Trading closed on Monday, with the Junior Market index dropping 17.31 points to 3,284.82 as the volume of stocks traded declined 46 percent and the value slipping by 30 percent from Friday activity at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market.
Market activity led to 36 securities trading up from 32 on Friday and ended with 11 rising, 18 declining and seven unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13. The PE ratio of each stock is shown in the chart below, is based on earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending up to August 2022.
Trading ended with 4,466,932 shares changing hands for $16,339,623 compared to 8,337,540 units at $23,193,961 on Friday. Lumber Depot led trading with 1 million shares for 22.5 percent of total volume, followed by Future Energy Source with 686,651 units for 15.4 percent of the day’s trade and Limners and Bards with 674,420 units for 15.1 percent market share.
Trading averaged 124,081 shares at $453,878 in contrast to 260,548 shares at $724,811 on Friday and month to date an average of 175,757 units at $604,034, compared to 179,215 units at $614,082 on Friday. September closed with an average of 207,032 units at $668,264.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial popped $2.45 to $19.70 with 3,000 shares clearing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dropped 9 cents to $1.70 after exchanging 20,015 stock units, Caribbean Cream shed 20 cents to close at $5.90 after trading 142 stocks. Caribbean Flavours gained 5 cents to $1.94 while exchanging 51,037 units, Derrimon Trading advanced 8 cents to $2.40, with 254,993 shares crossing the exchange, Elite Diagnostic rose 19 cents to $3.29 after 21,243 stocks crossed the market. Express Catering lost 33 cents to $5 in an exchange of 78,275 units, Fontana increased 10 cents to $6.49 with 24,636 stock units changing hands, Fosrich spiked 20 cents in closing at $8.50 in trading 503,233 shares. GWest Corporation declined 12 cents to 83 cents in exchanging 59,347 units, Honey Bun fell 20 cents to $8.40 after exchanging 21,848 stock units, iCreate fell 6 cents to 97 cents with 2,692 stocks changing hands. Jamaican Teas climbed 6 cents to $4.45 in switching ownership of 254,158 stock units, KLE Group rallied 15 cents to $1.35 with an exchange of 53,319 stocks, Knutsford Express lost 85 cents at $7.20 with the swapping of 218 units.
Lasco Distributors dropped 30 cents to $3.60 after trading 6,065 shares, Mailpac Group declined 5 cents to close at $3.74 in exchanging 368,586 shares, Medical Disposables spiked 24 cents in closing at $4.98 while exchanging 2,500 units. Stationery and Office Supplies shed 30 cents in ending at $6.10 after trading 2,000 stocks, Tropical Battery gained 5 cents to end at $1.29, with 247,329 stock units crossing the market and tTech fell 45 cents to $4.25 crossing in trading 1,550 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Archives for October 2021
Stocks break two weeks of decline
After two weeks of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market mostly falling on a daily basis, stocks enjoyed a big bounce in the market indices on Monday, after the volume of shares trading declined 28 percent and the value fell marginally below trading on Friday as rising stocks exceeded those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index spiked 3,121.23 points to 446,738.55, the Main Index climbed 2,672.56 points to close at 403,250.99 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.93 points to end at 97.44.
Trading ended with 46 securities down from 53 on Friday, with 15 rising, 12 declining and 19 ending unchanged. The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.7. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market quotes are based on earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with financial years ending between now and August 2022.
Trading garnered 7,105,920 shares for $99,181,702 versus 9,856,555 units at $101,827,766 on Friday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 30 percent of total volume in exchanging 2.13 million shares, followed by Jamaica Broilers 8.3 percent with 592,861 units and Caribbean Producers with 7.4 percent after 523,215 units changed hands.
