The Junior Market Index enjoyed another day of mostly rising prices, leading to the market index increasing for the 9th consecutive day with an increase of 18.55 points to close at 3,105.98 on Thursday.
The strong increase as a lot to do with gains recorded by all three Lasco companies. At the close of market activities, the prices of 8 securities rose, 5 declined and 5 remained unchanged as 18 securities changed hands compared to 19 on Wednesday. Trading resulted in a much increased volume and value as investors exchanged of 2,819,581 units valued at $17,224,051 compared to only 724,901 units valued at $2,972,526 on Wednesday.
Trading ended with an average of 156,643 units for an average of $956,892 in contrast to 38,153 units for an average of $156,449 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 78,762 units valued at $374,030 and previously, 74,354 shares with an average value of $341,038. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|Trading ended with the market sentiments for Friday’s trading activity remaining mixed as 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging finished with a loss of 1 cent at $3.49, with 9,795 units trading, Cargo Handlers finished with a loss of 29 cents at $10.80, with 2,719 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cream lost 9 cents to close at $5.90, with 22,203 units, Caribbean Flavours traded at $11, with 2,000 shares, Derrimon Trading finished at $7, with 30,000 stock units. 
Dolphin Cove ended trading with a loss of 50 cents at $17, with 34,328 units trading, Express Catering concluded trading with a loss of 3 cents at $4.95, with 64,390 shares, Honey Bun traded 70 cents higher at $5, with 1,000 stock units, Jetcon Corporation ended trading at $4.85, with 16,425 shares trading. KLE Group closed 30 cents higher at $2.80, with 17,500 units, Knutsford Express settled 19 cents higher at $14.99, trading 2,930 shares, Lasco Distributors rose 74 cents to close at $7.44, with 1,240,875 stock units, Lasco Financial traded 20 cents higher at $4.40, with 328,274 shares, Lasco Manufacturing traded 30 cents higher at $4.50, with 546,317 stock units. Medical Disposables settled at $5.50, with 16,500 shares, Paramount Trading closed 10 cents higher at $3, with 34,576 shares, Stationery and Office ended at $5.50, with 55,697 stock units and tTech ended 5 cents higher at $7.60, with 394,052 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
8 consecutive gains for Junior Market
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Wednesday for the 8th day of gains as the Junior Market Index climbed 23.79 points to close at 3,087.43.
The market closed with 19 securities changing hands, resulting in the prices of 9 rising, 6 declining and 4 remaining unchanged with an exchange of 724,901 units valued at $2,972,526 compared to 655,302 units valued at $3,576,610 from 15 securities changing hands on Tuesday.
Trading ended with an average of 38,153 units for an average of $156,449 in contrast to 43,687 units for an average of 
$238,441 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 76,654 units valued at $352,768 compared to 76,654 units valued at $352,768 previously. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| Trading ended with the market sentiments looking slightly mixed for Thursday’s trading activity as 6 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Blue Power ended trading 90 cents higher at $45, with 1,000 units, CAC 2000 gained 50 cents to end at $7, with 1,000 shares, Cargo Handlers ended trading at $11.09, with 3,088 stock units, Caribbean Producers finished with a loss of 4 cents at $3.70, with 3,300 units, Eppley ended trading 60 cents higher at $11.60, with 4,292 shares, Express Catering traded with a loss of 2 cents at $4.98, with 86,376 units. General Accident concluded trading 10 cents higher at $3.10, with 2,000 stock units, Honey Bun ended trading with a loss of 70 cents at $4.30, with 39,404 shares, 
Iron Rock ended trading 5 cents higher at $3.20, with 45,000 units changing hands, Jamaican Teas gained 10 cents to close at $4.10, with 36,329 units trading. Jetcon Corporation settled 5 cents higher at $4.85, with 10,582 shares, KLE Group concluded trading with a loss of 30 cents at $2.50, with 265,000 units changing hands, Knutsford Express closed at $14.80, with 2,150 stock units, Lasco Distributors ended trading after rising 20 cents to $6.70, with 56,917 shares, Lasco Financial closed at $4.20, with 107,352 stock units trading. Main Event traded with a loss of 20 cents at $5.10, with 34,220 shares, Paramount Trading settled with a loss of 10 cents at $2.90, with 9,027 stock units, Stationery and Office ended at $5.50, with 8,544 units trading and tTech added 50 cents to close at $7.55, with 9,320 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place
9 straight record close for JSE stocks
Trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with the ninth straight record close on Wednesday as 23 securities traded. At the close the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 759.39 points to 317,455.71 and the JSE Index advanced by 691.89 points to 289,238.05.
