Securities participating in trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped sharply on Thursday with 13 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 1,784,331 units valued at $8,037,129 compared to 933,174 units valued at $3,918,550 on Wednesday from 24 securities.
At the close of market activities, the prices of 2 securities advanced, 6 declined and 5 remained unchanged leading the Junior Market Index to decline by 21.86 points to close at 2,722.75.
Trading ended with an average of 137,256 units for an average of $618,241 in contrast to 38,882 units for an average of $163,273 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 107,477 units valued at $545,989 and 106,544 units valued at $521,691, previously. In contrast, October closed with average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed at $34, with 725 shares trading, Caribbean Cream finished with a loss of 1 cent at $5.49, with 1,536 shares, Caribbean Producers traded at $4.20, with 687,710 units, Express Catering ended with a loss of 10 cents at $4.20, with 223,501 stock units, Honey Bun settled with a loss of 75 cents at $3.50, with 3,000 shares, Jetcon Corporation finished trading with a loss of 25 cents at $4.50, with 50,000 shares. 
Knutsford Express closed with a loss of 18 cents at $13.82, with 6,270 shares, Lasco Distributors settled 10 cents higher at $4.50, with 172,970 shares, Lasco Financial ended trading at $5.05, with 18,978 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing traded 205,296 stock units and gained 40 cents in closing at $3.90, Main Event closed at $6, with 177,822 shares changing hands, Paramount Trading concluded market activity with a loss of 30 cents to end at $3.10, with 2,000 units and Stationery and Office ended trading at $5.05, with 234,523 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Just 13 securities trade on Thursday
Juniors drops another 85 points – Wednesday
This Junior market chart is not looking all that good but the data shows the sharp sell off may be ending with support showing up.
Investors took advantage of weak bids in the market for a number of securities cutting [prices of some sharply albeit on limited volumes and slashing the Junior Market Index sharply by 84.68 points to close at 2,744.61 on Wednesday.
Market activities ended with 24 securities changing hands, as the prices of 6 securities advanced, 9 declined and 9 remained unchanged. Trading resulted in an exchange of 933,174 units valued at $3,918,550 compared to 1,396,153 units valued at $6,487,135 on Tuesday coming from 22 securities.
Trading ended with an average of 38,882 units for an average of $163,273 in contrast to 63,462 units for an average of $294,870 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 106,544 units valued at $521,691 and previously 110,697 units valued at $543,691. In contrast, October closed with average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial dropped $6 and closed at $34, with just 500 shares trading, AMG Packaging ended at $2.99, with 500 stock units, Blue Power concluded trading with a loss of $7 to settle at $37, with only 300 units, Caribbean Cream finished at $5.50, with 2,079 shares, Caribbean Producers traded at $4.20, with 351,000 units, C2W Music ended at 49 cents with 95,000 stock units trading, Derrimon Trading closed with a loss of $1 at $7, with 100 shares. Express Catering ended with a loss of 19 cents at $4.30, with 45,452 stock units, Eppley concluded trading with a loss of 50 cents at $10.50, with 1,904 units, General Accident finished 10 cents higher at $2.70, with 15,684 shares, Honey Bun settled at $4.25, with 100 shares. ISP Finance ended trading with a loss of 99 cents to close at $15, with 5,471 stock units, Jamaican Teas traded 16,023 units at $3.80,
Jetcon Corporation finished trading 25 cents higher at $4.75, with 110,928 shares, Knutsford Express closed with a gain of 50 cents at $14, with 2,750 shares. Key Insurance fell 32 cents to $3.68, with 7,947 stock units, KLE Group concluded trading at $2.53, with 24,000 units, Lasco Distributors settled 8 cents higher at $4.40, with 29,227 shares. Lasco Financial ended trading 4 cents higher at $5.05, with 64,437 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing traded with a loss of 40 cents at $3.50, with 32,500 units, Medical Disposables finished trading with a loss of 5 cents at $4.95, with 4,070 shares, Main Event closed at $6, with 83,334 shares, Paramount Trading concluded trading 25 cents higher at $3.40, with 5,469 units and Stationery and Office ended trading at $5.05, with 34,399 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Juniors drop 237 points in a week
The prices of Lasco Distributors and Lasco Financial cut Junior market index sharply.
