The Junior Market Index closed with a gain of 36.21 points at 4,246.73 after the index went as high as 4,291.09 in the early morning session as trading picked up on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks rising 17 percent with an 18 percent higher value than on Monday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market.
Market activity led to 44 securities trading compared to 45 on Monday and ended with 21 rising, 16 declining and seven ended unchanged.
Fosrich traded at a record high of $25 but failed to hold at this level to the end but iCreate ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.9. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with their financial year ending between August 2022 to August 2023.
Overall, 21,499,543 shares traded for $79,329,070 up from 18,383,140 units at $67,321,969 on the Monday. EduFocal led trading with 8.81 million shares for 41 percent of total volume, followed by iCreate, 2.5 million units for 11.7 percent of the day’s trade, Lumber Depot exchanged 1.38 million units for 6.4 percent market share, Express Catering ended 1.35 million units for 6.3 percent market share and Jamaican Teas controlled 1.26 million units for 5.8 percent market share.
Trading on Tuesday averaged 488,626 shares at $1,802,933, up from 408,514 shares at $1,496,044 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 435,852 units at $1,595,999 versus 428,060 units at $1,565,445 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied 14 cents to end at $21.50 after exchanging 378 shares, Blue Power dropped 55 cents to close at $3.60 after 63,369 stock units crossed the exchange, CAC 2000 declined 20 cents to $7.05 after exchanging 7,375 units. Cargo Handlers popped $1.48 in closing at $10.98 in switching ownership of 2,816 stocks, Caribbean Cream rose 14 cents to $4.99 with an exchange of 3,044 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries fell 11 cents in ending at $1.24 after an exchange of 56,570 shares. Derrimon Trading lost 13 cents to close at $2.70 with 710,408 units changing hands, Dolphin Cove gained 42 cents to end at $22.35, with 97,431 stock units crossing the market, Elite Diagnostic advanced 40 cents to $3.60 with the swapping of 664,302 stocks. Express Catering climbed 10 cents in closing at $6.50, with 1,348,242 stock units clearing the market, Future Energy Source rose 10 cents to $6.10 in trading 203,392 units, Honey Bun shed 30 cents to close at $9.70 after trading 5,759 shares. iCreate climbed 16 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.20 after exchanging 2,504,985 stock units, Indies Pharma rallied 10 cents to $3.15, with 272,904 stocks changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance advanced 60 cents to end at $3.80, trading 28,009 units. 
Knutsford Express shed 30 cents in ending at $7.70, with 15,711 shares crossing the market, Lasco Financial gained 19 cents to $3.59 while exchanging 77,266 stocks, Lumber Depot increased 12 cents to close at $3.67 with 1,375,828 units changing hands. Mailpac Group lost 10 cents in closing at $3.15 after switching ownership of 414,861 shares, Spur Tree Spices popped 18 cents to end at $3.65 in exchanging 654,725 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies rose 39 cents in closing at $7.89, after just 70 shares crossed the market and Tropical Battery fell 13 cents in ending at $2.35 trading 911,468 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market falls
Market activity ended on Monday, with the volume and value of stocks trading declined compared to Friday by 54 percent and 59 percent respectively, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks just edged out those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,183.04 points to 449,914.75, the JSE Main Index lost 940.51 points to end at 396,027.96 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.13 points to 93.97.
A total of 57 securities traded up from 55 on Friday, with 23 rising, 22 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.6. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
Overall, 16,149,953 shares were exchanged for $124,025,246 versus 35,213,318 units at $300,629,178 on Friday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.74 million shares for 41.8 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.51 million units for 15.6 percent of the day’s trade, Pulse Investments, 2.09 million units for 12.9 percent market share and 138 Student Living ended with 1.0 million units changing hands for 6.2 percent market share.