Trading averages 154,477 units at $2,156,124, compared to 185,973 shares at $1,921,279 on Friday and month to date, an average of 228,041 units at $2,573,940 compared to 232,419 units at $2,598,803 on Friday. September closed with an average of 335,669 units at $7,507,404.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement declined $4 to end at $114.50 in switching ownership of 55,594 shares, Caribbean Producers gained 40 cents in closing at $7 in trading 523,215 stocks, Eppley slipped 45 cents to close at $36.55 with 100 stock units changing hands. GraceKennedy popped 50 cents to $100.55 in transferring 321,137 units, Guardian Holdings climbed $34 in ending at $549 with the swapping of 4,573 stock units, Jamaica Broilers shed 49 cents to close at $30.01 after trading 592,861 units. Jamaica Producers popped $3.35 to finish at $23.40 with 25,296 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 60 cents to $17.60 after an exchange of 6,638 stocks, JMMB Group rallied 25 cents to settle at $38.25 with 165,629 units clearing the market. Kingston Wharves slipped 25 cents to $43.10 with 9,491 stocks crossing the market, Margaritaville rose 59 cents to $14.89 in trading 726 shares, NCB Financial advanced $3.98 to $133.98 with an exchange of 39,845 stock units.
Sagicor Group rose 97 cents to $52.97 with 50,333 units crossing the exchange, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 50 cents to $8.50 in switching ownership of 2,542 shares, Seprod picked up 20 cents at $63.70 in an exchange of 10,581 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments fell 25 cents to $18.40 after 143,800 stocks crossed the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
US dollar index inches higher on Monday
Trading on Monday ended with the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar index advancing following a 10 percent decline in the volume of shares changing hands with 34 percent less value than on Friday and resulted in more stocks rising than falling.
Trading ended with nine securities changing hands, compared to eight on Friday, with four rising, two declining and three ending unchanged.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index gained 1.85 points to end at 196.42. The PE Ratio, a measure that is used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.1. The PE ratio is based on earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for each company, with the financial year ending between this year and August 2022.
Overall, 42,740 shares traded for US$8,819 compared to 47,580 units at US$13,316 on Friday. Trading averaged 4,749 units at US$980 compared to 5,948 shares at US$1,665 on Friday and the month to date averages 52,038 at US$4,624 versus 56,518 units at US$4,969 on Friday. September ended with an average of 853,681 units for US$132,197.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and two ended with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital US share gained half of a cent to end at 7 US cents with an exchange of 8,445 shares, after the stock traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of 6 cents. 
Margaritaville fell 0.4 of a cent to 9 US cents with 17,350 stocks passing through the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy remained at US$1 with the 25 stock units changing hands. Proven Investments settled at 23 US cents with 3,612 units traded, Credit Investments USD share advanced 0.34 of a cent to finish at 12.99 US cents with investors switching ownership of 4,126 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD rose 0.45 of a cent to 16.3 US cents with a transfer of 386 shares and Transjamaican Highway rallied 0.04 of a cent to close at 0.94 US cents with 3,697 units crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% finished at US$1.50 with 99 stocks traded and JMMB Group 6% fell 3 cents to US$1.02 with 5,000 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Declining stocks beat out gains on TTSE
Declining stocks had the upper hand over those rising on Monday, as twice more stocks declined than gained after 56 percent fewer shares traded, with 60 percent less value than on Friday, at the close of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.
At the close, 19 securities traded compared to 15 on Friday, with three stocks rising, six declining and ten remaining unchanged. The Composite Index dipped 2.23 points to 1,416.31, the All T&T Index declined 4.14 points to settle at 1,924.08 and the Cross-Listed Index slipped 0.03 points to 122.34.
A total of 55,762 shares traded for $1,511,531 versus 127,973 units at $3,782,974 on Friday. An average of 2,935 units traded at $79,554 compared to 8,532 at $252,198 on Friday, with trading month to date averaging 27,696 units at $255,310 versus 29,347t units at $272,331. The average trade for September amounts to 36,606 units at $425,940.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Agostini’s traded 6,765 shares at $24.50, Angostura Holdings lost 8 cents after ending at $17 in an exchange of 750 stocks, Ansa McAl remained at $57.50 with 4,900 units changing hands. Ansa Merchant Bank closed at $41 after 76 stock units crossed the exchange, Calypso Macro Investment Fund dropped 50 cents to $17 with the swapping of 13 stocks, Clico Investment Fund ended trading of 31 units at $26.79. First Citizens Group closed trading of 2,469 stock units at $50.70, GraceKennedy popped 5 cents to $6.35 after exchanging 20 shares, Guardian Media remained at $3.21 after 11,250 units crossed the market.
