In a last minute fury of market activity, investors pushed some stocks prices higher in the last second before closing of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday and saved the market from a big decline with the All Jamaican Composite Index shedding 1,082.10 points to settle at3 97,208.39, after sitting at 393,717.87 points seconds before the close, the JSE Main Index dropped 575.09 points to settle at 347,650.98 after it was just over 343,000 points seconds before the close.
The JSE Financial Index declined 0.55 points to settle at 83.08.
Trading ended with the volume of stocks declining 20 percent with a 54 percent lower value than on Friday, following activity in 60 securities compared to 52 on Friday, with 22 rising, 20 declining and 18 ending unchanged.
A total of 42,372,789 shares were traded for $70,469,791, down from 53,225,427 units at $154,094,564 on Friday. Trading averaged 706,213 units at $1,174,497 compared with 1,023,566 shares at $2,963,357 on Friday and month to date, an average of 231,243 units at $1,464,224, compared to 204,684 units at $1,480,424 on the previous trading day. September closed with an average of 533,719 units at $5,494,282.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 26.73 million shares for 63.1 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 11.77 million units for 27.8 percent of the day’s trade and Pulse Investments with 1.25 million units for 3 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.7 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 16 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rallied $3.25 to close at $60.75 in trading 43,191 units following the release of nine months’ results showing profit rising 36 percent over 2021 for the nine months to September. First Rock Real Estate shed 55 cents ending at $13.50, with 17,662 stocks changing hands. GraceKennedy lost $2.65 to end at $84.85, with 71,496 stock units crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers increased 70 cents in closing at $29.20 after an exchange of 23,028 shares, Jamaica Producers popped $2.15 in closing at $20, with 13,641 units clearing the market. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose $1.30 to close at $16.50 trading 43,919 stock units, JMMB Group advanced 80 cents to $37 in exchanging 40,954 stocks, Margaritaville fell $3.39 to $19.21, with just five stock units crossing the market. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dipped $3.99 to end at $80 after 69 shares passed through the exchange, NCB Financial dropped $1 in closing at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $83.99 after hitting an intraday low of $80 and closed, with 154,927 shares changing hands, 138 Student Living gained $1.32 in ending at $6.95 after trading 8,099 stocks. 
PanJam Investment climbed $2.13 to end at $59 in exchanging 14,751 stocks, Sagicor Group increased $3 to close at $53 with a transfer of 66,120 shares, Scotia Group rallied 68 cents to $36.68 with the swapping of 32,744 units. Stanley Motta fell 60 cents in closing at $4 after a transfer of 13,007 stock units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $1.38 to $10.58 with investors transferring 941 stocks.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $9.76 to end at $55.80 in switching ownership of 652 stock units and Productive Business 10.5% declined $19.99 to $1,130.01 after an exchange of 272 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Archives for October 2022
Trading picks up on JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks exchanged jumping 739 percent, valued 97 percent more than on Friday, resulting in 10 securities trading, compared to seven on Friday with four rising, three declining and three ending unchanged.
A total of 467,538 shares were traded for US$25,574 up from 55,754 units at US$12,962 on Friday.
Trading averaged 46,754 shares at US$2,557 versus 7,965 units at US$1,851 on Friday, with the month to date average of 40,972 shares at US$2,277 up from 40,613 units at US$2,258 on the previous trading day. September ended with an average of 87,926 units for US$4,746.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index climbed 4.03 points to end at 211.09.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.5. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending between November and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share dipped 0.42 of one cent ending at 7.08 US cents with a transfer of 15,000 shares, Margaritaville lost 0.98 of a cent to end at 14 US cents with just one unit trading, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy ended at 61 US cents with an exchange of 67 stock units. Productive Business Solutions advanced 8 cents to US$1.38, with 6,495 stocks crossing the market, 
Proven Investments declined 0.97 of a cent in closing at 19.03 US cents in switching ownership of 14,694 stock units, Sterling Investments rose 0.1 of a cent to 2.1 US cents after investors traded 580 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments USD share remained at 10 US cents with 405 units clearing the market and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.07 of a cent to 0.98 US of one cent, with 425,474 shares crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share popped 64 cents in closing at a record high of US$12.14, with 16 units crossing the market and JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$1.75 after an exchange of 4,806 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big loss for Junior Market to end October
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market suffered a sharp decline in trading Monday with the Index dropping 98.29 points to end at 4,051.71 after falling nearly 120 points shortly before trading closed, and fell 177.83 points for October, with investors clearing all Access Financial shares up to $26.50 just before the market closed.
