The junior market rose 32.86 to just 3 points away from the 1,600 point mark at 1,597.17 points on Tuesday as 16 securities were active with 10 stocks advancing and one declined. A total of 1,088,460 units, valued at $4,588,567 changed hands. The market ended with 7 stocks closing at new 52 weeks’ high.
Only 2 securities ended with no bids to buy and 10 had no stocks being offered for sale, an indication of chronic supply shortage of junior market stocks. A total of 7 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 3 closed with lower offers.
In trading, Blue Power gained 80 cents in closing at $13.80, with 4,200 units trading. Caribbean Cream ended with 20,000 shares changing hands, at a new 52 weeks’ high of $4.60, to gain 10 cents, Caribbean Flavours traded 87,075 units to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $4.85, after rising 5 cents, Caribbean Producers traded 79,902 units at $3.05. Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents to end at $1.90, with 40,742 units changing hands. Derrimon Trading gained 20 cents, to end with 5,000 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.20, Dolphin Cove had 26,300 shares changing hands at $13.50, for a rise of 50 cents at a 52 weeks’ high. General Accident Insurance traded only 200 units at $2. The stock ended with an offer at $1.97, to sell 20,000 shares, Honey Bun closed with a mere 454 shares changing hands, to end 8 cents higher at a 52 weeks’ high $5.28, Jamaican Teas rose 5 cents with 33,810 shares trading, to close at $3.90.
KLE Group ended with 1,515 units trading at 45 cents, Lasco Distributors closed with 367,050 shares changing hands with a loss of 43 cents to $4.07, Lasco Financial closed with an increase of 20 cents at a new 52 weeks’ closing high of $3.20 with a total of 219,943 shares changing hands after trading as high as $3.40, Lasco Manufacturing rose 6 cents to end at $3.96 with 196,769 shares changing hands at a new 52 weeks’ high and Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 400 shares changing hands at $2.20.
Juniors at a new high of 1,564 points
Caribbean Flavours traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.80, being 1 of 4 JM stocks to do so.
Three (3) securities ended with no bids to buy and 10 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 6 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Caribbean Cream ended with 17,500 shares changing hands at a new 52 weeks’ high of $4.50 to gain 15 cents, Caribbean Flavours traded 144,722 units to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $4.80, after rising 20 cents, Caribbean Producers traded 102,848 units at $3.05.
Consolidated Bakeries rose 15 cents to end at $1.80, with 45,000 units changing hands, Dolphin Cove had 150,150 shares changing hands at $13 after trading as high as $13.50. Jamaican Teas rose 5 cents with 74,015 shares trading, to close at $3.85, KLE Group ended with 6,250 units trading at 45 cents, Lasco Distributors closed with 88,950 shares changing hands with a gain of 50 cents to $4.50, for a new all-time closing high. Lasco Financial closed with an increase of 5 cents at a new 52 weeks’ closing high of $3 with a total of 540,380 shares changing hands and Lasco Manufacturing rose 30 cents to end at $3.90 with 625,527 shares changing hands.
Juniors close above 1,500 – first time
The junior market index closed above 1,500 points on Friday & could be heading for over 2,000 mark but not just yet.
The junior market ended trading in 14 securities as 5 stocks advanced and 4 declined. A total of 3,259,403 units, valued at $12,418,302 changed hands. The market ended with 3 stocks closing at new 52 weeks’ high and 1 at 52 weeks’ intraday high. Three (3) securities ended with no bids to buy and 9 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 1 closed with a lower offer.
In trading, AMG Packaging closed at $5 with 1,710 units changing hands, Blue Power closed at $13 with 11,908 units trading, Caribbean Cream ended with 102,200 shares changing hands at a new 52 weeks’ high of $4.35 to gain 40 cents, Caribbean Flavours traded 1,218,881 units to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $4.60. Consolidated Bakeries fell 30 cents to end at $1.65, with 233,930 units changing hands, Derrimon Trading ended with 10,000 shares trading at $3, Dolphin Cove had 7,800 shares changing hands at $13 after rising 50 cents,
General Accident gained 10 cents with 4,000 shares trading, in closing at $2, Honey Bun ended with 84,605 units changing hands at $5.20. Jamaican Teas fell 10 cents with 109,490 shares trading, to close at $3.80, KLE Group ended with 15,000 units trading at 45 cents, Lasco Distributors closed with 171,484 shares changing hands with a gain of 45 cents to $4, for a new all-time closing high. Lasco Financial closed with an increase of 15 cents at a new 52 weeks’ high $2.95 with a total of 731,001 shares changing hands and Lasco Manufacturing fell 10 cents to end at $3.80 with 557,394 shares changing hands.
