Investors pushed 22 stocks higher on Thursday and left 10 declining after 45 securities trading compared with 44 on Wednesday and ended with 13 closing unchanged with the market index jumping 50.05 points to 3,783.30, following a near 51 points gain over the previous two trading days and ended trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the volume and value of stocks traded declining 90 percent from trading on Wednesday.
A total of 10,388,698 shares changed hands for $24,745,282 compared to 99,492,688 units at $248,103,688 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 230,860 shares at $549,895, compared with 2,261,197 units at $5,638,720 on Wednesday. Trading month to date, averages 416,223 units at $983,962 compared to 428,507 stock units at $1,012,729 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 3.09 million shares for 29.7 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 1.10 million units for 10.6 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 1.05 million units for 10.1 percent of the day’s trade.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.8, 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied 50 cents and ended at $25 in an exchange of 185 units, AMG Packaging rallied 57 cents to $2.97 with traders dealing in 56,652 stocks, Blue Power climbed 28 cents to end at $2.94 after a transfer of 67 shares. Caribbean Cream rose 56 cents to $4.20, with 23,845 stock units changing hands, Derrimon Trading gained 12 cents to close at $2.01 with a transfer of 26 shares, Dolla Financial popped 9 cents to $2.60 after exchanging 217,112 stock units. Dolphin Cove advanced 10 cents to end at $17.10 with investors swapping 11,571 units, Fontana sank 14 cents to $10 in an exchange of 91,263 stocks, Honey Bun popped 14 cents and ended at $6.40 with investors trading 107 shares. ISP Finance rallied $4.15 to close at $29 with just 100 stock units clearing the market, Jamaican Teas increased 9 cents to $2.59 with investors transferring 48,336 stocks, J
etcon Corporation climbed 11 cents in closing at 90 cents in switching ownership of 530,832 units. KLE Group rose 40 cents to end at $1.90 while exchanging 784,660 shares, Knutsford Express advanced $1.20 to close at $12.60 with 300 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing skidded 14 cents and ended at $4.50 with an exchange of 11,703 units. Lumber Depot gained 10 cents and landed at $2.60, with 270,334 stock units crossing the market, MFS Capital Partners lost 27 cents in closing at $2 after an exchange of 173,637 shares, Paramount Trading shed 26 cents to end at $1.43 in trading 6,800 stocks. Spur Tree Spices jumped 44 cents and ended at $3.33 as investors exchanged 3,088,133 units and Tropical Battery increased 21 cents to close at $1.95 after investors ended trading 272,925 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Archives for December 2023
Trading drops prices rise on the Trinidad Exchange
Trading ended on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday, with more securities changing hands than the previous day but resulted in the volume of stocks traded declining by 75 percent, with the value 65 percent lower than on Wednesday resulting from trading in 20 securities up from 13 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 11 rising, seven declining and two remaining unchanged.
Investors exchanged 100,718 shares for $931,366 versus 407,014 stocks at $2,676,279 on Wednesday.
An average of 5,036 units were traded at $46,568 compared with 31,309 shares at $205,868 on Wednesday, with trading month to date averaging 17,254 shares at $249,160 compared with 18,102 units at $263,229 on the previous day. The average trade for November amounts to 19,241 shares at $227,402.
The Composite Index popped 2.56 points to lock up trading at 1,207.94, the All T&T Index gained 4.26 points to wrap up trading at 1,803.65, the SME Index fell 1.90 points to cease trading at 70.72 and the Cross-Listed Index rallied 0.10 points to cease trading at 79.84.
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, Agostini’s gained 35 cents to close at $68.50 with an exchange of 3,000 stocks, Angostura Holdings dipped $1.95 to close at $19.99, with 5,133 units changing hands, Ansa McAl popped $1 in closing at $55 with investors swapping 89 shares. Endeavour Holdings sank 40 cents to $13.10 in an exchange of 504 stock units, First Citizens Group rose 39 cents to $49.50 with trader dealing in 400 shares, FirstCaribbean International Bank declined 4 cents to $7.01 and closed with an exchange of 137 units. GraceKennedy popped 5 cents in closing at $4.16 after investors exchanged 40,000 stocks, Guardian Holdings rose 35 cents and ended at $18.60 with investors dealing in 850 stock units, L.J. Williams B share advanced 4 cents to close at $2.24 after a transfer of 1,000 shares. Massy Holdings shed 4 cents to end at $4.40 trading 16,099 units, National Enterprises ended at $4.15 with investors transferring 14,741 stocks, National Flour Mills fell 21 cents to $1.74, with 10,035 stock units crossing the market. 
