Share of NCB Financial commanded the largest portion of the volume and value of stocks trading on Friday, with 22.75 million shares valued at $1.55 billion as trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 174 percent and the value surging 1,006 percent over Thursday, after trading in 51 securities compared with 61 on Thursday, with 20 rising, 20 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
A total of 35,821,582 shares were traded for $1,604,168,706 compared to 13,055,782 units at $145,021,241 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 702,384 shares at $31,454,288 versus 214,029 shares at $2,377,397 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 261,783 units at $5,114,072 versus 196,079 units at $1,186,146 on the previous day. May closed with an average of 226,361 units at $1,362,447.
NCB Financial led trading with 22.75 million shares for 63.5 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 4.92 million units for 13.7 percent of the day’s trade and ended with the price ending at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $2.11, Wigton Windfarm ended with 2.54 million units for 7.1 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.19 million units for 6.1 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dived 2,291.49 points to 361,603.11, the JSE Main Index declined by 2,486.07 points to close at 327,334.20 and the JSE Financial Index fell by 1.12 points to end at 73.21.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments lost 90 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $74.10, with 2,201 shares changing hands, Berger Paints declined $1.21 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.87 as investors exchanged 78,000 stocks, Eppley increased $1.08 to end at $37 after trading 3 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed 30 cents and ended at $42.99 in an exchange of 271 stock units. First Rock Real Estate gained 62 cents in closing at $10.77 in switching ownership of 24,747 shares, 
GraceKennedy rose 90 cents to end at $78.90 in an exchange of 43,296 stocks. Guardian Holdings rallied $35 and ended at $485 with shareholders swapping 5,377 shares, Jamaica Broilers rose $1.99 to $35 in trading 218,282 units Jamaica Stock Exchange shed $1 to end at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $12 with investors trading 131,493 units, Kingston Properties fell 37 cents to close at $7.10 with an exchange of 5,000 units. Mayberry Investments dipped 50 cents to $8, with 227,543 stocks crossing the exchange, NCB Financial dropped $1 to close at $68, with 22,747,667 shares clearing the market, Palace Amusement popped 30 cents in closing at $2.98 with a transfer of 2,810 stock units. Pan Jamaica Group lost 50 cents and ended at $51.50 with an exchange of 5,684 shares, Proven Investments gained 70 cents to end at $26.01, with 2,012 units crossing the market, Sagicor Group rallied $1.50 to end at $50.50 after exchanging 27,716 stocks. Scotia Group dropped 58 cents and ended at $33.60 after a transfer of 277,369 units following the release of half year results that showed increased profit and 
Seprod rose $3.87 in closing at $72.50 while exchanging 7,135 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed $1.28 to $7.48 after an exchange of 90 shares, Jamaica Public Service 7% declined $3.35 to close at $60.48 after 16 stocks crossed the market and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $13.99 to end at $87.99 as 10 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market holds on to 3,800 handle
The volume of stocks traded jumped 141 percent on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with a 98 percent increase in the value compared to Thursday, following trading in 41 securities similar to trading on Thursday with the market ending with prices of 19 rising, 15 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Trading closed with an exchange of 15,463,887 shares for $32,509,692 compared with 6,422,074 units at $16,407,108 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 377,168 shares at $792,919 compared to 156,636 shares at $400,173 on Thursday, with a month to date, average of 199,598 units at $562,522 compared to 171,380 stock units at $525,908 on the previous day. May closed with an average of 239,954 units at $648,811.
EduFocal led trading with 10.04 million shares for 64.9 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 1.59 million units for 10.3 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 905,139 units for 5.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 0.84 points to settle at 3,806.04, with the market closing above 3,800 points for a third day after trading opened at 3,854.64.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.4. 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dipped $2.83 to close at $22.32, with 2,575 shares crossing the exchange, AMG Packaging rallied 17 cents in closing at $2.67, with 2,691 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Cream shed $1.20 to end at $3.20 after opening at $4.40 and ended with 213,135 stocks crossing the market, Consolidated Bakeries climbed 10 cents to $2.40 after an exchange of 1,000 units. Derrimon Trading increased 8 cents to $1.98 with shareholders swapping 77,796 shares, Express Catering dipped 9 cents to $4.90 as 34,562 units passed through the market, Fontana lost 10 cents in closing at $9.70 after 96,764 stock units crossed the market, Fosrich fell 8 cents to end at $2.15 in switching ownership of 905,139 stocks. 
