The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange index, gained 6.10 points to close at 2,916.90 on Thursday, with 25 securities changing hands, compared to 21 trading on Wednesday.
Market activity resulted in the prices of 9 securities advancing, 9 declining and 7 remaining unchanged, from an exchange of 1,521,188 units valued at $6,228,409 versus 3,531,852 units valued at $15,298,043 on Wednesday.
Trading ended with an average of 60,848 units for an average of $249,136 compared to an average of 168,183 units for an average of $728,478 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 108,678 units at $446,755, compared to an average of 118,898 units at $488,981 on the previous trading day. 
February closed with an average of 338,697 units at an average value of $1,495,774 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended 5 cents higher at $2.05, with 259,390 stock units, Blue Power concluded trading at $33.01, with 500 units, CAC 2000 finished with a loss of 19 cents at $8.51, with 6,739 shares, Caribbean Cream ended trading with a loss of 5 cents at $6, after 9,700 shares were exchanged, Caribbean Flavours traded 6 cents higher at $10.06, with 4,000 stock units. Caribbean Producers finished trading at $4.62, with 16,785 units, C2W Music ended at 45 cents, with 3,000 shares trading, Derrimon Trading closed at $7.50, with 50,729 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove finished $1.90 higher at $18, with 4,700 stock units. Elite Diagnostic settled at $2.92, with 293,553 units, Eppley ended trading with a loss of 50 cents at $9.50, with 900 shares, 
Express Catering traded with a loss of 5 cents at $4.85, with 30,913 shares, FosRich Group finished trading 5 cents higher at $2.75, with 40,706 shares. Honey Bun concluded trading as the price rose 45 cents to $4.85, with just 100 shares, Jamaican Teas ended trading with a loss of 5 cents at $4.75, after exchanging 17,773 stock units, Jetcon Corporation traded with a loss of 40 cents to close at $4.15, with 295,302 units, Knutsford Express ended with a loss of 1 cent at $14, trading 2,655 shares. Lasco Distributors closed 15 cents higher at $4.20, with 61,807 stock units, Lasco Financial added 30 cents to end at $5, with 116,000 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled with a loss of 25 cents at $4, trading 35,881 shares, Main Event ended trading at $5.81, with 655 shares. Medical Disposables traded 5 cents higher at $4.90, with 8,500 shares, Paramount Trading finished trading 1 cent higher at $3.16, with 1,000 stock units, Stationery and Office closed at $5.50, with 243,930 units and tTech concluded trading with a loss of 45 cents at $5.55, after 15,970 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Sagicor Group profit up 7%
Sagicor Group profit climbed just 7% for 2017.
Sagicor Group recorded improved net profit of $12 billion for the year ended December 2017, rising by just 7 percent from $11.26 billion for the same period in 2016 and ending with earnings per share of $3.11.
Net operating revenues, rose 18 percent to $70.4 billion from $59.7 billion in 2016 but net movement in actuarial liabilities rose sharply from $4.8 billion to $10.7 billion while other operating expenses climbed from $20.15 billion to $24.59 with provision for credit losses turning a gain of $150 million in 2016 to a write off of $711 million in 2017. The tax charge for 2017 was flat with 2016 at $2.9 billion.
At the end of September, profit was $9.08 billion versus $7.39 billion in 2016 resulting in earnings in the fourth quarter being down on the $3.4 billion reported at September.
Total Comprehensive Income, attributable to stockholders amounted to $17.8 billion up from $15 billion in 2016.
Sagicor closed trading on Wednesday at $37.13 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
JSE main market pulls back – Wednesday
Grace Kennedy traded at a new closing high of $55.
The main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed lower on Wednesday with JSE All Jamaican Composite Index falling 682.73 points to 321,101.12 and the JSE Index down by 622.05 points to 292,559.42.
Trading on Wednesday closed with 29 securities changing hands, leading to 13 advancing, 7 declining and 9 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets.
The securities with the largest price changes include, Berger Paints ending with a gain of 95 cent to $17.95, Jamaica Producers Group that added $1.99 to end at $16.99 and Proven Investments 8.25% preference share that fell 85 cents to $5.15.
