Trading picked on the Junior Market that helped in driving the Index up 24.51 points to 3,919.03 at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, following a 59 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded and a 63 percent rise in value over Wednesday, with trading in 42 securities compared with 44 on Wednesday and ended with 18 rising, 16 declining and eight closing unchanged.
Investors pushed 10,235,296 shares through the market for $26,387,309 compared with 6,437,192 units at $16,154,901 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 243,698 shares at $628,269, compared to 146,300 shares at $367,157 on the previous day, with trading for the month to date averaging 193,866 units at $494,677. July closed with an average of 326,541 units at $843,878.
Dolla Financial led trading with 2.92 million shares for 28.5 percent of total volume, followed by Lasco Financial with 2.14 million units for 20.9 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies fresh from a nine to one stock split, ended with 1.34 million units for 13.1 percent of the day’s trade.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11. 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 ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, CAC 2000 increased 37 cents to $5.98 while trading 236 shares, Caribbean Cream dipped 36 cents to $4.08 after 1,000 stock units passed through the market, Dolla Financial gained 38 cents in closing at $2.88, with investors exchanging 2,916,062 stocks. Dolphin Cove declined 96 cents and ended at $16.02, with 41,190 units crossing the exchange, Elite Diagnostic rose 45 cents to close at $2 in an exchange of 7,999 stock units, Honey Bun advanced 60 cents in closing at $6.30, with 18,520 units crossing the market. Image Plus Consultants dipped 11 cents to end at $2.20, with 485,893 shares changing hands, Indies Pharma shed 19 cents to close at $3.02 after an exchange of 138,267 stocks, ISP Finance rallied $4.49 and ended at $24.97 with a transfer of 5 units. Jamaican Teas fell 24 cents to $2.11 in switching ownership of 12,200 shares, 
Lasco Distributors climbed 40 cents to $4.20, with 142,173 stocks crossing the market, Lasco Financial lost 15 cents to close at $2.15 trading 2,136,543 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing popped 18 cents in closing at $4.99 after trading in 125,376 stock units, Limners and Bards dropped 10 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.90 with investors transferring 10,679 units, Main Event climbed $1.19 to end at $14.99 with 5,318 shares clearing the market. Medical Disposables dipped 9 cents in closing at $4.85 with an exchange of 924 stocks, MFS Capital Partners rallied 17 cents to close at $2.59 with shareholders swapping 337,399 stock units, Paramount Trading rose 28 cents to $1.90 after a transfer of 34,364 stocks. 
Spur Tree Spices popped 24 cents to end at $2.44 as investors exchanged 40,431 shares, Tropical Battery fell 9 cents to $2, with an exchange of 670,050 units and tTech shed 8 cents to close at $2.15, with investors exchanging 114 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Archives for August 2023
Drop in JSE Main and USD markets
The Main and JSE US dollar markets declined at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday while the Junior Market made a moderate recovery from Wednesday’s loss as the volume and value of stocks traded jumped sharply compared to Wednesday following trading of 113 million shares valued at $167 million in Transjamaican preference share.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 2,140.83 points to end at 340,544.78, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 4,924.76 points to 361,073.80, the JSE Main Index fell 2,534.77 points to close at 326,525.24, while the Junior Market Index climbed 24.51 points to close at 3,919.03 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 5.29 points to finish at 247.99.
Preference shares with notable price changes include Eppley 7.50% preference share shedding 61 cents to end at $6, Jamaica Public Service 7% advancing $11.48 to $61.48, Productive Business 10.50% preference share declining $55 to $1,100 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popping $2.50 in closing at $101.50.
At the close, investors had dealings in 135,167,230 shares in all three markets, up sharply from 20,722,918 stocks on Wednesday. 
The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main Markets ended at $261.89 million, up from $80.9 million on Wednesday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 243,793 shares for US$38,581 compared with 174,417 units at US$27,278 on Wednesday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 18.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.6. times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
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 place them 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 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.
Decline continues on Trinidad Exchange
Trading ended on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 13 percent with the value 3 percent lower than on Wednesday resulting in 16 securities trading compared with 20 on Wednesday, with four stocks rising, six declining and six remaining unchanged.
