The Jamaica Stock Exchange, two main market closed at record highs on Friday and there are some changes to the TOP 10 listings. Since IC Insider last reported on the lists, on April 21, Access Financial and Caribbean Cream are out of the list for Junior Market while Berger Paints exited the top 10 for the main market.
In the Junior Market, Lasco Distributors returned to the top list and CAC 2000 entered for the first time and Berger was replaced in the main market by Salada Foods with the price having fallen to $6.50.
Access jumped to a new high of $47 during the week and Caribbean Cream earnings has been downgraded to 70 cents per share for 2018 fiscal year while Berger rose to $16 on the announcement of an increased dividend of 50 cents per share.
The average PE ratio of the Junior Market and the Main Market are currently at an average of 13, on this year’s estimated earnings. At the close of the week,
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks continue to trade at an average discount of just under 37 percent to the Junior Market average, those in the main market are trading at a 53 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving several stocks with room for growth for the rest of the year.
The coming week should be dominated by the release of 2017 first quarter results for the majority of stocks that could result in major changes to the TOP lists.
During the week Pulse Investments announced 2 for 1 stock split.
Access exits TOP 10 at record $47
Stocks rise 2 for every 1 falling -Thursday
Sagicor Group traded 2.2 million shares on Thursday.
Trading levels in main market ended at 12,546,567 units valued at $314,956,099 compared to 3,999,238 units valued at $59,651,337 at the close on Wednesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 133,258 units valued at US$44,491.
The All Jamaica Composite Index shed 900.51 points to close at 249,435.64 the JSE Market Index fell 820.47 points to finish at 227,264.13 and the JSE US dollar market index lost 2.74 points to close at 216.26.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 464,688 units valued at $11,665,041 for each security traded compared to an average of 159,970 units valued at $2,364,549 for each security traded, on Wednesday.
The average volume for the month to date ended at 482,551 units carrying an average value of $5,641,802 versus 484,175 units valued at $5,094,235 for each security on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for March ended at 549,909 units and $1,379,459.In market activity, Barita Investments rose 10 cents to close at $7.10 with trades of 1,360 units, Berger Paints closed at $14, gaining 7 cents while trading 64,890 shares, Cable and Wireless closed at $1.36, added 1 cent with an exchange of 88,650 shares, Caribbean Cement traded 30,875 units at $32. Carreras closed at $74.01, after rising 1 cent in exchanging 281,265 shares, Grace Kennedy jumped $2.50 and closed at $44.50, trading 131,680 units, Jamaica Broilers closed 11 cents higher to $16.91 with 1,514,601 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers closed at $15.50, with an addition of 9 cents, exchanging 133,019 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 5 cents to close at $7.95, with 55,514 shares changing hands. JMMB Group closed 2 cents higher to $19, trading of 65,550 units, Kingston Wharves gained 1 cent to close at $31.01 trading 20,146 units,
Mayberry Investments lost 15 cents to close at $4.55 exchanging 1,020 shares, NCB Financial Group traded $5 lower to close at $65, with 1,133,567 shares changing hands, 1834 Investments closed at $1.48, losing 2 cents with an exchange of 3,729 shares, PanJam Investment traded 63,059 shares at $35. Portland JSX rose 20 cents, to close at $10.20, with 26,113 units being exchanged, Pulse Investments closed 5 cents higher to $8.05 trading 2,000 shares, Radio Jamaica gained 11 cents to close at $1.76 with trades of 5,567,701 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $33.30, gaining 5 cents trading 2,201,519 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed at $10.05, with 10,181 shares traded, Salada Foods closed 15 cents lower at a new 52 weeks’ low of $6.90, with 450 shares changing owners, Scotia Group closed at $41.90, with gains of $1.90 exchanging 394,502 units, Scotia Investments closed at $37.01 trading 600,000 shares, Seprod traded 21,235 units at $35, Supreme Ventures shed 4 cents and closed at $6.11, exchanging 87,164 shares. Proven Investments closed at 30 US cents with trades of 126,928 ordinary shares, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% preference share lost $6.50 to close at $1,276.50 with an exchange of 45,277 units, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share traded at $1.05 with 1,500 units changing hands, and JMMB Group US 6% preference share closed at US$1.10 with trades of 6,330 units.
