Trading ended on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 83 percent, with the value 68 percent lower than on Wednesday, resulting in the trading of 21 securities compared with 22 on Wednesday and ending with prices of six stocks rising, four declining and 11 remaining unchanged.
Trading closed with an exchange of 241,363 shares for $3,383,480 versus 1,416,843 stocks at $10,593,318 on Wednesday.
An average of 11,493 shares were traded at $161,118 down from 64,402 stocks at $481,514 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date averages 18,437 shares at $188,430 compared to 18,907 units at $190,281 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 28,236 shares at $236,496.
The Composite Index dipped 1.79 points to 1,186.96, the All T&T Index dropped 3.46 points to 1,791.60, the SME Index remained unchanged at 77.71 and the Cross-Listed Index remained unchanged at 75.57.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s climbed $2 to close at $71 as investors exchanged 510 stock units, Angostura Holdings popped 15 cents to $22.95 after 130 shares passed through the market, Ansa McAl fell 99 cents to end at $55.01 after an exchange of 3,700 units. 
Ansa Merchant Bank remained at $45.30 with investors swapping 5 stocks, Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $22.75 in swapping 5,100 shares, First Citizens Group remained at $48.30 after a transfer of 658 stocks. FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $6.95 with 10,000 stock units being traded, GraceKennedy gained 5 cents in closing at $4.05 with investors trading 58,200 stocks, Guardian Holdings remained at $18.05 in an exchange of 25 shares. Guardian Media ended at $1.98 after trading of 5 stock units, L.J. Williams B share shed 29 cents and ended at $1.70 after an exchange of 700 stocks, Massy Holdings rose 2 cents to close at $4.35 with a transfer of 42,346 units. National Enterprises remained at $3.85 after 971 stocks changed hands, 
National Flour Mills ended at $2.20 in an exchange of 12,307 units, Prestige Holdings remained at $13, with 262 shares crossing the market. Republic Financial gained 6 cents in closing at $118.27 with traders dealing in 12,219 stocks, Scotiabank ended at $67.50, after 1,997 shares changed hands, Trinidad & Tobago NGL advanced 9 cents to close at $8.59 with 2,244 units crossing the exchange. Trinidad Cement sank 5 cents to $2.70 with investors dealing in 16,000 stock units, Unilever Caribbean dropped 10 cents to close at $11.20 after 41,042 stock units crossed the market and West Indian Tobacco ended at $11.15 with an exchange of 32,942 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Archives for April 2024
Rising stocks beat decliners on Trinidad Exchange
JSE USD Market drops
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Thursday, with a 29 percent decline in the volume of stocks that changed hands following a 25 percent drop in value compared with market activity on Wednesday, resulting in trading in eight securities, compared to eight on Wednesday with prices of two rising, four declining and two ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 257,793 shares for US$17,324 down from 363,343 stock units at US$23,058 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 32,224 units at US$2,166 versus 45,418 shares at US$2,882 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 38,643 shares at US$2,342 compared with 39,018 units at US$2,352 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index skidded 1.80 points to cease trading at 237.54.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.6. 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, AS Bryden ended at 22.49 US cents and closed after an exchange of 284 shares, Proven Investments declined 1.02 cents to 13.65 US cents after an exchange of 470 shares, Sterling Investments rose 0.1 of a cent to finish at 1.6 US cents with a transfer of 21,000 stocks. 
Sygnus Credit Investments shed 0.01of a cent and ended at 8.79 US cents after an exchange of 2,990 units and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.01 of a cent to close at 2.03 US cents with 230,228 stocks clearing the market.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share ended at US$1.20 with an exchange of 1,900 units. Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share rallied 19 cents to US$11.21, with 164 shares crossing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% skidded 40 cents to close at US$10.20 with investors transferring 757 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market jumps Junior market limps higher
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed at the end of trading on Thursday as the Junior Market inched higher and JSE USD market closed lower as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands rising, with the value dropping sharply from the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 21 shares rising and 39 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed by 2,382.17 points to 332,588.34, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 3,179.32 points to end at 356,115.39, the JSE Main Index jumped 2,452.20 points to end at 319,603.89. The Junior Market Index rose 4.51 points to settle at 3,760.71 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 3.34 points to cease trading at 237.54.