The Junior Market Index plunged sharply by 119.67 points to close at 2,829.29, after shedding 45.44 points on Monday and 50 points on Friday. The market has lost 237.24 or 7.7 percent since last week Wednesday.
The two main companies contributing to the fall are Lasco Distributors that fell from $5.90 last week to $4.32 in response to the disappointing court awards in their dispute with Pfizer and Lasco Financial falling from $6.50 to $5.01.
At the close of market activities, the prices of 5 securities advanced, 10 declined and 7 remained unchanged as the market concluded trading on Tuesday with 22 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 1,396,153 units valued at $6,487,135 compared to 2,397,751 units valued at $13,589,523 on Monday coming from 17 securities.
Trading ended with an average of 63,462 units for an average value of $294,870 in contrast to 141,044 units for an average of $799,384 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 110,697 units valued at $543,691 and previously 113,513 units valued at $558,525. 
In contrast, October closed with average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 1 cent at $2.99, with 3,159 stock units, Caribbean Cream finished at $5.50, with 43,200 shares, Cargo Handlers ended trading at $10.85, with 500 stock units trading, Caribbean Producers traded at $4.20, with 371,229 units, C2W Music ended 9 cents higher at $0.49, with 16,433 stock units, Express Catering fell 1 cent in closing at $4.49, with 2,023 stock units, General Accident finished with a loss of 10 cents at $2.60, with 22,000 shares. Honey Bun settled 25 cents higher at $4.25, with 14,400 shares, Iron Rock settled at $2.80, with 2,452 shares, ISP Finance ended trading with a loss of 1 cent at $15.99, with 5,529 stock units, Jamaican Teas traded with a loss of 20 cents at $3.80, with 126,600 units, Jetcon Corporation finished trading after losing 10 cents to $4.50, with 12,965 shares. 
Knutsford Express closed 50 cents higher at $13.50, with 6,631 shares, KLE Group concluded trading 2 cents higher at $2.53, with 20,600 units, Lasco Distributors dropped $1.37 to $4.32, with 115,400 shares, in response to the low award for damages against Pfizer. Lasco Financial ended trading down $1.21 to $5.01, with 337,824 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing fell 5 cents to $3.90, with 32,000 units, Medical Disposables fell 10 cents to $5, with 1,816 shares changing hands, Main Event closed at $6, with 105,855 shares. Paramount Trading concluded trading at $3.15, with 39,425 units, Stationery and Office ended trading at $5.05, with 114,612 stock units and tTech finished trading 1 cent higher at $7, with 1,500 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Juniors down sharply again with 11 losers
the prices of Lasco Distributors and Lasco Financial had wild swings on Monday as the courts awarded Lasd $273 million in damages.
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with 17 securities changing hands as the prices of 2 securities advanced, 11 declined and 4 remained unchanged leading to market Index declining 45.44 points to 2,948.96.
Trading on Monday, resulted in an exchange of 2,397,751 units valued at $13,589,523 compared to 1,089,369 units valued at $4,857,835 from 20 securities changing hands on Friday.
At the close of market activities, an average of 141,044 units traded for an average of $799,384 in contrast to 54,468 units for an average of $242,892 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 113,513 units valued at $558,525 and previously 112,183 units valued at $546,893. In contrast, October closed with average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 2 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed with a loss of $1 at $40, with 20,400 shares, Cargo Handlers ended trading with a loss of $1.15 at $10.85, with 19,062 stock units, Caribbean Cream finished with a loss of 5 cents at $5.50, with 10,121 shares, Express Catering ended at $4.50, with 19,030 stock units, Eppley concluded trading with a loss of 50 cents at $11, with 388 units changing hands, Honey Bun settled with a loss of 70 cents at $4, with 12,500 shares. Iron Rock settled at $2.80, with 93,662 shares, Jamaican Teas traded with a loss of 20 cents at $4, with 101,260 units, Jetcon Corporation finished trading with a loss of 10 cents at $4.60, with 87,865 shares,
Key Insurance ended with a loss of 75 cents at $4, with 1,000 stock units, Knutsford Express closed with a loss of 50 cents at $13, with 1,929 shares. Lasco Distributors settled 62 cents higher at $5.69, with 1,200,172 shares, but traded during the morning session at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $4.50 before recovering ahead of the close. Lasco Financial ended trading with a loss of 8 cents at $6.22, but traded as low as $5.25, and traded 189,907 stock units by the close. Lasco Manufacturing traded at $3.95, with 21,964 units. Main Event closed 39 cents higher at $6, with 418,028 shares, Paramount Trading concluded trading with a loss of 35 cents at $3.15, with 46,753 units, and Stationery and Office ended trading at $5.05, with 153,710 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Juniors down sharply with 9 losers
The Junior Market of the lost much grounds on Friday on a day when all the Jamaica Stock Exchange indices declined. The Junior Market Index declined 50.10 points to close at 2,994.40 and follows a 22 points fall on Thursday.