One Caribbean Media rallied 10 cents to close at $3.50 as investors exchanged 17 shares, Prestige Holdings rose 5 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $9.30 with a transfer of 164 stock units, Republic Financial rallied $1.84 and ended at $122.84 after 1,642 units passed through the market. Scotiabank ended at $69.95 with investors trading 219 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL popped 5 cents in closing at $10.35 in an exchange of 1,912 units, Trinidad Cement climbed 14 cents to close at $3 with 4,515 shares clearing the market. Unilever Caribbean lost 5 cents to end at $11.20 in trading 235 stock units and West Indian Tobacco skidded 5 cents and ended at $8.95 after an exchange of 26 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks prices surged on the Jamaican Stock Exchange
All three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose on Thursday following the sharp jump on Wednesday as trading on the Main Market exceeded Wednesday levels as investors traded 54.7 million shares in that market for $833 million on Thursday. Trading fell off in the Junior Market but the index surged as did the all Jamaica Composite index as investors pushed the top 10 stocks up by more than $1 and as high as $4.48, while declining stock price changes were subdued.
A total of 65,137,916 shares, were traded in all three markets, from 132,966,020 units on Wednesday.
The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets totalled $857.26 million, down from $1.06 billion on Wednesday. The JSE USD market closed after 31,154 shares were traded for US$662 compared to 127,343 units at US$6,740 on Wednesday.
Carreras was one of a number of stocks dominating trading Thursday, with an exchange of 24.28 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.82 million units, Wisynco Group ended with 4.36 million units, Radio Jamaica, chipped in with 3.71 million stock units, NCB Financial closed with an exchange of 3.06 million shares and Scotia Group with 2.42 million units and in the Junior Market, Spur Tree Spices ended with an exchange of 3.09 million shares.
At the close of trading on Thursday, the JSE Combined Market Index jumped 4,106.46 points to 334,623.18, the All Jamaican Composite Index surged 6,057.90 points to 360,454.68, the JSE Main Index rallied 3,911.29 points to end trading at 321,471.63. The Junior Market Index surged 50.05 points to end at 3,783.30 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 1.89 points to wrap-up trading at 224.35.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share sank $17.10 in closing at $96.90.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.6 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 navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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.
Trading fell back on TTSE on Wednesday
Trading resumed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday, following the break for the Christmas holidays and ended with the volume of stocks traded declining 18 percent with the value 79 percent lower than on Friday resulting from trading in 13 securities compared with 15 on Friday, with the price of just one stock rising, four declining and eight remaining unchanged.
Investors exchanged 407,014 shares for $2,676,279 down from 498,663 stock units at $13,047,460 on Friday.
An average of 31,309 shares were traded at $205,868 down from 33,244 stock units at $869,831 on Friday. Trading for the month to date averages 18,102 shares at $263,234 compared with 17,478 units at $265,945 on the prior trading day. The average trade for November amounts to 19,241 shares at $227,402.
The Composite Index inched 1.04 points higher to end at 1,205.38, the All T&T Index rallied 2.01 points to close at 1,799.39, the SME Index remained at 72.62 and the Cross-Listed Index ended unchanged at 79.74.
