Rising stocks closed trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the ascendancy on Monday, with trading in 42 securities compared with 43 on Friday as the market closed with prices of 19 rising, 11 declining and 12 closing unchanged, following a 64 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded valued 58 percent less than on Friday.
Investors traded 2,456,405 shares for $5,558,360, down sharply compared to 6,875,037 units at $13,226,821 on Friday.
Trading averaged 58,486 shares at $132,342, well below 159,885 units at $307,600 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 202,969 units at $447,761 compared with 211,159 stock units at $465,639 previously and well down from October with an average of 361,392 units at $863,984.
One Great Studio led trading with 551,203 shares for 22.4 percent of total volume followed by Lumber Depot with 306,320 units for 12.5 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 272,877 units for 11.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 22.19 points to close at 3,709.40.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
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, Caribbean Cream shed 60 cents to end at $3.10, with just 194 stocks changing hands, as demand for the stock remains extremely low, Derrimon Trading advanced 12 cents to $2.17 in trading 18,830 units, Dolphin Cove rose $1.39 and ended at $17.90 after closing with an exchange of 703 shares. EduFocal popped 10 cents in closing at $2 in an exchange of 43,106 stock units, Express Catering increased 25 cents to close at $4 with investors trading 9,979 shares, 
Fontana dropped 29 cents to $10.31 with a transfer of 97,904 stock units. Honey Bun fell 26 cents to $6 while exchanging 35,831 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance popped 45 cents in closing at $2.65 with traders dealing in just one stock unit, Jamaican Teas gained 10 cents and ended at $2.45 with 3,122 shares clearing the market. Jetcon Corporation rallied 12 cents to 85 cents with shareholders swapping 1,500 stock units, JFP Ltd popped 8 cents to $1.45 in an exchange of 88,280 stocks, Knutsford Express dropped $1.09 in closing at $11.11after 6,301 units crossed the market. Lasco Distributors lost 9 cents to end at $4.10 after a transfer of 7,251 stocks, Limners and Bards declined 9 cents to close at $1.61, with 9,159 units crossing the exchange,
Main Event gained 47 cents and ended at $13.99 with investors transferring 256 shares and Spur Tree Spices rose 10 cents to $2.20 after an exchange of 272,877 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Archives for November 2023
Highest weekly November close for Main Market
Stocks finished at their highest weekly close for November at the close of trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, following a moderate decline in the volume of stocks traded declining but with the value surging 200 percent more than on Thursday, with trading in 55 securities compared with 54 on Thursday, resulting in prices of 22 rising, 13 declining and 20 ending unchanged.
A total of 11,457,646 shares were traded at $107,505,758 compared with 12,874,056 units at $35,782,868 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 208,321 shares at $1,954,650 compared to 238,408 units at $662,646 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 299,466 units at $2,634,962 compared to 304,788 units at $2,674,683 on the previous day, up from October with an average of 214,410 units at $1,325,907.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.99 million shares for 17.4 percent of total volume followed by Sygnus Credit Investments with 1.73 million units for 15.1 percent of the day’s trade, Wisynco Group with 1.69 million units for 14.8 percent market share, JMMB Group 7.5% with 1.64 million units for 14.3 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.13 million units for 9.8 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,405.50 points to wrap up trading at 352,307.77, the JSE Main 
Index rallied 1,073.03 points to close trading at 315,890.19 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.28 points to 68.75.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers, an indicator pointing to a higher market opening on Monday.
At the close, Berger Paints lost 69 cents to close at $6.01 with shareholders swapping 50 stock units, Caribbean Cement dropped $3.80 to $51.20 in trading 109,512 shares, Eppley fell 30 cents to end at $33, with 3,604 stocks changing hands. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $3.25 in closing at $39.50 as investors exchanged 3,625 units, General Accident increased 58 cents and ended at $5.15 with 27,352 stocks clearing the market, Guardian Holdings dipped $1 to $410 with traders dealing in 16,088 shares. 