At the close of trading, 18,221,035 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 16,963,120 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $39.79 million, which below the $53.75, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 257,793 shares for US$17,324 compared to 363,343 units at US$23,058 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, JMMB 9.5% preference share led trading with 9.03 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.27 million stock units and Wigton Windfarm with 1.48 million units.
While in Junior Market trading, Dolla Financial led trading with 1.09 million shares followed by Spur Tree Spices with 789,268 stocks and Fosrich with 589,091 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share declined $165 and ended at $1,035 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% advanced $4 in closing at $108.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.4. times those for 2024-25 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
BOJ engineers cut in CDs interest rates
Interest rates on Bank of Jamaica dropped to an average of 10.6 percent at the latest CD auction on Wednesday, April 24, following an offer of $34.5 billion to the public in a competitive price auction. The previous auction of $39 5 billion attracted only $37.8 billion in bids, resulting in an average rate of 11.032 percent.
In today’s auction bids amounting to just over $55 billion were received from 399 applications but only 257 were satisfied, with rates ranging from 9 to 11 percent. The latest offer brings the total amount of 30 days CDS to $125.7 billion which is down sharply from $155 billion on April 5, this year with the averaget rate then of 11.59 percent.
On April 22 the bank offered $14 billion in a 25 month CD that attracted $29 billion in bids and resulted in an average rate of 8.93 percent and put the total amounts in two year CDs to nearly $60 billion.
Increased spending on JSE USD stocks
A total of 140 percent more funds passed through the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Wednesday, but bought fewer shares than on Tuesday, resulting in trading in eight securities, up from five on Tuesday with prices of three rising, three declining and two ending unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 363,343 shares for US$23,058 compared to 384,592 units at US$9,594 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 45,418 units at US$2,882 versus 76,918 shares Aat US$1,919 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 39,018 shares at US$2,352 compared with 38,621 units at US$2,319 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index sank 3.56 points to lock up trading at 239.34.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.6. 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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AS Bryden ended at 22.49 US cents with investors trading 443 shares, First Rock Real Estate USD share climbed 0.45 of one cent and ended at 4.95 US cents after an exchange of 9,330 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy remained at 61 US cents, with 14 shares crossing the market. 
Proven Investments sank 0.03 of a cent to end at 14.67 US cents with an exchange of 40,533 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.8 of one cent in closing at 8.8 US cents after 118,886 shares passed through the market and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.06 of a cent to close at 2.04 US cents in switching ownership of 193,930 stocks.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share advanced 2 cents to US$11.02 with investors swapping 186 units and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% fell 10 cents to end at US$10.60 with a transfer of 21 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Moderate Main Market activity
Lacklustre trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended with more shares rising than falling, resulting in moderate movement in the market Indices on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising marginally and the value 14 percent lower than on Tuesday, resulting from trading in 57 securities compared with 55 on Tuesday, with prices of 23 stocks rising, 14 declining and 20 ending unchanged.
The market closed on Wednesday with trading of 13,267,148 shares carrying a value of $45,775,484 compared with 13,015,565 units at $53,310,714 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 232,757 shares for $803,079 compared to 236,647 units at $969,286 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 749,831 stocks at $4,095,302 compared to 780,216 units at $4,288,763 on the previous day and March that closed with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 led trading with 5.56 million shares for 41.9 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.37 million units for 17.9 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.05 million stocks for 15.5 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.48 million stock units for 11.1 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 967.20 points to wrap up trading at 352,936.07, the JSE Main Index skidded 87.43 points to conclude trading at 317,151.69 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.11 points to end the day at 67.61.
