Stocks continue to trade on a positive note with all major indices increasing in mid-morning trading to new record highs and a number stocks recording new 52 weeks’ highs up to 11 am. Interest in the stocks is wide spread with 34 securities traded
amounting to 1,456,993 units changing hands with 14 rising, while 7 declined.
The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 851.87 points to 169,083.72 the JSE Market Index gained 762.26 points to 152,231.62 the JSE combined index added 880.33 points to 160,095.23 and the junior market index is up 17.99 points to 1,832.77.
Trades of some interest include Hardware & Lumber with 300,000 units at $18.50, National Commercial Bank with 2,956 units at a new high of $40.65, 138 Student Living with 138,798 shares at $4.60, Radio Jamaica back at $5 with a small volume, General Accident with 63,115 units at $2.19, Jamaican Teas with 37,500 shares at a new 52 weeks’ of $5.25, Lasco Distributors with 220,487 shares at $5.52 but after trading at $5.60 and Lasco Manufacturing with 172,614 units at $3.55.
JSE continues in positive mode
Juniors start 2016 at new high
Lasco Financial traded at a new 52 weeks’ high high of $3.90
The junior market started 2016 with the index gaining 23.73 points to end at 1,814.78 for a new record high. The market closed with 13 securities trading 6 of which advanced, 2 declined with 4 closing at a new 52 weeks high and one at an intraday high. A volume of 1,707,388 units changed hands, valued at $6,741,784.
At the close, 1 security ended with no bids to buy and 8 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 2 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while 1 closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Access Financial Services closed at $16 with 8,510 units changing hands, C2W Music closed with a gain of 1 cent as 256,277 units changed hands to a new 52 weeks’ high of 40 cents, Caribbean Cream ended with 500,000 shares changing hands at $4.08, Caribbean Flavours traded 45,000 units to close with a loss of 44 cents at $9. Caribbean Producers traded 3,340 units to close with a gain of 5 cents, at $5.50, Consolidated Bakeries gained 4 cents to end at $1.49 with 111,500 units changing hands,
General Accident traded 5,600 shares to close at $2.05, Honey Bun rose 3 cents, to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.18 with 120,000 units changing hands. Jamaica Teas ended at $5.05 with a loss of 5 cents while 28,634 units traded, KLE Group ended at $1.87 with 17,920 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors closed with 389,944 shares changing hands at $5.50, but traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $5.55. Lasco Financial closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.90, with a rise of 20 cents with 50,001 shares changing hands and Lasco Manufacturing closed at $3.58 with 170,662 shares trading, for an 8 cents rise.
BUY RATED top Carib markets with 830%
The JSE stock racked up huge gains in 2015
IC BUY RATED stocks were top of the Caribbean markets in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago for 2015, with Jamaica Stock Exchange share, chalking up a massive gain of 830 percent since IC Insider elevated it to BUY RATED status.Caribbean Cement followed with gains of 640 percent, Caribbean Cream with 444 percent and Trinidad Cement with a 299 percent increase on the Trinidad market.
While it was easy to make money in Jamaica, with profits rising and interest rates falling, developments in Trinidad went in the opposite direction, with interest rates rising and profits under pressure with the economy ended in recession.
At the beginning of 2015 of the 14 junior market selections, few recorded gains and only Knutsford Express with a 17 percent increase reflecting any meaningful positive movement. Losses were large, with AMG Packaging down 39 percent, Blue Power 31 percent, Caribbean Cream 23 percent, Jamaica Teas 28 percent, Lasco Financial 37 percent and Lasco Manufacturing 32 percent. What a difference a year can make? By the end of 2015, gains were all over the place with the list having 17 companies with two being dropped. There were no losing stocks in the list that had a new addition, tTech which could be listed this week. Honey Bun was added to the listing in November and gained 9 percent since. Eight stocks have more than doubled, four gained 40 percent to 91 percent. Caribbean Cream jumped 292 percent to be the top selection in this market, followed by Lasco Distributors up 274 percent. Blue Power was removed from the list in July with a small gain.
In the JSE main market, at the start of 2015, Hardware and Lumber was the best performing stock with gains of 62 percent followed by Cable & Wireless with 47 percent and Jamaica Broilers had the worst performance with a loss of 24 percent. In all, 7 of the 15 selections were lower than at the time they were BUY RATED.
By year-end, all selections in the JSE main market were up, with Scotia Investments having a mere 15 percent increase, being the poorest performer. This stock is being moved to Market Watch as the 2015 profit performance was far too disappointing to warrant buying now, while Hardware and Lumber remains a hold. The rest, present opportunities for continuing profit making. 
JMMB Group ended with just 28 percent gain, but seems undervalued at the current price. While the list had a few lousy performers, the same can’t be said about a 640 percent gain in Caribbean Cement and 830 percent increase for Jamaica Stock Exchange share. In all, 9 stocks posted gains in excess of 100 percent and 4 below 100 percent but with a 50 percent increase and more.
