Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks changing hands surging 5,354 percent valued at 9,770 percent more than on Tuesday and resulting in seven securities trading, compared to six on Tuesday with prices of four rising, one declining and two ending unchanged.
Overall, 842,727 shares were traded for US$97,351 compared to 15,452 units at US$986 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 120,390 shares at US$13,907 versus 2,575 units at US$164 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 43,350 shares at US$2,759 compared to 39,779 units at US$2,243 on the previous day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index jumped 30.40 points to 242.69.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville advanced 2.47 cents to 11.48 US cents, with 8,600 shares crossing the market, 
Productive Business Solutions climbed 44.92 cents to US$1.90 with an exchange of 41,899 stocks, Proven Investments lost 0.9 of a cents and ended at 16 US cents, with 918 units crossing the exchange, Sterling Investments ended at 1.68 US cents while investors traded 1,188 stock units and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.16 of a cent to close at a record high of 1.45 US cents after a transfer of 787,041 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share gained US$1 to close at US$12.50 after exchanging one unit and JMMB Group 5.75% ended at US$1.90 with investors transferring 3,080 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Archives for May 2023
May ends with a blast for JSE USD Market
JSE Main Market closes May with gains
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded jumping 188 percent and the value 180 percent more than on Tuesday, with trading in 57 securities compared to 56 on Tuesday, resulting in prices of 31 rising, 13 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 24,443,891 shares were traded for $149,369,888 compared to 8,501,678 units at $53,413,585 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 428,840 shares at $2,620,524 compared with 151,816 shares at $953,814 on Tuesday. The month to date averaged 226,361 units at $1,362,447 versus 216,744 units at $1,302,689 on the previous day. Trading in April closed higher than in May with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 13.87 million shares for 56.7 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.19 million units for 17.1 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 1.06 million units for 4.3 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 112.20 points to close at 370,475.97, the JSE Main Index gained 696.33 points to 336,533.91 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.01 points to 75.43.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rallied $1.43 to close at $55.93 as investors traded 3,117 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped 40 cents in closing at $40 with investors transferring 6,512 stocks, First Rock Real Estate popped $1.10 and ended at $11.10 after 2,266 stock units were traded. Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 79 cents to close at $13.80 after 24,049 units were exchanged, JMMB Group advanced 69 cents to end at $29.99 after a transfer of 98,541 units, 
Margaritaville rose 99 cents to close at $18.41 with shareholders swapping 11 stocks, Massy Holdings dipped $1.50 and ended at $103 while exchanging 97,198 stock units. Mayberry Investments shed 97 cents to close at $8.03 after exchanging 14,614 shares, NCB Financial lost 50 cents in closing at $69.50 with investors trading 50,335 shares, Pan Jamaica Group climbed $5 to $57 with 634,963 stocks crossing the exchange, Portland JSX increased 84 cents to $11.54 after 44,836 stock units passed through the market, Sagicor Group gained $1.99 in closing at $51.99, with 212,000 units crossing the market, Seprod rallied $4 to $76 in an exchange of 167,248 units, Supreme Ventures advanced 42 cents to end at $27.89 with 24,083 shares clearing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments fell 39 cents to close at $12.60 with a transfer of 14,266 stocks and Wisynco Group climbed $1 to close at $19, with 401,684 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share popped $124 to $1225 in an exchange of 101 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 7% increased by $9.30 and ended at $69.30 with one stock unit changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market ends higher than April
Stocks closed higher on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange in trading on Wednesday, with the market squeezing a third consecutive day of gains and helping the market to close 1.26 percent higher than in April as investors traded 77 percent more shares valued at 135 percent more than on Tuesday with trading in 44 securities compared with 45 on Tuesday and ended with 24 rising, 15 declining and five closing unchanged.