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, Angostini’s slipped 35 cents to $68.15 with investors swapping 1,441 shares, CinemaOne ended at $7.20 with an exchange of 192,579 stock units, First Citizens Group shed 10 cents to end at $49.11 after 1,018 shares were traded. FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $7.05 after an exchange of 4,025 stock units, Guardian Media rose 19 cents and ended at $2.20 in trading 200 shares, L.J. Williams B share declined 4 cents to $2.20, with 2,570 stocks crossing the exchange. Massy Holdings ended at $4.44 in switching ownership of 6,142 units, 
National Enterprises ended at $4.15 with investors exchanging 176,055 stock units, Prestige Holdings closed at $9.25, with an exchange of 9,942 shares. Republic Financial lost $1.84 to end at $121 in an exchange of 832 stock units, Scotiabank slipped 4 cents to $69.95 in trading 475 units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL remained at $10.30 with investors trading 10,985 stocks and Unilever Caribbean dipped 10 cents in closing at $11.25 after 750 units changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Subdued trading on the JSE USD Market
Trading resumed on Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market after the break for the Christmas Holidays and ended with a 20 percent decline in the volume of stocks changing hands but with 146 percent greater value than on Friday, resulting in trading in six securities, similar to Friday and ended with prices of three stocks rising, one declining and two ending unchanged.
At the close of trading, 127,343 shares were exchanged at US$6,740 compared with 159,494 stock units at US$2,742 on Friday.
Trading ended with an average of 21,224 shares at US$1,123 compared to 26,582 shares at US$457 on Friday, with a month to date average of 28,258 units at US$1,365 compared with 28,793 stock units at US$1,383 previously. November ended with an average of 249,102 shares for US$14,204.
The US Denominated Equities Index added 1.32 points to close at 222.42.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.4. 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 one with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville rose 1.75 cents to close at 12.5 US cents in exchanging 95 shares, Proven Investments climbed 0.91 of one cent to 14.91 US cents after trading of 3,543 stocks, Sterling Investments popped 0.02 of a cent to close at 1.6 US cents with a transfer of 350 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 9 US cents after 8,525 stocks were exchanged and Transjamaican Highway ended at 1.6 US cents with a transfer of 114,502 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share dipped 50 cents to US$11, with 328 units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on JSE Main Market as prices rise
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 37 percent and the value surging 189 percent over trading on Friday, with 59 securities trading similar to trading on Friday and ended with prices of 24 stocks rising, 17 declining and 18 ending unchanged as JMMB Group traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $24.80.
Trading ended with an exchange of 33,345,989 shares for $814,176,218 compared with 24,406,102 units at $281,890,487 on Friday.
Trading averaged 565,186 shares at $13,799,597 up sharply from 413,663 units at $4,777,805 on Friday and month to date, an average of 186,000 stock units at $2,467,306 compared to 160,226 units at $1,697,024 that were previously traded. November ended with an average of 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.51 million shares for 22.5 percent of total volume followed by Sygnus Credit Investments with 5.88 million units for 17.6 percent of the day’s trade, Wisynco Group closed trading with 4.37 million units for 13.1 percent of the day’s volume, NCB Financial ended with 3.11 million units for 9.3 percent market share, Jamaica Producers closed with 2.84 million stock units for 8.5 percent trading and Caribbean Cement with 2.15 million units for 6.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 858.00 points to 354,396.78, the JSE Main Index increased 761.89 points to conclude trading at 317,560.34 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.13 points to settle at 68.65.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Eppley increased 49 cents to $35 with investors trading 1,415 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped $2.10 in closing at $40, with 820 units clearing the market, 
First Rock Real Estate fell $1.47 and ended at $6.02 with investors transferring 6,142 shares. Guardian Holdings popped $2.01 to close at $402, with 1,071 stock units crossing the market, Kingston Properties advanced 48 cents to $7.80 after investors traded 259,775 shares, Kingston Wharves skidded 35 cents to $26.65 after an exchange of 5,928 units. NCB Financial sank 90 cents to close at $65.10 with investors trading 3,108,015 stocks, Pan Jamaica rose $1.45 to end at $50.45 after 1,552,450 stock units passed through the market, Sagicor Group shed 30 cents in closing at $41.50 while exchanging 5,478 shares. Seprod climbed $2.49 and ended at $77.49, with investors trading 30,268 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined 50 cents to $9 in an exchange of 10,000 units and Wisynco Group rallied 50 cents in closing at $21 with traders dealing in 4,366,417 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Friday’s bulk trading returns to Junior Market
The large blocks of stocks in four companies that swelled trading on Friday dominated trading again on Wednesday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the overall volume and the value of stocks traded rising a mere one percent over trading on Friday with trading in 44 securities up from 40 on Friday and ended with prices of 18 rising, 15 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Mailpac Group was the leading trade with 50.06 million shares for 50.3 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas with 32.75 million units for 32.9 percent of the day’s trade, Future Energy chipped in with 10.59 million units for 10.6 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices with 2.34 million units for 2.4 percent of total volume.