There were 13 selections in the Trinidad market with Trinidad Cement being the best performer with gains of 150 percent, the next was Point Lisas with 11 percent at the start of 2015. Five stocks suffered losses with the highest being 22 percent and the next 18 percent. For 2015 the price of Trinidad Cement is up 299 percent followed by National Flour with a 59 percent gain.
Looking ahead, the junior stocks should continue to grow, with several of the companies actively expanding resulting in profits climbing at a fast pace. There are a few stocks to be cautious of just now. Lasco Distributors selling at almost 16 times 2016 March earnings. Growth should be strong but unless investors have a long term objective they should be careful buying at current price level, the same applies to Lasco Financial that is selling at 15 times earnings. Dolphin Cove remains a hold at this time.
The Trinidad market needs to be watched at this stage, with the country needing to adjust to the lower price of oil and the recession now being endured.
Juniors close 2015 with 8 up 3 down
Honey Bun closed at a new 52 weeks’ high on Thursday
At the close, 1 security ended with no bids to buy and 6 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 3 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while 2 closed with lower offers.
In trading, C2W Music closed with a gain of 1 cent as 20,000 units changed hands at 39 cents, Caribbean Cream ended the year with 264,288 shares changing hands for a gain of 10 cents to $4.08, Caribbean Producers traded 6,000 units to close with a gain of 45 cents at $5.45. Consolidated Bakeries gained 15 cents to end at $1.45 with 2,922 units changing hands, Derrimon Trading had 3,135,140 shares trading for a gain of 7 cents to close at $3.87, Dolphin Cove ended with 3,900 shares changing hands at $15.50, after falling 25 cents, General Accident ended with 20,000 shares trading close at $2.05 for a loss of 3 cents. Honey Bun rose 4 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.15, with 1,800 units changing hands, Jamaica Teas traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $5.10 with a gain of 5 cents while a mere 850 units traded, at the close the stock was offered at $5.05.
KLE Group ended at $1.87 with 4,000 shares changing hands to record a loss of 1 cent, Lasco Distributors rose by 10 cents and closed with 95,306 shares changing hands at $5.50 for a closing 52 weeks’ high. Lasco Financial closed at $3.70, with 3,899 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $3.50 with 246,352 shares trading, Medical Disposables traded 10,000 shares to close unchanged at $3.55, Sweet River ended with 100,000 units changing hands at $3.91 after losing 4 cents and Eppley 9.5% preference share traded 135,111 units at $6.
161% up for junior record – Wednesday
New closing high for Lasco Distributors on Wednesday.
The market closed with 11 securities trading 7 of which advanced, 1 declined with 2 closing at a new 52 weeks high. Volume changing hands amounted to 886,844 units, valued at $4,712,436.
At the close there was 1 security ending with no bid to buy and 6 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while 2 closed with lower offers.
In trading, C2W Music closed with 4,000 units changing hands at 38 cents, Caribbean Cream rose 18 cents with 64,025 shares changing hands at $3.98, Caribbean Producers traded 8,730 units to close at $5. Dolphin Cove ended with 2,908 shares changing hands at $15.75 by gaining 13 cents, General Accident ended with 1,000 shares trading close at $2.08.
KLE Group ended at $1.86 with 86,054 shares changing hands to record a gain of 3 cents to close at a new 52 weeks’ high, Knutsford Express ended at $9.60 with 178,474 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors rose by 40 cents and closed with 124,055 shares changing hands at $5.40 for a 52 weeks’ closing high, Lasco Financial closed at $3.70, with 6,101 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $3.50 with 278,997 shares trading and Eppley 2019 preference share gained 2 cents in trading 131,500 units at $6.10.
New junior record up 151% in 2015 – Tuesday
KLE closed at a 52 weeks’ high in closing at $1.83 on Tuesday.
Trading ended with 12 securities trading of which 7 advanced and 1 declined with 3 closing at a new 52 weeks high. Volume changing hands amounted to 986,076 units, valued at $3,374,729.
At the close there was 1 security ending with no bid to buy and 5 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Access Financial closed with 6,490 units changing hands at $16, Caribbean Cream slipped 8 cents with 44,600 shares changing hands at $3.80, Caribbean Flavours closed at $9.44 with 18,938 shares changing hands, Caribbean Producers rose 42 cents in trading 52,000 units to close at $5. Dolphin Cove ended with 1,092 shares changing hands at $15.62 by gaining 12 cents, General Accident gained 20 cents with 1,000 shares trading close at $2.08. Jamaican Teas ended up by 55 cents with only 2,529 shares trading,
KLE Group ended at $1.83 with 10,000 shares changing hands to record a gain of 28 cents, Lasco Distributors rose by 5 cents and closed with 157,804 shares changing hands at $5 for a 52 weeks’ high, after trading earlier at an all-time high of $5.50. Lasco Financial rose 17 cents to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $3.70, with 26,998 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing closed at $3.50 with 264,625 shares trading, the stock traded earlier as low as $3.10 and Derrimon Trading preference share ended with 400,000 shares trading at $2.10.
