The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange suffered more declines on Wednesday, following losses on Tuesday and the All Jamaican Composite Index lost 724.91 points to close at 336,508.12 and the JSE Index declined 660.48 points to 306,596.88.
Trading in the main market ended with 2,665,607 units valued $71,318,160 compared to 2,832,561 units valued at over $81,949,830 on Tuesday.
Activities in the main market and US dollar market resulted in 26 securities trading including 2 from the US dollar market, compared to 30 securities trading on Tuesday. At the end of trading, the prices of 10 stocks advanced, 12 declined and 4 closed unchanged.
The day’s volume was led by, Caribbean Cement led with 37.64 percent of trading in an exchange of 1,003,349 shares, followed by Barita Investments with 500,653 units and Sagicor Group with 461,652 shares.
Stocks with major price changes are, Berger Paints lost $1.50 to close at $19.50 trading just 1,637 shares, Caribbean Cement lost $2.14 and finished at $39.01, exchanging 1,003,349 shares, Grace Kennedy rose $1.48 to $53, trading 1,000 shares, Jamaica Producers added 50 cents to $17.50 trading 116,704 units. Kingston Wharves dropped $3.12 and closed at $50.85 with 350 stock units, NCB Financial Grouprose $1.75 to $98, trading 14,980 shares, Pulse Investments rose 65 cents trading 25,000 shares to close at $2.95, Sterling Investments fell 51 cents to $10.50 with the trading of 2,700 units.
Trading resulted in an average of 111,067 units valued at an average of $2,971,590 for each security traded. 
In contrast to 108,945 units for an average of $3,151,917 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 152,906 units valued at $3,041,409 compared to 155,968 units valued at $3,046,939 on Tuesday. June closed with an average of 250,168 shares with a value of $5,895,281, for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 62,614 units valued at $7,800 as Proven Investments rose marginally to close at 15.01 US cents trading 22,614 shares and Sygnus Credit traded 40,000 units and inched up to 11.01 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index rose 0.09 points up to 139.65.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 closing with lower offers.
Treasury bill rates plunged
Treasury bill rates plunged at the latest auction to raise $1.4 billion for Government of Jamaica held today.
At the latest Treasury bill auction the rate on the 91 days bill declined by just over 58 basis points to just 1.9596 from to 2.544 percent at the June auction, while the 182 days instrument average rate dipped 65 basis points to 2.07 percent from 2.656 percent from the June Auction. The two offerings of $700 million each attracted a total of just over $6.2 billion up from $5.3 billion in June, an indication of continued high liquidity in the market. The latest fall in rate follows a recent 50 basis point drop in Bank of Jamaica’s (BOJ) overnight rate to 2 percent and is almost certain to trigger another cut in the BOJ overnight rate.
The continued fall in rates comes against the back ground of negative inflation of 0.3 percent for the first half of the year. The sharp fall in rates is bound to be reflected in increased demand for stocks and real estate going forward as investors seek higher returns on their investments. Technical indicators point to a big break out for local stocks starting in August and the recent fall in rates will be a critical fuel for it.
More Junior Market losers than winners
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined on Wednesday compared with Tuesday’s levels as only 20 securities trading and no company contributing a large trade as occurred on Tuesday.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 1,512,347 units valued at $7,031,079 compared to 3,567,155 units valued at $16,970,111 on Tuesday as 20 securities changed hands, compared to 21 on Tuesday. At the close of the market the prices of 4 securities rose, 7 declined and 9 traded unchanged leading to the market Index declining 8.96 points to close at 3,020.98.
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 their last selling prices and 3 with a lower offer.
Trading closed with an average of 75,617 units for an average of $351,554 in contrast to 169,865 units for an average of $808,100 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 223,946 units valued at $899,898 and previously 235,400 units valued at $942,241. June closed with an average of 139,543 units, valued at $671,002 for each security traded.
At the close of trading, AMG Packaging ended market activity with a loss of 5 cents at $2.01, trading 5,000 stock units, Caribbean Flavours lost 7 cents to close at $11.60, with 1,500 stock units, Caribbean Producers finished trading 1 cent higher at $5.36, with 734 units, Derrimon Trading concluded trading at $20, with 21,004 shares, Elite Diagnostic settled at $2.95, with 16,011 units. Everything Fresh traded 23,000 shares and lost 5 cents to close at $2.10, FosRich Group finished trading at $2.60, with 8,415 shares, GWest Corporation ended trading 10,919 units at $2.40, Honey Bun closed 2 cents higher at $5.02, trading 10,000 shares, Jamaican Teas ended trading 1,770 stock units at $5.30. 