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 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 17 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden sank $3.79 and ended at $33.31 in switching ownership of 542 shares, First Rock Real Estate gained $1.39 to close at $9.50 with traders dealing in 2,488 shares, Guardian Holdings rose $9.50 to finish at $369.50 in an exchange of 212 stocks. Jamaica Broilers slipped $1.30 to end at $31.50 with 10,344 units clearing the market, Jamaica Producers climbed 88 cents in closing at $22.88 with a transfer of 42 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 69 cents to close at $10.51 after an exchange of 19,383 stock units. 
Kingston Properties increased 32 cents to $8.07 in trading 5,223 stock units, Massy Holdings popped $1.61 to end at $90.16, with 50,020 units crossing the exchange, NCB Financial rallied 38 cents in closing at $60.50, with 3,582 shares changing hands. Pan Jamaica rallied $2.83 to finish at $47 after investors ended trading 3,375 stock units, Proven Investments rose $3.43 and ended at $21.44 with 28,321 stocks changing hands, Sagicor Group rallied 50 cents to close at $41 after an exchange of 24,698 units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance shed 61 cents to close at $11.89 with investors swapping 69 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Rising Junior Market stocks beat losers
Rising Junior Market stock edged out those declining at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with trading in 41 securities compared with 43 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 12 declining and 14 closing unchanged after a 33 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a modest rise in value over that on Tuesday.
The market closed with trading of 3,333,072 shares with a value of $7,971,094 compared with 4,944,789 units at $7,691,275 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 81,294 shares at $194,417 compared to 114,995 units at $178,867 on Tuesday with a month to date average of 200,800 units at $445,155 compared to 207,840 stock units at $459,926 on the previous day and March averaging 221,659 units at $464,382.
Dolla Financial led trading with 1.40 million shares for 42.1 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 605,087 units for 18.2 percent of the day’s trade and Tropical Battery with 449,373 units for 13.5 percent market share.
The Junior Market Index increased 11.36 points to end at 3,756.20 at the close of trading.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
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 $1.11 to finish at $20 after a transfer of 20,025 shares, CAC 2000 popped 40 cents to $4.24 in switching ownership of 12 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers increased 6 cents in closing at $2.26 with investors dealing in 5,347 shares. Dolphin Cove declined 60 cents to close at $18.60 after an exchange of 5,864 stock units, Fontana climbed 26 cents and ended at $8.96 with an exchange of 11,738 shares, GWest Corporation rose 6 cents to end at $1.01 with investors transferring 2,955 units. Honey Bun shed 56 cents in closing at $7.43 with 4,471 stocks passing through the market, Indies Pharma advanced 23 cents to $2.68 after exchanging 4,638 stock units, 
Jamaican Teas gained 17 cents to close at $2.45 with 49,780 shares clearing the market. Knutsford Express sank 10 cents to end at $11.80 after investors ended trading 1,729 stock units, Lasco Financial rallied 37 cents to finish at $1.89, with just 800 units changing hands, Mailpac Group rose 7 cents and ended at $2.01 after an exchange of 3,766 stock units. Main Event dropped 88 cents to $13.01, with 13,670 units crossing the market, MFS Capital Partners advanced 17 cents after hitting an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $1.10 but ended at $1.47 with a transfer of 605,087 stocks and Tropical Battery popped 14 cents to close at $2.30 as investors exchanged 449,373 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Dull trading on the JSE Markets
Junior Market stocks posted gains at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday reversing two consecutive days of decline but still leaving the market below Tuesday’s opening, while the Main Market and the JSE USD slipped marginally lower than the close on Tuesday, with the number of shares and their value changing hands falling below that those on the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 33 shares rising and 25 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index slipped 4.61 points to close at 330,206.17, the All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 967.20 points to 352,936.07, the JSE Main Index slipped 87.43 points to end trading at 317,151.69. The Junior Market Index advanced 11.36 points to 3,756.20 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 0.46 points to conclude trading at 240.88.
At the close of trading, 16,963,120 shares were exchanged in all three markets, from 18,324,325 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $53.75 million, below the $60.94 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 363,343 shares for US$23,058 compared to 384,592 units at US$9,594 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 led trading with 5.56 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.37 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.05 million stock units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.48 million shares.
