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.
Drop in Junior Market volume – Tuesday
NCB & Berger could break out soon
NCB Financial Group’s shares looks like they could break into the $70 range soon.
is another stock worth watching with IC Insider.com upgrading earnings for the 2018 fiscal year starting April, to $1.90 from $1.60 previously used and 2017 earnings to $1.30 from $1.10. Berger ended the previous week with a last sale price of $12.20 but moved up by the end of the week to $14, closing with an offer of 1,453 units at $15 while 22,600 units are on the bid at $13.55.
The average PE ratio of both markets are currently at an average of 12, based on this year’s estimated. At the close of the markets on Thursday, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks continue to trade at an average discount of just under 40 percent to the Junior Market average, those in the main market are trading just below 50 percent discount, leaving several stocks with good room for growth for the rest of the year.Release of 2017 first quarter results will be important in determining if the steep price discount will continue for much longer, or whether the historical May syndrome of reduced market interest came early this year and last until summer or after, similar to 2016.
Overall bid volumes for junior market stocks remained low at the close of the past week continuing the low levels at the close of the week before.
Caribbean Cement continues to trade with a heavy downside bias notwithstanding the rise in price for the week to $32, with last year’s first quarter results dated April 20, this year’s results could be out in the coming week and provide direction for the stock. JMMB Group’s buying interest is at $18.10 for 2,073 units on the bid and 409,862 units offered at $18.40, NCB Financial Group traded on Thursday at a new record high of $66.90 before pulling back to $65 at the close, supply seems low and could help the price move up ahead of second quarter results, that should be out before month end. The stock also traded at a new high in Trinidad this past week. Pulse Investments has offers to sell 245,639 units at $8 with buying at $7 for 1,000 shares, the same as for the prior week. Radio Jamaica bid is at $1.60 to buy 279,561 units with 100,940 units on offer at $1.75 and Scotia Investments closed the week with only 550 units on the bid to buy at $37 and 4,180 units offered at $39.40.
Juniors make up lost ground on Thursday
Paramount Trading closed trading on Thursday slightly down after the company posted lower 9 months profits but closed the day a sJunior Market leader.
The market closed with 2,378,976 units valued at 9,310,238 passing through the market, compared to 2,733,389 units valued at $13,356,399 that were traded on Wednesday. At the close, with 23 securities changing hands, compared to 18 on Wednesday with 8 advancing and 8 declining.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 103,434 units for an average value of $404,793 traded, compared to 151,855 units for an average value of $742,022 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date is 256,913 units and $1,755,753. The average volume and value for the month to the previous trading day ended at 276,098 units and $1,924,623. 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 5 ending with lower offers, than the last traded price.
At the close of the market on Thursday, Access Financial Services rose 75 cents to $35 in trading traded 5,000 units AMG Packaging closed at $5.49 with 21,715 units changing hands, CAC 2000 lost 10 cents and closed at $7.35 with 3,500 shares trading Caribbean Cream traded 21,900 units to end at $7.30, Caribbean Flavours loss 50 cents in trading 11,640 units to end at $12.50 Caribbean Producers gained 5 cents and closed trading with 56,930 units at $3.75, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 34 cents with 756,918 shares changing hands, to close at $2.66, C2W Music closed trading with 15,000 shares at 33 cents, Derrimon Trading had 97,206 units changing hands to close with a loss of 20 cents at $8.50. Dolphin Cove ended at $20.06 with 2,473 shares trading, Honey Bun had 8,500 shares changing hands to close with a rise of 5 cents to end at $7.25, ISP Finance fell 15 cents to end at $15.50 with 10,000 units. Jamaican Teas price was adjusted to reflect the 2 for 1 split approved at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, but no trading took place as bids were well ahead of the closing prices on Thursday. 
Jetcon Corporation rose 30 cents to end at $11.80 with 4,237 shares traded, KLE Group ended at $2.70 with 64,129 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express traded 261 shares to close at $40.95 after gaining 75 cents, Lasco Distributors added 45 cents and ended with 45,430 units trading at $6.70, Lasco Financial gained 30 cents and ended with 85,273 shares changing hands at $4, Lasco Manufacturing fell 38 cents to close with 60,000 units changing hands at $5, Main Event fell 7 cents trading 48,149 shares at $5.73, Medical Disposables closed trading with 8,039 shares and lost 15 cents to end at $5.85 and Paramount Trading lost 4 cents and closed at $3.55 with 1,012,987 units trading, this after the company reported lower profit for the third consecutive quarter than in the previous year and tTech traded 12,489 shares to end at $7.15.
