Shuffling of stocks in the TOP 10 list was quite pronounced this past week with two companies exiting and entering each list. Jetcon Corporation and CAC 2000 slipped out of the Junior Market TOP 10, and were replaced by Dolphin Cove and Lasco Financial.
Entering the TOP 10 main market list are Berger Paints, returning after a recent fall from the list and Grace Kennedy that dropped out previously.
In the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, Scotia Investments earnings per share have been sharply reduced with the latest results for the half year showing no growth, with the stock falling off the
TOP 10 list as a result, while Salada Foods price rose to $10, resulting in it being pushed off the list.
In trading last week, tTech demand is building while selling has eased with limited supply being shown in the market. Elsewhere, NCB Financial Group is hitching for a major breakout from a wedge formation.
As indicated in recent weeks, market movement continues to be constrained by near term resistance levels which is acting as short term restraint to a break out from current levels for the time being.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is 7.4 and 7.2 in the main market, these compare favourably with 13.8 for the overall main market and 13 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings. Several stocks are trading below the average, and have the potential for more gains for the rest of 2017, barring major negative developments.
In a number of cases, the TOP stocks will need to deliver results in the upcoming quarter in order to send a message that the potential they have will be manifested.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 45 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 48 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead. At the end of April the reading was 35 percent discount for the juniors and 53 percent for the majors.
Sharp drop in Junior Market trading
Trading on the Junior Market dropped sharply on Friday after Thursday’s trading which comprised just over 3 million Jamaican Teas’ shares. Trading ended on Friday with 7 stocks rising and 10 falling as 24 securities traded versus 20 on Thursday.
A total of 789,261 units valued $5,071,496 traded, compared to 3,831,459 units valued $19,055,812 on Thursday. At the end of trading, the market index slipped 3.42 points to 3,253.52.
At the close of trading, 5 stocks had bids higher than their last sale prices and 2 closed with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 32,886 units for an average value of $211,312 compared to 191,573 units for an average value of $952,791 on the previous trading day The average volume and value for the month to date are 136,855 units valued at $716,576 compared with 154,183 units valued at $800,786, previously, In contrast, May closed with averages of 89,339 units and $596,722.
.At the close of the market, AMG Packaging gained 15 cents and closed at $4.60 with 213,250 units changing hands, Blue Power closed at $56.50 with 3,300 units trading, CAC 2000 closed at $7.50 in trading 750 units, Cargo Handlers lost 20 cents and closed at $16.30 with 3,500 shares trading, Caribbean Cream lost 50 cents in trading 266,500 units to end at $7.50, Caribbean Producers traded 27,470 units and fell 13 cents to end at $3.37, Consolidated Bakeries traded 7,076 shares to close at $3.20, C2W Music had 12,626 units changing hands to close at 45 cents after falling 5 cents, Derrimon Trading dropped $1 and ended at $8.50 with 210 shares changing hands, Eppley fell $1.99 with 1,000 units changing hands, to close of $10.01. Honey Bun had 3,530 shares changing hands to close at $6.86, after falling 14 cents, Iron Rock Insurance traded 86,573 shares to end at $3.20, 
Jamaican Teas traded at $4.30 with 5,969 units, Jetcon Corporation ended at $14.80 with 7,650 shares trading, after rising 20 cents, KLE Group rose 15 cents and ended at $2.10 with 8,000 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express added 50 cents and traded 41,363 shares in closing at $16.50, Lasco Distributors fell 5 cents and ended trading 20,100 units at $7.40, Lasco Financial rose 20 cents, with 1,000 shares changing hands to end at $4. Lasco Manufacturing gained 19 cents to $5 in trading 58,348 shares. Main Event fell 16 cents and ended trading 7,764 shares at $6.49. Medical Disposables ended at $6 with 10,662 units crossing the exchange, tTech ended with 500 units trading with a rise of 24 cents at $7.75 and Eppley 10% preference share, ended with 1,000 units changing hands at $6.60.
Jamaican Teas dominate Junior Market
Jamaican Teas was the only dominant trade on Thursday.
Trading on the Junior Market was dominated by Jamaican Teas accounting for 79 percent of volume traded and the bulk of the valued on Thursday. Trading ended with 8 stocks rising and 6 falling with 20 securities traded versus 22 on Wednesday.