JSE majors slip on Monday
Carreras traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $60.75 on Monday
Trading ended on the Jamaica stock market with 10,283,114 units valued at $50,915,307 changing hands, in all market segments with 33 securities trading. The junior market accounted for 1,290,587 units, valued at $4,845,099. A total 11 stocks in the combined markets gained, 10 declined while 4 stocks closed at 52 weeks’ high and 1 traded at an intraday high.
138 Student Living had another day of with a large trade of 8,520,000 units at $4.50, valued at $38.34 million, much less than the 58,949,590 units valued at $265,273,155 traded on Friday.
At the close the JSE Market Index fell 38.30 points to 146,585.49, the all Jamaica Composite Index eased 42.80 points to end at 162,773.85 and the JSE combined index added 156.87 points to close at 153,500.13. The main market continues to face a test around the 165,000 points resistance level, on the all Jamaica composite index.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In trading, Cable and Wireless gained 1 cents with 77,265 units changing hands to close at $1.31, Caribbean Cement fell 33 cents to end at $17.87 with 16,000 shares changing hands, Carreras gained 75 cents, in closing at a new 52 weeks’ high of $60.75, with 42,612 units changing hands. Gleaner rose 8 cents with 8,320 units changing hands at $1.34, Grace Kennedy fell 12 cents, with 1,230 units changing hands, to finish at $79.88. Jamaica Broilers price jumped $1.86 to $10.50 with 19,726 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded 1,000 shares at $31.90, The Jamaica Stock Exchange share lost $2.25 with 28,610 units changing hands to close at $16.70, Kingston Wharves had trading in 9,509 shares at $11.35. Mayberry Investments had 65,011 shares trading 
at $4.35, for a loss of 35 cents, National Commercial Bank rose just 1 cent and ended at $39.01, with 29,432 units changing hands, Radio Jamaica traded 1,000 units early in the day at $2.25 and ended the day at $3 while 11,400 units changed hands. Sagicor Group closed with 61,827 units changing hands at $17.50, Salada Foods lost 51 cents in trading 51,562 shares at $8.50, Scotia Group declined by 1 cent with 8,741 shares changing hands at $30.98, Supreme Ventures rose 60 cents to end at $4.60, with 7,128 units changing hands and Proven Investments had 16,130 shares trading at 22 US cents, for a loss of 0.99 cents.
15 up 15 down on Tuesday
Scotia Group traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $30.99.
The JSE Market Index climbed 845.57 points to 144,204.52, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 944.97 points to end at 160,112.98 and the JSE combined index added 554.46 points to close at 150,449.78. Notwithstanding today’s gains, the main market faces the next test at 165,000 points level, on the all Jamaica composite index.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In trading, Berger Paints rose by 10 cents in trading 29,253 units at $3.40, Cable and Wireless fell 3 cents with only 138,174 units changing hands and closed at $1.30, Caribbean Cement fell 40 cents and closed trading at $18.20, with 10,731 shares changing hands.