Main market activity ended with 5,151,580 units valued at $52,948,353 changing hands, versus 10,582,771 units valued at $143,248,381 on Tuesday. Victoria Mutual Investments accounted for 1,394,445 units of the day’s trades, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share ended trading 923,998 units and Ciboney 881,196 shares as the price recovered to 12 cents from its recent 52 weeks’ low.
Trading results in an average of 183,985 shares valued at 1,891,013 for each security traded, compared to 391,954 shares valued at $5,305,496 on Tuesday. 
For the month to date an average of 1,185,335 units with an average value at $16,782,174 traded, compared to 1,452,362 units with an average value at $16,597,564 traded on the previous trading day. In contrast, February closed with average of 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with Proven Investments concluded trading at 21.50 US cents, up from 21.10 cents with 4,510 units changing hands with a value of US$970 as the market index rose 1.87 points to 167.72.
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 4 with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – Grace jumps $10.99 to $55 – Wednesday.
Grace jumps $10.99 to $55 – Wednesday
Grace Kennedy gained $10.99 to close at $55 on Wednesday
Grace Kennedy jumped $10.99 to end at an all-time record high of $55, with just 14,941 units changing hands as the supply of the stock was virtually non-existent during the trading session.
The movement takes place after the group posted improved operating results for 2017 with earnings per share of $4.14 as a result of profits of $4.1 billion.
Main market activity ended with 28 securities changing hands, with 12 securities rising, 7 falling, 9 trading firm on Wednesday. Trading ended with 5,151,580 units valued at $52,948,353.
At the close of trading, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index lost 682.73 points to 321,101.12 and the JSE Index declined by 622.05 points to 292,559.42.
In main market activity, Barita Investments closed 50 cents higher at $8, with 8,034 shares, Berger Paints ended 95 cents higher at $17.95, with 9,276 stock units, Carreras finished at $10.95, with 91,331 shares traded, Caribbean Cement settled at $33.50, with 1,500 shares, Ciboney Group ended trading 2 cents higher at $0.12, with 881,196 shares. Jamaica Broilers finished trading 49 cents higher at $18.98, with 93,815 units, Jamaica Producers closed $1.99 higher at $16.99, with 60,109 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended 21 cents higher at $6.71, with 25,680 shares. JMMB Group concluded trading at $26.49, with 251,445 shares, Kingston Properties finished at $6.65, with 300 stock units, Kingston Wharves settled at $40, with 389,197 units, Mayberry Investments ended trading with a loss of 43 cents at $5.35, with 9,340 shares. NCB Financial Group traded 3 cents higher at $99, with 101,277 shares, 1834 Investments finished trading with a loss of 4 cents at $1.15, with 220,000 shares, Pulse Investments finished 5 cents higher at $1.80, with 6,375 shares, Radio Jamaica settled with a loss of 7 cents at $1.07, with 44,192 shares. Sagicor Group ended trading with a loss of 37 cents at $37.13, with 79,536 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading with a loss of 25 cents at $16.75, with 94,700 shares, 
Scotia Group finished trading 25 cents higher at $51.25, with 2,650 shares, Seprod closed at $32, with 100 shares, Sterling Investments ended at $14, with 912 shares. Supreme Ventures concluded trading with a loss of 25 cents at $11.70, with 173,413 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments finished at $4.50, with 1,394,445 units, Wisynco Group settled 10 cents higher at $10.60, with 68,818 shares and. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market 7.5% ended trading at $2.60, with 1,000 shares, JMMB Group 7.5% closed 3 cents higher at $1.02, with 923,998 shares, Proven Investments 8.25% settled with a loss of 85 cents at $5.15, with 204,000 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market pulls back – Wednesday.”
More Junior Market gains – Wednesday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange index, climbed 13.74 points, to close at 2,910.80 on Wednesday, with 21 securities changing hands, compared to 22 trading on Tuesday.
Market activity resulted in the prices of 9 securities advancing, 5 declining and 7 remaining unchanged, from an exchange of 3,531,852 units valued at $15,298,043, versus 2,525,646 units valued at $10,130,237 on Tuesday.