A total of 3,831,459 units valued $19,055,812 traded, compared to 801,626 units valued $6,349,583 on Wednesday as the market index inched forward 3.84 points to 3,256.94.
At the close of trading, 7 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 4 closed with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 191,573 units for an average value of $952,791 compared to 36,438 units for an average value of $288,617, on the previous trading day. 
The average volume and value for the month to date are 154,183 units valued at $800,786 compared with 146,705 units valued at $770,385, previously, In contrast May closed with averages of 89,339 units and $596,722.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging gave up 35 cents and closed at $4.45 with 19,226 units changing hands, CAC 2000 gained 28 cents to close at $7.50 in trading 3,760 units, Cargo Handlers recovered $1.50 of Wednesday’s fall and closed at $16.50 with 3,062 shares trading, Caribbean Cream traded 2,600 units to end at $8, Caribbean Producers traded 48,115 units gaining 15 cents to end at $3.50, Eppley had 9,227 units changing hands to close of $12. General Accident closed 20 cents down trading with 25,227 shares to end at $2.70, Honey Bun had 500 shares changing hands to close at $7 after rising 15 cents, 
Jamaican Teas rose 5 cents to $4.30 with 3,028,443 units trading, Jetcon Corporation ended at $14.60 with 6,762 shares trading, after falling 28 cents, Knutsford Express traded 108,125 shares in closing at $16, Lasco Distributors rose 20 cents and ended trading 2,680 units at $7.45, Lasco Financial fell 20 cents, with 2,477 shares changing hands to end at $3.80. Lasco Manufacturing fell 18 cents to $4.81 in trading 178,193 shares. Main Event rose 15 cents and ended trading 41,289 shares at $6.65. Medical Disposables ended at $6 with 13,168 units crossing the exchange, Sweet River rose 36 cents and ended with 400 units changing hands at $3.86, supply of tTech came out with 260,000 units trading with a fall of 19 cents at $7.51 and Eppley 10% preference share, ended with 4,200 units changing hands at $6.60.
Big price changes for Junior Market
Blue Power jumped $3.50 to close at $56.5.
There were big price movements on the Junior Market at the close on Wednesday with reduced volume and value going through the market compared to Tuesday. Trading ended with 6 stocks advanced and 5 declined with 22 securities traded, the same as on Tuesday and market index slipped 7.28 points to 3,253.10.
A total of 801,626 units valued $6,349,583 traded, compared to 982,035 units valued $8,762,028 on Tuesday. At the close of trading, 7 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 1 closed with a lower offer.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 36,438 units for an average value of $288,617 compared to 44,638 units for an average value of $398,274, on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date are 146,705 units valued at $$770,385, compared with 174,272 units valued at $890,827, previously, In contrast, May closed with averages of 89,339 units and $596,722.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended at $4.80 with 2,966 units changing hands, Blue Power jumped $3.50 to close at $56.50 in trading 2,000 units, Cargo Handlers lost $2.90 and closed at $15 with 1,171 shares trading and seems to be heading lower with just one bid at $10.50 in the market currently. The stock has fallen 50 percent from its high of $30 this year. Caribbean Cream traded 4,500 units to end at $8 after gaining 48 cents, Caribbean Flavours traded 3,000 units to end at $12, Caribbean Producers traded 60,066 units and lost 15 cents to end at $3.35, Consolidated Bakeries climbed 60 cents and ended at $3.20 with 122,586 shares changing hands, Derrimon Trading rose 10 cents and ended at $9.50 with 9,897 shares being exchanged, Dolphin Cove fell $1.98 to end at $18 with 3,000 shares trading, Eppley had 500 units changing hands to close of $12. General Accident closed trading with 10,000 shares to end at $2.90, Honey Bun had 19,271 shares changing hands to close at $6.85, 
ISP Finance dropped $4 to $24 with 9,400 units trading, Jetcon Corporation ended at $14.88 with 77,087 shares trading, after falling to a low of $13 during trading, Knutsford Express traded 82,185 shares in closing at $16, Lasco Distributors ended trading 250,200 units at $7.25, Lasco Financial fell 5 cents, with 45,887 shares changing hands to end at $4. Lasco Manufacturing rose 18 cents to $4.99 in trading 22,700 shares. Main Event dropped 70 cents and ended trading 37,123 shares at $6.50, after the company audited accounts for the year to October 2016 shows lower profit than for the 11 months to September. Medical Disposables ended at $6 with 20,772 units crossing the exchange, Sweet River ended with 5,006 units changing hands at $3.50 and supply of tTech has dried up with few units being offered for sale. Investors traded 12,309 units with a gain of 10 cents at $7.70.