Future Energy Source rose 8 cents to close at $4.12 with an exchange of 218,150 stocks, General Accident rallied 77 cents to $5.28 following an exchange of 179,497 shares, GWest Corporation popped 15 cents to close at $1.04 after investors exchanged 100,000 stock units, iCreate declined 27 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of 95 cents trading 201,813 units. Iron Rock Insurance dropped 20 cents to $2.15 as investors traded 1,500 shares, ISP Finance advanced $5.49 to end at $26.49 in trading 1,122 stock units, JFP Ltd climbed 13 cents to $1.75 while exchanging 1,593,585 units, Lasco Distributors rose 29 cents to $3.31 in an exchange of 21,706 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing rallied 23 cents in closing at $4.48 with a transfer of just 1,532 stocks, Limners and Bards advanced 15 cents to close at $2.35 with investors transferring 10,118 stock units, Lumber Depot popped 9 cents and ended at $2.29 after closing with 9,045 shares changing hands, Main Event increased 30 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $14.80 after a transfer of 109,876 units. 
MFS Capital Partners dipped 9 cents to close at $3.10, with 288,337 stocks clearing the market, Regency Petroleum gained 11 cents to end at $2.99 with a transfer of 215,726 stock units and tTech fell 26 cents to $2.23 in trading 1,296 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Markets ends week negatively
Trading surged sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday but the Main Market suffered more declines at the close, even as Transjamaica Highway continues to hit record closing highs as the indices suffered another four digit fall, following the previous two trading days while the Junior Market just slipped below Thursday’s close, after opening at 3,854.64 points, but market index stayed above the 3,800 mark for a third day while JSE USD Market eked out a modest rise at the close.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 2,327.36 points to 340,265.44, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,291.49 points to close at 361,603.11, the JSE Main Index dived 2,486.07 points to 327,334.20, the Junior Market Index dipped 0.84 points to settle at 3,806.04 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 0.05 points to close at 238.91.
Preference shares with notable movement but are not in the Main Market TOP10 graphs are Eppley 7.50% preference share with a rise of $1.28 to $7.48, Jamaica Public Service 7% down $3.35 to $60.48 and 138 Student Living preference share up $13.99 to $87.99.
At the close, investors exchanged 52,143,554 shares in all three markets, with NCB Financial accounting for 22,747,667 shares valued at $1.55 billion. Trading on Thursday amounted to 19,714,383 shares in all three markets, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $1.637 billion, down from $161.15 million. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 857,775 shares for US$11,684 compared to 269,277 units at US$11,912 on Thursday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.1 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.4 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and put in on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
Brutal day for the JSE Main Market
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped for a second day and the fourth time in five on Thursday, with the volume of stocks, traded rising 195 percent and the value 206 percent more than on Wednesday, with 61 securities trading compared with 54 on Wednesday, with 13 rising, 35 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 4,628.88 points to 363,894.60, the JSE Main Index shed 3,811.14 points to end at 329,820.27 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.31 points to 74.33.
A total of 13,055,782 shares were traded for $145,021,241, up sharply from 4,421,900 units at $47,368,868 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 214,029 shares at $2,377,397 versus 81,887 shares at $877,201 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 196,079 units at $1,186,146 compared to 192,182 units at $927,546 on the previous day. May closed with an average of 226,361 units at $1,362,447.
Supreme Ventures led trading with 3.98 million shares for 30.5 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.55 million units for 27.2 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 2.72 million units for 20.8 percent of the day’s trade with the price hitting a record closing high of $2.09, with the stock rising more than 47 percent for the year to date, and have more room to rise.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 for the Main Market.The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments fell 95 cents to $75 with 31,858 shares clearing the market, Eppley dropped 98 cents in closing at $35.92 while 54 stocks were traded , Eppley Caribbean Property Fund increased $4.17 to $42.69 after 122 stock units crossed the market. First Rock Real Estate lost 62 cents to close at $10.15 as investors exchanged 19,090 units, Guardian Holdings shed $21 and ended at 52 weeks’ low of $450 in switching ownership of 6,612 shares, Jamaica Broilers dipped $1.99 to close at $33.01 with investors transferring 144,377 stock units. Jamaica Producers declined 60 cents in closing at $19.30, with 4,826 units changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 39 cents and ended at $13 with shareholders exchanging 12,555 stocks, JMMB Group declined 90 cents to $29 after 55,520 shares crossed the market.
