Junior market trading improved on Tuesday over the low levels on Monday. The market closed with 13 securities being active accounting for more than 4 million shares changing hands compared to less than 1 million on Monday. The junior index closed higher at 2,155.14 with a rise of 3.10 points as 4 stocks gained and 3 declined.
At the close of the market on Tuesday, 4,344,805 units traded, valued at $20,712,312, as Lasco Manufacturing traded just over 3 million shares. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 ended with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power traded only 750 shares at $16.18, Cargo Handlers ended with 5,198 shares changing hands, at $46, Caribbean Cream gained 30 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $7, with 47,383 shares traded, Derrimon Trading traded at $3.05 with 530,506 shares changing hands. General Accident gained 10 cents in trading 5,844 units at $2.15, Honey Bun rose 1 cent while trading 131,308 shares to close at $5.60, Iron Rock Insurance 
fell 35 cents in trading 9,000 shares and closed at $3.20, Knutsford Express had 119 units changing hands, to close at $15. Lasco Distributors ended with 183,959 shares changing hands, but rose 4 cents to $7.10, Lasco Financial ended with a loss of 9 cents while 398,448 shares changed hands at $3.26, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5.01 with 3,015,390 shares trading to gain 1 cent. Medical Disposables traded 11,900 shares to close at $3.10 and Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 5,000 shares changing hands to end at $2.08,
Caribbean Cream hits new high – Monday
Junior market trading sank to only 7 securities being active accounting for less than 1 million shares changing hands as the market continues to consolidate. At the close Caribbean Cream traded at a new all-time high of $7.55 but just barely held on, for a new closing high with a gain of 5 cents at $6.70, with 46,157 shares traded.
Active supply for Cream is presently low with just two offers just over 4,000 shares while bids sit around the $6.50 mark, waiting for some volume to appear on the sell side.
The junior index closed at 2,152.04 with a fall 5.30 points as 3 advancing and 3 declining. At the close of the market on Monday, only 969,188 units traded, valued at $4,657,054. A total of 5 stocks closed with bids higher than 
their last selling prices and 2 ended with lower offers.
At the close, Honey Bun lost 1 cent while trading 8,390 shares to close at $5.59, Jetcon Corporation rose 5 cents in trading 60,000 shares and closed at $2.70, KLE Group had 750 units changing hands, with a rise of 15 cents, to close at $1.30. Lasco Distributors ended with 29,775 shares changing hands, but fell 26 cents to $7.06, Lasco Financial ended with 119,320 shares changing hands at $3.35 and Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5 with 704,796 shares trading.
Caribbean Cream hits new high – Friday
The junior market index drifted down 1.29 points to end at 2,157.34 even as closed with 6 advancing and 2 declining while Caribbean Cream traded 125,720 shares with a gain of 60 cents, to close at a new all-time high of $6.65, in continued response to an 81 percent jump in profit to $71 million, for the May quarter.
At the close of the market on Friday, 1,509,505 units traded valued at $8,532,147 and ending with 11 securities being active. A total of 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 ended with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging fell 1 cent in trading 201,400 shares to close at $12.50. AMG reported slightly lower sales in the May quarter, compared with 2015 with it being slightly higher in the nine months to May, but reported profit of $15.9 million in the quarter versus $20.76 million in 2015 and $67.9 million for the nine months compared with $52.45 million, in the similar period in 2015. Blue Power ended at $16.18 with 9,000 units changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries gained 7 cents in trading 400,000 shares to close at $2.10. Dolphin Cove gained 25 cents to $12.75 with 25,377 shares changing hands, 
Honey Bun regained the 30 cents it lost on Thursday while trading 185,000 shares to close at $5.60, Iron Rock rose 20 cents in trading 139,156 shares and closed at $3.55. Knutsford Express had 2,110 units changing hands with a rise of 30 cents to close at $15, Lasco Distributors ended with 130,134 shares changing hands, but fell 16 cents close at $7.32, Lasco Financial ended with 41,389 shares changing hands at $3.35, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5.01 with 250,219 shares trading.
JSE off to rousing start – Friday
Jamaica stocks started trading on Friday where they left off on Thursday with both the main market and the junior market indices rising. Caribbean Cream traded at a new high of $6.78 with 56,000 units as investors continue to respond to the company’s first quarter results.
The all Jamaica Composite Index jumped 1,506.48 points to 179,177.69, the Jamaica Stock 
Exchange Market Index gained 1,347.06 points to 161,258.48, the Jamaica Stock Exchange combined index climbed 1,499.13 point to close at 171,976.49 points andthe junior market index gained 19.20 points to 2,177.83.
Trading after 75 minutes of the market’s opening resulted in 23 securities changing hands, accounting for a volume of 1,330,966 shares with the average number of shares traded amounts to 63,379 units compared to an average of 45,559 units on Thursday. Trading has so far resulted in 10 stocks gaining and 6 declining as stocks trading over 100,000 units include Cable & Wireless that traded 167,000 at $1.12, Consolidated Bakeries traded 400,000 shares at $2.10, Honey Bun with 185,000 units traded at $5.60 and Lasco Manufacturing with 236,850 shares trading at $5.05. Scotia Group gained $1.10 while trading 18,490 shares at $31.90 while Pan Jamaican Investments lost $1 in trading 27,900 units at $24.