The volume of stocks traded surged 317 percent, with the value up 369 percent over Friday, following trading in 43 securities up from 38 on Friday and ended with 17 rising, 20 declining and six unchanged.
A total of 25,484,902 shares were exchanged for $87,225,378 up from 6,115,628 units at $18,600,896 on Friday.
Trading averaged 592,672 shares at $2,028,497 compared to 160,938 units at $489,497 on Friday with the month to date averaging 264,407 units at $832,036 compared with 246,806 stock units at $767,886 on the previous trading day. September closed with an average of 470,099 units at $1,578,447.
Dolla Financial led trading with 9.33 million shares for 36.6 percent of total volume, followed by Fosrich with 6.06 million units for 23.8 percent of the day’s trade, Derrimon Trading with 1.94 million units for 7.6 percent of share trading, JFP Ltd with 1.68 million units for 6.6 percent of the total market trade and MFS Capital Partners with 1.27 million units for 5 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.7. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial gained $2 in closing at $26.50 after 113,097 shares passed through the market, Blue Power fell 30 cents to $3.10 as investors exchanged 2,501 stock units, Cargo Handlers shed 20 cents to close at $13.30 with a transfer of 6,389 units. Caribbean Cream popped 14 cents to $4 with an exchange of 1,744 stocks, Caribbean Flavours dropped 12 cents to end at $1.62 after a transfer of 39,730 shares, Consolidated Bakeries dipped 18 cents in closing at $2.51, with 71,819 units clearing the market. Dolla Financial declined 19 cents to close at $3.20 after trading 9,333,710 stocks, Fosrich lost 16 cents in ending at $4.50 with the swapping of 6,063,236 stock units, Future Energy Source advanced 22 cents to $5.38 while exchanging 547,923 units. Honey Bun dipped 84 cents to end at $6.56 in an exchange of 17,321 stock units, Indies Pharma increased 21 cents to $3.14, with 150,512 stocks crossing the exchange, Knutsford Express rallied 60 cents in closing at $9.70 but the price hit an intraday high of $9.80 in trading 11,196 shares. Lasco Manufacturing dropped 44 cents to end at $3.81 after it hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $3.75 with investors transferring 35,850 stocks, Limners and Bards climbed 35 cents to $2.70 after an exchange of 32,992 stock units, Medical Disposables declined 28 cents to close at $5.69, with 31,573 units crossing the market. 
Spur Tree Spices rose 25 cents to end at $3.77 and closed with an exchange of 520,027 shares, Stationery and Office Supplies rallied $1.24 to $16.99 after an exchange of 67,561 stock units, Tropical Battery increased 12 cents to $2.75, with 513,109 units changing hands and tTech shed 59 cents in closing at $2.70 in exchanging 1,300 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Leading JSE markets end October down
October month end decline breaks the usual end of month trend of rising prices and market indices as investors pushed the market down to close off the month, with only the US dollar market bucking the trend with a rise in the market index at the close, but the Junior Market declined the most having suffered a near 100 point cut after being down nearly 120 points shortly before the close. The Main Market was closing at its lowest level since April 2020 just above the lowest level of that year in March as the volume trading rose over Friday but at a lower value.
The JSE Combined Index, a measure of the overall market dropped 1,433.43 points to close at 361,488.69. The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 1,082.10 points to 397,208.39, the JSE Main Index declined 575.09 points to 347,650.98, the Junior Market Index lost 98.29 points to 4,051.71 and the JSE USD market Index popped 5.31 points to close at 211.74.
Trading ended, with 68,325,229 shares changing hands, for $157.7 million, down from $172.7 million, with 59,396,759 shares traded in all markets on the previous day. The JSE USD market ended with the value of stocks traded at US$25,574 from US$12,962 on Friday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 23.8 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.8 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate many investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational investment decisions by investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and put in on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The ICInsider.com PE Ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that show the closing volume for the bids and offers.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
Month end dip for Trinidad Exchange
Trading ended with the volume of stocks exchanged rising 39 percent with the value 27 percent lower than on Friday at the close of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday, resulting in 22 securities changing hands up from 18 on Friday, with prices of four rising, nine declining and nine remaining unchanged.
Trading resulted in a total of 370,618 shares changing hands for $2,662,459 versus 265,800 stock units at $3,622,246 on Friday.
