Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the early morning session resulted in the junior market continue 
to hit new record but the main market rose moderately above Tuesday’s close in moderate trading across most stocks.
A number of stocks traded at new highs, these include Berger trading 5,708 units at $9.50, General Accident at $3.50 with just 100 units and Pulse Investments that traded 12,000 units at $4.90.
Securities changing hands, amount to 35 at 10:45 am. A total of 13 securities advanced and 7 declined, resulting in a volume of 1,042,543 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $12,874,286, the average trade in the early session amounted to 29,787 units.
The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 65.04 points to 215,711.24 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index rose 58.15 points to 197,258.77, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index gained 314.96 points to 212,009.88 and the junior market index climbed 25.39 points to 2,830.08.
Juniors hit new record in early trading
January 25, 2017 by
JSE majors shoot to 215,646 points
January 24, 2017 by
Kingston Wharves traded at a new high of $27.75 on Tuesday.
The market enjoyed another day of good volumes, with values exceeding $273 million, as the market continues to trade above the $240,000 market for the fourth consecutive day.
The market closed with 40 securities changing hands, 19 stocks gained and 9 declined in the overall market, including 9 stocks rising and 3 falling, in the junior market. A total of 8 securities ended at new 52 weeks’ closing highs.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index gained 1,486.31 points to close at 215,646.20. The JSE Market Index rose 1,329.03 points to finish at 197,200.62 and the JSE combined index climbed 1,462.70 points to close at 211,694.92.
At the close with 10,692,647 units valued at $273,030,077 changed hands, compared to 20,100,275 units valued at $241,271,357 changing hands on Monday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 1,319,304 units valued at $8,881,627.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 360,513 shares compared to an average of 958,319 units traded on Monday. An average of 659,416 units traded for the month to date, versus 736,679 units on the previous trading day, compared with an average of 549,379 units, December ended with.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments fell 55 cents while trading 38,200 units to end at 5.75, Berger Paints was pushed by 51 cents to a new closing high of $8.50 while trading 10,000 shares. Cable and Wireless ended with 367,430 units at $1.20, after gaining 1 cent, Caribbean Cement traded 3,575 shares to close at $30.52. Grace Kennedy had 51,319 units trading to close at $40.50, gaining 2 cents, Jamaica Broilers lost 22 cents and closed at $15.25 with 4,936 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 54,929 shares, losing $1 to end at $10. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 119,310 shares at $5.60, JMMB Group traded 301,370 units at $15.31, Kingston Wharves ended up trading 400 units to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $27.75, after gaining $2.74. National Commercial Bank added 60 cents in swapping 2,430,916 shares to close at $52.60, Pan Jamaican gained 20 cents to close at $29.95 with 3,593,683 units traded,
Portland JSX lost 1 cent to close at $9.00 while trading 4,000 units. Pulse Investments traded 30,000 units and closed at $4.35, Radio Jamaica ended at $1.40 with 137,162 shares trading, Sagicor Group had 490,590 shares changing hands, with a gain of 3 cents to end at $29.03, Sagicor Real Estate fund lost 70 cents in trading 8,525 units to close at $9.50, Scotia Group, with 17,550 shares changing hands, gained 50 cents to close at $36. Sterling Investments traded just 800 units but rose 5 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $15.75, Supreme Ventures lost 11 cents in trading 1,498,655 shares to close at $5.10, Proven Investments traded 400 ordinary shares to close at 23 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share ended with 18,000 units trading at $2.15 after gaining 4 cents.
Jamaican majors end at 214,159 points.
January 23, 2017 by
Jamaica Producers rose by $1.47 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $11.
The market closed with 33 securities changing hands, 16 stocks gained and 10 declined in the overall market, including 6 stocks rising and 7 falling, in the junior market.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index gained 1,313.02 points to close at 214,159.89. The JSE Market Index rose 1,174.08 points to finish at 195,871.59 and the JSE combined index climbed 1,134.09 points to close at 210,232.22.