JMMB Group shed 1 cent to end at $2.24 with the swapping of 5,248 stocks, L.J. Williams B share fell 4 cents to $1.30, with 700 stock units clearing the market, Massy Holdings rose 35 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $85.35 while exchanging 2,263 shares. National Flour Mills declined 5 cents to $1.95 after an exchange of 240 stock units, NCB Financial Group ended at $8.15, with 2,981 shares changing hands, Point Lisas remained at $3 in exchanging seven stocks. Prestige Holdings inched 1 cent higher in closing at $7.01 after trading 28 units, Scotiabank remained at $62 in switching ownership of 3,820 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL shed $1.22 to end at $17.57 with the swapping of 150 units and West Indian Tobacco ended at $30.95 after 13,791 shares cleared the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
BOJ one year CDs 2.74%
Bank of Jamaica’s one-year CD offering of $4.5 billion on Thursday, October 21, ended with an average interest rate of 2.74 percent, much lower than the 4.53 percent the 30 days CD cleared at this past week.
The one year instrument attracted 107applications amounting to $15.88 billion, of which only 27 were successful. The highest bidding rate was 8.99 percent for $423 million, but the highest successful rate was 4.76 percent, resulting in 29.4 percent of the amount applied for being accepted by the Bank of Jamaica. The highest rate payable on the full amount of $140 million applied for was 4.5 percent, while the lowest rate applied for was 1.495 percent on $400 million.
The issue is likely to be regarded by the country’s central bank as highly successful. The success of the issue should result in more longer term offerings to lock up liquidity in the market on a longer term basis than the 30 days instruments that are more costly for the bank and more challenging to manage as they mature on a more frequent basis.
Jamaica is now seeing rising interest rates following the Central Bank’s decision in August to raise as a result of surging inflation. Following that decision, 30 day CD rates climbed sharply and the Bank raised its Overnight rate from 0.50 percent to 1.5 percent in September.
BOJ now paying more than 4.5% on CDs
Interest rates rose to 4.53 percent in the latest Bank of Jamaica 30 day CD offering of $9.5 billion on Wednesday this week, up from 4.17 percent on Wednesday, October 13 and ended with total CDs outstanding falling by $2 billion to $44.5 billion, but there are signs that rates may be peaking, at least for now.
Signs that the rates may be peaking for a while are visible by the decline in the highest bidding rates and the much larger sum applied for at the minimum rate compared to the previous auction. The highest rate payable on the CDs is 5.5 percent, while the lowest rate applied for was 3.75 percent for $2.5 billion, this contrast with the previous auction in which the lowest bid was just $58 million at 3 percent. The highest submitted bid rate came in at 7 percent and is down from 7.99 percent in the previous auction. The auction attracted $14.74 billion from 42 applications, with 24 being successful.
JSE US dollar market falters on Friday
Trading ended with the index slipping 3.44 points to end at 194.57 despite 23 percent more shares being traded on Friday than Thursday as investors exchanged 87 percent more money on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market as declining stocks just edged out those rising.
Trading ended with eight securities changing hands, compared to five on Thursday, with prices of two rising, three declining and three ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure that is used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.9. The PE ratio is based on earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for each company, with the financial year ending this year and up to July 2022.