Jamaica Broilers shed 88 cents to end at $34 after 37,432 stocks passed through the market, Jamaica Producers popped 98 cents in closing at $22.98 in switching ownership of 157,497 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 25 cents to close at $9.25, with 1,158 shares crossing the market. Key Insurance rose 25 cents and ended at $2.50 while exchanging 163,000 stock units, Kingston Wharves advanced $1.98 to $28.49, with 700 units crossing the market, Mayberry Investments rallied 58 cents to end at $7.80 in an exchange of 8,001 stocks. Proven Investments popped $2.53 in closing at $25.04 with investors dealing in 1,908 shares, Sagicor Group climbed $1.08 and ended at $41.20 with a transfer of 52,723 stock units, Scotia Group increased 55 cents to close at $34.48 after 35,464 stocks crossed the exchange. Sterling Investments rose 31 cents to $2.60 in trading 586 units, 
Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 50 cents and ended at $12 in an exchange of 1,727,489 shares and Wisynco Group gained $2.30 in closing at $21.50 after an exchange of 1,691,440 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market holds steady as trading jumps
The volume and value of stock trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged on Friday, with the volume jumping 141 percent and the value 94 percent more than Thursday from trading in 43 securities up from 40 on Thursday and ended with prices of 15 rising, 17 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 6,875,037 shares for $13,226,821 compared with 2,849,667 units at $6,817,105 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 159,885 shares at $307,600, compared with 71,242 units at $170,428 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 211,159 units at $465,639 compared with 214,317 stock units at $475,375 on the previous day, well below October that closed with an average of 361,392 units at $863,984.
One Great Studio led trading with 2 million shares for 29.2 percent of total volume followed by Mailpac Group with 996,106 units for 14.5 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 606,091 units for 8.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 4.15 points to end the day at 3,687.21.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, 
based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around 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, Access Financial fell 90 cents to end at $24.10 after 14,170 stocks passed through the exchange, Dolphin Cove declined $1.49 in closing at $16.51 with investors transferring 25,910 units, EduFocal shed 10 cents to close at 1.90 in an exchange of 138,572 shares. Everything Fresh rallied 8 cents to $1.54 after trading ended with 22 stock units changing hands, Express Catering dropped 25 cents and ended at $3.75 with an exchange of 107,961 shares, Fontana declined by 29 cents to $10.60 after 62,092 stock units passed through the market.
Fosrich dipped 37 cents and ended at $2.13 after exchanging 606,091 stock units, iCreate increased 9 cents to close at 75 cents with 95,490 stocks clearing the market, Indies Pharma popped 15 cents in closing at $2.94 with stakeholders exchanging 15,852 shares. Jamaican Teas gained 15 cents to end at $2.35 after a transfer of 393,980 stock units, Knutsford Express rose $1.09 to $12.20 as investors exchanged 432 stocks, Lasco Distributors advanced 43 cents and ended at $4.19, with 121,459 units changing hands. Lumber Depot climbed 10 cents to end at $2.60 after an exchange of 23,995 shares, 
Mailpac Group skidded 13 cents in closing at $2 with investors dealing in 996,106 stock units and MFS Capital Partners fell 9 cents to close at $1.91 while exchanging 450 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD Market inched forward
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with a 26 percent fall in the volume of stocks changing hands with a 24 percent greater value than on Thursday and resulted in trading taking place in five securities, compared to three on Thursday with two rising, two declining and one ending unchanged.
Overall, 256,238 shares were traded, for US$8,090 compared to 345,389 units at US$6,537 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 51,248 units at US$1,618, versus 115,130 shares at US$2,179 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 76,993 shares at US$4,598 compared with 78,208 units at US$4,738 on the previous day. October ended with an average of 47,977 units for US$4,392.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 0.19 points to end at 225.22.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.5. 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 and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Proven Investments popped 0.97 of one cent to end at 15.98 US cents as investors exchanged 15,350 stock units, Sterling Investments skidded 0.2 of a cent to 1.5 US cents with shareholders swapping 708 shares and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.09 of a cent to close at 1.51 US cents in an exchange of 239,251 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% advanced 28.5 cents in closing at US$2.185 with investors dealing in 848 stocks and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1 with 81 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market rises as Juniors struggle
All three markets closed higher at the end of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with the Main Market enjoying a solid rise as the Junior Market inched higher for a second day and the JSE USD Market popped marginally higher, with an increase in the value and volume of stocks traded compared to Thursday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rallied 1,042.73 points to 328,547.74, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,405.50 points to conclude trading at 352,307.77, with the JSE Main Index gained 1,073.03 points to end trading at 315,890.19. The Junior Market Index rose a mere 4.15 points to close at 3,687.21 and the JSE USD Market Index added 0.19 points to close at 225.22.