Investors traded 17,037,616 shares for $59,386,219 up from 9,615,167 units at $25,289,603 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 387,219 shares at $1,349,687 compared with 213,670 shares at $561,991 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 239,954 units at $648,811 compared to 232,896 stock units at $615,218 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Future Energy Source led trading with 5.02 million shares for 29.5 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 2.89 million units for 17 percent of the day’s trade, Indies Pharma with 1.85 million units for 10.9 percent market share and Jamaican Teas with 1.49 million units for 8.7 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 22.41 points to end at 3,785.03.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 11. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are based on last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $2.80 to close at $25.80 after an exchange of 60,697 shares, CAC 2000 shed 48 cents to close at $6.62 after 23,435 units changed hands, Cargo Handlers fell $2.50 to $15 with 1,000 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Flavours popped 30 cents to end at $1.78 with shareholders swapping 5,000 stock units. Dolphin Cove declined 70 cents in closing at $14.75 after shareholders traded 10,293 shares, EduFocal increased 19 cents to end at $1.91 after an exchange of 105,179 stock units, Elite Diagnostic gained 18 cents and ended at $2.38 after a transfer of 51,123 units, 
Express Catering dropped 16 cents to close at $4.88 with an exchange of 12,665 stocks. Fontana advanced 12 cents to $9.52 with investors exchanging 386,065 stock units, Fosrich lost 11 cents to close at $2.29, with 2,892,733 stocks crossing the market, Future Energy Source climbed 23 cents to $4.15 with an exchange of 5,021,509 shares, Honey Bun rose 17 cents to $6.80 with 13,402 units clearing the market. Indies Pharma popped 15 cents to close at $3.45 in trading 1,851,361 units, Iron Rock Insurance gained 32 cents to end at $2.48 with 200 stocks changing hands, ISP Finance climbed $1.42 to $25.40 as investors exchanged 45,182 stock units, KLE Group dipped 11 cents in closing at $1.51 in switching ownership of 31 shares. Knutsford Express popped 26 cents to close at $11.78 in an exchange of 293,186 shares, Lasco Distributors lost 14 cents at $2.95 in an exchange of 60,245 units, Lasco Manufacturing rose 10 cents to $4.25 after 390 stock units passed through the market, Limners and Bards increased 18 cents to $2.48 with a transfer of 122,433 stocks.
Main Event dropped 40 cents in closing at $14.25 with investors transferring 4,584 stocks, Paramount Trading rallied 9 cents to $2.18, with 22,936 stock units clearing the market, Regency Petroleum rose 8 cents to end at $2.95 after 501,313 units passed through the market. Stationery and Office Supplies increased 63 cents and ended at $15.79, with 60,146 shares crossing the market and Tropical Battery gained 10 cents to close at $2 after 75,936 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Month-end gains for JSE stocks
Stocks closed higher on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in trading on Wednesday, with the Junior Market squeezing out a third consecutive day of gains while the JSE USD market jumped sharply at the end of trading also closed higher, and the JSE Main market closed just higher in the final minutes before the close, following a sharp pick up in trading on Tuesday’s levels.
The JSE Combined Market Index rallied 854.92 points to 348,657.19, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 112.20 points to 370,475.97, the JSE Main Index rose 696.33 points to 336,533.91, the Junior Market Index managed to hold on a gain of 22.41 points to end at 3,785.03 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 30.40 points to end at 242.69.
Shares in the preference segment of the Main Market not included in the TOP10 graphs ended with Productive Business 10.50% preference share popping $124 to $1225 as Jamaica Public Service 7% rose $9.30 to close at $69.30.
At the close, investors exchanged 41,266,573 shares in all three markets, up from 17,543,277 units on Monday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $199.8 million from $73.68 million on Monday. 
Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 842,727 shares for US$97,351 compared to 15,452 units at US$986 on Monday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 17.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.6 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous 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 decisions when 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 and 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 paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
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.
Trinidad stocks falter into month end
Stocks fell into the month end on Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday, even as the volume of stocks traded jumped 135 percent with a value 46 percent more than Monday, following the close of the market on Tuesday, and ended with trading in 19 securities compared with 22 on Tuesday, with prices of just three stocks rising, eight declining and eight remaining unchanged.