Eppley leaps $7.10 but – Wednesday
Stock market reports showed Eppley ordinary share leaping $7.10 to a record high of $12. The stock could not officially trade there as it exceeded the 30 percent limit in a day.
The highest price the stock could trade is $11.44, based on the closing bid of $8.80 on Tuesday. At the close the trade of 2,000 shares was cancelled but the Jamaica Stock Exchange closing report shows the stock trading at $12.
If the trade had taken place it would be the first time the stock is trading after its 150 to 1 stock split last year.
The Junior Market index lost 48.09 points, to end at 2,986.14 as falls in heavily weighted Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing fell sharply, contributing to most of the loss. The market closed with 2,733,389 units valued at $13,356,398.76 passing through the market, compared to 1,567,458 units valued at $8,519,094 that were traded on Tuesday. At the close, with 18 securities changing hands, the same number as on Tuesday with 6 advancing and 8 declining.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 151,855 units for an average value of $742,022 traded, compared to 87,081 units for an average value of $473,283 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date is 276,098 units and $1,924,623. The average volume and value for the month to the previous trading day ended at 293,848 units and $2,093,565. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 6 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 2 ending with lower offers, than the last traded price.
At the close of the market on Wednesday, AMG Packaging fell 6 cents to close at $5.49 with 35,849 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream traded 24,880 units to end at $7.30, Caribbean Producers fell 5 cents and closed trading with 26,720 units at $3.70, Consolidated Bakeries gained 5 cents with 205,000 shares changing hands, to close at $3, Derrimon Trading had 9,600 units changing hands to close at $8.70. Dolphin Cove ended at $20.06 with 4,985 shares trading after rising 6 cents, General Accident gained 10 cents and closed trading with 300,000 shares at $3.15, Honey Bun had 69,115 shares changing hands to close with a loss of 30 cent to end at $7.20, ISP Finance traded at a new high of $17 and rising 15 cents for the day, to end at a record closing high of $15.65. .
Jamaican Teas fell 25 cents in trading 230,153 shares to close at $7.50, the stock trade ex-split on Thursday, to accommodate the 2 for 1 split approved at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday. Jetcon Corporation dropped 40 cents to end at $11.50 with 13,403 shares traded, Lasco Distributors fell 55 cents and ended with 30,600 units trading, to close at $6.25, Lasco Financial ended with 6,000 shares changing hands at $4, Lasco Manufacturing fell 38 cents to close with 1,677,200 units changing hands at $4.60, Main Event rose 7 cents trading 42,410 shares at $5.80, Medical Disposables closed trading with 215 shares and rose 50 cents to end at $6 and Paramount Trading closed at $3.59 with 42,600 units trading and tTech traded 10,000 shares but fell 35 cents to end at $7.15.
Another big Lasco trade – Monday
Lasco Distributors dominated trading on Monday with 9m shares.
The market closed with 9,177,959 units valued at $63,684,987 passing through the market, compared to 5,586,153 units valued at $33,901,745 that were traded on Friday. At the close, with 21 securities changing hands, up from 19 on Friday with 6 advancing and 7 declining.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 437,046 units for an average value of $3,032,618 traded, compared to 294,008 units for an average value of $1,784,302 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date is 328,309 units and $2,363,612.
The average volume and value for the month to the previous trading day ended at 306,561 units and $2,229,811. 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 1 ending with a lower offer, than the last traded price.
At the close of the market on Monday, AMG Packaging gained 30 cents to close at $5.80 with 800 units changing hands, Blue Power traded 1,000 units to close at $35, Cargo Handlers traded 2,630 shares to end at $21, Caribbean Cream traded 20,100 units to end at $7.30, Consolidated Bakeries lost 1 cent with 4,500 shares changing hands, to close at $2.91, Derrimon Trading had 24,868 units changing hands to close at $8.70, Dolphin Cove ended at $20 with 1,000 shares trading, General Accident fell 10 cents and closed trading with 3,000 shares at $3.05, Honey Bun had 14,265 shares changing hands to close with a gain of 19 cents at $7.49, Jamaican Teas traded 28,071 shares to close at $7.40, Jetcon Corporation lost 35 cents to end at $11.50 with 1,000 shares traded, KLE Group traded 17,182 shares and fell 50 cents in closing at $3,
Knutsford Express traded just 2,537 shares and gained $1 in closing at $41, Lasco Distributors gained 5 cents and ended with 8,934,455 units trading to close at $6.85, Lasco Financial shed 5 cents and ended with 83,990 shares changing hands at $3.80, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 10,755 units changing hands at $4.99, Main Event rose 3 cents trading 200 shares at $5.23, Medical Disposables closed trading with 10,500 shares at $6, Paramount Trading closed with a loss of 10 cents to end a $3.60 with 600 units trading, tTech trade 1,500 shares and gained 50 cents to end at $7.50 and Derrimon Trading preference share fell 6 cents and ended with 15,000 units changing hands to close at $2.05.
