The Junior Market closed trading on Tuesday with 23 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of just 1,131,911 units valued $4,659,737, compared to 363,861 shares valued $1,682,885, from 24 securities changing hands on Monday.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, as was the case at the close on Thursday signs continue to be good for a continuation of gains when trading resumes, with a very positive Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading of 7 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of market activities, the prices of 11 securities advanced, 7 declined and 5 remained unchanged leading the Junior Market Index to gain 12.07 points to 3,057.83.
Trading closed with an average of just 49,214 units for an average of $202,597 in contrast to 15,161 units for an average of $70,120 on Monday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 179,299 units valued at $726,731 and previously 187,823 units valued at $761,076. Trading in June, ended with an average of 139,543 units, valued at $671,002 for each security traded.
At the close of trading, Access Financial rose 30 cents to $46.70, in an exchange of 815 shares, Caribbean Cream climbed 49 cents to close at $6.49, trading 17,772 shares, Caribbean Flavours traded 2,000 stock units, rising 31 cents to $12, Caribbean Producers added 10 cents to close at $5.50, with 134,225 units trading, Derrimon Trading concluded trading 10,387 shares and close 50 cents higher at $21. Dolphin Cove gained 10 cents in closing at $16, with 5,000 stock units, Elite Diagnostic settled with a loss of 10 cents at $2.80, while exchanging 17,106 units, Eppley ended trading at $9.98, with 2,147 shares, Everything Fresh traded 166,000 shares and lost 5 cents to end at closing low of $1.95. Express Catering traded 38,000 shares and rose 20 cents to $7.50. FosRich Group finished trading 68,368 shares and lost 4 cents to end at $2.71, 
General Accident closed 5 cents higher at $3.10, with 19,696 stock units changing hands, GWest Corporation ended with a loss of 1 cent at $2.40, trading 244,676 units, Honey Bun concluded trading 13 cents higher at $4.65, exchanging 74,653 shares. Iron Rock finished at $3.10, with 27,100 shares, Jamaican Teas ended with a loss of 29 cents at $5, trading 17,659 stock units, Jetcon Corporation closed at $4.10, trading 2,500 units, Knutsford Express ended with a loss of 40 cents at $11.60, with 3,394 shares changing hands. Lasco Distributors concluded trading 45,118 stock units and rose 3 cents to $3.95, Lasco Financial finished exchanging 206,700 units at $5, Lasco Manufacturing settled at $4, trading 5,880 shares, Stationery and Office closed with a loss of 4 cents at $7.95, with 3,692 units and tTech concluded trading 8 cents higher at $5.40, with 19,023 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE indices jump on Tuesday
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recovered nearly 30 percent of Monday’s losses with the main indices rising more than 1,800 points at the close on Tuesday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,051.32 points to close at 337,518.92 and the JSE Index climbed 1,868.99 points to close at 307,517.84.
Trading in the main market ended with 2,446,501 units valued $62,753,272 compared to 4,603,500 units valued $97,930,099 on Monday.
Market activities resulted in 27 securities trading including 4 in the US dollar market compared to 29 securities trading on Monday. At the end of trading, the prices of 12 stocks advanced, 12 declined and 5 closed unchanged.
The day’s volume was led by, Scotia Group with 722,516 shares and 29.53 percent of the day’s volume followed by Carreras with 18.82 percent of trading in an exchange of 460,377 shares and Jamaica Broilers with 256,820 units, accounting for 10.5 percent of the day’s volume.
Stocks with major price changes are, Caribbean Cement lost $2 and finished trading 8,484 shares at $40, Carreras fell 50 cents to finish at $9, Grace Kennedy dropped 25 cents to $51.76, with 46,464 stock units trading, Jamaica Broilers gained 56 cents and closed trading at $26.01, with 256,820 stock units, Kingston Wharves rose 65 cents and ended at $51, trading 6,020 shares, Supreme Ventures ended at $14.51, after falling 50 cents as 138,024 shares traded and Sygnus Credit Investments rose 50 cents to $13 trading 61,700 units.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 102,860 units valued at US$17,357 as JMMB 6% ended with a gain of 0.5 cent and closed at $1.03 in trading 2,200 stock units and Productivity Business fell 2 cents and completed trading at $0.56 with 500 shares changing hands, 
Proven Investments rose 0.95 cents to 17 US cents with 59,160 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments closed with 41,000 units trading with a loss of 1.48 cents at 11 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index slipped 0.21 points to 146.69.