Investors traded 401,593 shares for $2,290,438 compared to 171,203 stock units at $1,565,935 on Monday.
An average of 21,136 shares were traded at $120,549 compared to 7,782 units at $71,179 on Monday, with trading month to date averaging 23,500 shares at $216,502 versus 23,810 units at $220,971 on the previous day. The average trade for April amounts to 17,776 shares at $261,442.
The Composite Index declined 4.34 points to end at 1,258.82, the All T&T Index fell 4.79 points to close at 1,918.10, the SME Index remained at 69.27 and the Cross-Listed Index slipped 0.54 points to 77.43.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s ended at $69.02. with 450 shares crossing the market, Angostura Holdings remained at $23.10 in switching ownership of 170 stocks, Ansa McAl ended at $51 with an exchange of 302 stock units. Ansa Merchant Bank climbed $1.50 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $48.50 as investors exchanged 4,200 units, Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $21.99 in an exchange of 14 shares, Endeavour Holdings closed trading at $12.65 after 315 units passed through the market, First Citizens Group dropped $1 to $49 with investors trading 34 stock units. FirstCaribbean International Bank lost 1 cent in closing at $7.01, with 41,649 stocks clearing the market, GraceKennedy remained at $3.85 in trading 300 units, Guardian Holdings dipped 2 cents to $20.55 after an exchange of 100 shares, Massy Holdings fell 6 cents to $4.99, with 57,989 stock units changing hands. 
National Enterprises declined 20 cents to $3.55 in an exchange of 278,005 stocks, NCB Financial shed 4 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.20 with a transfer of 380 units, Republic Financial popped 60 cents to close at $129.50 after investors traded 1,856 stocks, Scotiabank lost 43 cents and ended at $76.57 after an exchange of 546 shares. Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $18.50 with a transfer of 1,742 stock units, Trinidad Cement remained at $2.70, with 5,050 units crossing the exchange, Unilever Caribbean rose 17 cents to $15.42 while exchanging 6,997 stocks and West Indian Tobacco dropped 50 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $13 in trading 1,494 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Lasco Financial EPS hides profit plunge
Net profit declined by 30 percent to $214 million for the fiscal year to March 2023 from $306 million in 2022 for Lasco Financial Services. Still, the earnings per share barely fell, according to the recently released audited report. The earning per share is actually 16.7 cents rather than the 23.94 cents reported in the audited Financial Statement, compared with 24.05 cents in 2022.
The company did not have a good year, with revenues falling from $2.5 billion in 2022 to $2.27 billion even as loan income grew during the latest year. Revenues in the fourth dropped sharply to only $410 million versus $662 million in the 2022 fourth quarter. Fourth quarter profit came in slightly below the December quarter’s $31 million at $27 million on far lower revenues than the $572 million in the December quarter.
Loans payable include two with ten year tenure amounting to $1.095 billion due to JMMB with interest rates at 8.25 and 8.75 percent per annum and 2 percent per annum loans amounting to $143 million from the Development Bank of Jamaica for on lending.
Loans advanced to borrowers ended at $1.039 billion for the fiscal year, up from $1.013 before provisions, and after provisions, loans are up nearly 11 percent to $900 million from $813 million in 2022. Quality improved in 2023, with amounts set aside for impairment dropping to $138 million, or 1.3 percent of the loan portfolio, from $201 million or 2 percent in 2022, as $60 million was recovered from impaired loans during the 2023 fiscal year. Loans that are current have a provision of $24 million compared with $13 million in 2022.
Jacinth Hall-Tracey, Managing Director of Lasco Financial.
Administrative and other expenses rose 6.8 percent to $1.18 billion from $1,105 billion in 2022, but Selling and promotion expenses fell 13 percent to $647 million from $745 million, partially as Commission and fees fell seven percent from $653 million to $609 million. Overall, non-financial expenses declined from $1.85 billion to $1.83 billion. However, staff cost jumped 18 percent to $654 million, with staffing at the end of the year jumping 23 percent to 201 employees from 164 in 2022. Finance costs fell to $117 million from $167 million in 2022 and Taxation fell from $187 million to $115 million.
