Major moves in the past week in the main market indices of the Jamaica Stock Exchange saw the market indices climbing sharply on three days, with more than 8,000 points on Thursday, more than 5,000 points move on Tuesday and one with over 2,300 points on Monday.
By the close on Friday, the market rose more than 7 percent in the week.
Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped sharply during the week by 140 percent, to $13.50 and joined Cargo Handlers, Kingston Wharves and Jamaica Producers with PE in excess of 30 times 2017 projected earnings. During the past week of rapid gains in some stocks, Radio Jamaica, Barita Investments, JMMB Group, Berger Paints and Scotia Investments all 
recorded gains during the week, with each hitting new 52 weeks’ highs.
The week closed with the full slate of stocks remaining in the IS Insider’s TOP 10. During the week Pulse Investments released quarterly results to December, with slightly lower profit for the quarter than in 2015 but with improved six months numbers over 2015.
The target PE used in the projecting prices is based on the market’s PE for 2016 earnings, for 12 stocks in the junior market and 11 in the main market that are selling around this level, with some well over.
Jamaican stocks hit new highs – Friday
Bulls pushed stocks higher on Friday, with the all market indices moving to new record highs on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with 56 securities changing hands in the overall market ending with 25 stocks rising and 13 falling.
The market closed Friday, with 10 stocks gaining and 4 declining coming from the junior market as 6 securities ending at new 52 weeks’ closing highs.
The All Jamaica Composite Index rose 646.51 points to close at record 257,395.71, the JSE Market Index gained 578.09 points to finish at record close of 234,532.02 and the JSE combined index climbed 740.72 points, to close at new closing high of 249,735.10. The movement of the main market, for the year to date, resulted to gains of 22.5 percent, for the all Jamaica Composite Index, with the JSE Market Index up 22 percent. The moves in the indices are subject to change as the stock exchange daily postings indicate that there are errors in the reports since the new trading system was activated on Monday.
At the close, 23,308,737 units valued at $169,240,005 changed hands, compared to 13,502,301 units valued at $146,199,269 changing hands on Thursday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 18,452,895 units valued at over $81,504,636.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 116,707 shares compared to an average of 200,657 units on Thursday. For the month to date, an average of 152,563 shares compared to an average of 188,419 units up to the prior trading day. January ended with an average of 592,602 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints traded 9,118 shares at $12, Cable and Wireless gained 11 cents to close at $1.25 trading 594,541 units, Caribbean Cement closed at $33, gaining $1 with an exchange of 34,000 shares. Carreras traded 21,609 units, gaining 1 cent and closed at $67, investors pushed 1834 Investments higher by 26 cents to $2.12 with 44,419 shares trading, Grace Kennedy closed at $40.65, gaining 65 cents with trades of 83,470 units. Jamaica Broilers closed at $16.25 with an exchange of 76,657 shares, Jamaica Producers declined by $1 to close at $20 with 168,659 units changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $13.50, gaining $2.90 with 132,518 shares traded,
Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $13.50.
Advancing stocks edge decliners on TTSE
Guardian Holdings closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $15.
The market’s activity resulted in 5 stocks advancing, 4 declining and 6 holding firm as 371,231 shares were exchanged at a value of $6,085,335 compared to Thursday’s 675,112 shares valued at $4,134,604.
The Composite Index climbed 1.60 points to 1,238.89 points, the All T&T Index advanced 3.00 points to 1,831.22 points and the Cross Listed Index added 0.02 points to 86.64.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 7 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Angostura Holdings gained 25 cents to close at $15 with 20,394 shares changing hands at a value of $305,910, Clico Investment added 5 cents and closed at $22.55 trading 237,147 units valued at $5,338,262, Guardian Holdings closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $15 with gains of 24 cents, exchanging 3,590 shares. National Enterprises gained 13 cents to close at $11 with 2,855 units exchanged and Trinidad Cement closed trading 1 cent higher to $4.16 with 4,454 shares changing owners.