Investors exchanged 105,583 shares for $1,596,445 versus 120,710 stock units at $1,639,902 on Wednesday.
An average of 6,599 shares were exchanged at $99,778 compared with 6,036 units at $81,995 on Wednesday, with trading month to date averaging 6,286 shares at $89,894. The average trade for July amounts to 36,525 shares at $302,493.
The Composite Index shed 3.89 points to 1,242.44, the All T&T Index dropped 7.83 points to 1,886.82, the SME Index remained at 70.47 and the Cross-Listed Index rose 0.04 points to 77.37.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Calypso Macro Investment Fund climbed 10 cents to $21.80 with an exchange of 782 shares, First Citizens ended at $49, with trading in 20,280 units, FirstCaribbean International Bank closed at $7.04 after an exchange of 2,704 stocks, GraceKennedy closed at $3.40 with trading in 20,458 stock units. Guardian Holdings ended at $19 with a transfer of 23 stocks, JMMB Group remained at $1.34 after investors exchanged 1,551 stock units, Massy Holdings lost 31 cents in closing at $4.53 after 30,614 shares were traded, National Enterprises dipped 7 cents to $4.04 with dealings in 12,163 units. NCB Financial shed 8 cents in closing at $3.3, with 3,000 stock units crossing the market, 
One Caribbean Media dipped 2 cents to $3.69, with stakeholders trading in 500 units clearing the market, Prestige Holdings popped 8 cents to close at $7.60, with dealings in 320 stocks, Republic Financial increased 50 cents to end at $127.50 after exchanging 663 shares, Scotiabank fell 19 cents to $75 in switching ownership of 597 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $17.69, with 3,820 units changing hands, Unilever Caribbean declined 55 cents in closing at $11.55 in an exchange of 963 stocks and West Indian Tobacco rallied 1 cent to $11.25 after an exchange of 7,145 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSEUSD Market rises
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Wednesday, following the closing of the market after the public holiday on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 82 percent and the value 23 percent higher than trading on Monday, resulting in trading in nine securities up from five on Monday with two rising, five declining and two ending unchanged.
A total of 174,417 shares were traded for US$27,278 compared with 955,823 units at US$22,262 on Monday.
Trading averaged 19,380 shares at US$3,031 compared with 191,165 units at US$4,452 on Monday, compared to July with an average of 95,306 units for US$2,965.
The US Denominated Equities Index gained 8.29 points to close at 253.28.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.8. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings 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 none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share ended at 4 US cents, with 2,000 shares crossing the market, Margaritaville ended at 9.02 US cents in an exchange of 124,873 stock units, Proven Investments increased 2.3 cents to close at 14.8 US cents after 1,748 units crossed the market. 
Sterling Investments shed 0.2 of a cent and ended at 1.8 US cents in trading 1,117 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 0.01 of a cent to 10.93 US cents in an exchange of 161 shares and Transjamaican Highway declined 0.16 of a cent to end at 1.67 US cents after 40,462 units passed through the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share fell 50 cents to US$12 with shareholders swapping 955 stock units, JMMB Group 5.5% dipped 31.1 cents to US$1.989 in switching ownership of 101 stocks and JMMB Group 6% lost 1 cent to end at US$1.05 as investors exchanged 3,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market stocks climb for second day
Stocks mostly climbed for a second day, following the big sell off on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with trading in 56 stocks similar to Monday and ending with prices of 27 rising, 19 declining and ten ending unchanged, with a 37 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands valued 24 percent less than on Monday.
A total of 14,111,309 shares were traded for $64,741,889 compared with 10,267,719 units at $85,148,440 on Monday.