Kingston Wharves rose 88 cents to end at $30 as 1,595 units passed through the exchange, Margaritaville shed 32 cents to end at $17.99 and closed with an exchange of 248 stock units, Massy Holdings lost $2 in closing at $100 after an exchange of 5,940 stocks. Mayberry Investments dipped 50 cents in closing at $8.50 after 55,529 stock units were traded, Mayberry Jamaican Equities dipped 36 cents and ended at $10.50, with 12,090 stocks changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced 50 cents to close at $70.50 with shareholders swapping 60 shares. NCB Financial fell 50 cents to end at $69 with an exchange of 206,811 units, 138 Student Living shed 34 cents in ending at $5.16 after a transfer of 556 units, Pan Jamaica gained $1.94 in closing at $52 in an exchange of 1,070 stocks. Proven Investments dipped 69 cents to $25.31 in trading 1,644 stock units, Sagicor Group popped 49 cents to close at $49 in an exchange of 15,228 shares, Scotia Group declined 32 cents in closing at $34.18 with a transfer of 41,311 stocks. Seprod dropped $1.37 to end at $68.63, with 16,107 stock units crossing the market, Supreme Ventures lost 70 cents to close at $25.99 after it traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $20 and exchanged 3,984,502 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance shed $2 ended at $11, with 40 shares changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share fell $3 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $17 with a transfer of 58 shares, Eppley 7.50% preference share declined $1.28 to close at $6.20 after a transfer of 315 stocks. Jamaica Public Service 7% dipped $14.77 in closing at $63.83 in an exchange of 1,535 units and 138 Student Living preference share dropped $13.99 and ended at $74 after 41 stock units crossed the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market closes flat as trading climbs
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 39 percent and the value 51 percent more than on Wednesday with trading in 41 securities compared with 40 on Wednesday and ended with 15 rising, 18 declining and eight unchanged.
Investors traded 6,422,074 shares for $16,407,108, up from 4,624,570 units at $10,856,038 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 156,636 shares at $400,173, compared to 115,614 units at $271,401 on Wednesday and the month to date, an average of 171,380 units at $525,908 versus 174,165 stocks at $549,665 on the previous day. May closed with an average of 239,954 units at $648,811.
Fosrich led trading with 1.80 million shares for 28 percent of total volume, ONE on ONE Educational followed after trading 880,103 units for 13.7 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 560,957 units for 8.7 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 1.81 points to finish at 3,806.88.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.3. 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 nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial advanced $2.55 to end at $25.15 after an exchange of 161 shares, AMG Packaging lost 17 cents in closing at $2.50 after a transfer of 631 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 40 cents to $2.54 as 43,097 units passed through the market. Caribbean Cream rose 40 cents in ending at $4.40 after an exchange of 28,250 stocks, Caribbean Flavours dipped 12 cents to close at $1.24, with 2,304 units changing hands, Derrimon Trading shed 10 cents to end at $1.90 with shareholders trading 245,792 stocks. Dolphin Cove increased 80 cents to end at $15.96 with a transfer of 5,612 shares, EduFocal declined 10 cents to end at $1.80, with 343,689 units crossing the market, Express Catering gained 10 cents to close at $4.99 in an exchange of 1,989 shares. 
Fosrich climbed 8 cents in closing at $2.23 in switching ownership of 1,798,858 stocks, Future Energy Source fell 8 cents and ended at $4.04 with investors transferring 470,127 stock units after trading at an intraday low of $3.90, iCreate dropped 8 cents to end at $1.22 in an exchange of 39,848 units. KLE Group rallied 15 cents to close at $1.80 with shareholders swapping 23,405 shares, Knutsford Express gained 24 cents in closing at $11.78, with 80 units crossing the exchange, Lasco Distributors lost 38 cents in closing at $3.02 after trading ended with 68,439 stock units changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 23 cents to close at $4.25 while exchanging 820 stocks, Mailpac Group shed 9 cents in closing at $1.86, with 150,533 units crossing the market, Main Event rallied 20 cents to end at $14.50 and closed after 25,948 shares were exchanged,
Medical Disposables declined 35 cents to $4.50, with 8 stock units clearing the market and Regency Petroleum dropped 10 cents and ended at $2.88 as investors exchanged 371,035 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big fall for JSE Main Market USD Market up
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange stayed above the 3,800 mark that it reached on Wednesday but slipped marginally at the close after rising sharply in the morning session, the JSE USD Market bounced during the day, but the Main Market declined sharply for a second day, the fourth day of decline since last week Friday, following increased trading over Wednesday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 3,572.73 points to 342,592.8, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 4,628.88 points to 363,894.60, the JSE Main Index plunged 3,811.14 points to 329,820.27, the Junior Market Index dipped 1.81 points to settle at 3,806.88 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 9.27 points to close at 238,86.