Trading averages 283,333 units at $2,175,882, compared to 640,242 shares at $5,465,985 on Friday and month to date, an average of 641,631 units at $5,377,722, compared to 702,233 units at $5,919,280 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped 32 cents in closing at $90.03 after exchanging 26,993 shares, Berger Paints lost 44 cents to close at $11.55 after trading 5,840 stock units, Caribbean Cement climbed 50 cents in ending at $72 with the swapping of 5,616 units. Caribbean Producers declined 43 cents to $17.77, with 217,938 stocks clearing the market, Eppley shed 50 cents to end at $42, with 3,919 shares crossing the market, First Rock Capital fell 86 cents in closing at $11.11, with 10,653 stocks changing hands. GraceKennedy declined $1.15 to end at $104 in exchanging 380,803 stock units, Guardian Holdings dropped $10 to $530 in trading 3,127 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange shed $2 ending at $22 in an exchange of 240,986 stocks. JMMB Group lost $3.82 to close at $48.07 after exchanging 112,123 units, Margaritaville popped 50 cents to end at $26 trading 25 shares, Massy Holdings fell 30 cents in ending at $100.50 after trading 17,066 stock units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities declined 70 cents to close at $9.10 while exchanging 46,406 stocks, NCB Financial increased $1.49 in closing at $109.50 with an exchange of 54,054 units, Palace Amusement gained $15.99 to end at $966, with 16 stock units crossing the market. Portland JSX shed $2.25 to end at $8.75 in switching ownership of 1,272 shares, Sagicor Group rose 50 cents ending at $57 with an exchange of 36,401 shares, Scotia Group dropped 71 cents in closing at $35 in trading 316,163 stocks. 
Seprod fell $2.35 to close at $59.65 in an exchange of 12,073 stock units, Supreme Ventures fell 50 cents to $24.50 124,464 units crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 35 cents to end at $15.40 in an exchange of 27,147 stocks and Wisynco Group advanced $1.12 to 52 weeks’ high of $22.62 after 49,434 shares crossed the market.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference shares advanced $1.96 in ending at $15.06 after 800 units changed hands and Eppley 7.50% preference share increased 60 cents in closing at $6.60 after trading 911 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for Junior Market to start the week
Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Monday, with the volume f stocks traded declining 61 percent, with 49 percent less value compared to Friday and ended with an equal number of shares rising and declining.
All 45 securities traded on Monday, up from 40 on Friday and ended with 19 rising, 19 declining and seven closing unchanged. At the close, the Junior Market Index popped 10.58 points to 4,210.52.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.9. The PE ratios of stocks in the chart below are based on earnings forecast by ICInsider.com for companies with financial years ending between August 2022 and August 2023.
Overall, 18,383,140 shares traded for $67,321,969 compared to 46,852,885 units at $132,272,326 on Friday. Mailpac Group led trading with 3.56 million shares for 19.4 percent of total volume followed by Indies Pharma with 3.26 million units for 17.7 percent of the day’s trade, followed by Elite Diagnostic with 2.12 million units for 11.5 percent market share and iCreate ended with 1.56 million units changing hands for 8.5 percent market share.
Trading averaged 408,514 shares at $1,496,044 in contrast to 1,171,322 shares at $3,306,808 on Friday with month to date, averaging 428,060 units at $1,565,445 compared to 431,536 units at $1,577,789 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial lost 59 cents to close at $21.36 with the swapping of 25 shares, AMG Packaging climbed 40 cents to $3.60, with 324,507 stock units crossing the market, CAC 2000 advanced 20 cents to $7.25 after an exchange of 2,435 units. Cargo Handlers dropped $2.40 in closing at $9.50, with 21,030 stocks crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cream increased 9 cents to $4.85 in an exchange of 25,354 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries rallied 7 cents to end at $1.35, with 41,009 units changing hands. Derrimon Trading popped 13 cents to $2.83 as 284,977 shares were traded, Dolphin Cove shed 47 cents in ending at $21.93 with an exchange of 95,811 stock units, EduFocal fell 9 cents to $3.80 after exchanging 412,002 stock units. Elite Diagnostic rose 63 cents to close at $3.20, with 2,117,544 shares clearing the market, Express Catering gained 38 cents to $6.40 in exchanging 568,615 stocks, Fosrich rallied $2.93 to end at a record high of $22.93, with 259,550 units crossing the market. Future Energy Source declined 15 cents in closing at $6 after trading 647,264 stocks, Honey Bun shed 15 cents in ending at $10, after an exchange of 91,534 stock units, iCreate popped 14 cents to close at $1.04 while exchanging 1,563,814 shares. 