An average of 16,846 shares were exchanged at $121,021 compared with 14,767 shares at $201,236 on Friday, with trading month to date averaging 29,755 shares at $358,163 compared with 30,591 units at $373,508 on the previous trading day. The average trade for September ended with 45,817 stock units at $463,533.
The Composite Index shed 5.12 points to 1,315.51, the All T&T Index fell 5.87 points to 1,965.58 and the Cross-Listed Index slipped 0.60 points to settle at 86.78.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Agostini’s remained at $43, trading 39 shares, Angostura Holdings ended at $24.95 after 120 stocks crossed the market, Ansa McAl remained at $53.80 as 91 units passed through the market. Clico Investment Fund dipped 10 cents to $29.90 with 3,701 stock units changing hands, Endeavour Holdings popped 10 cents to $7.10 in trading 1,000 stock units, First Citizens Group gained 5 cents to close at $50.10 with an exchange of 3,013 units. FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $5 after an exchange of 9,940 stocks, GraceKennedy lost 20 cents in ending at $5 in switching ownership of 65,014 shares, Guardian Holdings advanced 14 cents to $25.20, with 6,141 stocks changing hands. JMMB Group ended at $2 in trading 100 shares, L.J. Williams B share increased 15 cents to $2.20 with an exchange of 21 units, Massy Holdings remained at $4.50, with 1,501 shares clearing the market. 
National Enterprises dipped 1 cent to $3.25 in exchanging 179,080 stocks, NCB Financial shed 21 cents in closing at $4.60 while trading 77,096 stock units, One Caribbean Media fell 10 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $3.70 after closing with an exchange of 3,386 shares. Point Lisas remained at $3.25 after a transfer of 10 units, Republic Financial declined $2 in closing at $133 with 20 stock units changing hands, Scotiabank fell 85 cents to close at $77 after exchanging 7,929 shares. Trinidad & Tobago NGL dipped 5 cents to $22 with the swapping of 7,146 stocks, Trinidad Cement ended at $3.50 in an exchange of 200 units, Unilever Caribbean shed 14 cents to $12.90 with investors transferring 500 stock units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $22 as investors exchanged 4,570 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Medical Disposables now a Stock to Watch
One on One Education climbed 11.4 percent during the past week to close at $1.66 following addition to the Stocks to Watch list while Knutsford Express climbed back to close at $9.10 from $8 at the end of the previous week and hit a new 52 weeks’ high of $9.75 on Thursday.
Medical Disposables
Medical Disposables dropped out of the ICTOP10 into the Stocks to Watch, but this publication gathers that the half year results due out by next week will continue to reflect increased cost outpacing the rise in sales. ICInsider.com forecast is for increased profits for the year to March 2023 at 75 cents per share which is likely to eventually push the stock price higher and trigger a stock split in 2023.
Buffetted by the closure of the entertainment business in 2020, Palace Amusement had another tough two years, with the 2022 fiscal year ending with a loss of $257 million, down from a loss of $383 in 2021. The improved result was mainly occasioned by a small profit of $12 million in the final quarter as revenues climbed to $275 million in the fourth quarter bettering the $106 million generated in all of the 2021 fiscal year. Revenues in the fourth quarter were well up on the third quarter with $142 million. The much improved June quarter revenue is still some distance from the $338 million generated in the June 2019 quarter, with a profit then of $36 million, but the 2022 results suggest that the company is not far from getting back to normal levels and if so could boost the stock price, currently in the $800 range and by far the highest priced ordinary share on the market currently.
ICInsider.com watch list comprises Access Financial, Barita Investments, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Consolidated Bakers, Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Producers, Elite Diagnostic, Everything Fresh, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Jamaica Broilers, Key Insurance, Knutsford Express, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, Medical Disposables, NCB Financial, One on One, Palace Amusement, Paramount Trading, Scotia Group and Stationery and Office Supplies.
Palace Portmore cinema
Based on recent releases of quarterly results Caribbean Assurance Brokers should be releasing nine months’ results this week that should reflect record earnings, which could move the stock price. The same goes for Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing and Stationery and Office Supplies should report nine months’ results around November 11.
Major factors to consider going forward. The rebound in tourist arrivals only came back to 2019 levels since June. Providing there are no reversals, then companies who are highly dependent on the sector will enjoy a big bounce for the next nine months compared to the lower business generated since last year to April this year. The same applies to the entertainment industry as the sector only opened up after March this year. Banks will make a fortune from increased interest rates.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on.