Preference shares that are not in the Main Market TOP10 graphs are Eppley 5% preference share, that fell $3 to close at $17, Eppley 7.50% preference share with a fall of $1.28 to close at $6.20, while Jamaica Public Service 7% dipped $14.77 to $63.83 and 138 Student Living preference share dropped $13.99 and ended at $74.
At the close, investors exchanged 19,714,383 shares in all three markets, up from 9,796,640 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $161.15 million, down from $58.16 million on Wednesday. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 269,277 shares for US$11,912 compared to 757,348 units at US$ 10,500 on Wednesday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.3 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.3 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and put in on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
Falling stocks dominate JSE Main Market
Stocks mostly fell on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, following a decline in the volume of stocks traded by 38 percent but with a 17 percent rise in the value compared to trading on Tuesday. 
Trading occurred in 54 securities down from 57 on Tuesday, with five rising, 23 declining and 26 left unchanged.
A mere 4,421,900 shares were traded for $47,368,868 versus 7,123,490 units at $40,413,642 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 81,887 shares at $877,201 compared to 124,974 shares at $709,011 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 192,182 units at $927,546 compared with 218,420 units at $939,523 on the previous day. Trading in May closed with an average of 226,361 units at $1,362,447.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.21 million shares for 27.3 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 737,468 units for 16.7 percent of the day’s trade and Key Insurance with 508,355 units for 11.5 percent market share. 
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 2,652.86 points to end trading at 368,523.48, the JSE Main Index shed 2,552.97 points to close at 333,631.41 and the JSE Financial Index dropped 0.41 points to 74.64.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped $4.64 and ended at $51.14 with a transfer of 91,386 shares, Caribbean Producers lost 30 cents in closing at $9.70, with 34,881 units crossing the exchange, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $1.50 to end at $38.52 with shareholders swapping 270 stock units. 
First Rock Real Estate gained 76 cents to close at $10.77 after 1,100 shares were traded. GraceKennedy shed 90 cents in closing at $78, with 15,828 stocks changing hands, Guardian Holdings fell $4 to $471 in switching ownership of 20 shares. JMMB Group increased 40 cents to close at $29.90, with 11,388 units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves dropped 88 cents and ended at $29.12 in an exchange of 6,121 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities dipped 34 cents to $10.86 with 62 units clearing the market. NCB Financial declined 50 cents in closing at $69.50 after 217,592 stock units were traded, Pan Jamaica Group lost $1.94 to close at $50.06 with an exchange of 2,889 shares, Sagicor Group shed $1.49 and ended at $48.51 while exchanging 58,698 stocks and Seprod fell $3.50 to end at $70 after exchanging 20,755 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% preference share rallied $11.88 in closing at $78.60 with investors transferring 238 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market reclaims 3,800
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday, with the market index adding to Tuesday’s gains and crossing over the 3,800 mark for the first time since the middle of March with the volume of stocks traded declining 9 percent with a 31 percent lower value than on Tuesday after trading took place in just 40 securities compared with 41 on Tuesday and ended with prices of 19 rising, 15 declining and six closing unchanged.
Investors traded 4,624,570 shares for $10,856,038 compared with 5,101,812 units at $15,733,543 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 115,614 shares at $271,401, down from 124,434 units at $383,745 on Tuesday with a month to date, an average of 174,165 units at $549,665 compared to 187,397 stock units at $612,549 on the previous day. May averaged 239,954 units at $648,811.
Fosrich led trading with 1.22 million shares for 26.4 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 609,509 units for 13.2 percent of the day’s trade and Derrimon Trading with 568,037 units for 12.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 17.25 points to settle at 3,808.69.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.4. 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 six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers. This is a bullish signal for Thursday’s trades.
At the close, Access Financial popped 30 cents to $22.60, with four shares crossing the exchange, AMG Packaging fell 21 cents in closing at $2.67 in an exchange of 1,501 stock units, Blue Power shed 15 cents to end at $2.30 as 383 units passed through the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dropped 40 cents to close at $2.14 with investors trading 87,309 stock units. 
