The Junior Market activity picked up sharply on Wednesday with both volume and values climbing strongly over Tuesday’s levels while the market index gained another day when trades Eppley ordinary share at $12 with a potential gain $7.10 and Jamaican Teas at $6.20 for a gain 65 percent were canceled at the close, having exceeded the daily price limits placed on trading by the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
The failure of trades in the two stocks between Tuesday and Wednesday being recorded as official trades is said by the JSE to be determined by a little know rule that the JSE instituted outside the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker rule was put in place in the 1990 in attempt to appease critics of the exchange who were concerned about big swings in stock prices back then. The initial price limit was set at 15 percent above or below the closing price in a day, but the stock could trade higher if the bids or offers exceeded the closing price by more than 15%. In 2014 the Exchange rewrote the rules allowing price movement up to 30 percent in a day from the previous day’s closing price, no limitation were placed on the level that the closing bids and offers could be. The stock exchange now states that a rule exist that limits the level of bids and offers that can be posted above the last closing price to 15 percent. That limitation was not in the original circuit breaker rule and not in the current one. It appears to this publication that the 2014 rules, having been completely rewritten, overrides all prior ones and therefore the exchange has been acting in breach of the rule by limiting bids and offers and canceling trades as a result.
On Wednesday, the Junior Market index rose 17.73 points, to end at 3,016.21 with 5,257,482 units valued at over $20,969,571 passing through the market, compared to 541,499 units valued at $4,457,020 that were traded on Tuesday. At the close, with 20 securities changing hands, with 9 advancing and 5 declining compared to 20 on Tuesday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 262,374 units for an average value of $1,048,479 traded, compared to 27,075 units for an average value of $222,851 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date are 216,806 units and $1,422,759. The average volume and value for the month to the previous trading day ended at 212,663 units and $1,456,784. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 2 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 2 ending with lower offers, than their last traded price.
At the close of the market on Wednesday, AMG Packaging lost 49 cents to close at $5 with 56,490 units changing hands, following six months results that continued to be lower than the prior year’s figures with $26.4 million reported after tax compared with $52.2 million for the similar period in 2016. Cargo Handlers lost 40 cents in trading just 1,995 shares at $20.10, Caribbean Cream traded 8,955 units to end at $7.80, Derrimon Trading ended at $8.50 with 2,000 shares trading, General Accident gained 15 cents and closed trading with 445,164 shares to end at $3.30, Honey Bun had 8,830 shares changing hands to close with a rise of 25 cents to end at $7.50, Iron Rock Insurance traded 78,275 shares to end at $3, ISP Finance rose 70 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $16.10 with 19,094 units. Jetcon Corporation rose 10 cents to end at $12 with 87,622 shares traded, Key Insurance traded 954,445 units to close at $3, KLE Group ended at $2.50 with 80,000 shares changing hands after falling by 20 cents, Knutsford Express closed trading with 8,848 shares at $41, Lasco Distributors ended with 88,575 units trading at $6.80, Lasco Financial lost 5 cents and ended with 8,787 shares changing hands at $4, Lasco Manufacturing gained 15 cents to close with 1,076,495 units changing hands at $4.95, Main Event rose 25 cents trading 17,917 shares at $5.60, Medical Disposables closed trading with 1,367 shares to end at $6, Paramount Trading lost 5 cents and closed at $3.50 with 2,303,823 units trading, tTech rose 30 cents, trading 1,800 shares to end at $7.50 and Eppley 8.25% preference share closed trading with 12,000 units at a 52 weeks high of $6.10.
Drop in Junior Market volume – Tuesday
The Junior Market started another shortened week with a 31.66 points drop, to end at 2,998.48 and a sharp fall in trading levels, compared with Thursday’s levels.
The market closed with 541,499 units valued at $4,457,020 passing through the market, compared to 2,378,976 units valued at 9,310,238 that were traded on Thursday. At the close, with 20 securities changing hands, compared to 23 on Thursday with 7 advancing and 8 declining.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 27,075 units for an average value of $222,851 traded, compared to 103,434 units for an average value of $404,793 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date are 212,663 units and $1,456,784. The average volume and value for the month to the previous trading day ended at 256,913 units and $1,755,753. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 4 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and only 1 ending with a lower offer, than the last traded price.