Trading resulted in an average of 106,370 units valued at an average of $2,728,403 compared to 164,411 units valued at an average of $3,497,504 for each security traded on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 145,966 units valued at $2,917,169 compared to 148,084 units valued at $2,927,889 on Monday. June closed with an average of 250,168 shares with a value of $5,895,281, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 closing with lower offers.
Iron Rock improvement continues
IronRock Insurance reports vastly improved results for the second quarter and the six months period to June from rising revenues and stable administrative cost.
A loss of $4 million was incurred for the June quarter and $8.6 million for the half year compared to a loss of $19 million and $46 million in June quarter and half year in 2017 respectively.
The vastly improved bottom-line flowed from gross written premium for the half year rising 63 percent to $282 million, from $173 million in 2017 and net earned premium increasing 248 percent to $80 million, up from: $23 million in 2017. For the second quarter premium rose at a slower pace of 14 percent to $127 million and net premium income moved 213 percent from $13 million to $42 million.
Operating expenses rose to $74 million from $65 million in 2017 and moved from $33 million to $36 million in the June quarter. Insurance damages claimed $38 million for the half year, up from $21 million in 2017 and increased claims from $9 million in the June 2017 quarter to $21 million in 2018, leading to reduced underwriting loss of $30 million versus $61 million in the corresponding in 2017. Other income for the period rose to $22 million from $14 million for the 2017 period and for the June quarter, moved from $8 million to $11 million. Shareholders’ equity inched up from $512 million to $514 million helped by unrealised gains of $10 million in the equity portfolio. Total assets stood at $988 million and comprise cash and investments of $602 million, while liabilities include $360 million for claims provision.
The stock last traded at $3.10 and could enjoy some gains going forward as company extend the improvement in both the top and bottom-lines.
JSE in sharp fall on Monday
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped sharply on Monday falling more than 3,350 points, as the market pulled back sharply from the recent record high, but advance decline ratio was even.
Trading in the main market ended with 4,603,500 units valued $97,930,099 compared to 2,441,530 units valued $54,632,965 on Friday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 3,687.52 points to close at 335,467.60 and the JSE Index declined by 3,359.74 to 305,648.85.
Market activities resulted in 29 securities trading including 1 in the US dollar market compared to 26 securities trading on Friday. At the end of trading, the prices of 12 stocks advanced, 12 declined and 5 closed unchanged and JMMB Group traded at an intraday all-time high of $31 but fell back to $30.02 at the close.
The day’s volume was led by, Carreras for the second in a row with 28.13 percent of trading in an exchange of 1,294,964 shares, followed by Scotia Group with 775,144 shares and 16.84 percent of the day’s volume and Ciboney Group with 707,000 units, accounting for 15.36 percent of the day’s volume.
Stocks with major price changes are, Carreras lost 50 cents to finish at $9, Grace Kennedy dropped 99 cents to $52.01, with 21,707 stock units trading, Kingston Wharves rose 35 cents and ended at $50.35, trading 2,100 shares, NCB Financial jumped $2 to $97 trading 63,512 units. Portland JSX fell $1 to $8, in trading 900 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund dropped 45 cents and closed at $14.05, exchanging 20,468 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments declined 50 cents to $12.50 trading 153,800 units.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 45,000 units valued at US$7,426 as Proven Investments was the only stock trading with the price rising 1.04 cents to 16.05 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index rose 5.86 points up to 146.90.