Jetcon Corporation traded with a loss of 10 cents at $4, exchanging 35,000 units, KLE Group closed at $2.85, with 550 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express ended at $11.50, with 1,158 shares, Lasco Distributors closed 20 cents higher at $4.20, trading 825,000 stock units. Lasco Financial finished with a loss of 20 cents at $4.90, after exchanging 50,000 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled with a loss of 5 cents at $3.85, with 17,000 shares, Medical Disposables traded 7 cents higher at $5.07, with 423,467 shares being exchanged, Paramount Trading finished trading 3,105 stock units at $2.98 and Stationery and Office closed with a loss of 10 cents at $8, after trading 50,073 units. In the junior market preference segment, Eppley 9.5% preference share ended trading at $6, with 8,641 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Volume up prices down on JSE on Tuesday
Trading picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, compared to the very modest level on Monday. Trading ended with an exchange of 2,832,561 units valued at over $81,949,830 compared to a mere 1,455,806 units valued just $24,016,207 on Monday.
The pickup in trading did not result in the continuation of a rise in the indices that occurred on Monday and the All Jamaican Composite Index lost 865.50 points to close at 337,233.03 and the JSE Index declined 788.57 points to 307,257.36.
Activities in the main market and US dollar market resulted in 30 securities trading including 4 from the US dollar market, compared to 28 securities trading on Monday. At the end of trading, the prices of 7 stocks advanced, 14 declined and 9 closed unchanged.
The day’s volume was led by, Sagicor Group with 758,030 shares, settling at $38.75 followed by Wisynco Group trading 584,757 units and finished at $9.35.
Stocks with major price changes are, Caribbean Cement lost $1.35 and finished at $41.15, exchanging 933 shares, Grace Kennedy dropped $1.48 and ended at $51.52, trading 40,825 shares, Jamaica Broilers lost 55 cents to $23.95 trading 101,933 units. Kingston Wharves jumped $1.97 finished at a 52 weeks’ high of $53.97 with 9,631 stock units, NCB Financial Grouprose 25 cents to $96.25, trading 251,351 shares, PanJam Investment dropped $1.50 and closed at $53, as 14,820 stock units traded. Pulse Investments lost 70 cents as 27,498 shares traded down to $2.30, Sagicor Group fell $1.25 to $38.75 with the trading of 758,030 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund jumped $1.05 and settled at $15.10, exchanging 8,443 shares, Seprod lost 49 cents to $34.01 in trading 3,092 units and Supreme Ventures lost 95 cents and ended at $15.05, as 134,214 shares traded and Sygnus Credit traded 6,998 units and rose 45 cents to close at $13.20.
Trading resulted in an average of 108,945 units valued at over $3,151,917, in contrast to 60,659 shares valued at $1,000,675 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 155,968 units valued at $3,046,939 compared to 160,016 units valued at $3,037,085 on Monday. 
June closed with an average of 250,168 shares with a value of $5,895,281, for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 207,453 units valued at $17,742 as JMMB Group 5.75% preference share completed trading at $1.03 with 20,000 stock units, Sterling Investments lost 0.5 cents and finished at a 52 weeks’ low of 8.5 US cents with 190,000 shares changing hands, Proven Investments closed at 15 US cents trading 346 shares, an attempted trade at 9 cents was cancelled as it would have exceeded 30 percent move in a day and Sygnus Credit traded 14,000 units at 11 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index dropped 9.82 points up to 139.56.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 closing with lower offers.
Lasco Financial grabs 77% of trading
Lasco Financial traded 77% of Tuesday’s volume.
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed over 200 percent on Tuesday over Monday’s levels, with Lasco Financial accounting for 2,755,556 units and 77.25 percent of the volume of 3.57 million units traded.