At the close with 20,100,275 units valued at $241,271,357 changed hands, compared to 38,043,877 units valued at $286,247,575 changing hands on Friday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 1,892,208 units valued at $12,483,279.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 958,319 shares compared to an average of 601,774 units traded on Monday. An average of 736,679 units traded for the month to date, versus 515,038 units on the previous trading day, compared with an average of 549,379 units, December ended with.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
In market activity, Investors continued to react positively to nine months results, showing a sharp hike in profit for Berger Paints, pushing the price to a new closing high at $7.99 while trading 25,000 shares. Cable and Wireless ended with 465,017 units at $1.19, after gaining 7 cents, Caribbean Cement traded 46,985 shares to close at $30.52 with a rise of 2 cents, Grace Kennedy had 177,361 units trading, to close at $40.48, after gaining $1.48, Jamaica Broilers lost 3 cents and closed at $15.47 with 6,876,548 shares changing hands. Jamaica Producers traded 22,200 shares, rising by $1.47 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $11, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 75,579 shares at $5.60,
JMMB Group traded 42,686 units at $15.31, Kingston Wharves ended up trading 8,361 units to close at $25.01, after losing 29 cents. Mayberry traded 7,500 shares and closed at $4.25, gaining 20 cents in the process, National Commercial Bank added 50 cents in swapping 381,306 shares to close at $52, Pan Jamaican traded 12,723 units to close at $29.75, Portland JSX added 1 cent to close at $9.01 while trading 10,000,000 units. Sagicor Group closed with 37,440 shares changing hands with a loss of 4 cents at $29, Sagicor Real Estate fund gained 20 cents in trading 2,000 units to close at $10.20, Scotia Group, with 900 shares changing hands, gained 50 cents to close at $35.50 and Supreme Ventures traded 5,500 shares to close at $5.21.
Juniors break 2,800 majors shy of 214,000 – Monday
January 23, 2017 by
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the early morning session resulted in the junior market breaking the 2,800 barrier for the first time and the all Jamaica index sitting just under 214,000 points as a number of stocks hit record close.
Large trades include, Jamaica Broilers Group with 6,876,548 shares at $15.47 and Portland JSX with 10,000,000 at $9.01, both were crossed trades by Victoria Wealth. Trading at new highs are Jamaican Teas with 6,515 units at $7.80, Jamaica Producers with 2,000 shares at $11 and Berger Paints with 20,000 units at $7.80.
Securities changing hands, amount to 27 at 10:45 am, compared to 32 on Friday. A total of 12 securities advanced and 7 declined, resulting in a volume of 17,402,301 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $200,550,750, compared of 34,904,514 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $248,422,322, on Friday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 644,530 units versus 1,090,766 units on Friday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index climbed 1,007.72 points to 213,854.59 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index rose 901.09 points to 195,598.60, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index gained 1,163.78 points to 210,261.91 and the junior market index climbed 31.93 points to 2,809.80.
Main Event heads IC TOP 5 list
January 22, 2017 by
The latest junior market offering Main Event Entertainment hits the IC Insider’s TOP 5 list as the top stock. The new entrant pushed Caribbean Flavours just outside the list.
The forecast is for Main Event to get to $6 in 2017 based on its 2016 earnings and higher based on the 2017 earnings. Prices in the junior market, continue to gain with the junior market index gaining almost 7 percent so far and running well ahead of the main market.
Berger Paints remains in the list in spite of a sharp 12.5 percent rise on Friday, following outstanding nine months results to December. IC Insider.com increased the projected earnings from 99 cents to $1.10 with 2018 forecasted at $1.60. The stock seems set to migrate out of the list during this week with limited supply.
In the main market, Caribbean Cement slipped back from $36 to $30.50 during the past week thus enhancing its attractiveness as a buy.
JSE majors close down Friday
January 20, 2017 by
Berger closed at a new all-time high on Friday
The market closed with 46 securities changing hands, 18 stocks gained and 14 declined in the overall market, including 9 stocks rising and 7 falling, in the junior market. One security in the main market and one in the junior market closed trading at an all-time high and one in the junior market traded at an intraday high while Portland JSX closed at a new low.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index lost 671.11 points to close at 212,846.87. The JSE Market Index slipped 600.10 points to finish at 194,697.51 and the JSE combined index declined by 392.65 points to close at 209,098.13.