Trading resulted in an average of 164,411 units valued at an average of $3,497,504 for each security traded. In contrast to 90,427 units for an average of $2,023,443 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 148,084 units valued at $2,927,889 compared to 146,947 units valued at $2,885,584 on Friday. June closed with an average of 250,168 shares with a value of $5,895,281, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 closing with lower offers.
Volume plunged on Junior Market
The Junior Market closed trading on Monday with 24 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of just 363,861 shares valued $1,682,885, compared to 780,012 units valued at $3,632,523, from 26 securities changing hands on Friday.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, as was the case at the close on Thursday signs continue to be good for a continuation of gains when trading resumes, with a very positive Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading of 9 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of market activities, the prices of 9 securities advanced, 7 declined and 6 remained unchanged leading the Junior Market Index to decline 4.90 points to 3,045.76.
Trading closed with an average of just 15,161 units for an average of $70,120 in contrast to 30,000 units for an average of $139,712 on Friday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 187,823 units valued at $761,076 and previously 200,496 units valued at $811,788. Trading in June, ended with an average of 139,543 units, valued at $671,002 for each security traded.
At the close of trading, AMG Packaging ended at $2 after rising 3 cents with 6,582 stock units changing hands, Blue Power dropped $4.01 to $35.99, in exchanging 2,000 units, Cargo Handlers settled 16 cents higher at $9.65, with 391 shares, Caribbean Flavours traded 5,000 stock units at $11.69, Caribbean Producers finished trading 13 cents higher at $5.40, as 2,124 units changing hands. Consolidated Bakeries closed trading with 20,550 shares and gained 5 cents at $2.05, C2W Music ended with a loss of 20 cents at $1.50, while exchanging 26,000 shares, Elite Diagnostic lost 6 cents to end at $2.90, trading 27,749 units, Express Catering traded with a loss of 4 cents at $7.30, exchanging 5,000 shares. Everything Fresh traded 4,173 shares after gaining 4 cents to close at $2. FosRich Group rose 4 cents to $2.75, trading 100 shares, General Accident closed at $3.05, with 7,454 stock units, 
GWest Corporation ended at $2.41, with 12,076 units, Jamaican Teas ended trading 10,000 stock units at $5.29. Jetcon Corporation traded 5,442 units and lost 5 cents at $4.10, KLE Group gained 5 cents to $2.90, with 10,000 shares, Knutsford Express ended at $12, with 200 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 28 cents at $3.92, with 16,098 stock units. Lasco Financial finished trading 39,963 units at $5, Lasco Manufacturing settled at $4, while exchanging 34,250 shares, Medical Disposables traded with a loss of 23 cents at $5.02, with 23,000 shares, Paramount Trading finished trading 10,000 stock units with a rise of 2 cents to end at $3 and Stationery and Office closed 2 cents higher at $7.99, with 58,459 units trading. In the junior market preference segment, Eppley closed at $6, with 17,250 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE retreats from Friday’s record high
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged to new record high during trading in the morning sessions hitting a high of 340, 893.72 points on the all Jamaica Index while the JSE index rose to a record high of 310,624.04 but the market pulled back to close just below the record closing high reached on Thursday last week.
Trading in the main market ended with 2,441,530 units valued $54,632,965 compared to 2,808,119 units valued $38,691,449 on Thursday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 878.93 points to 339,155.12, sitting just 692.75 points below the record close on last week Thursday and the JSE Index climbed 800.80 points to 309,008.59, just 631.20 points away from the record close reached last week.
Market activities resulted in 27 securities trading in the main market, compared to 26 securities trading on Thursday in the main and US dollar markets. At the end of trading, the prices of 7 stocks advanced, 10 declined and 10 closed unchanged.
The day’s volume was led by, Carreras with 25.27 percent of trading in an exchange of 616,888 shares, followed by Ciboney Group with 548,381 units, accounting for 22.46 percent of the day’s volume and NCB Financial Group with 276,402 shares and 11.32 percent of the day’s volume.