Juniors enjoy big jump – Thursday
Caribbean Cream climbed 55 cents in trading on Thursday to end at a new high of $6.05.
Caribbean Cream’s gain was in response to an 81 percent jump in profit to $71 million, for the May quarter, while that of Lasco Distributors, was a rebound from the sharp fall last week, of the stock reacting negatively to news to Pfizer’s suggestion, that the compensation for damages was put at US$518,000 instead of US$300 million claimed.
Activity increased on the junior market with more securities being active than on Wednesday. At the close of the market 422,443 units traded valued at $1,648,134, ending with 17 securities trading of which 8 advanced and 6 declined. At the end of trading, 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 ended with lower offers.At the close, Blue Power gained 18 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $16.18, with 500 units changing hands, Caribbean Flavours traded 10,000 units to end at $6.75 with a loss of 25 cents, Caribbean Producers traded 9,120 units at $3.01, Consolidated Bakeries gained 3 cents in trading 22,350 shares to close at $2.03. Derrimon Trading gained 5 cents to end at $3.05 with 32,000 shares changing hands, General Accident traded 124,374 units at $2.05, Honey Bun fell 30 cents while trading 53,950 shares to close at $5.30, Jamaican Teas lost 4 cents in trading 6,761 shares and closed at $3.80.
Jetcon Corporation had 8,324 units changing hands with a loss of 5 cents at $2.65, Lasco Financial ended with 44,000 shares changing hands, but fell 5 cents to $3.35, Lasco Manufacturing gained 1 cent and closed at $5.01 with 68,023 shares trading. Medical Disposables traded 2,800 shares to close with a gain of 5 cents at $3.10, Paramount Trading fell by 50 cents to end with 10,158 shares changing hands at $10.50 and Eppley 9.5% preference share, ended with 6,200 units changing hands at $6.11.
Juniors gain – Wednesday
The junior market closed with the market index closing higher by 39.61 points to end at 2,083.69 with just 209,776 shares trading with a value of $1,025,220 from 9 active securities with 4 advancing 1 declining. Trading is down from the 14 securities that traded, accounting for 724,885 units valued at $2,996,936, on Tuesday.
The junior market was recording strong gains in the market index with Lasco Distributors‘ price climbing 50 cents to $6.55 while trading 22,000 shares and Caribbean Cream (Kremi) trading 74,400 shares at $5.50 without a change to the Tuesday’s closing price but climbing based on the input into the index movement. Investors were responding to Kremi’s 81 percent jump in profit, to $71 million, for the May quarter.
At the end of trading, 7 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 ended with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging ended at $12.51 with 5,051 units changing hands, General Accident traded 1,987 units at $2.05, Honey Bun gained 5 cents while trading 28,826 shares to close at $5.60, Iron Rock Insurance gained 15 cents in trading 49,100 shares and closed at $3.35. Jetcon Corporation had 43,056 units changing hands at $2.70, Key Insurance closed with 1,000 units changing hands at $2.65, after rising by 5 cents, Lasco Financial ended with 24,200 shares changing hands, at $3.40, after gaining 2 cents and Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5 with 9,256 shares trading and fell 1 cent.
Juniors closed mixed – Tuesday
Caribbean Cream climbed 40 cents in trading on Tuesday to end at $5.50.
At the end of trading, 7 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 ended with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging rose 10 cents to end at $12.51 with 100 units changing hands,
CAC 2000 ended with 1,940 shares but lost 10 cents to close at $6.40, Caribbean Cream gained 40 cents with 153,892 shares up from 153,892 units on Monday changing hands to close at $5.50. The company reported a rise of 9 percent in sales to $316 million for the May quarter and a jump of 81 percent in profit to $71 million or earnings per share of 19 cents. Consolidated Bakeries fell 10 cents in trading 71,559 shares to close at $2, Derrimon Trading closed at $3 with 133,163 shares changing hands, General Accident 
lost 10 cents in trading 38,006 units at $2.05, Honey Bun traded 89,130 shares and lost 5 cents to close at $5.55. Iron Rock Insurance gained 15 cents in trading 49,100 shares and closed at $3.35. KLE fell 5 cents with 9,451 units changing hands at $1.15, Knutsford Express traded 3,336 units changing hands at $14.70, Lasco Distributors traded 2,586 units and rose 5 cents to end at $6.05. Lasco Financial ended with 30,000 shares changing hands, at $3.38, after gaining 23 cents, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5.01 with 39,074 shares trading and rose 1 cent in the process and Medical Disposables traded 12,232 shares to close with a loss of 40 cents at $3.05.The volumes for the highest closing bids and lowest offers were not available for publication.
Modest recovery for juniors – Monday
The junior market closed trading on Monday with more securities participating and more stocks rising than declining than on Friday, but the market index closed higher at the end. The volume of stocks trading amounted to 2,230,238 units valued at $6,146,551, up from 508,544 units valued at $2,291,057 on Friday.