Trading ended with an average of 168,183 units for an average of $728,478 compared to an average of 114,802 units for an average of $460,465 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 118,898 units at $488,981, compared to an average of 108,116 units at $436,591 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 338,697 units at an average value of $1,495,774 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 the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed at $50, with 10,000 shares changing hands, Blue Power concluded trading at $33.01, with a mere 143 units, Caribbean Producers finished trading 47 cents higher at $4.62, with 1,054,990 units, Consolidated Bakeries closed 10 cents higher at $2, with 249 shares, Derrimon Trading closed with a loss of 2 cents at $7.50, with 5,000 shares. Elite Diagnostic settled 10 cents higher at $2.92, with 484,999 units, Eppley ended trading at $10, with 1,100 shares, FosRich Group finished trading 20 cents higher at $2.70, with 411,785 shares, GWest Corporation ended at $2.89, with 4,080 units. Honey Bun concluded trading 30 cents higher at $4.40, with 15,000 shares, ISP Finance rose by $1.45 to close at $13.50, with 620 shares, 
Jamaican Teas ended trading with a loss of 20 cents at $4.80, with 35,000 stock units, Jetcon Corporation traded 30 cents higher at $4.55, with 10,600 units. Key Insurance finished trading at $3.95, with 300 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 15 cents at $4.05, with 248,805 stock units, Lasco Financial finished with a loss of 20 cents at $4.70, with 1,082,814 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled 5 cents higher at $4.25, with 10,444 shares. Main Event ended trading with a loss of 39 cents at $5.81, with 6,938 shares, Paramount Trading finished trading 5 cents higher at $3.15, with 10,000 stock units, Stationery and Office closed at $5.50, with 88,491 units and tTech concluded trading at $6, with 50,494 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE adds 4,453 points in 3 days – Tuesday
Berger Paints fell $2.07 to $17 with the largest block of shares on Tuesday.
Market activity on Tuesday fell well below that on Monday but the market indices climbed higher with gains of 4,453 points in three days. The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,526.21 points to 321,783.85 and the JSE Index added 1,390.55 points to 293,181.47.
The main market ended with 27 securities changing hands, ending with 10 securities rising, 8 falling, 9 trading firm. Trading ended with 10,582,771 units valued at $143,248,381 changing hands, versus 4,116,289 units valued at $49,819,783 on Monday.
In main market activity, Barita Investments closed at $7.50, with 8,336 shares, Berger Paints ended with a loss of $2.07 at $17, with 2,492,575 stock units following release of audited nine months results showing a reduction of earnings at 81 cents compared to $1.17 for the same time in 2016 but with the 2017 figures being hit by a large amount incurred to provide the directors recommendation to shareholders following the takeover offer for the shares. Carreras finished with a loss of 5 cents at $10.95, with 142,495 shares, Caribbean Cement settled 45 cents higher at $33.50, with 232,837 shares, Ciboney Group ended trading at 10 cents, with 586,437 shares. Grace Kennedy traded 1 cent higher at $44.01, with 562,502 stock units, Jamaica Broilers finished trading with a loss of 39 cents at $18.49, with 35,051 units, Jamaica Producers closed at $15, with 9,380 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with a loss of 20 cents at $6.50, with 6,442 shares.
JMMB Group concluded trading $1.49 higher at $26.49, with 42,810 shares, Kingston Wharves settled 25 cents higher at $40, with 17,853 units, Mayberry Investments ended trading 37 cents higher at $5.78, with 4,220 shares, NCB Financial Group traded with a loss of 23 cents at $98.97, with 102,165 shares. Infrequently traded Palace Amusement, closed at $560, with 225 stock units as investors expect a big payoff from the sold out houses the company is enjoying currently with the showing of Black Panther that is raking in several million dollars per day for them. PanJam Investment ended 1 cent higher at $41.51, with 5,061 units, Pulse Investments finished with a loss of 3 cents at $1.75, with 6,605 shares, Radio Jamaica settled 6 cents higher at $1.14, with 16,600 shares. Sagicor Group ended trading at $37.50, with 424,976 stock units, Scotia Group finished trading 10 cents higher at $51, with 51,177 shares, 
Supreme Ventures concluded trading 45 cents higher at $11.95, with 1,430 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments finished with a loss of 35 cents at $4.50, with 1,963,833 units. Wisynco Group settled at $10.50, with 2,449,787 shares and Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading at $17, with 47,796 shares, but the stock traded at a record high of $17.50 early in the trading session. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market ended trading 11 cents higher at 52 weeks’ High of $2.60, with 500 shares, Jamaica Money Market traded at $1.95, with 1,375 stock units, JMMB Group closed at $0.99, with 18,453 shares, Sagicor Bank A 7.75% ended trading with a loss of 4 cents at an all-time low of $1.01, with 1,351,850 shares, changing hands.Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market highest since October”
JSE main market highest since October
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed higher for the third consecutive day at the close of trading on Tuesday and putting the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index to the highest level since it peaked at 323,606 points in October last year.
