Tuesday, 2nd July 2013 | The junior market that has been on a bull run from April closed today at a new all-time high of 812.02 as the index surpassed the previous all-time high of 811 points that was established on November 9, 2011. This market has gained 25 percent this year rising from 647.78 points as the three Lasco companies posted almost daily new highs since they announced a 10 for 1 stock split and released full year results at the start of June.

The main market broke its losing streak with a rise in the main indices with the all Jamaican Index gaining 951.70 points to close at 88,893.96 ad the Jamaica Stock Exchange index closing at 87,337.26, up 540.59 on the day.

Although all of the indices with stocks trading rose today, the advance decline ratio was just able to remain positive as 9 stocks gained to 6 that declined as trading levels declined sharply from Monday. Trading took place with 2.43 million shares as investors expended only $15.4 million, well down on Monday’s trading. Only one stock, Lasco Distributors, closed with the last traded price reaching an all-time record at the close.

Main Market | Carreras shares hit $56.04 by gaining $3.04 as just 4,430 units valued at $240,815 traded, Grace closed up 35 cents to  end the day at $60.35, a mere 1,240 units shifted hands, Sagicor Life traded 563,672 units valued at $5 million as the price moved up 63 cents to close at $9. Scotia Group traded 147,000 units, valued at $3.1 million and gained one cent in the process. Scotia Investment lost $1.40 in closing at $26.10 with 10,100 shares.

Like Monday, the supply of Cable & Wireless on offer at 15 cents fell a bit more to 29.4 million shares with 557,000 units trading at 14 cents. The bid to buy 4.79 million RJR shares still stands at $1.23 with no supply at hand.

Junior market | Seven junior market stocks traded with Lasco Financial at $12.10, down 60 cents, with 170,000 shares trading between $12.10 and $13. Lasco Manufacturing traded 5,000 shares with the price closing at $16. Lasco Distributors, closed at $18 but only 3,200 units traded between $16.50 and $18. General Accident traded 399,554 shares and the price closed at $2 and Caribbean Producers closed at $2.02 in trading 240,606 units. Blue Power closed at $10.40, down 60 cents, with 37,283 units but there were offers amounting to 332,000 units at $10.40 to $10.50 at the end of trading.

The junior market is in a golden cross as the 50-day and 120-day moving averages trend-lines have crossed over the 200-day moving average. This is a strong market signal for a major move in the months ahead.

IC bid-offer Indicator | At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer market sentiment indicator shows that bids for 5 stocks were higher with 3 stocks having offers lower than their last selling price.

Monday, 1st July 2013 | While the junior market index continues to advance towards the all-time high of 811 points, the main market indices fell moderately as investors try to find acceptable prices to execute trades.

Based on the recent rise in the prices of many stocks, it’s hard to see how this stalemate will change in the short term without new information to entice investors to view stocks as attractive to acquire now, rather than later. Although the majority of the indices fell today, the advance decline ratio was just able to remain positive as 8 stocks gained to 7 that declined. Trading levels of 4.7 million shares was half of Friday’s, but even less was expended as only $38 million traded compared to $116.17 million invested on Friday. Three stocks closed with the last selling price reaching an all-time record. These are Blue Power at $11, Lasco Distributors at $16 and Lasco manufacturing at $16.

Carreras shares gained 27 cents to $52 as just 9,096 units valued at $482,000 traded, JMMB closed up 50 cents as Scotia Investment bought the bulk of the 1,093 million units that traded, with the stock closing at $8.50. Active offers for JMMB is now at $9.25 an indication that the supply at recent market prices is drying up, but investors may well sell below this price as there is a big gap between bids of $7.72 and offers prices.  Sagicor Life traded 248,000 units valued at $2 million as the price slipped back by 18 cents. Scotia Group traded 176,000 units, valued at $3.7 million and lost 31 cents in the process.

The supply of Cable & Wireless share on offer at 15 cents fell below the 30 million mark at the end of trading as the amount offered is now at 29.88 million units. RJR has a bid of $1.23 to buy 4.79 million shares as this stock has had a fair volume of trading recently.

Junior market | Eight junior market stocks traded as Lasco Financial, continuing to respond to the 10 to 1 stock split, closed at $12.70 down 30 cents on Friday’s last traded price with 101,185 shares trading between $12.60 and $13. Lasco Manufacturing also responding to the announced stock split, traded over 736,000 shares, closing at $16 up by 40 cents with $11.66 million invested, while Lasco Distributors closed at $16 after trading at a record high of $16.50 with only 206,408 units valued at $3.37 million trading. Caribbean Cream traded down 15 cents to close at $1.05 with 350,000 units changing hands. Blue Power closed at $11 up $1 on the last selling price with 38,000 units but the offer was for 303,000 units at $10.50 at the end of trading. AMG packaging traded 27,800 shares at $4.20.

IC bid-offer Indicator | At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer market sentiment indicator shows that bids for 3 stocks were higher with 1 stock having an offer lower than the last selling price.