Trading on the ended with the prices of 9 securities declining, 3 rising, and 7 remained unchanged with 20 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 1,089,369 units valued at $4,857,835 compared to 1,766,060 units valued at $7,828,514 on Thursday, from 22 securities.
Trading ended with an average of 54,468 units for an average of $242,892 in contrast to 80,275 units for an average of $355,842 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 112,183 units valued at $546,893 and previously 115,661 units valued at $565,207. 
In contrast, October closed with average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 3 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed with a loss of 1 cent at $41, with 127 shares, Cargo Handlers ended trading 99 cents higher at $12, with 1,000 stock units, Caribbean Cream finished at $5.55, with 600 shares, Caribbean Producers traded with a loss of 30 cents at $4.20, with 50,447 units, Express Catering ended 10 cents higher at $4.50, with 31,819 stock units, General Accident finished at $2.70, with 31,827 shares. Honey Bun settled with a loss of 10 cents at $4.70, with 2,065 shares,
The chart now carries the dividends declared fro the last twelve months and the yields based on the last traded price of each stock.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Trading picks up in Junior stocks
Trading picked up on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday with 22 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 1,766,060 units valued at $7,828,514 compared to 726,097 units valued at $5,040,854, from 18 securities on Wednesday.
At the close of market activities, the prices of 6 securities advanced, 10 declined and 6 remained unchanged. The Junior Market Index declined by 22.03 points to close at 3,044.50. The prices of two securities hit 52 weeks’ high with one ending at a record close.
Trading ended with an average of 80,275 units for an average of $355,842 in contrast to 40,339 units for an average of $280,047 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 115,661 units valued at $565,207 and previously 118,172 units valued at $580,065.
In contrast, October closed with average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, CAC 2000 finished with a loss of 7 cents at $6.50, with 38,000 shares, Caribbean Cream finished with a loss of 5 cents at $5.55, with just 500 shares trading, Caribbean Producers traded 45 cents higher at $4.50, with 770,491 units, after trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.99, Consolidated Bakeries finished at $2.05, with 1,470 shares as the stock seems to be finally responding to the poor results released this year. C2W Music ended with a loss of 9 cents at $0.40, with 1,000 stock units, Express Catering ended at $4.40, with 14,476 stock units, Eppley concluded trading $1.49 higher at $11.50, with 806 units, 
General Accident finished with a loss of 2 cents at $2.70, with 68,981 shares. Honey Bun settled at $4.80, with 11,554 shares, Iron Rock closed with a loss of 1 cent at $2.80, with 22,038 shares, Jamaican Teas traded 40 cents higher at $4.20, with 867 units, Jetcon Corporation finished trading with a loss of 10 cents at $4.50, with 184,554 shares, Knutsford Express closed at $13.50, with 2,000 shares. Key Insurance ended 76 cents higher at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.75, with 19,362 stock units changing hands, KLE Group concluded trading at $2.51, with 50,022 units, Lasco Distributors settled 8 cents higher at $5.98, with 27,534 shares. Lasco Financial ended trading at $6.50, with 60,317 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing traded with a loss of 12 cents at $4.05, with 8,138 units, Medical Disposables finished trading with a loss of 20 cents at $5.10, with 2,000 shares, Main Event closed 38 cents higher at $5.89, with 54,026 shares, Paramount Trading concluded trading with a loss of 20 cents at $3.50, with 256,698 units and Stationery and Office ended trading with a loss of 7 cents at $5.13, with 171,226 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Junior Market jumps 63 points
Lasco Distributors rose by 44 cents to drive Junior Market index sharply higher on Wednesday.