The market closed with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index (AJI) climbing 1,526.21 points to 321,783.85 and the JSE Index adding 1,390.55 points to 293,181.47 as the market continues to flirt with the upper resistance line of a long term channel with technical signals suggesting that it will continue to creep slowly upwards to the 330,000 points level on the AJI where some resistance lies, but it seems poised to break out thereafter sharply upwards. First quarter results for 2018 will be critical for such a break.
Trading on Tuesday closed with 29 securities changing hands, leading to 10 advancing, 9 declining and 10 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets.
Berger Paints traded most shares with price falling $2.07 to $17.
The securities with the largest price changes include, Berger Paints ending with a loss of $2.07 to $17, following release of audited nine months results showing a reduction in earnings at 81 cents compared to $1.17 for the same period in 2016 but with the 2017 figures being hit by a large sum incurred to provide the directors recommendation to shareholders following the takeover offer for the shares and JMMB Group added $1.49 to end at $26.49.
Main market activity ended with 10,582,771 units valued at $143,248,381 changing hands, versus 4,116,289 units valued at$49,819,783 on Monday. Berger Paints accounted for 2,492,575 units and 23.55 percent of total shares traded followed by Wisynco Group with 2,449,787 units with 23.15 percent of total volume traded and Victoria Mutual Investments with 1,963,833 units or 18.56 percent of the day’s trades and Sagicor Bank 7.75% preference share ended trading with 1,351,850 shares.
Trading results in an average of 391,954 shares valued at $5,305,496 for each security traded, sharply down on the 158,319 shares valued at $1,916,145 on Monday.
For the month to date an average of 1,452,362 units with an average value at $16,597,564 traded, compared to 1,819,426 units with an average value at $20,506,358 traded on the previous trading day. In contrast, February closed with average of 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.Trading in the US dollar market ended with Productive Business Solution exchanging 5,800 shares at 58 US cents after dropping by 2 cents and Proven Investments concluded trading at 21.1 US cents, down from 21.50 cents with 490,191 units changing hands. The market closed with a total of 495,991 shares with a value of US$106,780 as the market index slipped 3.71 points to 165.85.
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 1 with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – JSE adds 4,453 points in 3 days – Tuesday.
Junior Market up again – Tuesday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange index, climbed 33.65 points, to close at 2,897.08 on Tuesday, with 22 securities changing hands, compared to 23 trading on Monday.
Market activity resulted in the prices of 10 securities advancing, 6 declining and 6 remaining unchanged, from an exchange of 2,525,646 units valued at $10,130,237, versus 2,509,141 units valued at $11,095,172 on Monday.