The main market closed with 8 securities rising, 8 falling and 7 traded firm with 3,975,709 units valued at $69,965,883 compared to 10,920,273 units valued at $178,163,037 on Tuesday.
In the US dollar market trading accounted for The JSE US dollar Equities Index declined by 2.29 points to close at 183.46 as 10,330 shares traded with a value of US$2,419.
Trading ended with an average of 172,857 units for an average of $3,041,995 in contrast to 455,011 units for an average 
of $7,423,460 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 1,420,512 units valued at $19,679,752 and 1,498,491 units with an average value of $20,719,611 previously. In contrast, September closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Juniors move higher again
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Tuesday with 15 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 655,302 units valued at $3,576,610.
In contrast, 16 securities traded on Monday, resulting in 1,335,600 units valued at $7,277,183 changing hands.
The Junior Market Index advanced by 17.74 points to close at 3,063.64 as the prices of 3 securities advanced, 4 declined and 8 remained unchanged.
Trading ended with an average of 43,687 units for an average of $238,441 in contrast to 83,475 units for an average of $454,824 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date 
amounts to 76,654 units valued at $352,768 compared to 78,395 units valued at $358,806 previously. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Wednesday’s trading activity as 3 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
In market activity, AMG Packaging finished at $3.50, with 5,064 units, Blue Power traded 300 units at $44.10, Cargo Handlers traded 9 cents higher at $11.09, with 7,140 stock units, Caribbean Flavours traded 581 units at $11, 
Express Catering ended trading at $5, with 48,599 units. Honey Bun finished at $5, with 16,575 stock units, Jamaican Teas concluded trading with a loss of 10 cents at $4, with 55,840 units, Jetcon Corporation lost 5 cents to finish at $4.80, with 13,566 shares, Knutsford Express settled with a loss of 19 cents at $14.80, with 20,230 shares trading. Lasco Distributors ended 1 cent higher at $6.50, with 84,181 stock units, Lasco Financial concluded trading at $4.20, with 104,660 shares, Lasco Manufacturing ended at $4.20, with 75,084 shares changing hands, Main Event closed 5 cents higher at $5.30, with 32,710 shares, Medical Disposables finished at $5.50, with 8,000 shares and Stationery and Office concluded trading with a loss of 10 cents at $5.50, with 182,772 shares trading.
Junior Market crawls higher – Monday
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange finished on Monday with 16 securities changing hands, resulting in the prices of 6 advancing, 4 declining and 6 remaining unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 1,335,600 units valued at $7,277,183 compared to 1,515,647 units valued at $7,693,114 on Friday as the Junior Market Index advanced by 11.77 points to close at 3,045.90.
Trading ended with an average of 83,475 units for an average of $454,824 in contrast to 65,898 units for an average of $334,483 on Friday.
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 78,395 units valued at $358,806 compared 75,762 units valued at $353,074 previously. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Tuesday’s trading activity as 2 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging gained 1 cent to $3.50, with 1,000 shares, Caribbean Cream finished trading 9 cents higher at $5.99, with 16,882 shares, Caribbean Flavours traded with a loss of 90 cents closed at $11, with 10,000 units, Caribbean Producers concluded trading 4 cents higher at $3.74, with 8,813 shares. 
Express Catering finished trading at $5, with 106,874 units, General Accident concluded trading at $3, with 21,581 shares, Honey Bun finished trading at $5, with 20,000 units, Iron Rock closed at $3.15, with 63,640 stock units changing hands, Jetcon Corporation ended with a loss of 14 cents at $4.85, with 20,786 shares trading. Lasco Distributors climbed 19 cents to $6.49, with 604,447 shares, Lasco Financial finished trading at $4.20, with 9,850 units, Lasco Manufacturing closed 20 cents higher at $4.20, with 191,175 shares. Main Event fell 32 cents to $5.25, with 90,976 stock units changing hands, Paramount Trading finished with a loss of 20 cents at $3, with 34,560 shares, Stationery and Office added 10 cents to conclude trading at $5.60, with 132,451 stock units and tTech traded at $7.05, with 2,565 stock units changing hands.
When the market speaks
Markets have a way of telling stories that confound many. In May 2014of that year, the local market declined to reach 76,344.27 points on June 23, after reaching 86,590 points in mid-March.
