Trading on Jamaica Stock Exchange early Wednesday is slow with only a few trades of meaningful size as the indices gave up some gains over the past two days.
Meaningful volumes came from penny stocks Cable & Wireless with 113,022 units at $1 and 1834 Investments with 159,400 shares at $1.25 followed by Jamaica Stock Exchange with 55,577 units at $27.15, National Commercial Bank with 401,780 shares at $39.99 and Proven Investments with 389,000 units at US 19.9 cents.
At 10:45 am 23 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 1,182,572 shares carrying a value of $29,395,598 changing hands down from 1,835,382 units on Tuesday. The average number of shares traded amounts to 51,416 units compared to 63,289 units on Tuesday. The number of stocks falling are 7 while the prices of 6 securities rose as the market continues to consolidate with no new major developments or news to move prices in one direction or the other.
The all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 857.51 points to 177,086.72 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Indexdeclined 766.77 points to 159,388.78, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index lost 919.05 points to close at 170,541.08 and the junior market index slipped 20.25 points to 2,212.09.
JSE trades down early Wednesday
JSE stocks rise again – Tuesday
JSE stock jumped to $29.50 during trading.
At the close of trading, the JSE Market Index rose 231.36 points to end at 160,155.55. The all Jamaica Composite Index gained 258.74 points to close at 177,944.23 and the JSE combined index climbed 596.35 points, to end at 171,460.13.
At the close of the market prices of 14 securities gained out of a total of 36 that traded, with 12 declining in the overall market, including 7 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers, suggesting continued fluidity in price movements ahead.In market activity, Berger Paints traded 109,400 shares at $5, Cable & Wireless traded 644,622 shares and closed at $1, Caribbean Cement traded 20,120 shares to end at $25.50, Carreras traded 6,907 shares and fell 6 cents to close at $66.44. Grace Kennedy dropped $1 to end at $42, with 38,441 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers had 5,400 shares changing hands, to end with a gain of 8 cents at $14.60, Jamaica Producers ended at $8.50 with 9,360 units trading, after rising by 10 cents, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 42 cents with 28,280 units changing hands, to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $27.82. The stock traded at new all-time high during the morning session at $29.50, as investors continue to react positively to the announcement of a likely stock split,
JMMB Group traded 300 units at $9.90. Kingston Wharves traded 29,130 shares and rose 5 cents, to close at $17.55, Margaritaville Turks traded 2,710 shares to close at 21 US cents, National Commercial Bank had 19,809 units changing hands and fell 50 cents, to close at $40, Pan Jamaican Investments climbed 50 cents and closed at $24.50 after trading 7,218 shares. Radio Jamaica lost 2 cents to close at $1.48 with 33,698 shares trading, Sagicor Group lost 20 cents with 100,116 shares changing hands at $22.20, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 42,100 shares and rose 5 cents to close at $10.20. Scotia Group added 40 cents to close at $30.10 with 31,800 shares changing hands. Scotia Investments had 4,988 units changing hands at $26, Seprod traded 6,500 units to close at $20.50 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% lost 1 cent in trading 108,741 units at $2.09.
$29.50 new high for JSE early Tuesday
Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 1,400 at a new high of $29.50 up $2.10, following the high it reached in early trading Monday of $28, 
Jetcon Corporation traded 399,800 units at $3.20, after rising 30 cents, tTech jumped 50 cents while it traded 503,333 shares at $5 and Cable & Wireless had 524,622 units trading at $1. Gains in prices moved the market indices much higher than at the close on Monday.
At 10:45 am 29 securities traded, including C2W Music that traded at a new all-time low of 17 cents as investors continue to bail out of the stock, following a history of continued poor results and depletion of capital. Trading resulted in a volume of 1,835,382 shares changing hands. The average number of shares traded amounts to 63,289 units compared to 36,243 units on Monday. The number of stocks falling amounts to 5 while the prices of 11 securities rose as the market continues to consolidate with no new major developments or news to move prices in one direction or the other.
The all Jamaica Composite Index jumped 1,250.51 points to 178,936.00 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index climbed 1,118.18 points to 161,042.37, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index gained 1,415.46 points to close at 172,279.24 and the junior market index up 36.86 points to 2,232.00.
More gains ahead for BUY RATED stocks
Image courtesy of suphakit73/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The Jamaican market has seen strong reaction by investors on the announcement of stock splits with the price of each company stock climbing. IC Insider added Seprod to the list while lifting the watch on Sagicor Group, thus restoring a BUY RATED status on it. There are no other changes to the list.
AMG Packaging is IC Insider’s top junior market stock for growth in the next 12 months.
Caribbean Flavours price lost flight earlier this year, but with reported audited earnings of $0.82 per share, the price is rebounding. Caribbean Producers suffered from competitive pressures in the Jamaican market and wrote down inventory but should see some reversal of that pressure in the New Year.