Investors traded 18,588,921 shares, in all three markets compared with 16,069,112 units on Thursday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ended at $120.73 million from just $42.6 million on Thursday. The JSE USD market closed after 256,238 shares were traded, for US$8,090 compared to 345,389 units at US$6,537 on Thursday.
In the preference segment, there were no stocks trading with notable price movements.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, 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 quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. 
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.
Falling stocks overwhelms on Trinidad Exchange
Falling stocks beat out those rising by a wide margin in trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 18 percent but with a 50 percent lower value than on Thursday and resulting in trading of 17 securities down from 20 on Thursday and ended with prices of two stocks rising, nine declining and six remaining unchanged as one stock traded at a 52 weeks’ high and two at 52 weeks’ lows.
Investors exchanged 350,108 shares for $1,555,401 compared with 297,021 stock units at $3,111,188 on Thursday.
An average of 20,595 units were traded at $91,494 compared to 14,851 shares at $155,559 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 16,820 shares at $211,502 compared with 16,593 units at $218,711 on the previous day. The average trade for October amounts to 15,711 shares at $151,451.
The Composite Index lost 1.78 points to finish at 1,195.48, the All T&T Index skidded 3.65 points to end at 1,811.24, the SME Index remained unchanged at 72.38 and the Cross-Listed Index rose 0.03 points to end at 75.11.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s dropped 95 cents and ended at $67.50 with an exchange of 288 units, Angostura Holdings remained at $22.15, with 61 stocks crossing the market, First Citizens Group lost 15 cents to close at $49.10 with an exchange of 2,533 stock units. FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $7 after 1,900 stock units crossed the exchange, GraceKennedy ended at $3.90 in trading 281 shares, JMMB Group remained at $1.41 after 118,348 units passed through the market. L.J. Williams B share dipped 21 cents to end at $2.05 after an exchange of 1,120 stocks, Massy Holdings fell 10 cents in closing at $4.40 after 71,884 stock units were traded, National Enterprises rallied 1 cent and ended at $3.55, with 1,244 shares changing hands. NCB Financial remained at $2.85 in an exchange of 139,965 stocks, Point Lisas increased 10 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $3.60 with shareholders swapping 2,016 units, Prestige Holdings declined 5 cents to close at $11.25 as investors exchanged 41 stock units. 
Republic Financial shed 50 cents and ended at $120 in switching ownership of 3,528 shares, Scotiabank skidded 1 cent in closing at $70.99 with an exchange of 15 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL lost 22 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $10.60, with 4,861 units clearing the market. Unilever Caribbean ended at $11.48 with investors trading 23 stock units and West Indian Tobacco shed 26 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.25 after an exchange of 2,000 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big bounce for JSE Main Market
Trading activity dropped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, but the market put on a spirited rally, with the volume of stocks traded declining 76 percent and the value 97 percent lower than on Wednesday, following trading in 54 securities compared with 53 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 23 stocks rising, 17 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
A total of 12,874,056 shares were traded for $35,782,868 down sharply compared with 54,394,461 units at $1,087,515,284 previously.
Trading averaged 238,408 shares at $662,646 compared to 1,026,311 units at $20,519,156 on the previous day. Trading month to date, averages 304,788 stocks at $2,674,683 down from 308,824 units at $2,797,036 on the previous day. Trading in October averaged 214,410 units at $1,325,907.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 9.74 million shares for 75.6 percent of total volume and was followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.46 million units for 11.4 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 323,017 units for 2.5 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 3,739.69 points to 349,902.27, the JSE Main Index surged 4,376.18 points to finish at 314,817.16 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.76 points to 68.47.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints skidded 40 cents to close at $6.70 with an exchange of 102,044 units, Caribbean Cement gained $1.05 to end at $55, with 552 stocks crossing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost $2.25 and ended at $36.25 with traders dealing in 100 shares. First Rock Real Estate declined $1.20 in closing at $6.80 while exchanging 172 stock units, GraceKennedy fell $1.50 to end at $75.50 after a transfer of 18,277 shares, Guardian Holdings dipped $1 in closing at $411 as investors exchanged 119 stock units. Jamaica Broilers popped 88 cents to $34.88 after trading 30,156 stocks, JMMB Group increased 90 cents to end at $26.40 after an exchange of 226,028 units, Key Insurance shed 25 cents and ended at $2.25 after 2,037 stocks passed through the market.