Indies Pharma advanced 20 cents in ending at $3.05 after swapping 3,261,845 units, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 50 cents to $3.20 in exchanging 112,371 units, Lasco Financial fell 10 cents to $3.40 after exchanging 63,566 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing declined 24 cents to end at $5.09 in trading 35,937 stocks, Limners and Bards lost 10 cents in closing at $3.20, with 334,155 shares crossing the market, Lumber Depot lost 13 cents to end at $3.55 after trading 629,422 stocks. Mailpac Group climbed 10 cents in closing at $3.25 in switching ownership of 3,564,473 stock units, SSL Venture declined 19 cents to close at $1.66 with an exchange of 26,007 shares, Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 38 cents to $7.50 in trading 11,296 units. Tropical Battery gained 15 cents to end at $2.48, with 827,488 stocks crossing the market and tTech rose 36 cents to close at $4.09 after 23,328 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Jamaica visitor arrivals up 38% over February
Jamaica’s tourist industry continues to rebound, with the latest data suggesting that March this year is showing the best performance since 2019, with a decline of 22 percent from March 2019, the previous period of uninterrupted visitor arrivals to the country.
Tourism is Jamaica’s largest earner of foreign exchange.
An impressive 38 percent more passengers or 193,828 landed at the Sangster Airport in Montego Bay in March this year than the 140,368 that came in February this year and is up by 190 percent on the 66,778 incoming passengers in March 2021.
According to tourismanalytics.com, Aeroportuario del Pacifico, which manages the airports in Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica, saw the total number of passenger movements in March 2022 being 78.4 percent of the 491,800 handled in March 2019.
The Sangster International Airport data for the first three months of 2022, Montego Bay Airport saw total incoming passengers increase by 215 percent, to 452,496 passengers.
Kingston’s Airport handled 98,400 total passenger movements in March 2022, increasing 27 percent compared to February, with 77,500 total movements. The total number of passenger movements in March 2021 was just 36,700 passengers.
Total passenger movements the Kingston’s Norman Manly International Airport grew by 131 percent, from 115,500 in 2021 to 267,100 in the first three months of 2022.
Retreat for JSE Main Market
Market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of shares trading rising 12 percent and the value climbing 110 percent higher than Thursday, resulting in an equal number of advancing and declining stocks.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 2,760.94 points to end at 451,097.79, the JSE Main Index dipped 2,313.59 points to 396,968.47 and the JSE Financial Index lost 1.03 points to settle at 94.10.
Trading ended with 55 securities cversus 56 on Thursday, with 19 rising, 19 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
Overall, 35,213,318 shares traded for $300,629,178 versus 31,300,525 units at $141,657,125 on Thursday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 14.08 million shares for 40 percent of total volume, followed by Pulse Investments with 6.42 million units for 18.2 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 3.69 million units for 10.5 percent market share.
Wigton Windfarm ended with 3.40 million units for 9.6 percent market share, 138 Student Living traded 1.58 million units for 4.5 percent market share and Seprod, 1 million units for 2.9 percent market share.
Trading averaged 640,242 stock units at $5,465,985, up from 558,938 shares at $2,529,592 on Thursday and month to date an average of 702,233 units at $5,919,280, versus 714,323 units at $6,007,688 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Caribbean Cement fell 52 cents to $71.50 after trading 11,056 shares, Caribbean Producers declined 58 cents to $18.20 in switching ownership of 209,609 stock units, Jamaica Broilers dropped 38 cents to $28.50 with an exchange of 20,152 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose $2.03 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $24 in an exchange of 245,241 units, JMMB Group rallied $2.39 in closing at $51.89, finishing at 234,879 stocks, Kingston Properties popped $1.15 to end at $9.35 in trading 24,290 shares. Kingston Wharves fell $1.89 to close at $40.10 after exchanging 20,771 stock units, Massy Holdings increased 80 cents to $100.80 in exchanging 22,641 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 60 cents in closing at $9.80, with 102,998 stock units clearing the market. 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced $3.80 to $101.80 after 200 shares crossed the market, NCB Financial lost $1.99 in closing at $108.01 after trading 44,020 stocks, Palace Amusement slipped $25.99 to $950.01 after an exchange of 36 units. PanJam Investment dropped 49 cents to close at $65.01 with 500,100 stocks crossing the market and Sagicor Group declined 50 cents in ending at $56.50, with 9,340 shares changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share climbed $3 to end at $22 after 1,434 units changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading surges on the Junior Market
Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Friday, with the volume surging 381 percent higher and the value jumping 240 percent more than on Thursday, with 40 securities trading versus 42 on Thursday and ended with 20 rising, 14 declining and six closing unchanged as the Market Index rallied 21.71 points to 4,199.94.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for fiscal years ending August 2022 to August 2023.
Trading accounted for 46,852,885 shares at $132,272,326 versus 9,731,874 units at $38,899,937 on the Thursday.