Some investors thought the market was going to crash with some pulling funds out and moving into foreign exchange investments. The technical reading pointed in a different direction, the market by then had hit bottom and was not only heading up but much, much higher. One big clue, the market was caught in a triangular formation, a tell-tale sign of a big break out. The signal was very clear from September.
An article published on this site in September 2014 said “Technically, the main market is seeing the short term moving average on the verge of crossing the medium term moving average, a bullish sign. Importantly, many listed companies have posted some attractive results for 2014 that is supportive of an upward push in their stock price.” The rest is history as the market slowly crept higher to 84,084.94 and the slow recovery morphed into a strong bull market starting early in 2015.
Recently, the market has been sending out strong signals, one is that the main market is heading for the 500,000 points market, that is 60 percent away from the current level. The other signal to have emanated from the market, was the clear message that was pointing the major error the directors of Berger Paints were making in recommending the sale of shares by minority shareholders.
The stock market is sending a very strong message that a stock split is inevitable for NCB Financial by early 2018.
The market sent the message but some investors did not listen resulting in the surrender of 6.6 million units at a vastly reduced value to its true valuation. It is not surprising that the stock now trades at $15
At an investors’ briefing this year, the NCB Financial Group’s executives said they saw no benefit to the company of a stock split. IC Insider.com had written a piece indicating that a split is baked into the price already and could not be avoided. On Friday and Monday, the market sent and even clearer message to the directors that it cannot be delayed with the stock price jumping record $108 with only small amounts being offered for sale.
NCB jumps TOP 10
NCB Financial Group closed at a record $107 on Friday.
NCB Financial returned to the main market list last week, but with a jump of $16 to $107 during the week, it ii no longer in the top list.
Barita Investments traded up to $9 and is now out of the listing. Pulse Investments and Seprod replaced NCB and Barita as the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at new record high on Friday, the third consecutive week of record close, driving the All Jamaica Composite Index 313,990.54.
While the main market is making new highs, with gains of 49 percent for 2017, the junior market with gains of just 12 percent at the end of the previous week is now up 17 percent as the market moved higher for the past week helped by strong results by Paramount Trading, Express Catering and increased buying of Stationery and Office Supplies that pushed the price to $5.50 to sit at 10th spot and could well be off the list by the end of the coming week.
The Junior Market list had no movement in or out in the past week. Trading in Berger Paints shares recommenced on Tuesday, after just 6.6 million units were sold by investors in response to the buyout offer by Ansa Coatings at $10.88 per share with the price closing at $14 on Friday and seemingly poised to rise further during the coming week as investors attempted to trade it at $17 which was outside the daily price limit of 30 percent above the last price. The stock has much room to climb, with the March 2018 full year’s earnings that should hit $2.30 per share.
The main market blast well clear of resistance around 300,000 points on the all Jamaica Index and heading much higher to the next major resistance at the 360,000 points range.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 8.1 and a PE at 7.5 for the main market TOP 10. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.9 and 13.8 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 41 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and 45 percent for the main market.
Market Watch| Investors should keep a keen eye for NCB, Berger, Jamaica Broiler, General Accident, Paramount Trading and Stationery and Office.
Junior Market quietly surging forward
Stationery & Office Supplies climbed to $5.50 on Friday
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange settled on Friday with 23 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 1,515,647 units valued at $7,693,114 compared to 2,015,630 units valued at $11,835,081 on Thursday.
The market Index surged by 48.58 points to close at 3,034.13, stemming from the prices of 13 securities advancing, 3 declining and 6 remaining with prices unchanged.
Trading ended with an average of 65,898 units for an average of $334,483 in contrast to 125,977 units for an average of $739,693 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 75,762 units valued at $353,074 and 79,378 units with an average value of $354,819 previously. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Monday’s trading activity as 2 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed 80 cents higher at $42, with 15,853 shares changing hands, AMG Packaging added 9 cents to end at $3.49, with 135,101 units trading, Cargo Handlers finished $1 higher at $11, with 415 units, Caribbean Producers traded 5 cents higher at $3.70, with 182,833 units. Eppley closed with a loss of $1 to end at $11, with 5,000 shares changing hands, Express Catering ended trading with a loss of 10 cents at $5, with 433,774 units trading, General Accident traded at $3, with 172,114 stock units, Honey Bun jumped 60 cents higher to $5, with 11,449 shares, Iron Rock ended trading at $3.15, with 5,000 shares. ISP Finance ended 50 cents higher at $18.50, with 2,500 units, Jamaican Teas ended at $4.10, with 60,447 units trading, 
Jetcon Corporation concluded trading 9 cents higher at $4.99, with 115,923 stock units having been exchanged, KLE Group rose 30 cents higher to $2.80, with 40,000 shares, Knutsford Express finished with a loss of 1 cent at $14.99, after 20,350 units were exchanged. Lasco Distributors traded 5 cents higher at $6.30, with 162,000 shares, Lasco Financial traded 6,955 units at $4.20, Lasco Manufacturing traded at $4, with 42,484 units, Main Event ended trading 21 cents higher at $5.57, after just 3,190 units changed hands, Medical Disposables settled 76 cents higher at $5.50, with 8,800 shares. Paramount Trading rose 40 cents to $3.20, with 2,825 units, Stationery and Office climbed 50 cents to $5.50, with 62,599 shares, tTech ended trading at $7.05, with 18,000 stock units changing hands and in the junior market preference segment, Eppley finished at $6, with 8,035 stock units trading.