Trading for the day averaged 251,988 shares at $1,156,105 compared to 183,352 shares at $1,520,508 on Monday compared with July that averaged 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 6.06 million shares for 42.9 percent of total volume, Wigton Windfarm followed with 2.13 million units for 15.1 percent of trading, Transjamaican Highway chipped in with 1.67 million units for 11.8 percent of market share and Radio Jamaica with 1.13 million units for 8 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 809.52 points to conclude trading at 365,998.56, the JSE Main Index jumped 2,654.62 points to 329,060.01 and the JSE Financial Index climbed 1.51 points to close at 73.71.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.3 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 11 with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rallied $2.71 to $76.70 in an exchange of 89,905 shares, First Rock Real Estate popped $1.02 to close at $10.02 with a transfer of 3,849 units, Guardian Holdings climbed $42 in closing at $438, with 23 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 42 cents and ended at $11.87 after an exchange of 3,680 stock units. JMMB Group fell 80 cents to $28 in trading 16,961 shares, Kingston Properties shed 30 cents to end at $7.50 after a transfer of 11,714 stock units, Margaritaville advanced $2.46 and ended at $16.51 after exchanging 48,828 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities declined 33 cents to $11.51 as investors traded 6,500 stocks. 
NCB Financial dipped 89 cents to $73.10 as 275,809 stocks were exchanged, Palace Amusement lost 40 cents in closing at $2 with investors exchanging 45,050 units, Portland JSX increased $1.29 in closing at $10.79, with 19 shares clearing the market, Proven Investments rose $1.84 and ended at $23.25, with stakeholders trading 124 stock units. Pulse Investments gained 32 cents to close at $2.50, with 50,000 units crossing the market, Sagicor Group popped $1.95 to end at $48.95 with an exchange of 571 stock units, Seprod dropped $2.70 to close at $71.30 after the exchange of 4,621 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments rose 77 cents in closing at $11.98 with shareholders swapping 1,667 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% declined $2.02 to end at $50 in switching ownership of 988 stock units, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share fell 34 cents to $2.15 while exchanging 206,422 units, 
138 Student Living preference share advanced $1.98 to close at $99.98 in an exchange of 9 stocks, Productive Business 10.50% preference share increased $5 and ended at $1,155, with 100 shares changing hands and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $2.50 to end at $99 after the trading of 191 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market stocks dropped several points
The Junior Market stocks mostly declined at the start of trading in August with the market Index dropping a solid 45.48 points to conclude trading at 3,894.52 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with a 74 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded valued 70 percent less than on Monday, with 44 securities trading compared with 45 on Monday and ended with 13 rising, 22 declining and nine closing unchanged.
Investors traded 6,437,192 shares for $16,154,901 versus 24,315,536 units at $54,444,749 on Monday.
Trading averaged 146,300 shares at $367,157 compared to 540,345 shares at $1,209,883 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 146,300 units at $367,157 compared with 326,541 stock units at $843,878 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 326,541 units at $843,878.
Lasco Financial led trading with 1.14 million shares for 17.8 percent of total volume, followed by Fosrich with 1.03 million units for 16.1 percent of the day’s trade and Regency Petroleum with 990,443 units for 15.4 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are calculated 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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial increased 20 cents in closing at $25.50 as investors traded 2,038 shares, Blue Power declined 38 cents to $2.52 with a transfer of 2,018 stocks, CAC 2000 rallied 51 cents in ending at $5.61 after a transfer of 35 units, Cargo Handlers advanced 50 cents to close at $17.50, with 2,001 stock units crossing the market. Consolidated Bakeries climbed 15 cents to close at $2.75, with 472 units changing hands, Dolphin Cove popped 8 cents in closing at $16.98 after investors traded 675 shares, EduFocal rose 17 cents to $1.80 in an exchange of 34,281 stock units, Elite Diagnostic dropped 45 cents to close at $1.55 in switching ownership of 58,006 stocks. Fontana lost 17 cents to close at $10.80 with investors transferring 37,139 stock units, Image Plus Consultants gained 9 cents to end at $2.31 while exchanging 100,537 units, ISP Finance dropped $4.51 in closing at $20.48 with an exchange of one stock, 
JFP Ltd shed 25 cents to close at $1.70 with 103,045 shares clearing the market. Lasco Distributors fell 31 cents to close at $3.80 with 114,053 stock units crossing the market, Lumber Depot shed 25 cents to end at $2.05 after an exchange of 39,882 units, Main Event fell 70 cents and ended at $13.80 with 4,612 stocks being traded, Medical Disposables popped 84 cents in closing at $4.94 with stakeholders dealing in 39 shares. MFS Capital Partners dipped 16 cents to end at $2.42 after an exchange of 105,558 stocks, Paramount Trading lost 28 cents and ended at $1.62 while 7,318 stock units passed through the market, Regency Petroleum dropped 22 cents to close at $2.47, with an exchange of 990,443 units. Spur Tree Spices declined 27 cents to $2.20 in an exchange of 102,718 shares, 
Stationery and Office Supplies lost 56 cents to end at $2.59 with shareholders swapping 620,885 shares and Tropical Battery gained 17 cents in closing at $2.09 in trading 66,285 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market and JSE stocks start August with gains
The Main and JSE US dollar markets gained at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange to start the new month on a positive note on Tuesday, but the Junior Market suffered a tidy fall as the volume and value of stocks traded fell compared to that on Monday.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index jumped 2,060.70 points to 342,685.61, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 809.52 points to 365,998.56, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,654.62 points to 329,060.01, while the Junior Market Index declined 45.48 points to 3,894.52 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 8.29 points to finish at 253.28.