At the close of the financial year, cash and short term deposits amount to $1.7 billion, giving it much dry powder to increase lending if viable opportunities arise. Shareholders’ equity increased to $2.11 billion at the end of March from $1.96 billion in 2022.
The company is a work in progress as it attempts to recover from losses suffered in its loan portfolio from 2020 to 2022, this is an area of above average potential growth, but there have been few signs that the company will be more aggressive in this potentially lucrative segment of the financial market.
The stock is listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stocks Exchange and last traded at $2.35 with a PE ratio of 14 times 2023 earnings. Investors need to watch this one for possible recovery.
Trading dives on Main Market
Rising and falling stocks shared the spotlight at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, after trading ended with activities in 56 securities compared to 60 on Monday, resulting in gains for 20 rising and fall for 21 as 15 ended unchanged, following a 55 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded valued 39 percent less than on Monday.
A total of 8,501,678 shares were traded for $53,413,585 compared to 19,055,221 units at $86,952,533 on Monday.
Trading averaged 151,816 shares at $953,814 versus 317,587 shares at $1,449,209 on Monday and month to date, an average of 216,744 units at $1,302,689, compared with 219,922 shares at $1,319,766 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.94 million shares for 46.3 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.29 million units for 15.2 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.03 million units for 12.1 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index drifted 1,804.90 points lower to 370,363.77, the JSE Main Index shed 1,165.52 points to end trading at 335,837.58 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.23 points to 75.44.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.4 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.50 to end at $54.50 with shareholders swapping 30,865 shares, First Rock Real Estate lost $1.30 to close at $10, with 45,900 units crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers popped $3.50 and ended at $36.50 in switching ownership of 106,122 stock units, JMMB Group advanced 30 cents in closing at $29.30 after exchanging 35,621 stocks after the stock hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $28.50, Margaritaville rose $2.44 to $17.42 after a transfer of 450 units, 
Massy Holdings drifted 50 cents lower to close at $104.50 after trading 1,755 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities increased 50 cents in closing at $11 after 38,300 stocks cleared the market, NCB Financial fell $2 to end at $70 with an exchange of 92,711 shares. 138 Student Living gained 74 cents to end at $5.50 with a transfer of 403 shares, Pan Jamaica Group rallied $1 and ended at $52 with an exchange of 37,191 stock units, Proven Investments climbed 56 cents to $26, with 1,063 stock units crossing the market. Seprod shed $3 in closing at $72 as investors exchanged 8,428 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained 49 cents to end at $14.99 and closed with an exchange of 13,908 stock units and Wisynco Group declined $1 to close at $18 after 195,610 shares changed hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share dropped $2.90 and ended at $20 in an exchange of 49 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 7% declined $9 to close at $60 while exchanging 23 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading dives on JSE USD Market
A 98 percent fall in stocks trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Tuesday, with the market climbing above the close on Monday and resulted in the trading of six securities, down from eight on Monday and ended with prices of three rising, none declining and three ending unchanged.
Overall, 15,452 shares were traded for US$986 compared to 959,588 units at US$46,217 on Monday.
Trading averaged 2,575 shares at US$164 versus 119,949 units at US$5,777 on Monday, with a month to date average of 39,779 shares at US$2,243 compared with 41,318 units at US$2,329 on the previous day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 12.60 points to conclude trading at 212.29.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.5. The PE ratio is calculated based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
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, 
First Rock Real Estate USD share popped 0.5 of a cent after closing at 5 US cents, with shareholders swapping 560 shares, Proven Investments ended at 16.9 US cents after a transfer of 2,325 stock units, Sterling Investments remained at 1.68 US cents, with 5,741 stocks crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.29 of a cent to end at 1.29 US cents after closing with an exchange of 6,616 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% ended at US$1.90 with 204 shares changing hands and JMMB Group 6% increased 13 cents to US$1.20 as investors exchanged just 6 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market holding head above water
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday just managed to end above Monday’s close following a 12 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with a moderately lower value than on Monday with trading in 45 securities compared with 46 on Monday and ended with 21 rising, 20 declining and four closing unchanged as one stock closed at a one year high and two at 52 weeks’ low.