Big fall for Junior Market
Junior Market stocks closed lower on Monday.
The Junior Market lost 1.72 percent of its value at the close on Tuesday with slightly reduced volume going through the market compared to Monday. At the close, 5 stocks advanced and 10 declined with 22 securities traded, compared to 19 on Monday and market index plunged 56.90 points to 3,260.38.
A total of 982,035 units valued $8,762,028 traded, compared to 997,351 units valued $7,021,540 on Monday. At the close of trading, 7 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 1 closed with a lower offer.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 44,638 units for an average value of $398,274 compared to 89,906 units for an average value of $369,555, on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date are 174,272 units valued at $890,827 compared with 217,483 units valued at $1,055,012, previously, In contrast May closed with averages of 89,339 units and $596,722.
At the close of the market,
Access Financial Services dropped $5 to close at $45 in trading traded 34,865 units, AMG Packaging gained 25 cents to close at $4.80 with 26,015 units changing hands, Cargo Handlers closed at $17.90 with 152 shares trading, Caribbean Cream traded 96,637 units to end at $7.52 after gaining 2 cents, Caribbean Producers traded 12,508 units at $3.50, Consolidated Bakeries lost 30 cents and ended at $2.60 with 198,337 shares changing hands, Derrimon Trading fell 10 cents and ended at $9.40 with 12,059 shares being exchanged, Eppley had 12,932 units changing hands to close of $12. General Accident closed trading with 20,013 shares to end at $2.90, Honey Bun climbed by 75 cents with 120,000 shares changing hands to close at $6.85, Jamaican Teas lost 25 cents and closed trading with 4,000 shares, at $4.25. Jetcon Corporation ended at $14.88 with 83,340 shares trading, Knutsford Express traded 
73,500 shares and dropped 89 cents, in closing at $16,Lasco Distributors added 5 cents and ended trading 64,300 units at $7.25, Lasco Financial fell 5 cents, with 32,500 shares changing hands to end at $4. Lasco Manufacturing fell 4 cents to $4.80 in trading 84,500 shares. Main Event rose 30 cents and ended trading 29,629 shares at $7.20, Medical Disposables ended at $6 with 4,825 units crossing the exchange, Paramount Trading fell 4 cents and ended with 12,200 shares changing hands at $3 and tTech had 5,000 units changing hands at $7.60 after losing 40 cents.
Berger & Scotia Group jump TOP 10
Scotiabank jumped out of TOP 10.
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, moved forward on each day of the past week except for a fall on Thursday to sit close to the all-time high on Friday. Movement in the Junior Market was up and down but a few stocks traded at new highs during the week.
In the main market, IC Insider downgraded the earnings of Carreras to $9 after the company reported full year results, the stock jumped to a record $89 at the close of the week and is out of the top listing. Carreras exit allowed for Jamaica Broilers to return to the main market listing. Jetcon Corporation returns to the Junior Market list and Lasco Financial moves out of the TOP 10.
The week’s movement continue to be constrained by near term resistance levels which could be acting as short term restraint to a break out from current levels.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is 7.5 and 6.8 in the main market, these compare favourably with 13.7 for the overall main market and 13.4 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings. With several stocks trading below the average, the potential for more gains for the rest of 2017 seems positive, barring any major negative developments.
In the main market, decline in the prices of Seprod down to $30 and Sterling Investments to $15.50 moved them into the top list and replaced Berger Paints and Scotia Group that maintained their prices and are now some distance from the top list.
Recent TOP 10 listings that remain just below the top spots include Access Financial that hit a new record high close of $50 and Blue Power up to $55 at the close of the week.
Trading volume drops for Junior stocks
Junior Market stocks closed lower on Monday.
The Junior Market closed on Monday with reduced with 997,351 units valued $7,021,540 trading, compared to 5,891,343 units valued $15,986,987 on Friday. At the close 7 stocks advanced and 7 declined with 19 securities traded, compared to 20 on Friday. The market index declined 15.37 points to 3,317.28.