Juniors up 103% for 2015 to date
Lasco Manufacturing drink factory, which help push profit & the stock to new highs on Tuesday.
The market ended with 5 stocks closing at new 52 weeks’ high and 2 at an intraday high, while 2 securities ended with no bids to buy and 10 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 6 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 2 closed with lower offers.
In trading, Cargo Handlers closed at $35 with 2,730 units changing hands to end at a new 52 weeks’ high of $35 while gaining $2, Caribbean Cream with 60,000 shares changing hands ended at $3.95 but traded for a new 52 weeks’ high. Caribbean Flavours gained 10 cents while trading 485,543 units to end at $4.50, for a new 52 weeks’ high, Caribbean Producers traded 60,000 units for a rise of 10 cents to end at $3, Consolidated Bakeries traded 15,000 shares, to end at $1.80 with a loss of 10 cents.
Derrimon Trading rose 10 cents to end at a new high of $3.10, with only 12,000 units changing hands, General Accident ended with 1,149,000 shares changing hands, in closing at $1.90, after falling 10 cents, Jamaican Teas had 50,000 shares trading to close at $3.90, Knutsford Express had 5,780 shares changing hands at $7 after rising by 50 cents to close at a new 52 weeks’ high. Lasco Distributors ended with 738,362 shares changing hands and closed with a gain of 20 cents at $3.40. Lasco Financial closed with a 15 cents increase at $2.45 after trading earlier at $2.71, with a total of 954,116 shares changed hands and Lasco Manufacturing ended at a new all-time closing high of $3.90 with 663,465 shares changing hands with a rise of 50 cents.
Access sheds 22% in 2 days
Access fell 22% in 2 days to $10.50
A total of 3,241,986 units, valued at $12,588,381 changed hands as 3 stocks advanced and 8 declined. The market ended with 1 stock closing at a 52 weeks’ high while 3 securities ended with no bids to buy and 6 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Access Financial closed with a loss of $2 to $10.50 with 170,271 units changing hands, AMG Packaging lost 1 cent to close at $4.99 with 200 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream fell 15 cents and closed at $3.20 with 19,195 shares changing hands. Caribbean Flavours closed at $4 with 145,904 shares changing hands, Caribbean Producers traded 557,978 units for a loss of 2 cents to end at $3.08, Consolidated Bakeries traded 17,444 shares to end at $1.65, Derrimon Trading ended with 1,400 shares changing hands at a 52 weeks’ high of $3. Dolphin Cove lost $1.20 with 295,515 units changing hands to end at $10, after trading, the company reported a 4 percent increase in profit after tax for the nine months to September, of $412 million over the outturn for the 2014 and a 17 percent increase in the September quarter, to $128 million.
General Accident ended with 400,882 shares changing hands and fell 15 cents to $1.90, Lasco Distributors with 442,302 shares changing hands, closed 5 cents higher at $3.06 after hitting $3.40 during trading. Lasco Financial lost ground with results that were flat, but with promise of improvement later, fell 18 cents to $2.45, after trading earlier at $2.65, with 841,230 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing traded 270,065 shares to end at $3.25 while gaining 14 cents and Medical Disposables ended with 80,000 units changing hands for 5 cents lower to end at $2.50.
Junior market slips below 1,300 on Tuesday
Consolidated Bakeries with their Purity brand closed at a new 52 weeks’ high on Tuesday
The junior market enjoyed wide spread trading as 13 securities changed hands leading to the market index falling 19.83 points to close at 1,296.41. A total of 3,546,444 units, valued at $11,640,858 changed hands as 7 stocks advanced and 5 declined.