Lasco traded the largest volume, one day after the company released first quarter results with profit rising 59 percent before tax and 25 percent after tax to $100 million from a 73 percent rise in revenues, to $555 million.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 3,567,155 units valued at $16,970,111 compared to 1,119,859 units valued at $4,503,207 on Monday as 21 securities changed hands, compared to 28 on Monday. 
At the close of the market the prices of 5 securities rose, 11 declined and 5 traded unchanged leading to the market Index declining 6.18 points to close at 3,029.94.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
Trading closed with an average of 169,865 units for an average of $808,100 in contrast to 39,995 units for an average of $160,829 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 235,400 units valued at $942,241 and previously 241,183 units valued at $954,077. June closed with an average of 139,543 units, valued at $671,002 for each security traded.
At the close of trading, Access Financial lost 10 cents to end at $46.40, with 867 shares traded, Cargo Handlers settled with a rise of 15 cents to close at $9.65, with 5,226 shares changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries closed with a loss of 1 cent at $2, with 151,300 shares, C2W Music ended with a loss of 13 cents at $1.52, as 2,540 shares traded, Elite Diagnostic settled with a loss of 1 cent at $2.95, with 168,000 units. Express Catering traded at $7.30, with 125,878 shares trading, FosRich Group finished trading with a loss of 11 cents at $2.60, in exchanging 86,940 shares, Honey Bun concluded trading 500 shares at $5, 
Jamaican Teas ended trading at $5.30, with 31,320 stock units. KLE Group closed with a loss of 5 cents at $2.85, after 5,000 shares trading, Knutsford Express ended at $11.50, with 2,500 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors concluded trading at $4, with 29,809 stock units, Lasco Financial rose 7 cents to $5.10, in the trading of 2,755,556 units. Lasco Manufacturing settled with 64,732 shares trading at $3.90, Main Event ended trading with a rise of 3 cents to $6.85, in exchanging 12,220 shares, Medical Disposables traded 1 cent higher at $5, with 27,389 shares, Paramount Trading finished trading 9,130 stock units at $2.98, Stationery and Office closed at $8.10, with 16,666 units and tTech concluded trading with a loss of 40 cents at $5.50, after 2,392 shares were exchanged. In the junior market preference segment, Derrimon Trading 9% preference share ended at $2.50, with 18,308 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Good gains for JSE indices on Monday
After falling sharply on Friday the Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed on Monday, when the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,436.28 points to close at 338,098.53 and the JSE Index rising 1,308.61 points to 308,045.93 as trading levels was miniscule.
Activities in the main market and US dollar market resulted in 28 securities trading including 4 from the US dollar market, compared to 30 securities trading on Friday. At the end of trading, the prices of 9 stocks advanced, 11 declined and 8 closed unchanged from an exchange of 1,455,806 units valued just $24,016,207, compared to 6,932,808 units valued $147,102,076 on Friday.
The day’s volume was led by, Victoria Mutual Investments with 435,070 shares amounting to 29.9 percent of the volume traded followed by Supreme Ventures with 195,697 units or 13.44 percent of the day’s volume.
Stocks with major price changes 
are, Caribbean Cement rose $1.50 and finished at $42.50, with 80,467 shares, Grace Kennedy climbed $1.25 and ended at $53, trading 11,209 shares. Kingston Wharves jumped $2 finished at $52 with 15,755 stock units, NCB Financial Grouprose $1.50 to $96, with 30,760 shares, PanJam Investment dropped 50 cents and closed at $54.50, as 5,784 stock units traded. Portland JSX lost 90 cents as 8,000 shares traded at $9, Sagicor Group rose 86 cents to $40 with the trading of 119,751 units, Seprod lost $1 to $34.50 in trading 2,851 units and Supreme Ventures ended at $16, with 195,697 shares and rose $1.
Trading resulted in an average of 60,659 units valued $1,000,675, in contrast to 266,646 shares valued at $5,657,772on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 160,016 units valued at $3,037,085 compared to 168,594 units valued at $3,230,262 on Friday. June closed with an average of 250,168 shares with a value of $5,895,281, for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market continue to be modest and closed with 40,390 units valued at US$23,566. JMMB Group 6% preference share completed trading at $1.03 with 20,000 stock units, Margaritaville gained 1.5 cents and finished at 16.8 US cents with 20,000 shares changing hands, Proven Investments lost 3 cents and closed at a 52 weeks’ low of 15 US cents trading 11,940 shares and Sygnus Credit traded 7,500 units and lost 1 cent to end at 11 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index dropped 2.67 points up to 149.38.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 closing with lower offers.