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with the market Index jumping by 62.85 points to close at 3,066.53 arising from the prices of 4 securities advancing, 9 declining while 5 remained unchanged.
Market activities closed with 18 securities changing hands, up from 17 on Tuesday resulting in an exchange of 726,097 units valued at $5,040,854 compared to 1,885,937 units valued at $9,218,166 from 17 securities changing hands.
Trading ended with an average of 40,339 units for an average of $280,047 in contrast to 110,937 units for an average of $542,245 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 118,172 units valued at $580,065 and previously 122,969 units valued at $598,559. 
In contrast, October closed with average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548 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 5 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended with a loss of 7 cents at $3, with 5,418 stock units, CAC 2000 finished 7 cents higher at $6.57, with 28,000 shares, Caribbean Producers traded with a loss of 3 cents at $4.05, with 56,540 units changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries finished with a loss of 1 cent at $2.05, with 8,280 shares, Dolphin Cove finished trading with a loss of 50 cents at $17.50, with 91,344 shares, Derrimon Trading closed at $8, with 2,730 shares. 
Express Catering ended with a loss of 20 cents at $4.40, with 39,707 stock units, Honey Bun settled at $4.80, with 4,843 shares, Iron Rock settled 1 cent higher at $2.81, with 1,040 shares, Jamaican Teas traded with a loss of 25 cents at $3.80, with 102,819 units, Jetcon Corporation finished trading with a loss of 14 cents at $4.60, with 14,689 shares. Knutsford Express closed at $13.50, with 5,100 shares, Caribbean Cream finished at $5.60, with 100 shares, Lasco Distributors climbed 40 cents higher to $5.90, with 9,000 shares, Lasco Financial ended trading at $6.50, with 222,751 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing traded with a loss of 3 cents at $4.17, with 14,000 units, Main Event closed with a loss of 44 cents at $5.51, with 10,000 shares and Stationery and Office ended trading 5 cents higher at $5.20, with 109,736 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
10 Junior Market stocks rise 6 fall
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with the prices of 10 securities advancing, 6 declined and 2 remained unchanged on Monday with 19 securities changing hands, the same number as on Friday.
At the close of market activities, the Junior Market Index declined by 24.55 points to close at 2,972.71, resulting from an exchange of 2,877,033 units valued at $17,351,257 compared to 1,034,761 units valued at $4,990,857 on Friday.
Trading ended with an average of 151,423 units for an average of $913,224 in contrast to 54,461 units for an average of $262,677 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 133,594 units valued at $602,040 and previously an average of 121,656 units valued $578,945. In contrast, October closed with an average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed with a loss of $1.20 at $40, with 80,000 shares, AMG Packaging lost 1 cent to end at $3.07, with 12,500 stock units, Cargo Handlers ended trading 2 cents higher at $11.01, with 56,829 units, Caribbean Cream added 5 cents to close at $5.60, with 600 units, Caribbean Producers traded with a loss of 2 cents at $4.08, with 273,549 units, Express Catering ended 10 cents higher at $4.60, with 60,376 stock units. General Accident finished 2 cents higher at $2.72, with 13,800 shares, Honey Bun settled at $4.80, with 8,194 shares, ISP Finance ended trading with a loss of 20 cents at $16, with just 414 stock units, 
Jamaican Teas traded with a loss of 10 cents at $4, with 100,000 units. Jetcon Corporation finished trading at $4.60, with 50,877 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express closed 50 cents higher at $13.50, with 7,400 shares. Lasco Distributors settled 30 cents higher at $5.50, with 2,075,784 shares, Lasco Financial ended trading with fell 29 cents to close at $6.31, with 70,396 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing traded 16 cents higher at $4.20, with 34,728 units, Paramount Trading concluded trading with 2,857 units to gain 30 cents to end at $3.80, Stationery and Office ended trading 3 cents higher at $5.15, with 16,256 stock units and tTech finished trading 50 cents higher at $7, with 12,173 shares. In the junior market preference segment, Derrimon Trading ended with 300 units changing hands at $2.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Profit at Jamaican Teas rise 58%
Jamaican Teas CEO, John Mahfood addressing the company’s last AGM in 2017.
Jamaican Teas enjoyed strong growth of 86 percent in profit after corporate taxes for the quarter to September amounting $39 million up from $21 million in the previous year.