However, it does not have a high ranking on the BUY RATED list at this time. Dolphin Cove is up 34 percent since its recent elevation to the BUY RATED list and should trend higher. ISP Finance, a recent addition, gained 140 percent since listing. The company is in the process of raising funds through a bond issue, which will provide funding for an expanded loan portfolio. The stock is very scarce, but 2017 could be a big year for the company and the stock.
Investors are ignoring the robust profit performance of Jetcon Corporation but may regret it as the price is likely to grow strongly. Profits have climbed nearly 100 percent over 2015 to June,
Barita is the top IC Insider’s stock for growth over the next 12 months in the main market.
In the main Jamaica stock market, Caribbean Cement remains undervalued and is poised for a big price rise as the company increases revenues from a growing economy and reduce cost. Many investors keep focusing only on the reported earnings, but these include one off cost that should be taken out in assessing earnings and value.
Better yet, come 2017 the one off costs won’t be there, importantly, not only will the cost relating to staff separation not be there but the ongoing cost for staffing will be reduced by amounts that approximate redundancy cost. GraceKennedy is benefiting from an improving economy locally and overseas and should see more gains ahead in profits and the stock price.IC Insider sees JMMB Group as highly undervalued with decent profit results for the current fiscal year and could surprise to the upside. Barita Investments is having a better 2016 than 2015 and has a big pool of unrealised investment gains on its balance sheet that can be released to profit at any time. The stock seems poised for more growth in the years ahead. Jamaica Stock Exchange’s stock could trend higher with the expectation of a stock split, the price may be getting a bit rich for much short term gains.
IC Insider considers the future to be bright for the stock, as trading activities rise in future years, consequent on growth in the local economy and further declines in interest rates that are bound to drive more money into the market seeking decent return. National Commercial Bank is on target to earn around $6 per share in 2016 while Scotia Group’s results to July showed strong growth in the second quarter over 2015, suggesting that increased profits are once more on the table for this entity. Investors should consider that the year end for these two entities is September and October as such very early in 2017 fresh results will be out before even some of companies with 2016 December year end, release their final numbers for this year. Seprod is engaged in cutting cost in various areas and with growth in the economy, the company is in a good position to do well for investors.
The Trinidad market remains a tough one with the price of oil under pressure. Trinidad Cement seems the only compelling buy, but pressure in the construction sector will be seen as negative for the company. [Read more…]
JSE stocks rise – Monday
Sterling Investments closed at a new high on Monday
Price movement on the Jamaica Stock Exchange mostly rose on Monday pulling the market indices along with it. Trading levels fell sharply with just 2,234,793 units valued at $29,276,443 well off from the 7,432,213 units valued at $206,556,569 changing hands on Friday’s. The junior market accounted for 1,236,624 units valued at $8,459,914 on Monday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Market Index rose 127.23 points to end at 159,924.19. The all Jamaica Composite Index gained by 142.29 points to close at 177,685.49 and the JSE combined index climbed 305.41 points, to end at 170,863.78.
At the close of the market prices of 15 securities gained out of a total of 36 that traded, with 9 declining in the overall market, including 8 stocks rising and 1 falling, in the junior market.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with lower offers, suggesting continued fluidity in price movements ahead.In market activity, Cable & Wireless traded 179,535 shares and closed 3 cents down to $1, Caribbean Cement traded 1,500 shares but fell back 99 cents to close at $25.50, Carreras traded 1,593 shares and jumped by $1.99 to close at $66.50. Grace Kennedy dropped 60 cents to end at $43, with 17,684 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers had 40,850 shares changing hands, to end with a fall of 38 cents at $14.52. Jamaica Producers ended at $8.40 with 19,850 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with 87,620 units changing hands to close at $27.40, after trading at new all-time high during the morning session at $28. Investors have been reacting positively to the announcement of a meeting later in September to consider a stock split and driving the
JSE stock up from $21.50 before the announcement. JMMB Group fell 10 cents in trading 2,896 units at $9.90.Kingston Wharves traded 66,886 shares, to close at $17.50, Margaritaville Turks traded 348,738 shares to close at 21 US cents, after trading earlier at an intraday high of 23.95 US cents, Mayberry Investments ended with 28,812 shares trading, to close with a gain of 2 cents at $3.30.
National Commercial Bank had 14,983 units changing hands and gained 50 cents to close at $40.50, Pan Jamaican Investments dipped 50 cents and closed at $24, after trading 6,975 shares, Sagicor Group rose 39 cents with 8,426 shares changing hands at $22.40, Scotia Group dropped $1.69 to close at $29.70 with 9,201 shares changing hands. Scotia Investments had 10,826 units changing hands at $26, Seprod climbed $1, in trading 88,000 units to close at $20.50, Sterling Investments closed at a new high of $14.15 while trading 4,000 shares, with a rise of $1.15, Supreme Ventures ended with 4,000 units changing hands at $4.81 and Proven Investments gained 1 US cent, to close at 19.90 US cents.