12 Junior Market stocks rise 11 fall – Monday
The prices of 12 securities rose, 11 declined and 5 traded unchanged, resulting from 28 securities changing hands on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, compared to 20 trading on Friday.
At the close of trading, the market Index declined by 30.80 points to close at 3,036.12, with 1,119,859 units valued at $4,503,207 changing hands, compared to 806,470 units valued at $3,015,197 on Friday.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
Trading closed with an average of 39,995 units for an average of $160,829 in contrast to 40,324 units for an average of $150,760 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 241,183 units valued at $954,077 and previously 268,008 units valued at $1,059,844. June closed with an average of 139,543 units, valued at $671,002 for each security traded.
At the close of trading, Blue Power closed at $40, with 1,345 shares changing hands, CAC 2000 concluded trading with a loss of 1 cent at $9, with 7,782 units, Cargo Handlers finished with a loss of 15 cents at $9.50, with 830 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cream settled with a loss of 50 cents at $5.75, trading 3,100 shares, Caribbean Flavours ended trading 7 cents higher at $11.67, with just 368 shares changing hands, Caribbean Producers traded 27,442 stock units and rose 5 cents to $5.35. Consolidated Bakeries closed 1 cent higher at $2.01, with 3,000 units, C2W Music ended 10 cents higher at 52 weeks’ closing high of $1.65, with 33,143 shares, Derrimon Trading closed with a loss of 3 cents at $20, with 18,000 shares, Elite Diagnostic fell 4 cents to end at $2.96, with 7,000 stock units. Everything Fresh gained 8 cents and closed at $2.10 after 83,788 units changed hands, Express Catering ended trading with a loss of 20 cents at $7.30, in exchanging 17,324 shares, FosRich Group traded 14 cents higher at $2.71, with 387,471 shares, General Accident finished trading 10,447 shares and rose 5 cents to $3.05, GWest Corporation closed 5 cents higher at $2.40, with 15,000 stock units. Honey Bun traded 19,729 units to end at $5, Jamaican Teas settled 15 cents higher at $5.30, with 293 shares, 
Jetcon Corporation traded 6,163 stock units and ended at $4.10, Key Insurance traded 1 cent higher at $3.02, with 300 units. Knutsford Express closed at $11.50, after 1,800 shares traded, Lasco Distributors ended 9 cents higher at $4, with 244,516 shares, Lasco Financial concluded trading with a loss of 18 cents at $5.03, exchanging 60,982 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing lost 30 cents to end at $3.90, with 19,000 units. Main Event settled with a loss of 18 cents at $6.82, after trading 19,897 shares, Medical Disposables ended trading 125,156 shares with a loss of 1 cent to close $4.99, Stationery and Office Supplies closed 5 cents higher at $8.10, with 4,385 stock units and Sweet River closed with a loss of 10 cents at $3.70, with 198 units. In the junior market preference segment, Derrimon Trading concluded trading at $2.50 with 1,400 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
More records ahead for JSE
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at a record high on first four days last week and shot to a record high during Friday’s trading but failed to hold above the 340,000 points it traded at, but the market is heading much higher.
The chart shows that 340,000 mark, as a resistance point, which may require sometime before it is fully taken out and the market moves higher. The chart is showing a pattern for 2018 that is close to that for 2017. The market having risen in January last year, went sideways with an upwards bias until July and then broke out of the channel went on to a peak in November. For 2018, the market has slowly moved upwards within a narrow channel but could break out as it did in 2018 with a bullishness seen over the past two weeks.
The market is being steered higher by a long term upward sloping support line as well the 45 and 125 day moving averages, lending support just below the index for the main market and the Junior Market is being steered by an upward rising long term support line.
JSE Majors retreat from Friday’s record
The Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed to the fifth straight record high, reached seconds after opening on Friday, when the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,082.40 points to 340,315.50 with the JSE Index rising 986.19 points to 310,065.85 but lost the gains by the close.
At the end of trading, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,570.85 points to 336,662.25 and the JSE Index dived 2,342.34 points to 306,737.32.