Investors traded 9,615,167 shares for $25,289,603 versus 10,918,480 units at $26,373,173 on Monday.
Trading averaged 213,670 shares at $561,991 compared to 237,358 shares at $573,330 on Monday, with the month to date averaging 232,896 units at $615,218 compared to 233,887 stock units at $617,962 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Fosrich led trading with 2.26 million shares for 23.5 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 1.40 million units for 14.5 percent of the day’s trade and Lasco Distributors with 885,161 units for 9.2 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index popped 4.97 points to close at 3,762.62.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging dipped 26 cents to end at $2.64 as investors exchanged 6,005 shares, CAC 2000 rallied $1.10 to close at $7.10 in switching ownership of 6,451 units, Cargo Handlers rose 75 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $17.50 after an exchange of 11,300 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 12 cents in closing at $2.57 after 323,317 stocks changed hands. Caribbean Cream rallied 20 cents and ended at $3.20 with an exchange of 50 stock units, Caribbean Flavours increased 8 cents to $1.48 in an exchange of 9 units, Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents to close at $2.30 after a transfer of 125,334 stocks, Dolphin Cove popped 49 cents in closing at $15.45 with shareholders swapping 28,133 shares, Elite Diagnostic dropped 18 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $2.20, with 48,123 stocks clearing the market. Everything Fresh gained 8 cents to end at $1.80 while exchanging 154,617 units, 
Fontana lost 8 cents in ending at $9.40 with investors transferring 109,966 shares, Fosrich declined 29 cents to $2.40 after 2,255,770 stock units changed hands. Future Energy Source fell 19 cents to $3.92 in an exchange of 325,599 stock units, Indies Pharma popped 15 cents in closing at $3.30 after trading 131,851 units, Iron Rock Insurance advanced 28 cents to $2.16 after 5 shares passed through the market, ISP Finance climbed $3.83 to $23.98 after 2,092 stocks passed through the market. Knutsford Express rose 23 cents and ended at $11.52 after investors traded 20,220 stocks, Lasco Distributors rallied 34 cents to end at $3.09 with 885,161 stock units crossing the market, following full year’s results showing earnings of 38.5 cents per share, up from 29 cents in 2022. Lasco Financial declined 10 cents in closing at $2.35 in trading 454,503 units, following the release of full year results showing a fall from 24 cents per share to 16.7 cents. Main Event increased 40 cents to close at $14.65 with a transfer of 6,950 shares,
Medical Disposables dipped 66 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $4.14 after 750 stock units crossed the market, Paramount Trading shed 10 cents to close at $2.09 in trading 25 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 42 cents in closing at $15.16 in switching ownership of 417 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market drops Juniors rise
The Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with mixed trading on Tuesday, with Junior Market having a second consecutive day when the index closed just higher than the prior day and the JSE USD market also closed higher, but the JSE Main market lost grounds, following a fall in trading from Monday’s levels.
The JSE Combined Market Index shed 1,042.09 points to 347,802.27, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,804.90 points to close at 370,363.77, the JSE Main Index fell 1,165.52 points to end trading at 335,837.58, the Junior Market Index managed to hold on a gain of just 4.97 points to close at 3,762.62 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 13.05 points to end at 212.29.
Shares in the preference segment of the Main Market not in the TOP10 graphs ended with Eppley 5% preference share dropping $2.90 to end at $20 and Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $9 to close at $60.
At the close, investors exchanged just 17,543,277 shares in all three markets, down from
30,833,189 units on Monday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $73.68 million from $112.47 million on Monday.
Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 15,452 shares for US$986 compared to 959,588 units at US$46,217 on Monday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 17.3 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.4 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous 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 decisions when 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 and 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 paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
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.
