Prices of stocks, on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, pulled sharply on Thursday, as the market closed with 42 securities changing hands of which 15 gained while 15 declined in the overall market, including 7 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index fell sharply 2,014.74 points, to close at 210,401.76. The JSE Market Index dropped 1,801.53 points to finish at 192,511.16. The JSE combined index pulled back 1,327.76 points to close at 205,435.54.
At the close with 2,993,596 units valued at $27,027,397 changed hands, compared to 3,784,854 units valued at $25,405,860 changing hands on Thursday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 2,710,965 units changing hands, valued at $12,580,140.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 84,869 shares compared to an average of 70,171 units traded on Wednesday. The average for the month to date is 132,234 units and December ended with an average of 549,379 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 21 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments slipped 50 cents while trading 19,334 shares to close at $6, Cable & Wireless gained 3 cents to close at 85 cents with 268,474 units trading, Caribbean Cement ended with a $1 loss while trading 1,259 shares at $33. Carreras closed at $66 with 6,348 shares changing hands, Investors traded 219,390 shares of 1834 Investments to close with a fall of 2 cents at $1.20, Grace Kennedy fell 9 cents to close at $40.40 with 167,066 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers gained 10 cents and closed at $14.6 with 19,700 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers shed 10 cents to end at $9.40 with 4,490 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 4 cents in trading 14,215 shares, to end at $5.56. JMMB Group traded 52,800 units and added 10 cents to end at $14.70, Kingston Wharves slipped $2 and traded 42,898 shares at $20, Mayberry Investments gained 5 cents to end at $4.80 with 1,721 shares changing hands. National Commercial Bank traded 6,836 shares with a gain of $1.25 to close at $51.50. The closest offer for NCB is at $54.80 to sell 18,500 units, PANJAM Investment traded 35,107 shares and shed $1 to close at $26.50. 
Portland JSX gained 5 cents in trading 45,400 units at $11, Pulse Investments traded 19,715 shares at $4, Radio Jamaica lost 2 cents to close at $1.26 after 388,684 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group closed with 227,944 shares changing hands at $29.04. Sagicor X Fund ended with 250,230 units trading, with a gain of 30 cents to close at $10.50. Scotia Group with 16,835 shares changing hands and closed with a fall of $3.30 at $35, Scotia Investments lost $1.50 with 13,874 units trading, to end at $28, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 74,000 units at 22 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5 percent preference share traded 300,000 units $1.08.
JSE pushes higher to new record – Thursday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange was pushed to yet another morning of new high, with the all Jamaica Composite Index breaking the 213,000 points level for the first time after 20 minutes of trading to 213,061.86 points. Scotia Group traded 9,145 at a new high of $39, up 70 cents for the day contributing to the increase in the market. The junior market also moved higher from Wednesday’s close.
Market activity resulted in 29 securities trading at 10:45 am, compared to 31 on Wednesday. A total of 10 securities advanced and 7 declined, resulting in a volume of 1,153,658 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $6,116,182, compared of 2,248,154 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $19,672,487 on Wednesday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 39,781 units versus 72,521 units on Wednesday.
Radio Jamaica with 337,200 shares trading at $1.30 was the leading trade, followed by JMMB Group 7.50% preference share with 300,000 units at $1.08, Cable & Wireless with 164,574 units at 82 cents and junior market listed Jetcon Corporation with 80,840 units at $6.
The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 535.16 points to a record 212,951.66, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index climbed 478.53 points to an all-time high of 194,791.22, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index jumped 596.78 points to a record high of 207,360.08 and the junior market index climbed 14.89 points to 2,600.35.
Jamaican stocks push higher Wednesday
Bulls are at large in down town Kingston.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index gained 204.60 points, to close at 212,416.50. The JSE Market Index climbed 182.94 points to finish at 194,312.69.
The JSE combined index rose 211.15 points to close at 206,763.30.