Kingston Properties climbed 26 cents to close at $6.99 in an exchange of 4,130 units, Massy Holdings rose $4.70 to $90, with 4,339 shares clearing the market, Mayberry Investments dropped 93 cents to end at $7.22 with stakeholders exchanging 8,400 stock units. NCB Financial rallied $1 in closing at $69 in trading 40,922 shares, Pan Jamaica advanced $4.46 and ended at $50.46, with 8,417 stock units crossing the exchange, Proven Investments fell $1.22 to close at $22.51 in switching ownership of 133 units. Scotia Group popped 52 cents to $33.93 after an exchange of 11,642 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments declined 50 cents to close at $11.50, with 10,050 units crossing the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance lost $1.79 and ended at $8.90 with a transfer of 8,800 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed 50 cents in closing at $6, with 1,445 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market inched higher on lower volume
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 61 percent and the value 51 percent lower than Wednesday with trading in 40 securities compared with 41 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 14 rising, 15 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 2,849,667 shares at $6,817,105 compared to 7,357,254 units at $14,031,936 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 71,242 shares at $170,428, compared with 179,445 units at $342,242 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date averages 214,317 units at $475,375 compared to 223,015 stock units at $493,913 on the previous day, well below October with an average of 361,392 units at $863,984.
Fosrich led trading with 345,827 shares for 12.1 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 328,382 units for 11.5 percent of the day’s trade and Elite Diagnostic with 266,876 units for 9.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 5.21 points to conclude trading at 3,683.06.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, 
based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging dropped 33 cents and ended at $2.12, with 3,400 stocks clearing the market, Blue Power lost 13 cents at $3.17 with a transfer of 1,000 units, Caribbean Cream popped 31 cents to close at $3.70 with investors dealing in a mere 7 shares. Caribbean Flavours gained 11 cents to end at $1.39 in an exchange of 191,522 stock units, Derrimon Trading rose 10 cents in closing at $2.10 with traders dealing in 11,129 shares, Dolla Financial declined 11 cents to $2.43, with 240,998 units crossing the market. Dolphin Cove climbed 45 cents to end at $18 after an exchange of 27,391 stocks, Elite Diagnostic gained 12 cents in closing at $1.71 in trading 266,876 stock units, 
Fosrich rallied 32 cents to close at $2.50 after an exchange of 345,827 shares. Honey Bun shed 10 cents and ended at $6.26 in switching ownership of 7,777 stocks, Jamaican Teas advanced 10 cents to $2.20, with 12,962 units crossing the exchange, Jetcon Corporation fell 13 cents and ended at 73 cents with shareholders swapping 1,446 stocks. Knutsford Express skidded $1.29 to end at $11.11 in an exchange of 847 shares, Lasco Distributors rose 25 cents in closing at $3.76, with 73,557 units crossing the market, Lumber Depot dipped 12 cents to close at $2.50 with stakeholders exchanging 218,581 stocks. Paramount Trading climbed 18 cents to $1.68, with just 34 stock units changing hands, 
Spur Tree Spices increased 8 cents to $2.16 with an exchange of 25,087 shares and tTech lost 15 cents in closing at $2.10 after investors ended trading 5,100 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
NCB profit plunges 56% for 2023 fiscal year
Profit at NCB Financial Group plunged a sharp 56 percent to $15.3 billion for the year to September 2023, from $35 billion in 2022. Consolidated net profit attributable to the Group’s stockholders amounts to $7.6 billion, a reduction of 68 percent from $23.9 billion the previous year.
For the September 2023 quarter, the Group reported a disappointing net profit of $1.6 billion, down 83 percent from $9.3 billion in 2022, but the Group’s stockholders hugged up a loss of $2.1 billion in the quarter compared with a profit of $5.2 billion for the September 2022 quarter.
