18.50 and Victoria Mutual Investments traded 103,973 and gained $1.32 to end at a record high of $7.32.
Trading in the US securities market resulted in 752,097 units valued $188,176 changing hands with, JMMB Group 6% preference share settled at $1 with 149 stock units trading, Proven Investments fell 1 cent and settled at 25 US cents with an exchange of 751,687 shares. The JSE USD Equities Index shed 2.85 points to close at 187.41.
AJ index pulls back from record close – Monday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange All Jamaican Composite Index pulled back from Friday’s record close on Monday, with the index dropping 4,083.65 points to close at 561,713.99.
The JSE Index declined by 3,710.97 points to end at 511,439.24 and the JSE Financial Index lost 1.97 points to close at 136.28.
Market activity, resulted in 43 securities trading in the main and US dollar markets, leading to 15 securities advancing, 16 declining and 12 trading firm, compared to 37 securities trading on Friday.
At the close of trading, Barita Investments, Victoria Mutual Investments and Sygnus Credit Investments all closed at 52 weeks’ highs. Trading ended with 20,389,377 units valued at over $139,918,047 compared to 35,718,490 units valued at $1,655,204,831 changing hands on Friday.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 16.4 million units for 81 percent of total volume, Radio Jamaica followed with 1 million shares for 5 percent of the day’s volume and JMMB Group with 608,003 shares for 3 percent of total main market volume.
The market closed with an average of 522,805 units valued at an average of $3,587,642 for each security traded. In contrast to 1,020,528 units for an average of $47,291,567 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,097,715 shares valued at $16,324,221 changing hands, compared to 1,129, 518 shares valued at $16,213,671 for each security traded. June closed with an average of 1,608,485 units valued at $19,605,318 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 5 stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling price and 3 with lower offers.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments gained $1 to end at record close of $84 trading 10,616 stock units trading, Berger Paints gained 76 cents after trading 4,435 to end at $18.71, Caribbean Cement lost $2.29 trading 42,274 units at $76.81, Grace Kennedy closed trading of 7,358 units with a gain of $1 to close at $72. Jamaica Broilers rose 75 cents trading 30,946 units to close at $32.75, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 228,445 shares to close at $33 after falling $1.95, Kingston Wharves ended trading of 1,708 shares and gained 99 cents to end at $71. NCB Financial lost $1 in exchanging 134,633 units to close $218, 138 Student Living gained 50 cents to close at $4 in trading 700 shares, 
Proven Investments lost $3.50 trading in the main market with 9,200 units swapped to close at $36.50, Sagicor Group lost 60 cents trading 9,704 shares in closing at $57.10. Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed trading of 2,118 units and lost 30 cents to end at $11.20, Salada Foods traded 1,229 shares after falling by $2 to $36, Seprod lost 39 cents trading 11,905 units to close at $48.01. Supreme Ventures gained $1 trading 133,871 in ending at $29, Sygnus Credit Investments closed trading of 37,904 units and gained $1,10 to end at a record high of $18 and Victoria Mutual Investments traded 112,760 and gained 90 cents to end at $6.
Trading in the US securities market resulted in 48,792 units valued $43,404 changing hands with JMMB Group 5.75% preference share closed at US$2 with 9,342 shares traded, JMMB Group 6% preference share settled with a loss of 4 cents at $1 with an exchange of 19,400 stock units, Productive Business Solution completed trading at 60 US cents after trading 300 shares and Proven Investments rose 2 cents and settled at 26 US cents with an exchange of 19,750 shares. The JSE USD Equities Index advanced 6.46 points to close at 190.26.
Market watch spotlight on Junior Market
The focus this week is the entire Junior Market that remains severely undervalued, notwithstanding that it made up much-lost grounds in the past week. The Lab is the first stock to watch from this sector.
NCB Financial third-quarter results were far from inspiring with operating profit being lower in the quarter than for the prior year’s results, at the close on Friday there was good selling on offer that seems likely to keep a lid on the price for a while. NCB reported Operating profit of $6.46 billion in the June 2019 quarter, down from $8.14 billion in 2018. A $700 million net gain in associated company results eased the difference somewhat.
Barita Investments is back at the record high of $83 it closed at the close on Friday, up from $72 at the end of the previous week. Importantly, supply has mostly dried up except for a block of 1 million units offered by Barita at $98 per share. Shareholders passed the resolution at last week’s extraordinary general meeting for a rights issue that will see 106 million shares or around one for every 15 shares of shares owned offered to shareholders, at an expected price in the $40 region.
Barita eyeing acquisition.
Results for Caribbean Cement are out by but reports indicate that the company reported increased sales for the June quarter but lower profit than in 2018, due mainly to $485 million incurred as foreign currency losses. The company reported 43 cents per share versus 79 cents in the similar quarter in 2018. For the half-year, Carib Cement reported earnings of $1,79 compared to $1.18 in 2018. The company looks like earning $5 per share for the full year with increased second-half sales. Do not look for the price of the stock to move up any time soon, with these results
Jamaica Broilers and Jamaica Producers may not break out just now but there is very limited selling and good news could push them higher at any time. Investors who thought that the sky was the limit for Wigton Windfarm may be having second thoughts with the company posting their full-year results, with earnings excluding foreign exchange gains or losses working out at 5 cents per share going forward. The stock seems poised to remain under $1 for a long time. More selling came for Radio Jamaica in the past week but with first-quarter results due mid-August, the stage could be set for a break beyond the $1.40 price level.
Sygnus Credit Investments is coming into its own with a limited supply of the stock for sale, the price closed at a record high at the close of the past week and may and could move higher this week. investors should continue to watch it. Wisynco Group traded close to $30 in the past week pushing the PE up considerably. It could settle just below the $30 range for a while.
Drax Hall branch of Elite.
The Junior Market finally found its footing in moving solidly higher during the past week to within less than 100 points from the previous record high in 2018. With the entire market severely undervalued, just about all stocks are to be watched. Some are more attractive than others and should enjoy a greater focus.
Blue Power closed on Friday with strong buying interest that suggests higher price ahead arising from a proposed split-up of the company into two separate ones. Caribbean Flavours has a limited supply of stocks for sale and is worth watching. Fontana pulled out of the fall to $7.41, in the previous week as demand pushed the price over $8. The branch in Kingston could influence investors to add the stock to their portfolio. Elite Diagnostic with rising demand and slowing supplies could bounce, having traded at $5. The company’s new Drax Hall branch in St Ann is set to open in August and will add to revenues and profit at a later stage. Elite has more than 387,000 units on offer at $5 and that could constrain upward price movement for some time. Jamaican Teas reported nine months results of 32 cents per share compared with 20 cents last year. Investors reacted positively to the results pushing the stock up to $5, but supply on sale is limited and could encourage more price movement this week. Lasco Financial price bounces around $4.50. The stock is undervalued and should see increased buying interest, with release of June quarter results, due out shortly. 
In 2018, first-quarter results were released on the 17 of July. Lasco Manufacturing released first-quarter numbers on the 31 of July last year and Lasco Distributors released theirs on the 19. The results could move the price of the stocks higher. Limners and Bards climbed 30 cents to settle at a record high of $1.30 with just 100 shares changing hands on the first day of trading, the stock closed with the bid at $1.65 and looks poised to hit $2, the stock was on offer at $2.95 at the close on Friday. Medical Disposables looks poised to move higher and first-quarter numbers will play an important role in further gains and Stationery and Office Supplies hit a record of $12 during the past week and should move higher with little supply offered for sale.