The market ended with 4 stocks closing at 52 weeks’ high and one traded at an intraday high. At the close 3 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 5 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Access Financial closed with a loss of 36 cents to $12.50 with 57,729 units changing hands, AMG Packaging closed with a gain of 63 cents at $5 with 43,796 units changing hands for a 52 weeks’ high, Caribbean Cream rebounded with a 15 cents rise and closed at $3.35 with 1,170,036 shares changing hands. Caribbean Flavours fell 8 cents to $4 with 300,685 shares changing hands, Caribbean Producers traded 346,000 units for a gain of 14 cents end at $3.10, Consolidated Bakeries traded 20,556 shares with a gain of 15 cents to end at $1.65, to close at a new 52 weeks’ high.
Dolphin Cove had 4,585 units changing hands to end at $11.20 having lost $1.80, KLE Group ended with 39,000 shares changing hands and gained 2 cents to end at 45 cents. Lasco Distributors with 532,514 shares changing hands, closed 5 cents lower at $3.01 after hitting an intraday for a 52 weeks high of $3.40, Lasco Financial gained 23 cents and closed at $2.63 to close at a 52 weeks high while 740,049 shares changed hands. Lasco Manufacturing traded 283,090 shares to end at $3.11 while shedding 34 cents, Paramount Trading ended with 4,504 units changing hands for 10 cents higher to end at $7.10 and Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 1,400 shares changing hands to end at $2.20
Junior market brakes 1,300 Mark
AMG Packaging closed at a new 52 weeks’ high on Friday
The junior market closed over the 1,300 mark for the first time on Friday, gaining 91 percent so far for 2015 and is heading even higher as several junior market stocks are undervalued. Trading resulted in 14 securities traded as the market index rose by 17.52 points to 1,310.65 for a new closing high. A total of 1,446,535 units, valued at $6,684,912 changed hands as 10 stocks advanced and 1 declined.
The market ended with 4 stocks closing at 52 weeks’ high. 4 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 7 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 8 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, AMG Packaging closed with a gain of 57 cents at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.37 with 13,830 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream rebounded with a 20 cents gain and closed at $3.30 with 97,766 shares changing hands. Caribbean Flavours rose 18 cents to $3.98 with 270,000 shares changing hands to close at a new 52 weeks’ high. Caribbean Producers traded 31,000 units with a loss of 49 cents end at $2.50, Derrimon Trading had 32,804 units changing hands to end at $2.40 having gained 10 cents, Dolphin Cove rose 10 cents in trading 220,000 shares, to end at $13. General Accident ended with 80,000 shares changing hands, gained 30 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.20,
Jamaican Teas had 30,000 units changing hands for 9 cents higher to end at $3.44. Lasco Distributors with 22,240 shares changing hands, closed 8 cents higher at $2.95, Lasco Financial gained 4 cents and closed at $2.45 while 427,767 shares changed hands. Lasco Manufacturing traded 192,350 shares to end at $3.30, Medical Disposables closed at $2.55 with 883 shares trading, Paramount Trading ended with 15,000 shares changing hands with a rise of 50 cents to end at $7 for a 52 weeks’ high and Eppley 9.5% preference share, closed at $6 with 12,095 units trading.
Juniors just shy of the 1,300 mark
Caribbean Flavours traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.80.
The market closed with 5 securities ending with no bids to buy, while 4 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 7 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 1 closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Caribbean Cream rebounded with a 20 cents gain and closed at $3.10 with 69,419 shares changing hands. Caribbean Flavours rose 30 cents to $3.80 with 400,000 shares changing hands to close at a new 52 weeks’ high, Derrimon Trading had 54,665 units changing hands to end at $2.30 having lost 3 cents,
Dolphin Cove rose 90 cents in trading 19,357 shares, to end at $12.90. Honey Bun ended with 5,000 shares changing hands to gain 8 cents and end at $4.08, KLE Group had 50,000 units changing hands at 43 cents, Lasco Distributors with 28,800 shares changing hands, closed 1 cent higher at $2.87 but traded as high as $3. Lasco Financial lost 19 cents and closed at $2.41 while 439,750 shares changed hands, the stock traded at $2.60 during the day, Lasco Manufacturing traded 228,050 shares to end at $3.30 after trading 19 cents lower.