Carreras rose $2.90 and closed at $59.90 with 26,654 units trading, Ciboney traded at 27 cents at the close with 114,749 units changing hands after rising 5 cents, Grace Kennedy gained $2.50 with 5,250 units changing hands, to finish at a 52 weeks’ high of $79, Jamaica Broilers fell 65 cents in trading 2,098,850 shares, to close at $9.25. Jamaica Producers was up 1 cent in trading 50,066 units at $28.01, Jamaica Stock Exchange shares rose by a cent in trading 19,449 units at $19 for a new closing 52 weeks’ high, Kingston Wharves saw trading in 100,000 shares at $11.50 as the price gained 30 cents, Mayberry Investments closed with 169,517 units changing hands at $4.70. National Commercial Bank rose 45 cents and ended at $38.50 with 153,879 units changing hands, Pan Jamaican Investment had 87,343 units changing hands at $93, with a rise of 90 cents, Pulse Investments traded 48,666 shares with the price climbing 20 cents to close at $2.50, Radio Jamaica lost 80 cents and landed at $3 with 1,000 shares trading. Sagicor Group with 113,949 units changing hands ended at $17, Salada Foods gained 21 cents and closed at $9.01 while trading 60,000 shares, Scotia Group jumped $1.50 with 217,472 shares changing hands and ended at $30. 
The banking group traded at an intraday high of $30.99, Scotia Investments dipped $1.05 with 1,000 units trading and closed at $28.95, Seprod traded 81,599 shares and lost 5 cents in closing at $20.50, Supreme Ventures fell 30 cents to end at $4.35 with 61,988 units changing hands. Proven Investments had 25,000 shares trading at 22.9 US cents, followed by Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share, enjoyed a good day of trading, with 808,320 units changing hands at $1.90 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share ended with 707,438 units changing hands at $2.89, with the price slipping a cent.
23 stocks rose on JSE Wednesday
Pan Jam closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $70 on Wednesday.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with the All Jamaican Index just under 3,000 points away from the old record 138,917.59 reached on 24th of January 2005. By the close 5 stocks ended trading at 52 weeks’ closing highs and 3 others traded during the day at intraday highs. A total of 23 stocks rose, with 4 declining as 34 securities, total ing 6,445,040 units valued at $52,398,293 changing hands, in all market segments.
The JSE Market Index shot up 1,005.41 points to 122,671.34, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 1,123.61 to end at 136,048.43 and the JSE combined index climbed 915.07, points to end at a new high of 127,267.35.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior
markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with offers that were lower.In trading, Cable and Wireless closed with a gain of 6 cents as 2,942,811 shares changed hands to end at 61 cents, Caribbean Cement gained $1.79 to end at $13.80 for a new 52 weeks’ closing high, with 28,042 shares changing hands. Carreras climbed 50 cents while trading 24,317 shares to end at $52.50, Desnoes & Geddes had 610,451 units changing hands, to close at $30, Grace Kennedy exchanged 31,258 shares at $64.56 to gain 31 cents, Jamaica Broilers rose 46 cents in trading 105,833 shares to close at $8. Jamaica Stock Exchange had 52,325 shares trading at $8.70 to gain 10 cents, JMMB Group gained 45 cents in trading 116,623 shares to close at $9.45, Kingston Wharves traded 21,168 shares and gained 5 cents to close at $9,
National Commercial Bank closed with a gain of 10 cents with 3,900 shares trading, to end at $31.60. Pan Jamaican jumped $5 in trading 31,149 shares to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high $70, Sagicor Group with 300,003 shares and closed 1 cent higher at $14.02, Salada Foods with 20,780 shares, closed 1 cents down at $8.50, Scotia Group ended with 338,961 shares trading at $26 after rising $1.49. Seprod traded 2,900 shares at $14.96 with a 46 cents gain, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 191,356 units with a gain of 2 cents, to end at all-time high of 25 US cents, Supreme Ventures gained 15 cents and ended at $3.75 with 43,770 units changing hands and Proven Investments Limited 8% preference share exchanged 130,000 units at $5.
JSE up but looks weak at close
Jamaica Stock Exchange Traded at a new high of $9 on Tuesday.