At the close of the market on Tuesday, AMG Packaging closed at $5.49 with 102,675 units changing hands, Blue Power traded 800 units to close at $35, CAC 2000 lost 18 cents and closed at $7.17 with 10,000 shares trading , Cargo Handlers lost 50 cents in trading just 100 shares at $20.50, Caribbean Cream gained 50 cents in trading 35,450 units to end at $7.80, Caribbean Producers closed trading with 1,000 units at $3.75, Consolidated Bakeries rose 20 cents with 18,437 shares changing hands, to close at $2.86, C2W Music closed trading with 10,200 shares while shedding 3 cents to end at 30 cents, Dolphin Cove ended at $20.06 with 544 shares trading, Honey Bun had 31,900 shares changing hands to close at $7.25, ISP Finance fell 10 cents to end at $15.40 with 13,045 units. Jetcon Corporation rose 10 cents to end at $11.90 with 10,710 shares traded, Knutsford Express rose 5 cents in trading 34,659 shares to close at $41, after the company reported the decision of the directors to recommend a 5 for 1 stock split as well as increased profits for the nine months to February. Lasco Distributors added 10 cents and ended with 73,693 units trading at $6.80, Lasco Financial lost 25 cents and ended with 28,500 shares changing hands at $4.05, Lasco Manufacturing fell 20 cents to close with 108,785 units changing hands at $4.80, Main Event lost 38 cents trading 36,141 shares at $5.35, Medical Disposables closed trading with 19,560 shares and rose 15 cents to end at $6, Paramount Trading closed at $3.55 with 1,000 units trading and tTech rose 5 cents, trading 4,300 shares to end at $7.20.
Juniors fall moderately – Wednesday
The junior market index dropped 10.57 points on Wednesday, to end at 3,044.98 with 21 securities changing hands, down from 22 on Tuesday with 6 advancing and 10 declining.
Trading fell back on Wednesday from Tuesday’s levels, with a volume of 1,676,664 units valued at $10,468,019 passing through the market, compared to 2,082,552 units valued at $21,125,705 that were traded on Tuesday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 79,841 units for an average value of $498,477 traded, compared to 94,661 units for an average value of $960,259 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date is 133,197 units and $961,366. The average volume and value for the month to the previous trading day ended at 159,875 units and $1,237,810. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 5 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and just 1 ending with a lower offer, than the last traded price.
At the close of the market on Wednesday, AMG Packaging shed 62 cents to close at $5.48 with 153,832 units changing hands, Blue Power traded 6,503 units to close at $35, CAC 2000 gained 15 cents and closed at $8 with 16,745 shares trading, Cargo Handlers traded 347 shares to end at $20.10, Caribbean Cream traded 3,000 units to end with a rise of 4 cents at $7.30, Caribbean Producers fell 25 cents in trading 158,064 units to end at $3.75, Derrimon Trading fell by 10 cents and ended at a new high of $8.50 with 1,800 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove ended at $20 with 114,585 shares trading. General Accident traded 900 shares and gained 10 cents to end at $3.15, Honey Bun had 5,491 shares changing hands and lost 20 cents to close at $7.30, I$P Finance traded 10,000 shares to end with a rise of 75 cents at an all-time high of $13.50, Jamaican Teas lost 25 cents in trading 1,095 shares to close at $7.50, Jetcon Corporation fell 20 cents to end at $11.90 with 10,977 shares being exchanged, KLE Group traded 2,413 units at $3.50, Lasco Distributors ended with 3,290 units trading at $6.89 after losing by 1 cent, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 1,111,790 units changing hands with a rise of 8 cents to end at $5.08, Main Event jumped 74 cents and closed at an all-time high of $5.74 with 10,113 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables traded 25,015 shares to close at $6.50, Paramount Trading shed 15 cents with 25,075 shares changing hands, to close at $3.60 and tTech traded 10,629 units to fall 49 cents and closed at $7.
Juniors rise moderately – Tuesday
The junior market index rose 13.19 points on Tuesday, to end at 3,055.55 with 22 securities changing hands, up from 19 on Monday with 12 advancing and 5 declining.
Trading fell back on Tuesday from Monday’s levels, with a volume of 2,082,552 units valued at $21,125,705 passing through the market, compared to 4,276,697 units valued at $28,791,862 that were traded on Monday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 94,661 units for an average value of $960,259 traded, compared to 225,089 units for an average value of $1,515,361 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 159,875 units and $1,237,810. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 5 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 3 ending with lower offers, than the last traded price.