Carib Cement post record profits
Profits at Caribbean Cement Company for the nine months to September came in at a record $4.25 billion up 35.7 percent compared to $3.1 billion in 2021 and almost matches the $4.34 billion of profits for the 2021 fiscal year.
Profit of $1.2 billion after tax was realized for the quarter to September compared to just $44 million in the similar period in 2021, resulting in earnings per share of $1.42 in the 2022 quarter and $5 for the nine months, compared to $3.68 for the nine months in 2021.
Third quarter revenues were lower than that of the June quarter of $6.7 billion, with profit coming lower as well by $240 million. Profit for the full year could end up at $6.50 per share or close to that.
The record profit performance emanates from revenues that rose 12 percent the $6.2 billion in the 2022 September quarter compared to $5.5 billion in the similar quarter of 2021 and $19.7 billion for the nine months this year versus $17.8 billion dollars in 2021. The company had no major repairs and maintenance expenditures during the period to date, unlike in 2021.
Cost of sales for the September quarter this year came out at $3.4 billion compared to $4.4 billion in 2021 but was flat for the year to date compared to 2021 at $10.8 billion.
Yago Castro, the managing director in his report to shareholders in reference to the improved profit performance, stated “that it is primarily due to reduction of cost of sales as a percentage of net sales to 56 percent from 80 percent in the same period last year. This cost reduction was attributed to the company’s decision not to undertake its planned major maintenance through the third quarter of the year compared to 2021 which was executed in July to August, this postponement of the planned maintenance is attributed to the excellent output of some of the cement kiln this year as well as delay in the arrival of key spare parts needed to conduct the general overall works.”
Administrative and other operating expenses increased to $700 million from $592 million for the quarter and rose to $2 billion from 1.85 billion for the nine months. Finance costs rose from $112 million in the 2021 third quarter to $154 million in September 2022 quarter while the nine months cost rose from $412 million to just $430 million in 2022.
Carib Cement plant
Taxation absorb $517 million for the September 2022 two quarter versus $291 million in 2021 and $1.5 billion for the nine months to September 2022 versus $1.1 million in 2021.
Cash flow generated from operating activities amounted to $2.2 billion dollars in the quarter and $3.8 billion for the nine months after paying $1.17 billion in dividends, the company’s cash position improved by $300 million to $1.1 billion in the quarter.
At the end of the quarter shareholders’ equity stood at $18.75 billion, up from $14.8 billion in 2021. Borrowed funds amount to $1.8 billion. Current assets amounted to $7.5 billion while current liabilities ended the quarter at $8.2 billion.
The company announced plans earlier this year to expand the plant capacity by 30 percent which is slated to cost $40 million and is to be completed by the second half of 2024, the chairman of the company Paris-Lyew Ayee reported.
The stock last traded at $57.50 on Friday on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a PE of 8.8 times this year’s earnings, which is well below the market average of 13.6.
Promise for Junior Market TOP10
In a week when Junior Market made a modest move higher, as it looks well positioned to break sharply higher, with third quarter results hitting the market in droves beginning this week, the Main Market closed at its lowest level since the year of covid-19, at the start of September 2020, but may not be far from bottoming.
Junior Market with wedge formation that looks poised to break sharply higher.
NCB Financial dropped to a 52 weeks’ low of $80 during Friday’s trading and was the main factor in the market two year low.
This week, Medical Disposables earnings were downgraded to a respectable 75 cents, which is inadequate to keep it in the ICTOP10 but remains a strong buy for investors to enjoy growth. Lasco Manufacturing rejoins the Junior Market ICTOP10.
Even as the junior market rose during the week, three of the top 10 stocks declined between 5 percent and 11 percent with no increases of note. The Main Market’s highest losers fell 7 percent, with no significant gains in the market listing.
Price changes worth noting include iron rock insurance, with an 11 percent fall to $2.22, followed by General Accident with a decline of 10 percent to $4.55, Paramount Trading lost 7 percent to $1.90. Caribbean Cream declined 6 percent to close the week at $3.86 in the Junior Market and in the Main Market, VVM Investments fell 7 percent to $4.60 while Productive Business Solutions slipped 6 percent to $1.30. JMMB Group was down 5 percent to $36.20.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 6.2, well below the market average of13.5, while the Junior Market Top10 PE sits at 5.6 versus the market at 12.9 , important indicators of the level of undervaluation of the ICTOP10stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 243 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 256 percent to May 2023.