At the close, the JSE Market Index jumped 687.52 points to 101,415.34, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 768.46 points to close at 112,294.07 and the JSE combined index gained 530.40 points to end at 104,839.62.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading that was very negative with only of 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with offers that were lower.In trading, Cable and Wireless with 154,750 shares changing hands with a loss of 1 cent to end at 43 cents, Caribbean Cement had 50,227 units changing hands with a gain of 50 cents at $8, Carreras traded at $50 with 8,706 shares changing hands, Gleaner closed with 63,082 shares and fell 56 cents at $2.17. Grace Kennedy traded at $64 down $1 with 79,842 shares, Hardware & Lumber ended up at $17, after adding $1 with just 500 units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers traded at $6.05 with 8,300 shares changing ownership and lost 94 cents, Jamaica Producers traded at $18.40 with 4,198 shares changing ownership with a loss of 60 cents. JMMB Group traded 20,084 shares at $7.73 to lose 26 cents, with the company reporting strong increase in profit for the first quarter, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 70 cents up at a new high of $9 with only 9,990 shares changing hands. Mayberry Investments had 50,000 shares trading at $3.40, National Commercial Bank traded 62,888 shares at $30,
Palace Amusement gained $5 in trading 566 shares to end at $65, encouraged by the company reporting earnings of $26.56 per share for the year ended June. Pan Jamaican Investment closed at $62 after trading 27,303 shares to gain $1. Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 30 cents to close at $7.80 while trading 140,000 units, Salada Foods ended with 2,750 units trading at $8.50 with a loss of $1.90. Scotia Group traded 25,980 units to close at $24.50, up 50 cents, Supreme Ventures ended at $4.50, with 20,000 units to be up 50 cents but the bid at the end of the day was at $4 to sell 300,000 units and Proven Investments ordinary share traded 137,105 units at 19 US cents, up from 18.5 US cents.
Salada makes big recovery
Salada Foods reported recovery in profit in the March quarter, from increased sales of 78 percent, to hit $220 million, from a disastrous March 2014 quarter with sales of only $124 million.
The recovery is also from a very poor first quarter when a small loss was incurred. For the half year, the company reports profit of just $28.4 million from sales of $354.6 million. The company is reporting strong growth in exports for the year to date. Exports now accounts for 30 percent of sales compared to 18.4 percent in 2014, the company reported in its release with the financial data.
In 2014, sales amounted to $251.6 million, with profit of $28 million after tax. Profit for the March quarter amounted $29 million up from $9 million in 2014. Losses increased in the subsidiaries that in 2012 acquired Roberts’ brands and now processes products under that name, with minority shareholders picking up $3.2 million of the losses in 2015 versus $1 million in 2014 for the quarter and $5.2 million and $2 million for the six month’s respectively. Earnings per share ended at 31 cents for the quarter and 32 cents for the six months. 
Receivables which stood at $283 million is now down at $146 million but inventories shot up to $409 million from $227 million at September last year. Cash is now at $95 million and increase over September’s $75 million.
Salada produces the Mountain Peak coffee but also manufactures and sells a variety of beverage based products as well as jello and some other consumer products. The stock is listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and last traded at $9 and is one of the few stocks not to have participated in the ongoing market rally.
JSE to repeat today’s gains on Thursday
NCB closed at a new 52 weeks’ high on of $26.50 on Wednesday
The Investors Choice bid-offer Indicator shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with offers that were lower, in the main and junior markets. IC Indicator reading is suggesting that the number of trades on Thursday should see another day of many more stocks rising than falling.
Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in 23 securities changing hands and ending with 4,735,155 units trading, valued at $24,434,254, in all market segments. National Commercial Bank, closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $26.50 with 301,200 shares changing hands at 50 cents higher than on Tuesday and ahead of the company reporting six months results and dividend payment on Thursday.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 474.33 points to 86,299.76, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 530.32 points to close at 95,205.43 and the JSE combined index gained 446.19 points to close at 87,994.37.Cable & Wireless with 256,932 units traded at 52 cents and ended with the bid at 53 cents to buy 100,000 shares. Ciboney Group traded 2,000,000 shares at 6, Desnoes & Geddes gained 10 cents and traded 29,400 at $6 with an offer at $6.50 at the close. Grace Kennedy with 19,224 shares that traded closed at 90 cents higher at $63, Jamaica Broilers had 86,530 shares trading to close at $4.70,
JMMB Group traded 855,593 ordinary shares for 38 cents higher at $7.48. The stock had JMMB Securities on the offer selling 268,800 units at $7.48, 5000 units at $7.50 and 34,655 shares at $8.50 as the lowest offers posted at the end of trading.The broker posted small buy orders from $7.03 to $7.10. Victoria Mutual Wealth Management sold the bulk of the shares to trade with Sagiocr Investments being the major buyer of them.