Profit before taxation rose to $54 million compared to $44 million an increase of 22 percent. For the twelve months to September, profits after taxation is up 58 percent to $186 million after the booking of some material one off cost and income in arriving at outcome for the year.
The Group enjoyed positive performance from continued improvement in core business at Jamaican Teas with increased exports sales of 24 percent for the quarter and 26 percent for the year as well as good growth in the sales at the supermarket in Kingston for the twelve months to Sept 2017 resulting in a strong increase of 19 percent in overall group sales as sales increased by 5 percent from $342 million to $358 million, during the final quarter of the fiscal year. For the year sales revenues rose to $1.53 billion from $1.29 billion in addition the group recorded other revenues of $94 million versus $61 million in 2016 and $44 million versus $21 million in the quarter.
Although the group realized gains on investments of $60 million during the year the report shows more than $37 million in unrealized gains on investments at the end of September.
The results represent another good year for the group coming off 2016, with growth in sales and profits from continuing operations of 9.5 percent and 103 percent respectively.
FINANCIAL POSITION|Shareholders’ equity continues to expand, exceeding the $1 billion market for the first time. Quoted investments and cash stood at $304 million at the end of the quarter. Working capital amounted to $529 million and includes borrowings of $167 million while long term borrowings ended the period at $70 million.
During the year, the group acquired 43 percent of the issued ordinary shares of KIW International, the company results, assets and liabilities are consolidated in the groups’ accounts.
Subsequent to the year end the directors approved a dividend of 3 cents per share payable on December 19, on the increased number of shares in issue of 682 million units. During the year the shares were increased based on a 2 for 1 stock split with the stock price rising from $1.95 to $4.10 presently the second consecutive year with gains of more than 100 percent in the stock price.
The new fiscal year has started off very well. According to management in commenting on the post quarter sales performance, “in October 2017 we doubled our export sales while our local tea sales increased by 26 percent and our supermarket sales by 8 percent. The group’s future prospects for the remainder of the quarter look favourable.”
John Jackson is acting Chairman of the group
4 stocks rise on Junior Market 9 fall
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended trading on Friday with 19 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 1,034,761 units valued at $4,990,857 compared to 15,114,679 units valued at $63,009,289 on Thursday.
At the close of market activities, the prices of 4 securities advanced, 9 declined and 5 remained unchanged. The Junior Market Index declined by a mere 3.40 points to close at 2,997.26.
Trading ended with an average of 54,461 units for an average of $262,677 in contrast to 795,509 units for an average of $3,316,278 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 121,656 units valued $578,945 and previously an average of 127,044 units valued at $604,299. In contrast, October closed with an average of 74,690 units valued at $362,548, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 3 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Lasco Financial climbed to a new all-time high of $6.60 in continued investors’ response to the company’s announced acquisition of the CrediScotia’s business but Lasco Distributors ended at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $5.20.
At the close of the market, Access Financial lost $1.81 in closing at $41.20, with 1,902 shares trading, Caribbean Producers traded with a loss of 40 cents at $4.10, with 3,000 units, Consolidated Bakeries closed with a loss of 14 cents at $2.06, with 5,866 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove finished trading with a loss of $2.18 to close at $18, with just 500 shares, Express Catering fell just 4 cents to $4.50, with 79,327 stock units trading, Eppley concluded market activity with a loss of $2.49 to $10.01, with 3,000 units. 
General Accident ended at $2.70, with 800 shares traded, Jamaican Teas finished trading 10 cents higher at $4.10, with 181,181 units, Jetcon Corporation closed at $4.60, with 148,607 shares, Knutsford Express finished trading $1.49 higher at $13, with 797 shares. Lasco Distributors settled with a loss of 60 cents to closed at 52 weeks’ low of $5.20, with 214,754 shares, Lasco Financial rose 30 cents to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $6.60, with 99,459 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing closed with a loss of 11 cents at $4.04, with 96,632 units, Medical Disposables closed 1 cent higher at $5.30, with 3,000 shares. Main Event concluded trading with a loss of 45 cents at $5.50, with 3,366 shares, Paramount Trading closed at $3.50, in trading 100,000 units, Stationery and Office finished at $5.12, with 89,853 stock units and tTech concluded trading at $6.50, with 1,443 shares. In the junior market preference segment, Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 1,274 units changing hands at $2.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.