While in Junior Market trading, Dolla Financial led trading with 1.40 million shares followed by MFS Capital Partners with 605,087 units and Tropical Battery with 449,373 stocks.
In the preference segment, no stock traded with a noted price change.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 19.5 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.1. times those for 2024-25 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading surged on Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange
Trading surged on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with a 383 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded with a value that is 190 percent more than on Tuesday and resulting in 22 securities trading up from 19 on Tuesday and ending with prices of three stocks rising, 10 declining and nine remaining unchanged.
The market closed trading with an exchange of 1,416,843 shares worth $10,593,318 compared with 293,585 stocks at $3,647,998 on Tuesday.
An average of 64,402 shares were traded at $481,514 compared with 15,452 units at $192,000 on Tuesday, with trading month to date averaging 18,907 shares at $190,281 compared to 15,432 units at $168,035 on the previous day and an average for March of 28,236 shares at $236,496.
The Composite Index fell 3.56 points to settle at 1,188.75, the All T&T Index popped 1.54 points to 1,795.06, the SME Index ended unchanged at 77.71 and the Cross-Listed Index sank 1.26 points to 75.57.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s ended at $69 with investors trading 36,572 shares, Angostura Holdings dipped 15 cents to $22.80 after 1,872 units passed through the market, Ansa McAl increased 99 cents to end at $56 after an exchange of 2,028 stocks. Calypso Macro Investment Fund climbed 14 cents in closing at $22.75 with 50 stock units clearing the market, 
First Citizens Group ended at $48.30 after 1,135 shares changed hands, FirstCaribbean International Bank closed at $6.95, after 18,508 units changed hands. GraceKennedy rose 5 cents and ended at $4 with traders dealing in 22,165 stock units, Guardian Holdings ended at $18.05 with 9,565 stock units crossing the market, Guardian Media sank 2 cents to end at $1.98 as investors exchanged 25 shares. JMMB Group dropped 15 cents in closing at $1.28 after an exchange of 2,500 stocks, Massy Holdings shed 2 cents to close at $4.33 with investors swapping 629,985 units, National Enterprises ended at $3.85 with an exchange of 10,091 stock units. National Flour Mills remained at $2.20 with investors trading 2,687 shares, NCB Financial declined 9 cents to $3 with investors exchanging 505,000 units, One Caribbean Media lost 2 cents to finish at $3.70 after an exchange of 1,067 stocks. 
Prestige Holdings ended at $13 in trading 11 stock units, Republic Financial slipped 5 cents to end at $118.21 after a transfer of 10,827 shares, Scotiabank fell 5 cents to close at $67.50 after an exchange of 1,991 stocks. Trinidad & Tobago NGL remained at $8.50 in switching ownership of 14,795 units, Trinidad Cement skidded 22 cents and ended at $2.75 with investors dealing in 1,500 stock units, Unilever Caribbean lost 26 cents in closing at $11.30 in an exchange of 108,577 shares and West Indian Tobacco ended at $11.15, with 35,892 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Barrows to head Wigton in May
Gary Barrow now heads Wigton Windfarm (WIG) management as Chief Executive Officer the company announced that will take place effective on May 6.
The position of Chief Executive Officer is a new one, in addition, the position of Head of Energy which was held by Miss Michelle Chin Lenn will be dispensed with and she will be appointed to the new position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
According to the release on these appointments, the Board of Directors of WIG is of the “view that the aforementioned changes, and specifically the appointment of Gary Barrow following a successful recruitment process, will further allow the Company to fully realize its vision of being a profitable, regional conglomerate with successful clean energy and other investments”.
Barrow has a multi-disciplinary background in Engineering, Finance, Technology, Innovation, Business Transformation, Process Re-Engineering, Governance and People Management will allow him to hit the ground running at WIG. His last appointment at the Jamaica Public Service, was Chief Operating Officer. Barrow holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration.