At the close of trading, 4 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 3 closed with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 89,906 units for an average value of $369,555 compared to 294,567 units for an average value of $799,349, on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date are 217,483 units valued at $1,055,012 compared with 281,272 units valued at $1,397,740, previously, In contrast, May closed with averages of 89,339 units and $596,722.
the close of the market, Blue Power lost $2 to close at $53 with 696 units changing hands, CAC 2000 rose 2 cents and closed at $7.22 with 4,640 shares trading, Cargo Handlers eased by 10 cents and closed at $17.90 with 1,063 shares trading, Caribbean Flavours traded 1,513 units to end at $12, Caribbean Producers traded 487,000 units at $3.50, Derrimon Trading rose 50 cents and ended at record close of $9.50 with 170,374 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove fell 2 cents and ended at $19.98 with 983 shares being swapped, General Accident closed trading with 50,000 shares to end at $2.90, Honey Bun climbed by 56 cents with just 9,225 shares changing hands to close at $6.10, 
Teas closed trading with 2,200 shares, at $4.50. Jetcon Corporation ended at $14.88 with 110,950 shares trading, after adding 88 cents, Knutsford Express traded 81,774 shares and gained 89 cents, in closing at a record high of $16.89, Lasco Distributors lost 30 cents and ended trading 4,127 units at $7.20, Lasco Financial fell 25 cents, with 11,325 shares changing hands to end at $4.05, Lasco Manufacturing fell 23 cents closed at $4.85 in trading 37,127 shares. Main Event lost 10 cents and ended trading 10,531 shares at $6.90, Medical Disposables ended at $6 with 1,407 units crossing the exchange, Paramount Trading rose 3 cents and ended with 12,200 shares changing hands at $3.04 and tTech had just 216 units changing hands at $8 after gaining 49 cents.
Volume up for Junior stocks
Knutsford Express closed at an all time high of $16 on Friday
The Junior Market closed out the week with more stocks trading on Friday than on Thursday, with less value as the majority of stocks with price movements rose, as one traded at a new high with Lasco Manufacturing accounting for 72 percent of the volume.
The market closed with 7 stocks advancing and 4 declined as a total of 20 securities traded compared to 19 on Thursday. The market index declined 11.38 points to close at 3,332.65 as 5,891,343 units valued $15,986,987 traded compared to 5,091,552 units valued $37,926,494 changing hands on Thursday.
At the close of trading, 9 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and none closed with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 294,567 units for an average value of $799,349 compared to 267,976 units for an average value of $1,996,131, on the previous trading day.
The average volume and value for the month to date are 281,272 units valued at $1,397,740 which are well ahead of May, with averages of 89,339 units and $596,722.At the close of the market,Blue Powerclimbing $1.50 to close at $55 with 1,978 units changing hands, Cargo Handlers closed at $18 with 210 shares trading,Caribbean Producers lost 10 cents with 687,639 units changing hands at $3.50, Dolphin Cove ended at $20 with 200,855 shares being swapped, Eppley had 8,036 units changing hands to close of $12. General Accident closed trading with 52,468 shares to end at $2.90, Honey Bun dropped by $1.39 with just 240 shares changing hands and closed at $5.54, ISP Finance closed at $28 with 3,300 units, Jamaican Teas climbed 83 cents and closed trading with 82,800 shares, at $4.50. Jetcon Corporation ended at $14 with 39,560 shares trading,
KLE Group closed with 1,212 shares trading at $2.02 with a rise of 22 cents. Knutsford Express traded 29,600 shares and gained $1, in closing at a record high of $16, Lasco Distributors rose 50 cents and ended with 164,142 units trading at $7.50, Lasco Financial fell 7 cents, with 25,962 shares changing hands to end at $4.30, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5.08 in trading 4,217,560 after trading 2,114,373 shares on Thursday. Main Event added 50 cents and ended trading15,903 shares at $7, Medical Disposables ended at $6 with 111,236 units crossing over the exchange, Paramount Trading fell 9 cents and ended with 14,012 shares changed hands at $3.01, tTech had 100,000 units changing hands at $7.51 after gaining 1 cent and Eppley 10% preference share, ended with 134,630 units changing hands at $6.60.
Junior stocks trade at new highs
The Junior Market enjoyed a day with a positive index move on Thursday as two stocks traded at intraday highs but with closing prices mostly down as 4 advanced and 8 declined as a total of 19 securities traded compared to 20 on Wednesday.