Market activity ended with 36 securities changing hands. At the close, the prices of 13 stocks gained while 15 declined in the overall market, including 7 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 3,784,854 units valued at $25,405,860 changed hands, compared to 7,231,425 units valued at $86,467,161 changing hands on Thursday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 2,710,965 units changing hands, valued at $12,580,140.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 70,171 shares compared to an average of 289,026 units traded on Tuesday. The average for the month to date is 179,598 units and December ended with an average of 549,379 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments rose by 50 cents while trading 57,000 shares at a new high of $6.50, Berger Paints ended with 46,842 units changing hands at $5.80, Cable & Wireless lost 1 cent to close at 82 cents with 667,394 units trading, Caribbean Cement ended with a $1 rise while trading 3,915 shares at $34. Carreras fell 40 cents to close at $66 with 28,450 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy gained 49 cents to close at $40.49 with 79,915 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers gained 35 cents and closed at $14.50 with 153,977 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers gained 10 cents to end at $9.50 with 27,639 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 8 cents in trading 221,631 shares, to end at $5.52. JMMB Group traded 14,000 units and lost 39 cents to end at $14.60, Kingston Wharves slipped 3 cents and traded 5,215 at $22, Mayberry Investments lost 5 cents to end at $4.75 with 4,080 shares changing hands. National Commercial Bank traded 10,664 shares with a gain of 25 cents to close at $50.25. 
PANJAM Investment traded 6,808 shares and shed $1 to close at $26.50. Radio Jamaica rose 3 cents to close at $1.28 after 15,565 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group gained 4 cents and closed with 7,845 shares changing hands at $29.04, Sagicor X Fund ended with 5,600 units trading, with a loss of 30 cents to close at $10.20. Scotia Group with 10,568 shares changing hands and closed with a gain of $1.30 at $37, Scotia Investments gained 50 cents with 1,000 units trading, to end at $30, Supreme Ventures traded 67,975 shares and lost 39 cents to end at $5.01, Proven Investments traded 50,294 ordinary shares traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of 23 US cents but ended at 22 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5 percent preference share traded 383,717 units $1.08.
AJI hits new high on Wednesday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange all Jamaica Composite Index climbed higher in early trading on Wednesday to beat yesterday’s record close as advancing stocks exceeded declining ones with Barita Investments, trading at a new high of $6.50 and Lasco Financial trading 1,379,710 shares at $3.55.
Market activity resulted in 31 securities traded at 10:45am, compared to 25 on Tuesday at 10:45 am. A total of 14 securities advanced and 9 declined, resulting in a volume of 2,248,154 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $19,672,487, compared 2,173,726 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $28,865,298 on Tuesday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 72,521 units versus 86,949 units on Tuesday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 59.68 points to a record 212,271.58, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index climbed 53.36 points to an all-time high of 194,183.11, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index jumped 122.79 points to a record high of 206,674.94 and the junior market index creep 7.14 to 2,588.56.
JSE majors start 2017 with a bang
Bulls are lurching around the juniors.
The All Jamaica Composite Index surged 2,072.41 points, to close at 212,211.90. The JSE Market Index climbed 1,853.11 points to finish at 194,129.75. The JSE combined index jumped 1,592.05 points to close at 206,552.15.
Market activity ended with 36 securities changing hands. At the close, the prices of 13 stocks gained while 15 declined in the overall market, including 2 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 7,231,425 units valued at $86,467,161 changed hands, compared to 24,274,905 units valued at $227,761,009 changing hands on Thursday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 294,809 units changing hands, valued at $1,529,067.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 289,026 shares compared to an average of 149,740 units traded on Friday. December ended with an average of 549,379 units.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints ended with 3,158 units changing hands with the price rising 20 cents to $5.80, Cable & Wireless rose 3 cents to close at 83 cents with 880,269 units trading, Caribbean Cement ended with loss of 95 cents while trading 5,240 shares at $33, Grace Kennedy fell $1 to close at $40 with 6,091 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers shed 75 cents and closed at $14.15 with 3,537,153 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 10 cents in trading 98,374 shares, to end at $5.60. JMMB Group traded 1,608 units and climbed 49 cents to end at $14.99, Kingston Wharves traded 733 units with a rise of $2.02 to a 52 weeks’ high of $22.03, Mayberry Investments lost 70 cents to end at $4.80 with 3,650 shares changing hands, 138 Student Living traded 1,100,000 and lost 30 cent to end at $4.50.
PANJAM Investment traded 18,508 shares and shed 50 cents to close at $27.50. Radio Jamaica fell 5 cents to close at $1.25 after 53,484 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group closed with 17,856 shares changing hands at $29, Sagicor X Fund ended with 9,645 units trading, with a loss of $1.31 to close at $10.50, Scotia Group with 322,000 shares changing hands, closed with a gain of 25 cents at $37. Scotia Investments dropped $3.90 with 440,850 units trading to end at $29.50, Supreme Ventures traded 54,275 shares and gained 23 cents to $5.30 and JMMB Group 6 percent US preference share traded 225,000 units US$2.11.