Losses| Grace Kennedy lost 1 cent to close at $2.63 after trading 30,000 units,
One Caribbean Media closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $19.50, losing 40 cents trading 250 shares, Republic Financial Holdings closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $106.69, losing 5 cents with 206 units traded and Scotiabank exchanged 174 units, closing 5 cents lower to $58.70.Firm Trades| First Citizens closed trading at $32.50 with 50 units changing hands, First Caribbean International closed at $8.85 with trades of 100 shares, JMMB Group closed at $1.20 with an exchange of 1,000 units. Massy Holdings exchanged 758 units to close at $52, Sagicor Financial was unchanged at $9.30 with 3,253 shares changing hands and Scotia Investments held firm at $2.21 trading 67,000 units.
17 new highs for JSE stocks on Thursday
Scotia Group was one of 17 stocks to close at a 52 weeks’ high on Thursday.
The market closed Thursday, as 48 securities changed hands in the overall market, ending with 26 stocks rising and 12 falling, including 16 stocks gaining and 3 declining, in the junior market.
The All Jamaica Composite Index surged 7,266.97 points to close at record 256,749.20, the JSE Market Index jumped 6,497.96 points to finish at record close of 227,455.97 and the JSE combined index climbed sharply by 6,919.27 points, to close at new closing high of 248,994.38. The movement of the main market, for the year to date, resulted to gains of 22.2 percent, for the all Jamaica Composite Index, with the JSE Market Index up 18.7 percent. The moves in the indices are subject to change as the stock exchange daily postings indicate that there are errors in the reports since the new trading system was activated on Monday.
At the close, 13,502,301 units valued at $265,917,085 changed hands, compared to $146,199,269 units valued at $265,917,085 changing hands on Wednesday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 7,916,160 units valued at over $42,290,565.The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 200,657 shares compared to an average of 355,210 units on Wednesday. For the month to date, an average of 188,419 shares traded compared to an average of 176,182 units up to the prior trading day. January ended with an average of 592,602 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints advanced $1.75 to a new 52 weeks’ high of $12, while trading 6,101 shares, Cable and Wireless lost 3 cents to close at $1.14 with trades of 273,176 units, Caribbean Cement closed at $32 with an exchange of 124,119 shares. Carreras traded 18,307 units, gaining 24 cents and closed at $66.99, Investors pushed 1834 Investments up by 16 cents to close at $1.86 in trading 28,194 shares, Grace Kennedy closed at $40, in losing 65 cents with trades of 33,486 units. Jamaica Broilers gained 25 cents with an exchange of 21,495 shares to close at 52 weeks’ high of $16.25, Jamaica Producers advanced $1.50 to close at 52 weeks’ high of $21 with 37,466 units changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 60 cents to close at 52 weeks’ high of $10.60 with 21,813 shares traded. JMMB Group lost 1 cent to close at $19.99 with 61,718 units traded, Kingston Wharves closed at $30 with trades of 8,200 units, Mayberry Investments lost 10 cents to close at $5.80 with 251,786 shares changing hands,
Proven Investments traded at a new high on Thursday.
Trinidad Stock Exchange inching higher
Sagicor Financial closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $9.30 on the TTSE on Thursday.
Trading closed on Thursday after 675,112 shares were exchanged at a value of $4,134,604 compared to only 152,664 shares valued at $2,299,065 traded on Wednesday.
The Composite Index climbed 6.74 points to 1,237.29, the All T&T Index advanced 3.99 points to 1,828.22, still leaving it slightly lower that at the close of 2016 and the Cross Listed Index gained 1.30 points to 88.62 and is up 10.81 percent for 2017.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 6 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
Gains| First Citizens advanced 49 cents, closing at $32.50 with an exchange of 195 shares, First Caribbean International closed at a 52 weeks’ of $8.85, gaining 32 cents with 3,414 units changing hands, Guardian Holdings closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $14.76 with gains of 4 cents, trading 34,800 shares valued at $513,383. Massy Holdings gained 60 cents to close at $52 with 15,759 units being exchanged at a value of $819,389, Sagicor Financial closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $9.30, gaining 18 cents trading 193,132 shares at a value of $1,783,021 and Trinidad & Tobago NGL closed trading 10 cents higher to $22.75 with 3,408 shares changing hands.