At the close with 38,043,877 units valued at $286,247,575 changed hands, compared to 14,496,376 units valued at $291,803,792 changing hands on Wednesday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 22,999,535 units, changing hands, valued at $127,583,667.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 601,774 shares compared to an average of 367,156 units traded on Wednesday. An average of 515,038 units traded for the month to date, versus 428,302 units on the previous trading day, compared with an average of 549,379 units, December ended with.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
In market activity, Investors reacted positively to nine months results, showing a sharp hike in profit for Berger Paints, pushing the price to a new closing high at $6.75 while trading of 85,937 shares. Cable and Wireless ended with 1,872,517 units at $1.12, after gaining 1 cent, Caribbean Cement traded 58,218 shares to close at $30.50, Carreras closed at $66.75 with 61,025 shares changing hands after rising by 25 cents. Grace Kennedy had 33,738 units trading, to close at $39, Jamaica Broilers rose 50 cents and closed at $15.50 with 47,477 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 1,763,796 shares to end with a fall of 7 cents at $9.53. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 6,119,966 shares, to end at $5.60, JMMB Group traded 2,050,959 units to end at $15.31, Kingston Wharves ended up trading 73,943 units to close at $25.31. National Commercial Bank fell 50 cents in swapping 12,573 shares, to close at $51.50, investors swapped 1 million units of 138 Student Living, at $4.50,
Pan Jam Investment traded 21,420 units with the price slipping 25 cents to end at a $29.75, Portland JSX lost 20 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $9 while trading 23,000 units. Radio Jamaica traded 16,329 units and rose 12 cents to close at $1.40, Sagicor Group closed with 374,817 shares changing hands with a rise of 58 cents at $29.04 Sagicor Real Estate fund lost 22 cents in trading 18,700 units to close at $10, Scotia Group with 137,003 shares changing hands, lost $1 to close at $35. Scotia Investments gained 50 cents with 1,174,023 units trading, to end at $33, Seprod traded 5,739 shares but fell 50 cents in closing at $29.50 and Proven Investments traded 81,000 ordinary shares to close at 23 US cents.
Berger’s stellar performance
January 20, 2017 by
Berger price jumped on Friday after posting strong 2016 results.
For the quarter, earnings were $185 million versus $80 million in the 2015 quarter, with revenues climbing 17.8 percent in the December quarter to $895 million.
Berger ended with cash of $158 million in December, having generated $370 million from operations before build up in working capital. The gross cash inflows, places it in a good position to continue to pay out a rich dividend, which they should do later in the year. According to the cash flow statement, receivables jumped by $378 million over the March 2016 position. That would put it at $700 million, as of December 2016. The majority of this amount should be cleared by the end of March.
Unfortunately, the Berger report does not conform to international standards for reporting interim results. The effect is there is no information on direct and indirect cost and gross profit and the balance sheet carries little information as to the composition of the current assets and liabilities. Accordingly, investors, cannot make proper assessment of its performance.
A final dividend of 20 cents per share totalling $42.864 million was paid July 2016. The stock responded well to the numbers, with investors pushing it to a new record high of $6.75 in early morning trading on Friday, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. IC Insider.com forecast earnings of $1.10 for the full year to March 2017 and $1.60 for the 2018 fiscal year.
Large volumes put through – Friday
January 20, 2017 by
Berger hit at a new 52 weeks’ high in early trading on Friday.
By 10:45 am, the main market indices pulled back a bit below the all-time high but the junior market index remained in record territory.
Berger Paints traded at a new high of $6.75 with 85,937 after the company released results to December showing profit of $251 million or $1.17 for the period versus $110 million for 2015 with earnings of $1.17 per share for 2016. For the quarter earnings were $185 million versus $80 million in the 2015 quarter, with revenues climbing 17.8 percent in the December quarter to $895 million.
Large trades include, Cable & Wireless 1,714,703 units at up to $1.15, Jamaica Producers with 1,763,795 shares at $9.53, Jamaica Stock Exchange 6,008,714 which was mostly a cross by Victoria Wealth at $5.56 each, but now trades at $5.50.