AJI starts 2017 with new record – Tuesday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange all Jamaica Composite Index jumped more than 1,900 points in early trading on Tuesday to break the 212,000 points level while the junior market slipped slightly..
Market activity resulted in 25 securities traded at 10:45 am, compared to 29 on Friday at 10:45 am. A total of 16 securities advanced and 5 declined, resulting in a volume of 2,173,726 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $ 28,865,298, compared 5,851,240 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $22,997,020 on Friday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 86,949 units versus 201,767 units on Friday.
The all Jamaica Composite Index surged 1,907.42 points to a record 212,046.91, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index climbed 1,705.57 points to an all-time high of 193,982.21, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index jumped 1,495.61 points to a record high of 206,455.71 and the junior market index fell 8.36 to 2,585.35.
Cargo Handlers top Jamaican stock with 393% gain
Bulls pushing Jamaican stock to new highs.
Cargo Handlers surged with a gain of 393 percent in 2016 to be the top performing stock on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, ending the year at $18.50 after a 10 for 1 stock split earlier in the year. The stock which trades at a PE of 30 times IC Insider’s 2017 estimated earnings, is also one of the most highly priced on the market. Last year the company posted profits that rose from 25 cents per share in 2015 to 42 cents in 2016.
Honey Bun roared along with gains of 325% to close the year at $5.85 after hitting a high of $7.50 in response to a 5 for 1 stock split and rise in profits of 104.7 percent for 2016.
The 2016 listed ISP Finance, jumped 250 percent to close the year at $8.50 on the expectation of strong future profit growth. This is one of the few stocks that grew sharply without the benefit of a stock split.
AMG Packaging climbed to be fourth best performer, benefiting from expectation of profit to flow from their new tissue operation and latterly by an announcement of a 5 for 1 stock split. Interestingly, while AMG last price was $24.51, the bid has been at $26.50 for several days, an indication that it will trade above the last traded price for 2016. Paramount Trading gained a more moderate 233%, helped by its expansion of it lubricant manufacturing in a joint venture arrangement and a 10 for 1
Paramount
Jetcon Corporation that listed in March at $2.25 per share, jumped 167 percent by the end of the year to $6, propelled by a near doubling in profit over 2015.
Blue Power gained 129% to sit at 7 position then Palace Amusement ended with a gain of 122, tTech that listed in January 2016 ended at tenth spot with gains of 112% just edging out Margaritaville Turks with 111 percent at number 11. Knutsford Express with gains 108% was the only other stock in the overall market to rise by more than 100%.
Data by the Investor’s Choice going back several years to 1980, indicates that on average only 22 percent of stocks in the top 10 repeat in the subsequent year. AMG was the sole stock that was in the top 10 in 2015 to repeat in 2016. These are sobering data investors would do well to ponder.
Kremi & Lasco Financial in TOP 5
Investors’ activity in the junior market resulted in changes to the IC Insider’s TOP 5 list from that for December 9. AMG Packaging with gains of 38 percent and Blue Power with gains of 46 percent dropped off the list.
Caribbean Cream and Lasco Financial entered the top listing with potential gains based on fiscal year 2015/16 of 81 and 71 percent respectively.
Derrimon Trading fell back during the period to $3.55 to re-enter the list but has since shot up to $5.50 to be sitting well below the TOP 5 with gains of 77 percent since it entered the top 5 initially. Announcement that the company deposited money to acquire a large block of the shares in Caribbean Flavours spurred the move in the stock price.
In the IC Insider’s TOP 5, the candidates remain unchanged for the main market, with investors’ interest being focussed on other stocks in the main market.
The list comprises potential gains based on current estimated earnings which are likely to drive stock prices before the 2017 earnings start to have a full effect.
The 2017 list based on IC Insider’s earnings forecast is likely to vary quite a bit from those on the current list.
JSE majors rise 25.6% to record close for 2016
Prices surged 3,760 points for local companies on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, to close at an all-time high on the final trading day of 2016. The market ended with the All Jamaica Composite Index climbing 25.6 percent for the year to date, the JSE market index gaining 28 percent and the Combined index that includes all listed ordinary shares, rising 30 percent.