Losses| Grace Kennedy lost 1 cent to close at $2.64 with 3,690 units exchanged, JMMB Group closed 5 cents lower to $1.20, trading 262,106 shares valued at $315,277, Unilever Caribbean dropped 50 cents to close at $58 with 54 units traded and West Indian Tobacco closed at $126.99, losing 1 cent with an exchange of 35 shares.Firm Trades| Ansa McAL closed trading at $66.45 with 19 units changing hands and National Commercial Bank remained at $3.60 with an exchange of 158,500 shares valued at $570,869, the stock closed with buying of 20,000 units at $4, the equivalent of J$75, the stock closed in Jamaica at J$64 on Thursday.
Profitable growth continues at Access
Access closed last traded at $30 on the junior market.
Profit for the nine months to December rose 67 percent to $494 million and should end up around $740 million for the full year or $2.75 per share.
Net operating income for the quarter ended December 2016 amounted to $378 million, an increase of $83 million, or approximately 28 percent, when compared to the corresponding 2015 period. For the nine months it moved from $917 million to $1.07 billion. Income from loans increased by $30 million or 10 percent to $312 million for the quarter and from $824 million to $931 million of the nine months for a 13 percent increase.
Operating expenses for the quarter, increased by only 4 percent or $8 million when compared to the corresponding period ended December 2015 as a result of an increase in staff cost and other operating expenses. The company recorded a reduction in provision for loan loss based on portfolio risk assessment which showed improved credit quality. For the nine months operating expenses fell to $526 from $581 as loan loss provisions drop sharply from $195 million to just $94 million in 2016. While other operating expenses grew from $145 million to $199 million.
The net loan portfolio continues to show growth, with an increase of $441 million or 20 percent for the quarter since December 2015 to $2.65 billion. The Asset base of the company grew by $443 million which represents an 18 percent increase over the comparative period.
Apology for JSE trade sheet
The Jamaica Stock Exchange has switched over trading to a new platform as of Monday. So far we have been unable to obtain the feed to be able to supply our trading sheet. Work is ongoing to get the system functioning.
The new system which was slated to have come on stream in October 2016 was challenging for user. In yesterday’s trading report that was first posted on the exchange’s website had a number of errors, which were later corrected. The initial data came from the new system and had to be manually corrected. Under the old system a stock could not trade over 30 percent in a day but the final trade sheet had Main Event trading at $2.61 when the maximum price should be $2.60.
The former system was compatible with Excel, the current one is not and currently is not a flexible either. A staff member of one of the brokerage house indicated that he spent a considerable amount of time identifying weaknesses in the system since the late last year, some of which are incorporated into the system.
26 JSE stocks rise & 11 fall – Wednesday
Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped to a 52 weeks’ high of $12 on Wednesday.
The market closed Wednesday, as 49 securities changed hands in the overall market, ending with 26 stocks rising and 11 falling, including 16 stocks gaining and 3 declining, in the junior market while 14 securities ended at new 52 weeks’ closing highs.
The All Jamaica Composite Index gained 714.88 points to close at record 249,482.23, the JSE Market Index rose 639.22 points to finish at record close of 227,455.97 and the JSE combined index increased by 601.83 points, to close at new closing high of 242,075.11. The movement of the main market, for the year to date, resulted to gains of 18.5 percent, for the all Jamaica Composite Index, with the JSE Market Index up 18.7 percent. The moves in the indices are subject to change as the stock exchange daily postings indicate that there are errors in the reports since the new trading system was activated on Monday.