Activities in the main market and US dollar market resulted in 30 securities trading including 4 from the US dollar market, compared to 28 securities trading on Thursday. At the end of trading, the prices of 10 stocks advanced, 14 declined and 6 closed unchanged from an exchange of 6,932,808 units valued $147,102,076 compared to 889,746 units valued at $37,006,553 on Thursday.
The day’s volume was led by, Jamaica Broilers with 2,084,581 units amounting to 30 percent of the volume traded, followed by Sagicor Group with 1,331,080 units accounting for 19 percent of the day’s volume of and Jamaica Stock Exchange with 1,083,267 units for 15.6 percent of the day’s volume.
Stocks with major price changes are, Caribbean Cement lost $2 and finished at $41, with 20,107 shares, JMMB Group declined 49 cents and ended at $29.50, with 56,845 shares. Kingston Wharves dropped $2 finished at $50 with 124,720 stock units, NCB Financial Groupshed $1.50 to $94.50, with 65,326 shares, PanJam Investment dropped $3.99 and closed at $55, with 24,570 stock units trading. Scotia Group traded at $50.90, and lost 40 cents with 153,731 units, Sterling Investments rose $1.01 and closed at $11.01, with 66,652 shares and Supreme Ventures ended at $15, with 31,100 shares but fell 50 cents.
Trading resulted in an average of 266,646 units valued at an average of $5,657,772 for each security traded. In contrast to 34,221 units for an average of $1,423,329 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 168,594 units valued at $3,230,262 compared to 158,477 units valued at $2,952,222 on Thursday. June closed with an average of 250,168 shares with a value of $5,895,281, for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market continue to be modest and closed with just 21,634 units valued at US$2,833, as Margaritaville lost 2.7 cents and finished at a 52 weeks’ low of 15.3 US cents with 10,000 shares, changing hands, Proven Investments closed at 18 US cents with 2,241 units changing hands, Sygnus Credit trading 7,500 units and rose 1 cents at 12 US cents and JMMB Group 5.75 % preference share fell 19 cents to US$2.06 after trading 1,893 units. The JSE USD Equities Index slipped 0.10 points up to 152.05.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 3 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 closing with lower offers.
Low Junior Market activity on Friday
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday closed with 806,470 units valued at $3,015,197 changing hands, compared to 9,971,398 units valued at $49,004,441 on Thursday.
The prices of 10 securities rose, 5 declined and 5 traded unchanged resulting from 20 securities changing hands on the Junior Market, compared to 22 on Tuesday. At the close of trading, the market Index advanced by 12.02 points to 3,066.92.
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 their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Trading closed with an average of 40,324 units for an average of $150,760 in contrast to 453,245 units for an average of $2,227,475 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 268,008 units valued at $1,059,844 and previously 291,975 units valued at $1,155,537. June closed with an average of 139,543 units, valued at $671,002 for each security traded.
At the close of trading, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 1 cent at $2.06, with 11,419 stock units, Blue Power concluded trading at $40, with 1,680 units, Caribbean Cream ended trading $1.35 higher at $6.25, with 67,452 shares, Caribbean Producers finished trading at $5.30, with 30,537 units, Consolidated Bakeries closed at $2, with 23,149 shares. C2W Music ended 10 cents higher at $1.55, with 57,761 shares, Derrimon Trading climbed by $1 to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $23, with 6,202 shares, Elite Diagnostic settled 4 cents higher at $3, trading 204,045 units, Express Catering rose 24 cents to $7.50, with 1,000 shares. FosRich Group finished trading with a loss of 28 cents at $2.57, with 35,046 shares, Jetcon Corporation traded with a loss of 10 cents at $4.10, exchanging 1,500 units, 
KLE Group closed at $2.90, trading 86,300 shares, Knutsford Express ended at $11.50, with 660 shares changing hands. Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 20 cents at $3.91, exchanging 13,718 stock units, Lasco Financial finished 1 cent higher at $5.21, with 15,560 units, Lasco Manufacturing gained 20 cents and ended at $4.20, with 185,000 shares, Main Event ended trading and rose 18 cents to $7, with 9,938 shares, Stationery and Office closed 5 cents higher at $8.05, with 6,170 units and tTech concluded trading 40 cents higher at $5.90, with 2,072 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