Overall, 47,580 shares traded for US$13,316, versus 38,735 units at US$7,119 on Thursday. Trading averaged 5,948 units at US$1,665 compared to 7,747 shares at US$1,424 on Thursday and the month to date averages 56,518 at US$4,969 down from 61,168 units at US$5,273 on Thursday. September ended with an average of 853,681 units for US$132,197.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with a bid higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital US share declined by half a cent to 6.5 US cents with 9,364 shares changing hands, 
Margaritaville rose 0.4 of a cent to end at 9.4 US cents with an exchange of 8 stocks, Proven Investments remained at 23 US cents with 20,095 units changing hands. Sygnus Credit Investments USD settled at 12.65 US cents with investors switching ownership of 2,140 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share popped 1.35 cents to close at 15.85 US cents with 11,599 shares traded and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.05 of a cent to 0.9 US cents with 351 units crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% ended at US$2.02 with a transfer of 39 stocks and JMMB Group 5.75% dropped 22.5 cents to US$1.50 with 3,984 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Volume slips value rises on JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Friday, with the volume of shares trading declining moderately and the value of the trades rising 27 percent over that on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market resulting in an equal number of stocks advancing and declining stocks.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 82.69 points to close at 443,617.32, the JSE Main Index dived 2,627.64 points to 400,578.43 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.94 points to end at 96.51.
Trading ended with 53 securities down from 50 on Thursday, with 21 rising, 21 declining and 11 ending firm.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in the computation of appropriate stock values, averages 15.6. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with financial years ending between now and July 2022.
Trading ended with 9,856,555 shares changing hands for $101,827,766 versus 10,649,478 units at $80,317,054 on Thursday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 29.1 percent of total volume after a transfer of 2.87 million shares, followed by Pulse Investments 11 percent with 1.09 million units and JMMB Group 7.5% with 10.7 percent for an exchange of 1.05 million units.
Trading averages 185,973 units at $1,921,279, compared to 212,990 shares at $1,606,341 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 232,419 units at $2,598,803, compared to 235,838 units at $2,648,677 on Thursday. September closed with an average of 335,669 units at strong>$7,507,404.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close of trading, Berger Paints fell 33 cents to end at $14.50 with 187 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Producers fell 22 cents to $6.60 in exchanging 237,559 stock units, Ciboney Group dipped 22 cents in closing at 80 cents after 681,345 stocks cleared the market. Eppley advanced by $2 to close at $37 with the swapping of 711 units, GraceKennedy shed 95 cents to close at $100.05 with an exchange of 279,338 stock units, Guardian Holdings dived $58 to end at $515 in a transfer of 27,752 stocks. Jamaica Producers fell $1.95 to $20.05 in an exchange of 743,969 shares, JMMB Group spiked 50 cents to close at $38 with 232,367 units changing hands, Kingston Wharves popped 20 cents to settle at $43.35 in trading 16,925 shares. Margaritaville slipped 40 cents to $14.30 after exchanging 30 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 21 cents to close at $8.79 in switching ownership of 201 units, NCB Financial climbed $4 to $130 with an exchange of 16,063 stocks.
PanJam Investment rose 75 cents in closing at $64, with 11,021 units crossing the exchange, Portland JSX declined $2.70 to $7.50 in trading 5,400 stock units, Sagicor Group shed 97 cents in ending at $52 after an exchange of 48,753 stocks. Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 50 cents to close at $8 with the swapping of 20,200 shares, Seprod advanced $2.60 to $63.50 with a transfer of 4,291 stocks, Stanley Motta rallied 60 cents to $5.90 with the swapping of 8,215 stock units. Sterling Investments gained 20 cents to close at $3 in switching ownership of 18,739 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share shed 65 cents in closing at $7.60 after 245 shares crossed the market and JMMB Group 7.15% – due 2028 gained 25 cents to $3.35 in exchanging 764 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market back above 3,300 points but just
Trading closed on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 167 percent after the value increased 119 percent higher than on Thursday and leading the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange into a modest rally into the weekend to close above 3,300 points.
Market activity led to 32 securities trading compared to 35 on Thursday and ended with 14 rising, 12 declining and six, closing unchanged.
