day’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 11 stocks rising and 7 declining as 30 securities changed hands, ending in 1,626,438 units trading, valued at only $4,460,185, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 18 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower. With this being the final trading day for the year, the high levels of higher bids may be due to portfolio managers trying to influence year-end values for their portfolios. The numbers have been rising, with the day before Christmas having a reading of 9 to 4, followed by Monday with 10 to 2 and Tuesday 14 to 2. This is a development worth watching, to see if it carries over with a strong reading into 2015.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 375.48 points to 76,353.39, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 419.80 points to close at 84,084.94 and the JSE combined index gained declined by 322.23 points to close at 78,223.45. The market closed out 2014 with the all Jamaica rising by 2.7 percent for the year, the JSE composite is down 5.3 percent and the junior market 9.2 percent.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Barita Investments concluded trading with 18,000 shares changing hands to close with a gain of 7 cents at $2.25. Berger Paints ended with 16,000 shares trading with a gain of 15 cents to a new 52 weeks’ high of $2, Jamaica Broilers finished with 5,000 shares trading with a gain of 3 cents to $4.04, Jamaica Producers ended with 30,000 shares changing hands to close 25 cents higher at $17.50, Mayberry Investments finished trading with 1,020 shares changing hands to close 2 cents up to $1.52, Proven Investments concluded trading with 35,639 ordinary shares changing hands and increased in price by 0.23 cents to close at 19 US cents, Sagicor Group ended with 41,000 shares with the price rising 25 cents to $10.25 and Supreme Ventures ended trading with 48,400 shares trading with a gain of 10 cents to $2.
Berger closed up 15 cents or 8% to $2, with no stock on offer at the end of trading
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras closed with a loss of 41 cents white trading 10,500 shares to close at $36.40, Desnoes & Geddes ended with 51,900 shares changing hands to close 5 cent down at $4.95, Grace Kennedy closed with 500 units, the price slipped $2 to $61, Pan Jamaican Investment finished with 433 units trading as the price slipped 95 cents $59 and Scotia Group closed the year with 800 shares trading lower by 39 cents to $20.01.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share finished with 428 units trading at $2 and Proven Investments 8% preference share ended with 41,011 shares changing hands to close at $5.10.