The All Jamaica Composite Index surged 3,760.52 points, to close at 210,139.49. The JSE Market Index climbed 3,362.57 points to finish at 192,276.64. The JSE combined index jumped 3,106.50 points to close at 204,960.10.
Market activity ended with 41 securities changing hands. At the close, the prices of 21 stocks gained while 12 declined in the overall market, including 10 stocks rising and 3 falling, in the junior market.
At the close with 24,274,905 units valued at $227,761,009 changed hands, compared to 4,537,612 units valued at $81,171,835 changing hands on Thursday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 1,632,612 units changing hands, valued at $8,675,126.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 905,692 shares compared to an average of 149,740 units traded on Thursday. The average for the month to date stands at 549,379 shares compared to an average of 233,393 units for the month up to Thursday. November ended with an average of 208,466 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 19 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
Some notable stocks with bids above the last sale price are Kingston Wharves with a bid of $24 versus the last price of $20.01, National Commercial Bank with a bid of $51.75 compared to the last sale of $50, Pan Jam with a bid of $27.50 versus the last price of $27, Sagicor Group with a bid at $29.90 versus a last sale of $29, Sagicor X Fund with a bid of $12.95 versus the last sale of $11.81 and Salada Foods that last traded at $8.50, with a bid of $9.50.
In market activity, Barita Investments traded 13,000 shares to end at $6, Berger Paints ended with 136,018 units changing hands at $5.60, Cable & Wireless closed at 80 cents with 7,620,572 units trading, Caribbean Cement ended with loss of 55 cents while trading 6,300 shares at $33.95, Carreras climbed 74 cents in exchanging 1,450 shares to close at $66.75. Investors traded 101,446 shares of 1834 Investments to close at $1.20 after falling by 8 cents, Grace Kennedy gained 1 cent to close at $41 with 1,528,227 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers shed 15 cents and closed at $14.90 with 3,247,986 shares changing hands, 
Jamaica Producers gained 20 cents to end at $9.25 with 769,449 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 10 cents in trading 29,673 shares, to end at $5.50. JMMB Group traded 103,865 units and dropped 49 cents to end at $14.50, Mayberry Investments rose 50 cents to end at $5.50 with 3,692,948 shares changing hands, National Commercial Bank rose 24 cents ended at $50 with 2,630 shares changing hands, PANJAM Investment traded 655,404 shares and shed $2 to close at $30. Radio Jamaica gained 7 cents to close at $1.30 after 898,560 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group closed with 84,109 shares changing hands at $29, Sagicor X Fund ended with 3,136,659 units trading, with a loss of 19 cents to close at $11.81, Scotia Group with 179,939 shares changing hands, closed with a gain of $1.74 at $36.75. Scotia Investments gained $2.40 with 16,000 units trading to end at $33.40, Seprod jumped lost 30 cents to end at $29.50 with 181,944 units changing hands, Supreme Ventures traded 214,996 shares and gained 23 cents to $5.30 and Proven Investments closed at 21.95 US cents, with 12,640 units changing hands.
Juniors break 2,600 & majors 209,000 – Friday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange all Jamaica Composite Index jumped more than 2,800 points in early trading on Friday to sit less than 800 points from the 210,000 points level while the junior market rose above Thursday’s record close to break the 2,600 mark.
Market activity resulted in 29 securities traded at 10:45 am, compared to 28 on Thursday at 10:45 am. A total of 16 securities advanced and 5 declined, resulting in a volume of 5,851,240 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $22,997,020, compared just 463,915 shares changing hands, carrying a value of $3,009,378 on Thursday. The average number of shares traded, amount to 201,767 units versus 16,568 units on Thursday.
The leading trades include Cable & Wireless has so far traded 4,063,060 units between 70 and 80 cents but last traded at 75 cents. Grace Kennedy 231,964 shares at $41.87, Jamaica Producers 453,416 at $9.20, Supreme Ventures 207,836 units at $5.30, Blue Power traded a 52 weeks’ high of $30 with 10,000 units changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance traded 563,234 units at $4, CAC 2000 gained 60 cents to $5.10 while 77,173 shares were traded following release of the company’s audited accounts showing the cost of the settlement of the lawsuit being in the region of $124 million.
The all Jamaica Composite Index surged 2,831.08 points to a record 209,210.05, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index jumped 2,531.49 points to an all-time high of 191,445.56, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index 2,445.50 points to a record high of 204,299.10 and the junior market index rose 9.53 to 2,604.38.