The market index rose 12.13 points to close at 3,344.03 as 5,091,552 units valued $37,926,494 traded compared to 1,267,600 units valued $7,528,786 changing hands on Wednesday. At the close of trading, 7 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 2 with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 267,976 units for an average value of $1,996,131 compared to 63,380 units for an average value of $376,439, on the previous trading day. 
May ended with averages of 89,339 units and $596,722.
At the close of the market, Access Financial traded at a new high of $52 but ended at $50 with 13,657 units changing hands, Cargo Handlers lost $1.01 and closed at $18 with 1,000 shares trading,Caribbean Producers lost 19 cents with 258,000 units changing hands at $3.60, Consolidated Bakeries rose 15 cents trading 107,844 shares to close at $2.90, Derrimon Trading rose 25 cents and ended at $9 with 10,000 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove ended at $20 with 8,555 shares trading, Eppley had 24,915 units changing hands to close of $12, after trading at a new high of $13, General Accident closed trading with 46,733 shares to end at $2.90, Jamaican Teas dropped 33 cents and closed trading with 11,484 shares, at $3.67. 
Jetcon Corporation lost 80 cents to end at $14 with 1,001,600 shares trading, KLE Group closed with 25,676 shares trading at $1.80 with a loss of 22 cents. Lasco Distributors lost 20 cents and ended with 1,169,175, units trading at $7, Lasco Financial fell 3 cents, with 30,050 shares changing hands, to end at $4.37, Lasco Manufacturing shed 12 cents and closed at $5.08 in trading 2,114,373 shares. Main Event ended trading of 106,775 shares at $6.50, Medical Disposables jumped 85 cents and ended at $6 with 12,393 units trading, Paramount Trading ended with 988 shares changed hands at $3.10, tTech had 126,334 units changing hands at $7.50 and Eppley 10% preference share, ended with 22,000 units changing hands at $6.60 after rising 10 cents.
Juniors slip but Knutsford at new high
Knutsford Express traded at a new high of $15 on Wednesday after the 5 for 11 stock split took effect.
The Junior Market index declined moderately on Wednesday but after Knutsford Express hit a new all-time high of $15 after the stock started trading ex split with investors now having 5 units where they had 1 before.
The market index slipped 12.77 points to close at 3,331.90 to be up 28.5 percent for 2017 to date. A total of 20 securities traded of which 7 advanced and only 4 declined as 1,267,600 units valued $7,528,786 traded compared to 22 securities trading on Tuesday with 2,377,774 units valued $14,077,973 changing hands.
At the close of trading, 8 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 3 with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 63,380 units for an average value of $376,439 compared to 108,081 units for an average value of $639,908, on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date are 89,339 units and $596,722 while at the close of the prior trading day it was 90,467 units and $607,211, well below the levels for April with averages of 502,597 units and $2,768,003.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging fell 44 cents and ended at $4.55 with 2,111 units changing hands, Blue Power closed at $53.50 with 1,330 units changing hands, after climbing $1.50, CAC 2000 lost 80 cents and closed at $7.20 with 3,000 shares trading, Caribbean Cream closed trading with 413,469 units to end at $7.50, after dropping 90 cents, Caribbean Flavours ended trading 1,355 units to end at $12, Caribbean Producers rose 29 cents with 100,407 units changing hands at $3.79, Consolidated Bakeries rose 30 cents trading 6,000 shares to close at $2.75, Eppley had 69,369 units changing hands to close of $12, General Accident closed trading with 19,600 shares to end at $2.90, Honey Bun had just 260 shares changing hands and closed at $6.93 after falling 57 cents,
Iron Rock Insurance gained 5 cents in trading 61,538 shares to end at $3.20, Jamaican Teas dropped 69 cents and closed trading with 50,567 shares, at $4. Jetcon Corporation climbed $1.30 to end at $14.80 with 44,161 shares trading, Knutsford Express started trading for the first time after the 5 for 1 stock split and closed with 5,262 shares trading at $15 with a gain of $1.40. Lasco Distributors rose 24 cents and ended with 1,150 units trading at $7.20, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5.20 in trading 81,983 shares. Main Event fell 70 cents and ended trading of 42,690 shares at $6.50, Medical Disposables dropped 65 cents after posting earnings of 38 cents per share compared to 37 cents in 2016 and ended at $5.15 with 24,215 units trading, Paramount Trading ended with a fall of 20 cents as 344,936 shares changed hands at $3.10 and tTech had 3,665 units changing hands at $7.50.