7 juniors stocks rose 2 fell
The junior market ended with 11 securities traded as the junior market index fell 3.83 points to 1,281.95 with 1,300,792 units, valued at $14,184,687, changing hands as 7 stocks advanced and 2 declined.
The market ended with 5 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 2 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 7 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 1 closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Caribbean Cream price slipped 33 cents and closed at $2.90 with 120,000 shares changing hands. Caribbean Flavours traded at $3.50 with 19,392 shares changing hands, Caribbean Producers traded 414,000 units to end at $2.99, Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents in traded 59,878 shares, to end at $1.30. General Accident Insurance ended with 127,562 shares changing hands to gain 5 cents and end at $1.90,
KLE Group had 116,279 units changing hands at 43 cents, Knutsford Express traded 132,617 shares at $6.20 after adding 5 cents to end at a new 52 weeks’ high, Lasco Distributors with 10,763 shares changing hands, closing 3 cents higher at $2.86. Lasco Financial closed at a new all-time closing high of $2.60 while 147,651 shares changed hands with the price rising 10 cents, the stock traded at $2.65 during the day, Lasco Manufacturing traded 147,651 shares to end at $3.49 after trading 14 cents higher and Medical Disposables closed at $2.55 with a rise of 20 cents with 10,000 shares traded.
Lasco companies batter US$ investment
Lasco Distributors closed at a new high on Thursday of $4
The prices have declined compared to when I bought them and I am concerned about the potential for further decline as the dollar continues to devalue. Should I just cut my losses and sell and convert to FX.”
The prices on June 6 last year were as follows – it took J$111.37 to buy US$1 and now its roughly $120, an increase of just 7.7 percent. Lasco Distributors traded at $1.32 then and is now at $4 for a gain of 203 percent, Lasco Financial Services traded on June 6th last year at $1.15 and gained 156 percent to trade at $2.95 on Friday last week and Lasco Manufacturing was at $1 in June 2014 and has gained 180 percent up to Friday last. It is clear from the above which investment was the better one to have made. Those stock while doing very well have not been the best performing on the local market since then. Cable & Wireless traded at 29 cents in the 2014 period and last traded at $1.05 a 262 percent gain, Desnoes & Geddes was priced at $4.25 and is now at $30, the Jamaica Stock Exchange was then priced at $1.95 and has increase by 464 percent and Caribbean Cream moved from 75 cents to $4.35 for a gain of 480 percent.
IC Insider’s response, thanks for your enquiry. As you will see our BUY RATED list contains these three stocks. Here are our views. First off the local stock market tends to go down around May until last June or July. This is not cast in stone, just a tendency. One reason for it is that investors get the full information as to what companies did last fiscal year and a glimpse for the new-year. In the case of the three Lasco companies they have just reported their full year results. The distributorship earning is the most encouraging of the three and looks like it will probably do better than the other three in the short to medium term. It will also benefit from the Salada Foods distribution which started this year, as well as from increased production to come from the expanded Lasco Manufacturing company’s operation. The information suggest that the next set of results should possibly show growth over that of 2013.
Lasco Financial seems poised for good things, but big marketing spend last fiscal year kept profits down as they went for more market share. It does look as if they will be spending on the world cup promotions which could build business, but may also keep profits pressured somewhat for a while.
Lasco Manufacturing seems cheap at $1 bearing in mind the impact that the factory expansion is likely to have on both sales and profits ultimately. Short term they will have to pick up interest cost and depreciation on the completed factory but will enjoy cost savings and ultimately increased profits.
One need to be careful of converting to foreign exchange at this stage, as the big move in the FX trade could be over. You may have to hold the stocks for a while but the investment could pay off in the medium term, more so in the case of financial and distributorship, during 2014. We would want to see he Q1 results for Manufacturing before jumping.
It is our view that the market overall, is undervalued but investors will need to be patient and the payoff is likely to huge for those who wait, the gains to be reaped elsewhere is not likely to be all that great, to cause one to jump and possibly miss the gains in the local market that is ahead.