New high for Margaritaville in early session – Monday
Margaritaville Turks traded 339,428 at a new high of 23.95 US cents and gained 2.95 cents in the process In early morning trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, at 10:45 Am, there were no stock being offered for sale. Trading activity generally has been light in early trading with most prices inching up.
Demand came in for Seprod as the price climbed $1.50 with 88,000 shares trading at $20.50 and Scotia Group dropped $1.39 to $30. In the junior market AMG Packaging rose 85 cents with 17,100 units changing hands up to $14.55 while Lasco Distributors fell 20 cents with 166,700 shares trading at $6.50. C2W Music traded down 4 cents to a new low of 20 cents with 100,000 shares.
At 10:45 am 27 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 1,014,803 shares changing hands. The average number of shares traded amounts to 36,243 units compared to 59,281 units on Friday. The number of stocks falling so far amounts to 6 while the prices of 12 securities rose as the market continues to consolidate with no new major developments or news to move prices in one direction or the other.
The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 223.47 points to 177,766.67 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index climbed 199.82 points to 159,996.78, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index gained 317.79 points to close at 170,876.16 and the junior market index up 12.90 points to 2,189.78.
JSE down but 20 stocks up – Friday
JSE traded at a new high on Friday after jumping $3.30 to $27.40.
At the close of trading, the JSE Market Index dropped 510.77 points to end at 159,796.96. The all Jamaica Composite Index declined by 571.22 points to close at 177,543.20 and the JSE combined index dropped 516.18 points, to end at 170,558.37.
At the close of the market prices of 20 securities gained out of a total of 42 that traded, with 11 declining in the overall market, including 7 stocks rising and 3 falling, in the junior market.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with lower offers, suggesting continued fluidity in price movements ahead on Monday.
In market activity, Cable & Wireless traded just 413,340 shares and closed 3 cents down to $1.03, Caribbean Cement traded 5,000 shares and rose 99 cents to close at $26.49, Carreras traded 1,049,855 shares and dropped by $1 to close at $64.51. Trading in 1834 Investments shares resulted in 75,134 units changing hands as the price rose 5 cents to $1.25, Grace Kennedy gained 10 cents to end at $43.60, with 51,683 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers had 13,000 shares changing hands, to end with a rise of 25 cents at $14.90. Jamaica Producers gained 5 cents to end at $8.40 with 2,500 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped $3.30 with 4,608 units changing hands to close at a new all-time high of $27.40, following the announcement of a meeting later in September to consider a stock split. JMMB Group traded 7,900 units at $10. Kingston Wharves traded 67,521 shares to close at $17.50,after rising by 49 cents,
Margaritaville Turks traded 360,272 shares to close at 21 US cents after rising by a cent, Mayberry Investments ended with 23,766 shares trading, to close at $3.28, National Commercial Bank had 153,550 units changing hands but dropped 50 cents to close at $40. Pan Jamaican Investments jumped $1 and closed at $24.50, after trading 12,219 shares, Portland JSX traded 59,400 shares to close at $11, Pulse Investments traded 8,000 shares with a fall of 55 cents to close at $3.20, Sagicor Group fell by just 1 cent with 86,390 shares changing hands at $22.01. Scotia Group jumped $1.39 to close at $31.39 with 3,555,100 shares changing hands, Seprod dropped $1.50 in trading 23,200 units to close at $19.50, Supreme Ventures lost 17 cents with 21,636 units changing hands at $4.81 and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share traded 24,333 units to close at $2.10.
JSE drops in early session – Friday
In early morning trading on the 
Jamaica Stock Exchange main indices lost ground as Carreras traded 1,047,855 units and fell 51 cents to $65 and Scotia Group gained 40 cents with 202,938 units changing hands at $30.40 as the leading trades.
At 10:30 am 25 securities traded, resulting in a volume of 1,482,024 shares changing hands. The average number of shares traded amounts to 59,281 units compared to 83,033 units on Thursday. The number of stocks falling so far amounts to 9 while the prices of 7 securities rose as the market continues to consolidate with no new major developments or news to move prices in one direction or the other.
Trading in the junior market was low with only 5 securities changing hands with less than 50,000 units in all.
The all Jamaica Composite Index dropped 387.45 points to 177,726.97 the Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index slipped 346.45 points to 159,961.28, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index fell 613.90 points to close at 170,460.65 and the junior market index fell 28.51 points to 2,152.50.
JSE closes slightly down on Thursday
The JSE stock jumped $2.60 after news broke that a stock split is to be considered by the directors in September.