TOP 10 selling at steep discount
I$P hits a new high on Friday.
The PE ratio of both markets are currently at an average of 12 based on this year’s estimated earnings.
During the past week ISP Finance hit a new high of $15.50 up from $12.50 at the close of the previous week to gain 24 percent for the week and 675 percent since it was listed just over a year ago, and is now out of the TOP 10. The company reported earnings of 46 cents per share for the year to December 2016 with management suggesting growth in business in the order of 30 to 40 percent for the current year, that should lift earnings sharply.
Blue Power was eased out of the Top list for Juniors with Lasco Financial moving in to occupy the tenth spot, this past week. Access Finance that ended the previous week with the bid at $39, traded to end the past week at $34.25 to be back in the list.Overall bid volumes for junior and main market stocks remain low with the only one of the Top 10 stocks with a sizeable volume on the bid for junior stocks being Key Insurance, with 172,600 units on the bid at $2.50 which is well below the last traded price of $3. Lasco Distributors is next with 37,012 units on the bid at $6.61 and a last sale of $7.30. Blue Power has 17,856 units on the bid at $35 without any stocks on offer.
In the Main market, Barita Investments has limited buying interest at the current price with just 100 units on the bid at $6.86 and just 9,200 units on the offer at $7.70, this represents quite some change form the week past when the offers were at $7, which were taken out by buyers.Berger Paints ended with 2,500 units on the bid at $12.20 with 4,243 on offer at $12.30. Caribbean Cement’s weak demand continues in the mid-thirty dollar range, with the stock closing with only 2,340 units on the bid to buy at $31.50 while offers are at $32 to sell 53,579 units. JMMB Group’s buying is at $18.55 for 3,200 units on the bid and only 300 units offered at $18.98, Pulse Investments has offers for 245,639 units at $8 and buying at $7 for 1,000 shares while Radio Jamaica bid is at $1.60 to buy 280,761 units with 36,513 units on offer at $1.80 and Scotia Investments closed the week with 38,000 units on the bid to buy at $39.20 and 4,180 units offered at $39.40.
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
Lasco Distributors dominated trading on 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.
Berger returns Access out of Top 10
.
The top main market stocks now sells at a 50 percent discount to the average main market stocks and is lower than the 40 percent discount of stocks in the junior market. During the past week ISP Finance hit a new high of $12.50 up from $12.25 at the close of the previous week, the stock still sits high on the list at number 4.
Top 10 junior stocks are trading at a 40 percent discount to the average of the junior market, at the close of the week.
After dropping out of the TOP 10 for the last week Lasco Distributors returned during the end of past week while Lasco Financial Services that entered the list for the start of the past week has been squeezed out with prices declining elsewhere and Access Finance ending the week with the bid of 1,500 shares at $39, to be out of the top listing and Blue Power closing the week at $35 is back in the list. Overall bid volumes for junior and main market stocks remain low with the only ones of the Top 10 with decent volumes on the bid for junior stocks being Caribbean Producers with 60,712 units on the bid at $3.75, General Accident with 53,426 units at $3 and Medical Disposables with 103,417 units with the bid price ending at $6. Offers that are well about the bid volumes include AMG Packaging with an offer to sell 99,723 units at $5.95, Jetcon Corporation with 435,207 units at $12.99 and Lasco Distributors with 973,036 units at $6.70.
In the Main market, Barita Investments has limited buying interest at the current price with just 447 units on the bid at $6.85 and 28,224 units on the offer at $7. Berger Paints ended with 237 units on the bid at $12 with 49,894 on offer at $12.01. Carreras currently, has 38,619 shares on offer at $74 and buying of 3,000 shares at $73.95. Caribbean Cement’s weak demand continues in the mid-thirty dollar range, with the stock closing with only 2,340 units on the bid to buy at $31.50 while offers are at $32 to sell 53,579 units. JMMB Group’s buying is at $16.30 for 50,000 units on the bid and only 100 units offered at $18.24, Pulse Investments has offers for 150,000 units at $8 and buying at $7 for 1,005 shares.Price movements continued be a bit volatile as buy and sell orders remain thin for several stocks. With little new news to come until a flood of first quarter results start to flow volatility in May, is likely to continue for a few weeks and this could provide patient investors with some good entry points.