At the close of the market on Tuesday, AMG Packaging gained 10 cents to close at $6.10 with 113,640 units changing hands, CAC 2000 closed at $7.85 with 6,890 shares trading, Cargo Handlers traded 8,000 shares but fell 90 cents to end at $20.10, Caribbean Cream traded 5,276 units to end with a rise of 1 cent at $7.26, Caribbean Producers climbed 25 cents in trading 2,029 units to end at $4, C2W lost 5 cents to end at 25 cents with 40,000 shares changing hands, Derrimon Trading rose by 10 cents and ended at a new high of $8.60 with 15,423 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove ended at $20 with 2,370 shares trading to gain $2. General Accident traded 2,500 shares and fell 10 cents to end at $3.05, Honey Bun had 39,797 shares changing hands and gained 20 cents to close at $7.50, Jamaican Teas traded 11,971 shares to close at $7.75, Jetcon Corporation rose 10 cents to end at $12.10 with 1,408,900 shares being exchanged, KLE Group traded 20,545 units and rose 20 cents to $3.50, Lasco Distributors ended with 22,400 units trading at $6.90 after losing by 10 cents, Lasco Financial rose 20 cents, with 115,225 shares changing hands, to end at $3.80, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 70,000 units changing hands at $5, Main Event slipped 10 cents and closed at $5 with 14,141 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables traded 29,766 shares to close at $6.50 after rising 50 cents, Paramount Trading gained 15 cents with 11,835 shares changing hands, to close at $3.75. tTech traded 22,487 units to gain 9 cents and closed at $7.49, Derrimon Trading preference share traded 117,687 units at $2.11 with a rise of 1 cents and Eppley 10% preference share traded a mere 1,670 units at $6.80.
Juniors make big gains – Monday
Trading picked up on Monday over Friday, with Lasco Distributor dominating with 78 percent of the volume of 4,276,697 units valued at $28,791,862 passing through the market, compared to 1,607.606 units valued at $11,124,439 that were traded on Friday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 225,089 units for an average value of $1,515,361 traded, compared to 107,174 units for an average value of $741,629 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 10 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 2 ending with lower offers, than the last sale price.
At the close of the market on Monday, AMG Packaging closed at $6 with 12,960 units changing hands, Blue Power closed at $35 with 288 shares trading, Caribbean Cream traded 16,799 units to end at $7.25, Caribbean Producers climbed 8 cents in trading 25,870 units to end at $3.75, Consolidated Bakeries gained 20 cents to end at $3.20 with 5,100 shares changing hands, Honey Bun had 11,854 shares changing hands and lost 20 cents to close at $7.30. I$P Finance traded 6,950 shares to end at an all-time high of $12.75, Jamaican Teas traded 2,738 shares to close with a fall of 24 cents at $7.75, Jetcon Corporation rose $1 to end at $12 with 15,000 shares being exchanged, KLE Group traded 3,300 units and rose 25 cents to $3.30, Knutsford Express traded 530 shares to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $42, Lasco Distributors ended with 3,330,287 units trading at $7 after rising by 30 cents, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 692,870 units changing hands at $5, Main Event closed with a rise of 20 cents at $5.10 with 5,798 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables traded 103,417, shares to close at $6, Paramount Trading lost 20 cents with 21,000 shares changing hands, to close at $3.60. tTech traded just 2,660 units but fell 10 cents to close at $7.40, Eppley 9.5% preference share traded 17,881 units at $6.02 with a fall of 2 cents and Eppley 10% preference share traded a mere 1,395 units at $6.80.
Modest rise in junior market
Trading on the junior market fell off sharply on Thursday from Wednesday’s levels, as demand declined below the previous day leaving the market index inching up by just 1.16 points to end at 2,991.64.
Market activity ended with only 15 securities trading, similar to the total on Wednesday with advancing and declining stocks ending at a 5 each. A total of 243,100 units valued at $4,441,436 passed through the market, compared to 699,545 units valued at $3,810,910 on Wednesday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 16,207 units for an average value of $296,096 traded, compared to 46,636 units for an average value of $254,061 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 138,835 units and $1,338,271. On the immediate preceding trading day, the average volume and value for the month to date, were 144,675 units and $1,385,643. The average volume and value for February, ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
Trading ended with 10 stocks had bids higher than their last sale prices and 4 ended with lower offers, than the last sale.
At the close of the market on Thursday, AMG Packaging climbed $1 and closed at $6 with 27,916 units changing hands, CAC 2000 lost 5 cents and closed at $7.80 with 31,239 shares trading, Caribbean Cream dropped 8 cents in trading 1,733 units to end at $7.90, Derrimon Trading ended at $8.50 with 3,994 shares changing hands, Honey Bun had 3,952 shares changing hands, rose 70 cents and closed at $7.30. Iron Rock Insurance traded 7,256 shares to end at $3.84, Jamaican Teas traded just 320 shares to close at $7.99, Jetcon Corporation dropped $1 and closed trading with 21,970 shares being exchanged, to end at $11, Knutsford Express lost 11 cents to end at $42 with 80,146 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors ended with 22,522 units trading at $6.70, Lasco Financial fell 40 cents, with 20,000 shares changing hands, to end at $3.60, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 2,420 units changing hands at $5, after falling 5 cents, Main Event closed at $5 with 11,724 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables climbed 75 cents to $6 with 4,808 units trading and Paramount Trading had 3,100 shares changing hands, to close with a rise of 20 cents at $3.80.