At the close of trading, the JSE Market Index fell 79.84 points to end at 160,307.73. The all Jamaica Composite Index declined 89.28 points to close at 178,114.42 and the JSE combined index dropped 442.66 points, to end at 171,074.55.
At the close of the market prices of 11 securities gained out of a total of 39 that traded, with 18 declining in the overall market, including only 1 stock rising and 8 falling, in the junior market.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 14 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In market activity, Cable & Wireless traded just 7,254 shares and closed 4 cents down to $1.06, Caribbean Cement traded 26,011 shares to fall 99 cents and closed at $25.50, Carreras traded 113,782 shares and inched higher by 1 cent to close at $65.51. Trading in 1834 Investments shares resulted in 152,042 units trading with a fall of 10 cents to $1.20, Grace Kennedy lost 5 cents to end at $43.50, with 233,174 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers had 8,880 shares changing hands, to end with a rise of 13 cents at $14.65. Jamaica Producers fell 15 cents to end at $8.35 with 574,462 units trading, Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped $2.34 with 38,341 units changing hands to close at $24.10, following the announcement of a meeting later in September to consider a stock split. JMMB Group traded 1,900 units at $10.
Kingston Wharves traded 97,624 shares to close at $17.01, Margaritaville Turks traded 237,000 shares to close at 20 US cents after falling by a cent, Mayberry Investments ended with 10,500 shares trading to close at $3.28, National Commercial Bank had 35,171 units changing hands but gained 1 cent to close at $40.50. Pan Jamaican Investments closed at $23.50, after trading 5,600 shares, Radio Jamaica lost 10 cents in trading 135,591 shares, to end at $1.50, Sagicor Group fell by 28 cents with 172,060 shares changing hands at $22.02, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 5 cents in trading 14,140 shares, to close at $10.20. Scotia Group lost 40 cents to close at $30 with 2,695,006 shares changing hands, Seprod climbed $1 in trading 2,300 units to close at $21, Supreme Ventures gained 18 cents with 24,950 units changing hands at $4.98 and JMMB Group 6% preference share traded 10,000 units to close at US$1.10 after rising 1 cent.
JSE closes higher in August
Price movement on the Jamaica Stock Exchange picked on Wednesday with the all Jamaica Composite Index climbing more than 800 points over the close on Tuesday and 632.54 points more than at the end of July. A total of 2,531,618 units valued at $31,698,751, up from $27,344,934 on Tuesday, changed hands. Of the stocks trading in all market segments, the junior market accounted for 1,201,093 units valued at $5,410,798.
After trading closed, Jamaica Stock Exchange advised that the Board of Directors will be considering a stock split at a board meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2016.
At the close of trading, the JSE Market Index climbed 757.91 points to end at 160,387.57. The 
all Jamaica Composite Index rose 847.60 points to close at 178,203.70 and the JSE combined index moved up 870.87 points, to end at 171,517.24 as the junior market gained strongly, thus negating some of the main market fall.
At the close of the market prices of 18 securities gained out of a total of 41 that traded, with 10 declining in the overall market, including 9 stocks rising and 4 falling, in the junior market.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 18 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers. The strong reading of the IC indicator is not a good indicator for Thursday trading activities as it comes at the end of the month when portfolio managers intervene in the market in support of the portfolios they manage.
In market activity, Cable & Wireless traded just 56,300 shares and closed 5 cents higher at $1.10, Caribbean Cement traded only 1,473 shares to climb 89 cents and closed at $26.49, Carreras traded 61,417 shares but fell 50 cents to close at $65.50, Grace Kennedy lost 15 cents to end at $43.55, with 17,228 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers had 111,972 shares changing hands, to end with a loss of 8 cents at $14.52. Jamaica Producers fell 30 cents to end at $8.50 with 115,980 units trading, 
Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with 18,034 units changing hands to close at $21.50, the announcement of a stock split could change investors’ perception of the stock when trading resumes on Thursday. JMMB Group traded 29,547 units at $10. Kingston Wharves traded 30,629 shares to close at $17.01, Margaritaville Turks traded 300,000 shares to close at 21 US cents after rising by a cent, Mayberry Investments ended with 15,041 shares trading to close at $3.28,National Commercial Bank had 149,200 units changing hands but fell 51 cents to close at $40.49. Pan Jamaican Investments rose 40 cents to close at $23.50, after trading 1,078 shares, Portland JSX traded 24,571 units at $11, Radio Jamaica rose 5 cents in trading 9,388 shares, to end at $1.60, Sagicor Group gained 30 cents with 87,131 shares changing hands at $22.30, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 15 cents in trading 37,693 shares, to close at $10.15. Scotia Group gained 40 cents to close at $30.40 with 4,000 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures gained 9 cents with 42,500 units changing hands at $4.80 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 212,967 units to close at $2.10.