JSE down early Tuesday trading
The junior market is off to a flying start with the index hitting new heights with a gain of 25.01 points to reach 1,725.85 with KLE Group trading up by 28 cents to a new 52 weeks’ high of $1.83 while trading 10,000 shares. By 10:45 the index was pushed down below Monday’s close of 1,700.84.
Trading levels remain low after the Christmas break with 20 securities trading up to 10:45 on Tuesday morning on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The three main major market indices had mixed fortunes with main market ones declining and the combined rising as a result of the gains in the junior market. Total securities rising amount to 4 and while 7 declined with 2,969,956 units changing hands.
The all Jamaica Composite Index declined by 101.19 points to 163,314.86 the JSE Market Index declined 90.55 points to 147,069.59, the JSE combined index fell by 237.33 points to 153,891.58 and the junior market index is down 17.01 points to 1,683.83.
Interesting trades include Cable & Wireless with 81,815 units at $1.33, Sagicor Group with 798,976at $18.50 and Supreme Ventures 1,409,317 shares at $4.66. Derrimon Trading preference share had 400,000 units trading at $2.10 and Lasco Manufacturing ended down to $3 from $3.50 with 96,195 shares.
Juniors hits new record on Monday
The junior market closed at an all-time high on Monday.
Trading ended with 12 securities trading of which 6 advanced and 1 declined. Volume changing hands amounted to 9,625,941 units, valued at $21,462,981.
At the close there was 1 security ending with no bid to buy and 5 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 7 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while one closed with a lower offer.
In trading, AMG Packaging closed with 1,000 units changing hands at $7, Caribbean Cream gained 8 cents with 211,685 shares changing hands at $3.88, Caribbean Producers rose 1 cent in trading 40,000 units to close at $4.58, Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents with 38,000 shares changing hands at $1.30, Derrimon Trading ended with 100,000 shares changing hands at $3.80.
General Accident lost 2 cents with 8,576,273 shares trading valued at $17,143,022 to close at $1.88. Knutsford Express ended at $9.60 with 970 shares changing hands. Lasco Distributors rose by 5 cents and closed with 283,883 shares changing hands at $4.95 for a 52 weeks’ high, after trading earlier at an all-time high of $5.08. Lasco Financial rose 3 cents to close at $3.53, with 22,000 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing gained 10 cents, to close at $3.50 with 259,030 shares trading, Medical Disposables closed with 9,100 shares trading at $3.55 and Eppley 9.5% preference share ended with 84,000 shares trading at $6.
13 stocks rise 3 down early trading
Trading levels are low after the Christmas break with 24 securities trading up to 10:45 on Monday morning on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. 
All the main indices rose with 13 stocks rising and only 3 declining with 1,022,877 units changing hands.
The all Jamaica Composite Index rose 731.19 points to 163,015.23 the JSE Market Index gained 654.27 points to 146,801.48, the JSE combined index increased by 745.93 points to 153,736.10 and the junior market index is down 14.36 points to 1,694.77.
Interesting trades include Barita Investments with 105,000 shares at $3.80, Caribbean Cement rising $1.30 with 9,815 shares to $19.50, Caribbean Cream with 76,685 shares at $3.88 after gaining 8 cents, Derrimon Trading with 100,000 units at $3.80, Lasco Distributors with 180,883 units at a new high of $5 and Lasco Manufacturing with 248,830 shares at $3.40.
4 new highs for juniors – Thursday
Lasco Distributors closed at a new high of $4.90 on Thursday.
The market closed with 14 securities trading of which 7 advanced and 4 declined. Volume amounted to 1,752,229 units, valued at $12,898,901 changing hands.
At the close there was 1 security ending with no bid to buy and 7 securities had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 4 stocks closed with bids higher than their last traded prices while none closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Blue Power closed with 1,490 units changing hands to close at $13.10, Caribbean Cream gained 10 cents with 1,000 shares changing hands at $3.80, Caribbean Flavours rose 44 cents in trading 13,000 units to close at $9.44, Derrimon Trading ended with 20,767 shares changing hands at $3.80. Dolphin Cove closed at $15.50 after dropping 50 cents with 54,900 shares trading, General Accident lost 5 cents with 46,544 shares trading to close at $1.90. Honey Bun gained 11 cents with 1,500 shares changing hands, to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.11, KLE Group closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.55 with a gain of 35 cents as 6,000 shares changed hands, Knutsford Express rose 10 cents and ended at $9.60 with 910,117 shares changing hands.
Lasco Distributors rose by 30 cents and closed with 445,314 shares changing hands at $4.90 for a 52 weeks’ high, Lasco Financial lost 9 cents to close at $3.50, with 172,697 shares changing hands, the stock traded at $3.60 for an intraday high. Lasco Manufacturing gained 10 cents, to close at $3.40 with 67,000 shares trading, Derrimon Trading 11.75% preference share closed with a loss of 5 cents with 3,500 shares trading at $2.10 and Eppley 9.5% preference share lost 2 cents, to end with 8,400 shares trading at $6.