Trading ended with an average of 114,802 units for an average of $460,465 compared to an average of 109,093 units for an average of $482,399 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date, amounts to 108,116 units at $436,591, compared to an average of 106,129 units at $429,494 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 338,697 units at an average value of $1,495,774 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 the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed at $50, with 790 shares trading, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 5 cents at $2, with 145,646 stock units, CAC 2000 finished at $8.70, with 6,000 shares, Caribbean Cream ended trading with a loss of 45 cents at $6.05, with 67,157 shares, Caribbean Producers finished trading 4 cents higher at $4.15, with 9,574 units. Derrimon Trading concluded trading 4 cents higher at $7.52, with 9,494 shares, Elite Diagnostic settled 5 cents higher at $2.82, with 451,759 units, Express Catering traded 60 cents higher at $4.90, with 30,000 shares, FosRich Group finished trading at $2.50, with 10,681 shares. General Accident closed with a loss of 14 cents at $2.90, with 136,800 stock units, GWest Corporation ended with a loss of 1 cent at $2.89, with 3,500 units, 
Honey Bun concluded trading with a loss of 20 cents at $4.10, with 348,993 shares, Iron Rock finished at $3, with 2,000 shares. Jamaican Teas ended trading at $5, with 506,040 stock units, Jetcon Corporation traded with a loss of 25 cents at $4.25, with 32,300 units, Key Insurance finished trading 1 cent higher at $3.95, with 5,000 shares, Knutsford Express ended at $15, with 108 shares. Lasco Distributors concluded trading 10 cents higher at $4.20, with 244,710 stock units, Lasco Financial finished 30 cents higher at $4.90, with 95,473 units, Lasco Manufacturing settled 11 cents higher at $4.20, with 382,706 shares, Main Event ended trading 20 cents higher at $6.20, with 10,915 shares and Stationery and Office closed 40 cents higher at $5.50, with 26,000 unitschanging hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Black Panther applauded by patrons & Palace
One of the many gripping scenes from Marvel Studios’ Black Panther.
Palace Amusement Company continues to reap sweet rewards from the phenomenally popular movie, Black Panther that Jamaicans are queuing in droves to see.
Now in its third big week, this Marvel Studios’ phenomenon, in keeping with growing demand island wide has resulted in Palace Amusement adding extra shows at all its cinemas, to satisfy it patrons who are eager to be a part of the film’s astounding appeal and drawing power.
According to a release from Palace its flagship Carib in Cross Roads, have moved to 6 shows daily up from 4, Palace Cineplex, Liguanea, has added daytime matinees on the weekend, in addition to 2 shows daily and in Montego Bay, Palace Cineplex will now have 4 shows daily up from 3. For show times check www.palaceamusement.com or see the press.
Palace reported a loss of $5.3 million in the December quarter from revenues of $233 million and a profit of $4 million for the six months period, from revenues of $493 million. By IC Insider.com computation the success of Black Panther should blast the December quarter’s numbers way out of the waters and well into the black and is likely to make 2018 the most successful year in the movie house’s history.
Palace Amusement Company is listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and last traded at $560.
JSE main market sharply higher – Monday
Bulls may be lurching to pounce on Jamaican stocks.
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed sharply higher at the close of trading on Monday, with advancing stocks just edging out declining ones.
The market closed with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index surging 2,130.17 points to 320,257.64 and the JSE Index adding 1,940.83 points to 291,790.92 as the market continues to flirt with the upper resistance line of a long term channel.
Trading on Monday closed with 26 securities changing hands, leading to 10 advancing, 8 declining and 8 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets. There was no trading in the US dollar market at the close on Monday.
The securities with the largest price changes include, Grace Kennedy losing $2 to close at $44, JMMB Group that fell $1 to $25. Kingston Wharves lost $2.25 to end at $39.75, Sterling Investments gained $1 to $14 and Victoria Mutual Investments climbed 40 cents to a new high of $4.85 while trading the most shares for the day.
Main market activity ended with 4,116,289 units valued at $49,819,783 compared to 115,025,659 units valued at $1,171,809,500 on Friday. 
Victoria Mutual Investments accounted for 2,484,967 units and 60.4 percent of total shares traded followed by Wisynco Group with 525,358 units with 12.76 percent of total volume traded and Kingston Wharves with 298,752 units or 7.26 percent of the day’s trades.
Trading results in an average of 158,319 shares valued at $1,916,145 for each security traded, sharply down on the 4,424,064 shares valued at $45,069,596 on Friday. For the month to date an average of 1,819,426 units with an average value at $20,506,358 traded, compared to 2,649,980 units valued at $29,801,464 traded on the previous trading day. In contrast, February closed with average of 213,336 units valued at $3,392,475 for each security traded.
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 1 with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – VM Investments dominates JSE’s Monday trading.