The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Friday with 24 stocks rising, 6 declining as 39 securities, totalling 3,992,906 units valued at $54,025,781 changed hands, in all market segments. A total of 9 stocks ended at 52 weeks’ closing highs as the market closes on a another record for the all Jamaica Index.
The JSE Market Index shot up 952.69 points to 123,979.42, a new closing high. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 1,064.69 to end at 137,510.28 and is 1,400 points away from the old record of 138,917.59 set on 24th of January 2005 and the JSE combined index climbed 1,055.98, points to end at a new closing high of 128,758.68.
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 2 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless closed with a gain of 15 cents as with only 5,850 shares changed hands to end at 52 weeks’ high of 82 cents. Trading in the stock was suspended for an hour as the trade was executed at a price in excess of 15 per cent from the closing price on Thursday. Attempts were made to trade as high as $1 but those trades were cancelled, being over maximum 30 percent from the opening price permitted. Investors were responding to the news that Liberty Global Media planned on making a bid to acquire Cable and Wireless’ parent company. The stock closed with over 5.1 million shares on the bid at 82 cents and three offers amounting to 40,000 shares between $1.20 and $1.70 and at 2.66 million units at $3.75.
Caribbean Cement gained 82 cents to end at $15 for a new 52 weeks’ closing high, with 68,800 shares changing hands. The company reported earnings of 72 cents for the September quarter and $1.75 for the nine months and should enjoy another week of gains come next week. Cement closed with only three lots being offered amounting to 83,500 shares between $16.50 and $17. Carreras traded 242,083 shares to end at $52, Desnoes & Geddes had 177,539 units changing hands to close at $30, Grace Kennedy exchanged 1,621 shares at $65.10 and gained 35 cents, Jamaica Broilers added 70 cents in trading 625,083 shares to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $8.50. Jamaica Stock Exchange had 10,000 shares trading at $9.15 while the price rose 45 cents for a 52 weeks’ high, JMMB Group lost 10 cents in trading 220,241 shares to close at $9.90. Kingston Wharves traded 32,278 shares to close at $9, Mayberry Investments traded 17,435 shares and gained 14 cents to end at $3, National Commercial Bank closed with a gain of $1 with 290,955 shares trading to end at $32. Pan Jamaican price jumped $2 in trading 95,000 shares to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $75, Sagicor Group with 73,795 shares closed 25 cents up, to $14.50. Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 5,000 units but the price gained 5 cents to close at $8.15 and closed with a bid to buy 100,000 units at $9.20 and with only two offers posted with one at $10 to sell 16,000 units and 19,000 at $11, Scotia Group ended with 48,410 shares trading at $24.76 after falling 25 cents. Scotia Investments ended with 5,290 shares trading at $27 after adding $1, Supreme Ventures ended at $3.90 with 205,516 units changing hands. Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 324,850 units at $2 and Proven Investments preference share traded 179,500 units and gained 5 cents to end at of $5.05.