Trading of Preference shares ended with notable price changes for Productive Business 10.50% preference share increasing by $5 to $1,155, Jamaica Public Service 7% declining $2.02 to end at $50, 138 Student Living preference share advancing $1.98 to close at $99.98 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $2.50 to end at $99.
At the close, investors exchanged 20,722,918 shares in all three markets, down from 35,539,078 stocks on Monday. The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main Markets ended at $80.9 million, down from $139.59 million on Monday. 
Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors trading 174,417 shares for US$27,278, compared with 953,823 units at US$22,262 on Monday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 18.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.6.
times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
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 place them 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 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.
7 love for Trinidad Stock Exchange
Trading ended on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with the prices of seven stocks declining and 13 remaining unchanged with none recording gains even as the volume of stocks traded rose 18 percent with the value climbing 22 percent more than on Monday, resulting in 20 securities trading as was the case on Monday.
Investors exchanged 120,710 shares at $1,639,902 versus 102,180 stock units at $1,347,229 on Monday.
An average of 6,036 shares were traded at $81,995 compared to 5,109 shares at $67,361 on Monday. The average trade for July amounts to 36,525 shares at $302,493.
The Composite Index declined by 1.54 points to 1,246.33, the All T&T Index popped 0.92 points to 1,894.65, the SME Index remained at 70.47 and the Cross-Listed Index dipped 0.58 points to end at 77.33.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s shed 50 cents to end at $68 in an exchange of 1,394 shares, Angostura Holdings ended at $22.50 after a transfer of 2,392 units, Ansa McAl remained at $55 after 201 stock units were traded, Calypso Macro Investment Fund declined 10 cents in closing at $21.70, with 244 stocks changing hands, Endeavour Holdings remained at $13 while exchanging 75 units. First Citizens Group ended at $49 with an exchange of 1,635 shares, FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $7.04 with 800 stocks crossing the exchange, GraceKennedy remained at $3.40 as investors exchanged 27,970 stock units, Guardian Holdings ended at $19 with investors transferring 64 units.
JMMB Group fell 1 cent in closing at $1.34 with a transfer of 200 stocks, L.J. Williams B share closed at $2.70 with stakeholders exchanging 1,805 shares, Massy Holdings dipped 1 cent to $4.84 18,399 stock units passed through the market, National Enterprises ended at $4.11 after an exchange of 22,197 shares. NCB Financial closed at $3.45 with 10,249 stock units crossing the market, One Caribbean Media ended at $3.71 after an exchange of 81 units, Prestige Holdings dropped 8 cents in closing at $7.52 with 1,002 stocks changing hands. Republic Financial lost 50 cents and ended at $127 with 4,343 shares crossing the market, Scotiabank remained at $75.19 in trading 1,726 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 21 cents to close at $17.69 after an exchange of 11,896 units and Unilever Caribbean ended at $12.10 with shareholders swapping 14,037 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