The total amount of stocks traded was 99,492,688 for $248,103,688 up from 98,460,419 units at $245,339,629 on Friday.
Trading averaged 2,261,197 shares at $5,638,720, compared with 2,461,510 units at $6,133,491 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 428,507 units at $1,012,729 compared with 301,518 stock units at $692,188 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 5.11 points to end at 3,733.25.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, 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 two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 48 cents to $24.50 with 850,000 stock units clearing the market, AMG Packaging declined 30 cents and ended at $2.40 with traders dealing in 76 shares, Blue Power lost 36 cents to end at $2.66, with 1,000 stocks crossing the exchange. 
Cargo Handlers popped $1.84 in closing at $14.92 with investors trading 923 units, Dolphin Cove skidded 14 cents to close at $17 after an exchange of 701 stocks, Fontana advanced 16 cents to $10.14 with investors transferring 36,524 units. Honey Bun sank 14 cents to close at $6.26 in an exchange of 2,252 shares, Indies Pharma rose 14 cents and ended at $2.99, with 34,657 stock units crossing the market, ISP Finance shed $4.55 in closing at $24.85 with an exchange of 1,244 shares. Jamaican Teas climbed 19 cents to end at $2.50 after investors ended trading 32,747,972 stocks, Knutsford Express dropped $1.18 in closing at $11.40 while exchanging 5,852 units, Medical Disposables increased 20 cents to $2.70 in trading 6,000 stock units and Spur Tree Spices gained 39 cents to close at $2.89 with, 2,339,563 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading surge for Jamaican stocks
Trading surged again on Wednesday following the sharp jump on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with the value of stocks traded exceeding $1 billion, with trading ending with the Junior and The Main Market rising above the close on Friday, with the USD Market also closing higher as the Junior Market slipped to close out trading, with market activity ending with the volume and falling below Wednesday’s levels on the penultimate day before the Christmas break for the market.
A total of 132,966,020 shares, were traded in all three markets, up from 123,026,015 units on Friday.
The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounts to $1.06 billion compared with $527.23 million on Friday. The JSE USD market with 127,343 shares traded for US$6,740 compared to 159,494 units at US$2,742 on Friday.
Barita Investments was one of a number of stocks dominating trading, after an exchange of 1.84 million shares at $129 million, Caribbean Cement traded 2.15 million shares for $115.6 million, Mailpac Group trading 50.06 million shares for $103 million, Jamaican Teas ended with an exchange of 32.75 million units for $74.8 million, NCB Financial traded 3,108,015 shares at $202 million, Wisynco Group closed with 4.37 million shares for $93.8 million, Sygnus Credit Investments closed with 5.88 million at $62.9 million and Pan Jamaica had an exchange of 1.55 million shares for $76.7 million.
At the close of the market, Main Market stocks rallying were Seprod up $2.49, Guardian Holdings with a rise of $2.01, Pan Jamaica up $1.45 and Wisynco Group, up 50 cents. Declining Main Market stocks were Eppley Caribbean Property down $2.10 90 cents, First Rock Real Estate with a loss of $1.47 and NCB Financial with a fall of 90 cents.
Rising Junior Market stocks include Cargo handlers up $1.84, Spur Tree Spices gaining 39 cents and Medical Disposables up 20 cents. ISP Financial lost $4.55 and Knutsford Express fell $1.18.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 1,922.04 points to close at 330,516.72, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 858.00 points to 354,396.78, the JSE Main Index rallied 761.89 points to wrap-up trading at 317,560.34. The Junior Market Index popped 5.11 points to end the day at 3,733.25 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 1.36 points to conclude trading at 222.46.