A total 19 securities traded compared to only 14 on Friday leading to 8 stocks advancing and 6 declining on Monday. The market index ended with a gain of 27.08 points and closed at 2,032.77.
At the end of trading, 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 ended with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging lost 15 cents to end at $12.41 with 18,255 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream gained 10 cents with 153,892 shares changing hands at $5.10, Caribbean Flavours gained 49 cents to close at $7 with 110,167 shares, Caribbean Producers traded 187,110 units with a decline of 8 cents to $3.01. Consolidated Bakeries gained 10 cents in trading 50,700 shares to close at $2.10, Derrimon Trading closed at $3 with 4,905 shares changing hands, General Accident gained 10 cents in trading 4,316 units at $2.15, Honey Bun traded 28,683 shares and gained 9 cents to close at $5.60. Iron Rock Insurance lost 5 cents in trading 21,000 shares and closed at $3.20. ISP Finance Services traded 1,000 shares at $4.10, Jamaican Teas ended with 82,616 shares trading at $3.84, after rising by 4 cents, 
Jetcon Corporation traded 271,621 units and rose 5 cents to $2.70. K.L.E. Group rose 17 cents with 1,000,000 units changing hands at $1.20, Knutsford Express fell by $2.10 with 200 units changing hands at $14.70, Lasco Distributors traded 1,500 units and rose 18 cents to end at $6. Lasco Financial ended with 130,783 shares changing hands, at $3.15, after falling 7 cents, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5 with 140,085 shares trading, but lost 3 cents in the process, Medical Disposables traded 2,000 shares to close at $3.45 and tTech ended with 21,405 units trading, to close at $4.
Junior index hit again – Friday
Lasco Distributors recovered some lost ground on Friday.
A total 14 securities traded compared to only 6 on Thursday, leading to 7 stocks advancing and 3 declining on Friday. The market index ended with a loss of 27.23 points, an improvement over the fall of 100.65 points on Thursday to close at 2,005.68. Lasco Distributors and Caribbean Producers that inflicted most of damage to the junior market index over the past three days enjoyed some recovery on Friday,
but that was insufficient to recover losses for the overall market.At the end of trading 5 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 ended with lower offers.
At the end of trading, AMG Packaging closed with a gain of 15 cents at $12.50 with 238 units changing hands, Cargo Handlers ended with 2,145 shares changing hands, at $46, Caribbean Cream fell 10 cents with 99,000 shares changing hands at $5, Consolidated Bakeries gained 10 cents in trading 18,000 shares to close at $2.10. Caribbean Producers traded 17,100 units with a rise of 9 cents to $3.09,
Derrimon Trading gained 5 cents to $3 with 5,000 shares changing hands, Honey Bun traded 7,860 shares at $5.51, Jamaican Teas ended with 21,902 shares trading at $3.80, Jetcon Corporation traded 2,855 units at $2.65. Lasco Distributors traded 124,864 units and rose 49 cents to end at $5.82, Lasco Financial ended with 177,758 shares changing hands, at $3.22, after falling 13 cents. Lasco Manufacturing closed at $5.03 with 11,690 shares trading, tTech lost 40 cents in adding 831 units to the trading volume, to close at $4 and Eppley 9.5% preference share rose 11 cents to close at $6.11.
LascoD shot juniors – Thursday
The junior market closed trading sharply down on Thursday, with the market index diving 100.65 points, to close at 2,032.92. A $1.57 fall in the price of the Lasco Distributors inflicted most of damage to the junior market index on Thursday, with a fall by 4.7 percent, the stock fell from $7.40 at the start of trading on Wednesday, down to $5.30 in the morning session, for a 28 percent decline.
Caribbean Producers that sunk sharply on Wednesday as investors reacted negatively to the news that profit in the final quarter of the fiscal year to June will be hit by added cost. The stock did not trade but closed with the bid at $3.20 compared to the last sale price of $3, Lasco Distributors was one of the stocks that closed with the bid being higher than the last traded price, but with a small volume.
A total of only 6 active securities with only 472,148 shares valued at $2,592,609 changed hands on Thursday. At the close, 2 stocks advanced and 3 declined
At the end of trading 8 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 ended with a lower offer.
At the end of trading, Consolidated Bakeries gained 15 cents in trading 16,389 shares to close at $2.15, the stock was offered at $2.10 at the close,
Key Insurance traded 1,837 shares and rose 10 cents to close at $2.60. Lasco Distributors traded 412,422 units to end at $5.33, as investors continued to respond negatively to news that Pfizer is countering Lasco huge claim of more than US$300 million with their estimate of less than US$1 million. Pfizer had previously challenged Lasco over their right to sell tablets for hypertension and lost, resulting in the need to quantify damages by the courts. Lasco Financial ended with 5,200 shares changing hands at $3.35, after falling 7 cents, Lasco Manufacturing gained 3 cents to close at $5.03 with 8,300 shares trading and Medical Disposables added 28,000 units and remained unchanged at $3.45.