Bulls take charge of Exchange Place
Bulls at large in down town Kingston again
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at another record on Friday with 21 securities changing hands in the main market and 3 in the US dollar market and 22 in the Junior Market.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 8,028.94 points to a record close of 313,990.54 and the JSE Index to surged 7,315.27 points to 286,080.89. The Junior Market rose 48.58 points to end the week at 3,034.13. The US dollar Index fell 2.29 points to 183.01.
Friday’s move pushed the market outside of the medium term channel it has been trading in since 2014 and if the price of NCB holds, the break out for the market will be significant as it move on to the 360,000 points level.
NCB Financial traded at a new record of $107 and is ahead of the $102 it traded at in Trinidad on Friday, up until today it trailed the price of J$100 it was trading at in the twin island state. Berger Paints traded at $14, after news broke on Thursday that only 6.6 million shares were sold by minority shareholders to
Ansa Coating following the company’s mandatory offer of $10.88 per share. Attempts were made to trade it as high as $17.50 but the price exceeded the 30 percent limit it could trade at for the day and was cancelled at the close of the market. Trading closed with bids to buy Berger ranging from a low of $11.02 to a high of $14 to purchase 259,773 shares, 204,458 units are on sale from a low of $16.75 for 41,583 units to mostly 89,388 at $22.
For the year to date, the All Jamaican Composite Index is up 49.4 percent and the JSE Index 48.8 percent.
In the foreign exchange market at midday dealers bought US$13,372,228 at J$127.31 and sold US$11,367,821 at J$127.74.
Junior Market recovery continues
Lasco’s ICool drinks.
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange settled on Thursday with 16 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 2,015,630 units valued at $11,835,081 compared to 1,087,963 units valued at $5,258,148 on Wednesday.
Lasco Distributors accounted for 60 percent of the volume traded as the Junior Market Index advanced by 22.19 points to close at 2,985.55. At the close of market activities, the prices of 7 securities advanced, 5 declined and 4 remained with the prices unchanged.
Trading ended with an average of 125,977 units for an average of $739,693 in contrast to 67,998 units for an average of $328,634 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 79,378 units, valued at $354,819 
and an average of 76,123 with an average value of $327,928, previously. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Tuesday trading activity as 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 1 with a lower offer.
In market activity, Access Financial settled with a loss of 1 cent at $41.20, with 734 units trading, AMG Packaging lost 9 cents to close at $3.40, with 143,540 stock units, Caribbean Cream ended trading at $5.90, with 5,816 stock units changing hands. Caribbean Producers declined 9 cents end trading at $3.65, with 27,114 units, Consolidated Bakeries jumped 76 cents to $2.81, with 1,220 stock units, 
Derrimon Trading ended at $7, with 1,000 stock units, Express Catering climbed 66 cents higher to $5.10, with 73,142 shares, after the company reported that profit more than doubled in the quarter to August from a 10 percent rise in revenues. Honey Bun traded 10 cents higher at $4.40, with 1,000 units, Iron Rock closed 25 cents higher at $3.15, with 61,538 shares, ISP Finance settled at $18, with 2,983 units, Knutsford Express closed 1 cent higher at $15, with 66,270 units, Lasco Distributors settled with a loss of 5 cents at $6.25, with 1,214,790 stock units changing hands. Lasco Financial concluded trading at $4.20, with 155,534 shares, Lasco Manufacturing settled with a loss of 20 cents at $4, with 14,700 units, Main Event traded 21 cents higher at $5.36, with 9,621 units and Stationery and Office ended trading 17 cents higher at $5, with 236,628 units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.