Caribbean Flavours rose 10 cents and ended at $1.36 in trading 202,848 units, Dolla Financial advanced 8 cents to end at $2.70 in an exchange of 609,509 shares, Dolphin Cove dipped 82 cents and ended at $15.16 with shareholders swapping 22,245 stock units, Elite Diagnostic declined 21 cents in closing at $2.19, with 22,858 stocks changing hands. Everything Fresh lost 9 cents to $1.69 clearing the market with 56,968 units, Express Catering dropped 10 cents to close at $4.89 after a transfer of 6,742 shares, Future Energy Source rallied 8 cents in closing at $4.12 after exchanging 107,745 stock units, General Accident lost 54 cents to close at $4.51 after an exchange of 1,571 stocks. Indies Pharma shed 19 cents to end at $3.11 with the swapping of 15,321 stocks, Lasco Distributors gained 10 cents and ended at $3.40 while exchanging 177,266 shares, Lasco Manufacturing increased 23 cents to $4.48, with 29,284 stock units crossing the market. Limners and Bards dipped 19 cents and ended at $2.20 as investors exchanged 165,470 units, 
Lumber Depot declined 9 cents to close at $2.20 in switching ownership of 62,243 shares, Mailpac Group climbed 10 cents to $1.95 with investors transferring 7,489 stocks. Main Event advanced 30 cents in closing at $14.30, with 2,875 stock units crossing the market and Paramount Trading fell 9 cents to end at $2.10 after closing with an exchange of 61,886 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Juniors rise as others fall
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed over the 3,800 mark for the first time since March 13, but the other markets declined at the close of trading on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks trading declining as the value rose moderately above Tuesday’s level.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 2,224.20 points to 346,165.48, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,652.86 points to close at 368,523.48, the JSE Main Index shed 2,552.97 points to close at 333,631.41, the Junior Market Index rose 17.25 points to end at 3,808.69 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 11.81 points to close at 229.59.
The preference share that is not in the Main Market TOP10 graphs is Jamaica Public Service 7% which rallied $11.88 in closing at $78.60.
At the close, investors exchanged 9,796,640 shares in all three markets, down from 12,241,458 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $58.16 million, down from $56 million on Tuesday. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 757,348 shares for US$10,500 compared to 26,137 units at US$3,700 on Tuesday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.4 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.3 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and put in on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
Main Market rises on light trading
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market remained light on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 25 percent and the value just 5 percent more than on Monday after 57 securities were traded compared to 58 on Monday, with 19 rising, 19 declining and 19 unchanged.
A total of 7,123,490 shares were traded for $40,413,642 compared to 9,529,184 units at $38,472,860 on Monday.
Trading averaged 124,974 shares at $709,011 versus 164,296 stocks at $663,325 on Monday and month to date, an average of 218,420 units at $939,523 compared to 249,752 units at $1,016,812 on the previous day. May closed with an average of 226,361 units at $1,362,447.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.66 million shares for 37.4 percent of the volume Transjamaican Highway followed with 1.64 million units for 23 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.12 million units for 15.8 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,720.36 points to finish at 371,176.34, the JSE Main Index climbed 866.00 points to 336,184.38 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.14 points to 75.05.
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 computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rallied 95 cents and ended to $75.95 after 22,774 shares crossed the market, Caribbean Cement advanced $3.78 to close at $55.78 with 1,666 stock units clearing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost 38 cents in closing at $40.02 with investors trading 327 stocks, Guardian Holdings shed $5 to end at $475 in an exchange of 13,932 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped 32 cents to $13.40 after a transfer of 9,000 shares, 
JMMB Group fell 50 cents to end at $29.50, with 114,308 units changing hands, Key Insurance declined 38 cents and ended at $3, with 76,127 stocks crossing the exchange, Kingston Wharves dipped 50 cents to $30 with a transfer of 4,307 stocks, Mayberry Investments gained 50 cents to close at $9 with an exchange of 70,360 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell $1 in closing at $70 with investors trading 12 stock units, Pan Jamaica Group rallied $1.95 to close at $52 after an exchange of 334 units, Portland JSX lost $1.25 to end at $9.75 as 27 stocks passed through the market, Sagicor Group rose 50 cents in closing at $50 and closed with an exchange of 6,084 shares, Scotia Group popped 40 cents to $34.50 while 7,196 units were traded, Seprod rose $4.96 and ended at $73.50 in switching ownership of 11,076 stock units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance dipped $1.98 to $13 in trading 20 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.15% due 2028, popped 31 cents and ended at $2.99 in an exchange of 300 stocks and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share shed 54 cents to end at $3.07 as investors exchanged 8,153 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