At the close, 20,631,314 units valued at $265,917,085 changed hands, compared to 10,455,555 units valued at $80,043,145 changing hands on Tuesday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 11,553,647 units, valued at $90,755,608.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 355,210 shares compared to an average of 265,989 units on Tuesday. For the month to date, an average of 176,182 shares compared to an average of 188,966 units up to the prior trading day. January ended with an average of 592,602 units.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments gained 20 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.70 with trades of 5,000 units, Berger Paints slid $1.25 trading 12,851 shares to close at $10.25, Cable and Wireless traded 387,604 units, losing 2 cents to close at $1.17, Caribbean Cement closed at $32 with an exchange of 49,185 shares. Carreras traded 8,310 units, gaining 45 cents and closed at $66.75, investors pushed 1834 Investments 20 cents higher to close at $1.70 while trading 299,625 shares, Grace Kennedy closed at $40.65 with trades of 71,840 units. Jamaica Broilers advanced 50 cents trading 57,050 shares, to close at 52 weeks’ high of $16, Jamaica Producers gained $1, closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $19.50 with 83,700 units changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped to a 52 weeks’ high of $12 for a gain of $4 with 700 shares traded. JMMB Group climbed $2.20 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $20 with 2,713,535 units traded, Kingston Wharves fell to $30, losing $4 with trades of 6,829 units, Mayberry Investments exchanged 167,236 shares at $5.90, National Commercial Bank advanced $2.80, closing at $65, after swapping 11,046 shares.
Jamaica Broilers closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Wednesday
Gains topped declines on TTSE
Trading activities fell sharply on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday with just 7 securities trading compared to 10 on Tuesday. Stocks rising continues to dominate with mild movements in the indices at the close of the market.
Trading ended with 4 stocks advancing, 2 declining and 1 holding firm, resulting in 152,664 shares changing hands at a value of $2,299,065 compared to Tuesday’s 197,505 shares valued at $1,350,912.
The Composite Index gained 0.07 points to end at 1,230.55, the All T&T Index declined 1.52 points to 1,824.23 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.23 points to 85.32, to be up 9.15 percent for the year to date.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 8 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 9 with lower offers.
Gains| Guardian Holdings closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $14.72, gaining 11 cents with 22,086 shares changing hands at a value of $325,032, JMMB Group gained 5 cents to close at a 
52 weeks high of $1.25 with 45,434 units being exchanged. Scotiabank closed at $58.75 with a gain of 5 cents and 1,750 shares traded and Trinidad & Tobago NGL advanced 10 cents, closing at $22.65 with 775 shares changing hands.
Losses| Clico Investment lost 3 cents to close at $22.50 with 16,946 units exchanged at a value of $1,230,292 and First Citizens closed at $32.01, losing 49 cents with 16,946 shares traded at a value of $542,272.
Firm Trades| Scotia Investments held firm at $2.21 with an exchange of 11,000 shares.
Juniors break 3,000 points barrier – Tuesday
Knutsford Express traded $26 after rising $1.49.
The market closed ending with 3,635,936 units, valued at $9,626,139 passing through the market, compared to 871,696 units, valued at $5,334,946, on Monday. At the close, 7 stocks had bids higher than their last sale prices and 3 with a lower offer, than the last sale while 7 stocks closed at new 52 weeks’ high.
An average of 165,270 units with an average value of $437,552 traded, compared to of 58,113 units with an average value of $355,663 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 100,163 units and $477,950 compared to 83,886 units and $488,049 to the previous day. The average volume and value for January, ended at 165,547 units and $884,749.
At the close of trading, AMG Packaging rose $1 to close at $25 with 8,774 units changing hands after trading at a high for the day of $27.60, Blue Power closed with 894,181 shares changing hands at $50, CAC 2000 traded 869,262 shares and fell 10 cents to $6. Cargo Handlers climbed by $1 while trading 11,577 units, to close at 52 weeks’ high of $24, Caribbean Cream rose 35 cents in trading 3,150 units to end at $7.60, Caribbean Producers fell 10 cents in trading 18,050 units at $4.35, Consolidated Bakeries traded 65,346 shares with a rise of 20 cents, for a 52 weeks’ closing high $3.80. General Accident closed trading with 16,050 shares at while gaining 36 cents to end at a new high of $3.80 Honey Bun closed with 13,480 shares changing hands to end at $7.66, Jamaican Teas traded 13,751 shares to close at $9.50 after rising by 85 cents. Jetcon Corporation closed trading with 212,260 shares, to end at $10.50. Key Insurance traded 3,872 units to close at 52 weeks’ closing high of $3.70, after rising by 20 cents, KLE Group ended with 10,000 units changing hands at $3, 
The ttech team, from Left: Mr. Hugh Allen, Resolution Manager and Executive Director; Mrs. Natalya Petrekin, Service Desk