The Junior Market has 15 stocks representing a third of the market, with PEs from 15 to 39, averaging 22 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18.5. This data shows the extent of potential gains that the TOP 10 stocks possess. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 14 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 16 to 76, with an average of 26 and 22 excluding the highest valued one and 21 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
JSE Main market takes weekly hit
Trading activities surged sharply on Friday, with 589 percent more shares exchanged with a 192 percent rise in value on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market than Thursday, with 52 securities trading down from 56 on Thursday, with 17 rising, 22 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
Three stocks traded at one year lows, with NCB Group hitting an intraday low of $80 before closing at a yearly low of $84.99, Pulse Investment closed at a low of $2.85 and Sagicor Select Financial Fund hit a year’s low of 36 cents but closed at 42 cents.
Investors traded 53,225,427 shares for $154,094,564, up sharply from 7,725,167 units at $52,758,028 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 1,023,566 units at $2,963,357 compared with 137,949 shares at $942,108 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 204,684 units at $1,480,424 versus 162,977 units at $1,404,898 on the prior day. September closed with an average of 533,719 units at $5,494,282.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 46.56 million shares for 87.5 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.23 million units for 4.2 percent of the day’s trade and Massy Holdings with 1.02 million units for 1.9 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,372.81 points to end at 398,290.49, down 9 percent for the year. The JSE Main Index fell 1,815.69 points to 348,226.07 to record a 12 percent decline in 2022 and the JSE Financial Index dropped 0.63 points to settle at 83.63.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November and August 2023.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley climbed $1.71 to $39.70 with an exchange of 95 shares, GraceKennedy lost $2 in closing at $87.50, with 58,446 stock units clearing the market, Jamaica Broilers declined 50 cents to close at $28.50 after exchanging 22,021 stocks. Jamaica Producers increased 55 cents to end at $17.85 as investors exchanged 389 units, JMMB Group fell $1.20 to $36.20 after finishing with investors dealing in 42,413 stock units, Massy Holdings rallied 97 cents to close at $81 in exchanging 1,019,351 units. Palace Amusement advanced 82 cents in closing at $827.82 after a transfer of 78 shares, Portland JSX dropped $1.20 to end at $9 after trading 1,689 stocks, Sagicor Group shed 50 cents ending at $50, with 59,518 units crossing the market. 
Scotia Group rose 60 cents to $36, closing with an exchange of 4,653 stocks, Seprod popped $2.84 to $71 with the swapping of 2,491 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance dipped 80 cents to end at $9.20 in an exchange of 300 stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share dropped $6.90 to $46.04 with a transfer of 142 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market climbs Friday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed higher on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 21 percent and the value 22 percent lower than on Thursday after just 38 securities trading versus 41 on Thursday and ended with 12 rising, 12 declining and 14 closing unchanged.
A total of 6,115,628 shares were traded for $18,600,896 down from 7,760,885 units at $23,865,502 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 160,938 shares at $489,497 from 189,290 units at $582,085 on Thursday with the month to date averaging 246,806 units at $767,886 against 251,077 stock units at $781,733 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 470,099 units at $1,578,447.
Dolla Financial led trading with 1.59 million shares for 26 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 1.18 million units for 19.2 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy Source with 511,980 units for 8.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 25.86 points to settle at 4,150.00.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 13. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $3.49 in closing at $24.50 with an exchange of 455 shares, AMG Packaging gained 22 cents to end at $3.47 in exchanging 1,777 stocks, Blue Power advanced 28 cents to $3.40 after a transfer of 30 stock units. Consolidated Bakeries popped 19 cents to end at $2.69 with investors transferring 55,236 units, Dolla Financial rose 19 cents to close at $3.39 with 1,588,354 stock units crossing the exchange, General Accident shed 55 cents to end at $4.55, after an exchange of 32,452 units. iCreate declined 12 cents in closing at $2.01 as investors traded 177,311 shares, Indies Pharma increased 13 cents to $2.93 while exchanging 51,231 stocks, KLE Group fell 10 cents to close at $1.70, with 18,070 stocks clearing the market. Knutsford Express dropped 65 cents to $9.10 after trading 19,657 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 28 cents to $4.25 with a transfer of 5,949 shares, Main Event dipped 35 cents in closing at $9.01 with the swapping of 17,606 units. 
MFS Capital Partners lost 14 cents to end at $3.10 as 121,077 stock units passed through the market and Tropical Battery lost 11 cents in ending at $2.63, with 45,771 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