The Junior Market Index popped 16.19 points to settle at 3,302.13 but is down 23 points for the week. The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.3. The PE ratios stocks are shown in the chart below, based on earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between now and July 2022.
Trading ended with 8,337,540 shares changing hands for $23,193,961 versus 3,121,228 units at $10,611,834 on Thursday. Derrimon Trading led trading with 5.02 million shares for 60.2 percent of total volume, followed by Lumber Depot with 1.17 million units for 14 percent of the day’s trade and Fontana with 382,456 units for 4.6 percent market share.
Trading averaged 260,548 shares at $724,811 in contrast to 89,178 shares at $303,195 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 179,215 units at $614,082, compared to 174,072 units at $607,079 on Thursday. September closed with an average of 207,032 units at $668,264.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of trading, CAC 2000 fell $1.19 to $8.06 after trading 860 shares, Caribbean Cream climbed 55 cents to close at $6.10 in switching ownership of 4,566 stocks, Elite Diagnostic popped 14 cents to end at $3.10 with 785 stock units changing hands. Express Catering rallied 68 cents to $5.33, with 172,185 units crossing the exchange, Fontana shed 6 cents to $6.39 trading 382,456 units, Fosrich advanced 5 cents to $8.30 with the swapping of 2,145 shares. GWest Corporation inched 11 cents higher to 95 cents in trading 40,727 stock units, Honey Bun rose 10 cents to close at $8.60 after 1,262 stocks cleared the market with, iCreate gained 8 cents in closing at $1.03 in an exchange of 100 stocks. 
Knutsford Express lost 5 cents to end at $8.05 while exchanging 2,264 shares, Lasco Distributors popped 10 cents to $3.90 in exchanging 116,697 stock units, Main Event dipped 15 cents in ending at $3.88 with an exchange of 45,158 units. Stationery and Office Supplies rose 40 cents to $6.40 in exchanging 1,300 stocks and Tropical Battery declined 9 cents in closing at $1.24 after 107,202 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
TTSE volume rises market falls
Trading picked up Friday and resulted in 48 percent more shares, worth 55 percent more passing through the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange market than Thursday and ending with an equal number of stocks rising and falling at the close of trading.
Fifteen securities traded compared to 14 on Thursday, with four rising, four declining and seven remaining unchanged. The Composite Index dropped 4.43 
points to 1,418.54, the All T&T Index lost 8.56 points to settle at 1,928.22 and the Cross-Listed Index remained at 122.37.
Trading amassed 127,973 shares valued at $3,782,974 compared to 86,732 stock units at $2,133,308 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 8,532 units at $252,198 versus 6,195 at $152,379 on Thursday and month to date averaging 29,347 units at $272,331 versus 30,503 units at $273,449. The average trade for September amounts to 36,606 units at $425,940.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Angostura Holdings ended at $17.08, with an exchange of 506 shares, Ansa McAl advanced 37 cents to close at $57.50, trading 303 units, Clico Investment Fund traded 1,075 stocks at $26.79. First Citizens Group closed at $50.70, with 1,388 stock units crossing the market, Guardian Holdings fell $1.88 to $30.12 with the swapping of 3,990 shares, Massy Holdings ended at $85, with 18,089 stock units changing hands. 
National Enterprises remained at $3.25 after 12,328 stocks crossed the market, NCB Financial Group traded 45,576 units at $8.15, Point Lisas remained at $3 in exchanging 10,000 stocks. Prestige Holdings dipped 1 cent to $7 after trading 1,200 stock units, Republic Financial Holdings shed 3 cents ending at $135.70, with 5,571 units crossing the exchange, Scotiabank spiked 90 cents to $62 after exchanging 4,259 shares. Trinidad & Tobago NGL gained 29 cents in closing at $18.79 after trading 9,688 stocks, Trinidad Cement declined 15 cents to end at $4.05 with an exchange of 2,600 units and West Indian Tobacco climbed 35 cents to close at $30.95 in switching ownership of 11,400 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