In the preference segment, no stock traded with a notable price change.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.1 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 navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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.
Mostly price gains for ICTOP10
The Main Market of the JSE rose around two percent and Junior Market just under one percent for the week and led the top 10 mostly higher, with 7 Main Market and 4 Junior Market stocks rising with declining stocks recording losses of 4 percent or less, at the same time one stock moved out of the TOP10.
The Main Market ICTOP10 ended with, General Accident declined 11 percent to $4.50. Buying interest picked up during the week for Scotia Group pushing the stock to several 52 weeks’ highs and a rose of 7 percent for the week to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $38.40. This stock has much more juice left that should take it into the $40 range by early 2024. Caribbean Producers rallied 6 percent to $9, while Margaritaville also rose 6 percent and closed at $17 and Pulse Investments rose 5 percent to $2.09 and Key Insurance slipped 4 percent to $2.40.
The Junior Market ended the week, with AMG Packaging climbing 17 percent to $2.70, buying is not aggressive currently while supplies up to $3.15 is limited, with none on offer until $10. Investors should expect a big bounce in the first quarter profits due by mid-January. The company states that they are exploring the possibility of new equipment and expanded facilities that could shape a future expansion of momentous proportions. Caribbean Cream rose 10 percent to $3.64 and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 9 percent and dropped out of the TOP10 and is replaced by Tropical Battery. There were no notable declines at the end of the week.
There was no new addition to the IC Main Market TOP10.
Indications of where stock prices could be by May 2024 can be seen from stocks with the highest values in the Main and Junior Markets.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.3, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 288 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings and now provides better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 195 percent over the same time frame.
In the Main Market ICTOP10, 15 of the most highly valued stocks, 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 29 and 18 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7, just over half of the market, with an average of 13.2. There are 14 stocks, or 29 percent of the market, with PEsfrom 15 to 49, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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 will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 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 and result 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.
Big trading day for JSE Main Market
Trading jumped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded jumping 230 percent and the value 540 percent more than on Thursday, with 59 securities trading compared with 54 on Thursday, with 28 rising, 15 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
Overall, 24,406,102 shares were traded for $281,890,487 up from 7,395,292 units at $44,075,720 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 413,663 shares at $4,777,805 compared to 136,950 units at $816,217 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 160,226 units at $1,697,024 compared to 141,743 units at $1,472,344 on the previous day, down from November with an average of 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
JMMB Group 7.5% led trading with 10.0 million shares for 41 percent of the total volume followed by Sygnus Credit Investments with 5.84 million units for 23.9 percent of the day’s trade, Jamaica Producers chipped in with 2.87 million units for 11.8 percent market share, Pan Jamaica ended with 1.50 million units for 6.1 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.07 million units for 4.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,555.49 points to 353,538.78, the JSE Main Index climbed 812.63 points to end at 316,798.45 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.14 points to conclude trading at 68.78.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1. 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Carreras advanced 34 cents to $8.49 with traders dealing in 294,083 shares, Eppley skidded $4.48 and ended at $34.51 while exchanging 605 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $2.60 in closing at $42.10 with a transfer of 5,795 units. GraceKennedy rallied $3.59 to close at $79.99 after exchanging 88,239 stock units, Jamaica Producers lost $1.47 to end at $22.25 after 2,872,038 shares passed through the market, Key Insurance increased 30 cents in closing at $2.40 with an exchange of 2 units. Kingston Properties climbed 39 cents to $7.32 after investors traded 6,242 stocks, 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped 88 cents and ended at $89.89 after an exchange of 6 stock units, NCB Financial gained 60 cents to close at $66 with investors trading 12,768 shares. Sagicor Group rose 30 cents to end at $41.80, with 1,104 units crossing the market, Scotia Group gained 90 cents to end at $38.40 with investors trading 37,378 stocks, Seprod popped $1 to close at $75, with 313,626 units crossing the market and Wisynco Group climbed 50 cents in closing at $20.50 after a transfer of 15,192 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% increased $4 to end at $45 with 7,103 stock units clearing the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share advanced $4.50 and ended at $120 in switching ownership of 5 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