Stocks with major price changes are, Berger Paints fell 74 cents to $18.76 with 16,154 trading, Caribbean Cement gained $2 to finish at $42, exchanging 5,050 shares, Jamaica Broilers dropped $1.08 to $25.42, with 65,410 stock units trading, Kingston Wharves fell 85 cents and ended at $50, trading 14,127 shares, NCB Financial dropped $2.99 to $95 trading 276,402 units. Pulse Investments fell 40 cents and settled at $3, in trading 29,611 units,
Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 40 cents and closed at $14.50, exchanging 5,200 shares and Scotia Group declined 90 cents to $50.10, with 248,215 units.
Trading resulted in an average of 90,427 units valued at an average of $2,023,443 for each security traded. In contrast to 122,092 units for an average of $1,682,237 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 146,947 units valued at $2,885,584 compared to 151,016 units valued at $2,952,092 on Thursday. June closed with an average of 250,168 shares with a value of $5,895,281, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 closing with lower offers.
Junior Market pregnant for bull run
Bulls are prowling around Jamaican stocks.
The Junior Market Index rose for the second day by adding 10.31 points to close at 3,050.66 on Friday, as advancing stocks beat out declining ones.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, as was the case at the close on Thursday signs continue to be good for a continuation of gains when trading resumes on Monday with a very positive Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading of 9 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 780,012 units valued at $3,632,523 compared to 2,301,169 units valued at $10,750,562 on Thursday from 26 securities changing hands, compared to 22 on Thursday. At the close of the market. the prices of 13 securities advanced, 11 declined and 2 traded unchanged.
Trading closed with an average of 30,000 units for an average of $139,712 in contrast to 104,599 units for an average of $488,662 on Thursday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 200,496 units valued at $811,788 and previously 232,964 units valued at $869,841. 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 3 cents at $1.97, trading 3,318 stock units, Cargo Handlers fell 16 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.49, in an exchange of 17,500 shares, Caribbean Cream ended trading 25 cents higher at $6, with 10,700 shares trading, Caribbean Producers fell 9 cents to $5.27, exchanging 80,000 units, C2W Music ended 18 cents higher at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.70, trading 18,500 shares. Derrimon Trading concluded trading with a loss of $2.40 at $20.50, after exchanging in 5,000 shares, Dolphin Cove finished 10 cents higher at $15.90, with 500 stock units changing hands, Elite Diagnostic settled 1 cent higher at $2.96, with 117,229 units switching owners, Eppley ended trading with a loss of 2 cents at $9.98, while exchanging 9,616 shares. Everything Fresh traded 103,042 shares at $1.96, Express Catering closed 4 cents higher at $7.34, with 98,894 shares traded, 
FosRich Group finished trading with 49,576 shares at a loss of 24 cents to $2.71, General Accident closed 2 cents higher at $3.05, after 3,835 stock units crossed the exchange platform, GWest Corporation ended 1 cent higher at $2.41, with 20,000 units. Honey Bun concluded trading with 39,515 shares and rose 1 cent to $4.52, Jamaican Teas ended trading with a loss of 1 cent at $5.29, with 1,790 stock units, Jetcon Corporation traded 12,747 units with a loss of 13 cents at $4.15, Knutsford Express ended 49 cents higher at $12, trading 2,685 shares. Lasco Distributors rose 20 cents to $4.20, with 37,200 stock units trading, Lasco Financial finished at $5, with 38,577 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled 15 cents higher at $4, in exchanging 4,068 shares, Main Event ended trading 1,240 shares, gaining 55 cents to $7.65, Medical Disposables traded 5 cents higher at $5.25, with 20,000 shares, Paramount Trading closed at $2.98, with 12,235 stock units, Stationery and Office closed with a loss of 10 cents at $7.97, as 35,280 units changed ownership and tTech concluded trading with a loss of 18 cents at $5.32, after 36,965 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
All Jamaica nears record 341,000 points
NCB Financial climbed to $99.80 and Jamaica Broilers at a record $30 after just after 11 on Friday morning and pushed the main market to a new record high, surpassing the record reached last week Friday.