Radio Jamaica traded 13,372 shares at $2 to gain 25 cents, Sagicor Group traded 66,350 shares
to close at $10.55 while gaining 10 cents in the process but traded as high as $10.75 before the close. Sagicor Real Estate X Fund had 529,519 units changing hands to close at $6.50, after shedding 25 cents. Salada Foods traded 35,480 at $9, Scotia Group saw 118,289 units, closing at $22, Supreme Ventures 19,900 units traded 4 cents higher at $2.84 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share, traded 317,331 units at $3.20 with an increase of 10 cents.
9 stocks down 8 up Tuesday
Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 8 stocks rising, 9 declining as 23 securities changed hands, ending in 2,465,588 units trading, valued at $17,727,553, in all market segments.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 511.59 points to 84,808.30, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 571.97 points to close at 93,537.92 and the JSE combined index declined by 441.31 points to close at 86,588.19.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 3 with offers that were lower.
Caribbean Cement traded 303,000 shares to close at $2.20 after losing 10 cents and trading as high as $2.30, at the close there were 885,782 shares on the bid to buy at $2.20. Carreras had 58,560 shares changing hands at $42, Gleaner Company traded 147,918 shares at 84 cents,
Jamaica Broilers Group had 370,909 units trading at the close at $4.50. JMMB Group, the holding company for Jamaica Money Market Brokers, traded 17,000 shares at 7.02 for a 3 cents loss but the stock closed with a bid to buy 10,851 shares at $7.48. National Commercial Bank traded 357,680 units while closing 25 cents higher at $25.50, but traded as low as $25.26 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share closed with 544,485 units trading at $3.10, down 10 cents.
Salada Foods traded just 5,000 shares but lost $1.30 in closing at $9, Scotia Investments traded 10,400 units to close 5o cents up at $23.50,
8 JSE stocks rise 4 down on Tuesday
Carreras closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $43 on Tuesday.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 136.66 points to 77,813.64, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 152.80 points to close at 85,717.56 and the JSE combined index declined by 61.43 points to close at 79,801.73.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless closing with 456,902 shares trading, rising 5 cents to 50 cents, after the parent company indicated that revenues climbed 27 percent in the December quarter for the Jamaican subsidiary. Carreras closed with 61,408 units and put on $1 to close at a new 52 weeks’ high of $43, Grace Kennedy ending trading with 16,643 shares and increased 5 cents to $60, National Commercial Bank closing with 12,697 shares while gaining 5 cents to $20.45, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished with 17,000 shares as the price jumped 5 cents to $6.70 and Scotia Investments in trading 7,733 shares, ended with an increase of 45 cents to $23.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Berger Paints trading as 3,000 shares changed hands at $1.56, Caribbean Cement finishing with 5,624 shares changing hands at $2.25, Kingston Wharves trading 239,137 shares and closed at $6. Palace Amusement finished with 3,000 units trading at $66, Pan Jamaican Investment closed with 9,450 units at $53 and Sagicor Group ending trading with 16,470 shares changing hands at $10.25.Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Broilers closing with 37,000 shares, 14 cents lower to $4.05. Proven Investments ending trading with just 1,548 shares, 1.02 cents down to 20 US cents, Salada Foods closing with just 100 units to fall 9 cents to $10.30 and Scotia Group finishing with 15,656 units with a 15 cents decline to $20.35.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share closed with 778,511 units trading at $2.