JMMB Group 1,651,360 units at $15.30, Scotia Investments 1,167,708 at $32.83. Honey Bun 496,260 at $6.20, Lasco Distributors 7,077,911 units $7.31, Lasco Financial with 3,895,608 at $3.69, Lasco Manufacturing 10,313,202 at $5.01.Securities changing hands, amount to 32 at 10:45 am, compared to 36 on Thursday at 11.50 am. A total of 15 securities advanced and 8 declined, resulting in a volume of 34,904,514 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $248,422,322, compared of 10,504,719 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $231,575,220 on Thursday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 1,090,766 units versus 291,798 units on Thursday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index 171.74 points to 213,689.72 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index rose 153.56 points to 195,451.17, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index gained 294.61 points to 209,785.39 and the junior market index rose 14.81 points to 2,776.75.
Junior market climbs major fall
January 19, 2017 by
The main market indices of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped in the morning session but the junior index gained in the morning session in trading on Thursday Trading levels climbed sharply over that on Wednesday.
Securities changing hands, amount to 36 at 11:50 am, compared to 28 on Wednesday at 10.45 am. A total of 14 securities advanced and 14 declined, resulting in a volume of 10,504,719 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $231,575,220, compared of 2,342,522 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $11,878,847 on Wednesday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 291,798 units versus 83,662 units on Wednesday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index fell 1,164.76 points to 212,145.45 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index lost 1,041.50 points to 194,070.32, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index lost 916.60 points to 208,357.80 and the junior market index rose 4.78 points to 2,762.43.
Value of Jamaican stocks slip – Wednesday
January 18, 2017 by
Jamaica Producers traded at a new high of $10.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index lost 211.20 points to close at 213,310.21. The JSE Market Index slipped 188.86 points to finish at 195,111.82 and the JSE combined index fell 262.00 points to close at 209,274.40.
The market closed with 40 securities changing hands, 14 stocks gained and 14 declined in the overall market, including 3 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market. One security ended trading at a new high and two at new lows, while one traded at an intraday high.
At the close with 6,870,141 units valued at $43,857,890 changed hands, compared to 4,982,675 units valued at $90,430,065 changing hands on Tuesday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 1,865,673 units, changing hands, valued at $12,828,651.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 217,586 shares compared to an average of 138,833 units traded on Tuesday. An average of 528,824 units traded for the month to date, versus 489,448 units on the previous trading day, compared with an average of 549,379 units, December ended with.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.In market activity, Berger Paints ended trading of 49,420 shares to close at $6, Cable and Wireless ended with 3,797,843 units at $1.13, after falling 17 cents, Caribbean Cement traded 12,872 shares to close at $32, Carreras closed at $66.30 with 10,000 shares changing hands after falling by 20 cents. Grace Kennedy had 2,813 units trading, with the price falling 55 cents, to close at $40.10, Jamaica Broilers rose 88 cents and closed at $15.50 with 3,000 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 62,060 shares to end with a rise of 50 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $10. Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped 4 cents in trading 6,300 shares, to end at $5.56, JMMB Group traded 283,799 units to end at $15.20, Kingston Wharves lost 20 cents in trading 13,200 units to close at $25.31, but retreated from an intraday high of $26.75. Mayberry Investments gained 5 cents in trading 170,522 units and ended at $4.75.
National Commercial Bank fell 21 cents swapping 21,233 shares, to close at $51.54, Portland JSX lost 20 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $10 while trading 958 units, Pulse Investments traded 57,791 units and dropped 80 cents to close at $3.70. Sagicor Group closed with 62,000 shares changing hands with a rise of 20 cents at $28.50, Scotia Group with 38,123 shares changing hands, rose 10 cents to close at $36.60, Scotia Investments gained $1 with 1,000 units trading, to end at $33.49. Seprod traded 700 shares but rose 49 cents in closing at $30, Supreme Ventures lost 4 cents in trading 2,000 units at $5.11 and Proven Investments traded 356,514 ordinary shares to close at 22 US cents.