NCB Financial Group Head Office
The results translate to negative earnings per share of 92 cents in the fourth quarter and positive earnings of $3.30 for the year, down from $2.28 and $10.39 for 2022 respectively.
The Group incurred a large charge for staff changes but in a typical investor unfriendly manner, the directors kept this important information from shareholders, leaving them to guess what the one off cost is and what normalised earnings are and could be going forward. The financial statements show staff costs jumping $7 billion in the final quarter over the June quarter and other operating expenses climbing by $4.5 billion for the same period suggesting that the charges for staff separation and compensation for the two former top executives would be in the range of $11 billion.
The group segments show mixed fortunes during the recently completed fiscal year, with the Consumer and SME Banking segment suffering a loss in the year from the generation of revenues net of interest cost of $34.9 billion, up from $32.8 billion in 2022 and an Operating loss of $719 million, with net results of $58 million in 2022. Payment Services contributed $17.8 billion in revenues net of interest cost, with net segment results of $1.5 billion, down from $2.25 billion in operating profit in 2022, following net revenues of $14.2 billion.
Corporate and Commercial Banking had a year with modestly higher revenues, with net income of $10.8 billion after interest expenses and a profit of $6.2 billion compared with 2022 with net revenues of $10.2 billion and segment profit of $6.66 billion.
The Treasury and Correspondent Banking segment generated revenues net of interest charges amounting to $13.26 billion, down from $14.9 billion in 2022, with an operating profit of $9.9 billion in 2023 versus $12.4 billion in 2022. Wealth, Asset Management and Investment Banking contributed revenues of $15.7 billion net of interest and $16 billion in 2022 with segment results of $8.8 billion in 2023 and $9.2 billion in 2022.
NCB branch in Montego Bay.
Life and Health Insurance and Pension Fund Management ended with net revenues of $40.5 billion in 2023, down sharply from $53.7 billion in 2022, with segment results of $21.5 billion in 2023, collapsing from $32.8 billion in 2022. The General Insurance segment had a great year as revenues hit $24.2 billion net of interest cost compared to $19.3 billion in 2022 with net results surging to $11.6 billion from $5.8 billion in 2022.
The Group’s loans and advances, net of credit impairment losses, totalled $614 billion, an increase of 6 percent over $581 billion in the prior year. According to the directors’ report, “Non-performing loans totalled $25.7 billion, which led to an improvement in the non-performing loan ratio, decreasing to 4.1 percent, from 4.4 percent in the prior year.”
At the end of the year, deposits totalled $748 billion, versus $715 billion in the prior year. Investment and pledged securities amount to $110 billion up from $96.8 billion in 2022.
Stockholders’ equity rose to $170 billion, from $146 billion. The improvement flowed from profit for the year as well as a partial reversal of investment losses in the previous year, with the current year delivering a surplus of $15.7 billion compared with a loss of $47.5 billion in 2022.
On the surface, the reported results are disappointing but investors should be looking beyond them knowing that a significant amount of the cost in the last quarter is unlikely to recur in 2024 while the revenues remain intact and should grow all things being equal.
The Group declared a dividend of 50 cents payable in December, this is a reduction from the amount of $1 last paid in February 2020.
Minor slippage in JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 6 percent, with a value marginally more than on Wednesday, resulting in trading of three securities, compared to six on Wednesday with one rising, one declining and one ending unchanged.
At the close of the market, 345,389 shares were traded, for US$6,537 compared with 368,630 units at US$6,490 on Wednesday.s
Trading ended with an average of 15,130 shares at US$2,179 versus 61,438 units at US$1,082 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date average 78,208 shares at US$4,738 compared with 77,132 units at US$4,813 on the previous day. October ended with an average of 47,977 units for US$4,392.
The US Denominated Equities Index shed 0.87 points to lock up trading at 225.03.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.6. 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 and or around 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, Margaritaville fell 0.3 of a cent to 12 US cents in switching ownership of 10,000 stocks, Proven Investments inched 0.01 of a cent higher to 15.01 US cents with investors trading 83 units and Transjamaican Highway ended at 1.6 US cents as 335,306 shares passed through the market .
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