At minutes after 11, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,522.73 points to a record 340,798.92 surpassing the record of 340,315.50 reached last Friday with the JSE Index rising 2,298.49 points to 310,506.28 versus a record 310,065.85 last week. . The Junior Market added 23.66 points to trade at 3,064.01. the main market rose further to 340,893.72 points on the All Jamaican Composite Index and the JSE Index climbed to 310,624.04 at 11:15 am.
Carreras traded 612.643 shares at $9.20 and NCB Financial traded 274,733 units and now trades at $95. In the Junior Market C2W Music traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.70.
Profit up 19% at Lasco Distributors
Revenues at Lasco Distributors rose just 3.5 percent for the June quarter, to $4.28 billion from $4.13 billion in 2017 but profit before taxation climbed a much stronger 17 percent in the quarter to $254 million from $217 million in 2017.
The improved profit out turn was helped by modest improvement in gross profit of $50 million and improvement in other income from $18.4 million to $42.7 million. The improvement comes off a strong period in the last fiscal year with profit rising 65 percent to $1 billion from $610 million in 2017. the 2017 profit slipped below the $717 million for 2016.
Administrative and other expenses rose faster than revenues at 5 percent, to $630 million and depreciation increased 31 percent to $30 million.
Peter Chin – Lasco Distributors’ Managing Director
Taxation was flat at $20 million, leaving net profit for the quarter rising 19 percent to $234 million. Earnings per share rose to 7 cents, from 6 cents in 2017.
Gross cash flow brought in $263 million but growth in receivables, offset by reduced inventories and reduction in amount owed to creditors, resulted in negative cash flows of $222 million and left cash and equivalent with at reduced $1.33 billion.
At the end of December, shareholders’ equity stands at $4.8 billion with borrowings at just $233 million. Net current assets ended the period $3.3 billion almost equal to Payables of $3.4 billion.
The stock traded at $4 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a PE ratio of 11 times 2019 estimated earnings. In April the company paid out $408 million in dividends.
JSE jumped on Thursday
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recovered the losses of the previous two days and added more to the indices in the process on Thursday as trading remains subdued with less than half the value traded on Wednesday.
Trading in the main market ended with 2,808,119 units valued $38,691,449 compared to 2,665,607 units valued $71,318,160 on Wednesday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 1,768.07 points to 338,276.19. and the JSE Index climbed 1,610.91 points to 308,207.79.
Activities in the main market and US dollar market resulted in 24 securities trading including 2 from the US dollar market, compared to 26 securities trading on Wednesday. At the end of trading, the prices of 8 stocks advanced, 9 declined and 7 closed unchanged.
The day’s volume was led by, JMMB Group with 25.3 percent of trading in an exchange of 711,490 shares, followed by Ciboney Group with 687,852 units accounting for 24.5 percent of the day’s volume and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share with 500,000 shares or just under 18 percent.
Stocks with major price changes are, Caribbean Cement gained 99 cents to finish at $40, exchanging 66,139 shares, Jamaica Broilers jumped $2.54 to $26.50, with 50,891 stock units trading, JMMB Group gained 44 cents and ended at $30, trading 711,490 shares, Jamaica Producers shed 50 cents to $17 trading 30,582 units. Mayberry Investments fell 49 cents and settled at $6.50, with 53,128 units, Proven Investments lost 50 cents trading 750 shares in the Jamaican market to close at $26.50, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 90 cents and closed at $14.10, exchanging 10,100 shares, Pulse Investments rose 45 cents trading 98,245 shares to close at $3.40, Scotia Group rose 50 cents to $51, with 1,830 units.
Trading resulted in an average of 122,092 units valued at over $1,682,237, in contrast to 111,067 shares valued at $2,971,590 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts 151,016 units valued at $2,952,092 compared to 152,906 units valued at $3,041,409 on Wednesday. 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 10,150 units valued at $1,252. Sygnus Credit was the only stock trading in the US market, the price rose 1.47 cents to 12.48 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index rose 1.39 points up to 141.04.
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 3 closing with lower offers.