Elite Diagnostic led trading with 35.84 million shares for 76.5 percent of total volume, followed by Indies Pharma with 3.17 million units for 6.8 percent of the day’s trade and Tropical Battery, 1.62 million units for 3.5 percent market share.
Trading averaged 1,171,322 shares at $3,306,808 in contrast to 231,711 shares at $926,189 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 431,536 units at $1,577,789 compared to 292,609 units at $1,253,090 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $1.75 to $21.95, trading 960 shares, Blue Power popped 19 cents to $4.14, with 100 stock units crossing the exchange, Cargo Handlers rose $1.55 to close at $11.90 after exchanging 20 units. Dolphin Cove shed 25 cents in closing at $22.40, with 68,223 stocks changing hands. Elite Diagnostic dropped 42 cents ending at $2.57 with an exchange of 35,844,199 stock units, leaving 85 million units on offer to sell at $2.57 and 30 million on the bid at $2.50 to buy, with excel Investments that owned the largest block of 130 million seems the likely sellers. Fontana climbed 7 cents to close at $9.98 in an exchange of 59,545 stocks. Future Energy Source gained 13 cents to end at $6.15 in trading 873,959 units, Honey Bun advanced 65 cents to $10.15 after 25,781 shares crossed the market, Jamaican Teas increased 7 cents to $3.50 in an exchange of 251,535 units. 
Knutsford Express rose 54 cents in closing at $8 with the swapping of 740 shares, Lasco Financial increased 7 cents to close at $3.50, with 31,500 stock units clearing the market, Main Event declined 16 cents to $7.97 after exchanging 14,438 stocks. Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 8 cents in closing at $7.88 in trading 52,397 stocks, Tropical Battery fell 7 cents to $2.33 with the trading of 1,623,504 units and tTech lost 47 cents in ending at $3.73 in switching ownership of 147,314 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Solid gains for JSE Main Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market made solid gains in trading on Thursday, with the volume of shares trading rising 48 percent over Wednesday after funds flowing through the market fell modestly on a day when prices ended with nearly twice as many stocks falling as rising.
The All Jamaican Composite Index surged 4,390.35 points to 453,858.73, the JSE Main Index jumped 3,266.12 points to end at 399,282.06. The JSE Financial Index popped 0.47 points to settle at 95.13.
On Wednesday, trading ended with 56 securities compared to 54, with 13 rising, 25 declining, and 18 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending to the end of August 2023.
A total of 31,300,525 shares were traded for $141,657,125 versus 21,128,299 units at $143,846,313 on Wednesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 9.86 million shares for 31.5 percent of total volume as the stock traded at a record high of $1.78 but finished down at $1.74, for a closing record high. 
Wigton Windfarm ended trading 6.96 million units for 22.2 percent of the day’s trade. Pulse Investments ended with 5.99 million units for 19.1 percent market share, while Sagicor Select Financial Fund traded 3.09 million units with 9.9 percent market share.
Trading for the day averaged 558,938 shares at $2,529,592, compared to 391,265 units at $2,663,821 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 714,323 units at $6,007,688 down from 752,826 units at $6,869,517 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
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 of trading, Caribbean Cement declined 98 cents to $72.02 while exchanging 4,431 shares, Caribbean Producers rallied 88 cents to $18.78 after trading 417,301 stock units, Jamaica Broilers climbed $1.88 to $28.88, with 82,692 stocks clearing the market. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose $1.47 in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $21.97 after trading 202,238 units, JMMB Group lost $1.20 to end at $49.50, with 159,692 stock units crossing the market, Kingston Properties fell 80 cents to $8.20 in trading 29,256 stocks. 
Mayberry Jamaican Equities dropped 73 cents to close at $9.20 with the swapping of 10,221 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy shed $3.75 in closing at $98, with 750 units crossing the market, Palace Amusement shed $20 to end at $976 in switching ownership of three units. Sagicor Group fell 46 cents to $57 in an exchange of 13,595 stocks, Scotia Group lost $1.95 to close at $35.70 with an exchange of 41,510 stock units, Seprod dropped 90 cents in ending at $61.90 after 5,229 shares changed hands. Supreme Ventures declined $1 in closing at $25 after exchanging 452,575 units and Wisynco Group popped 68 cents to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $21.68, with 113,372 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Steady Junior Market
Trading closed on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising declining 20 percent, with 7 percent less value than on Wednesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market as declining stocks beat out those that rose.
Market activity led to 42 securities trading similar to Wednesday, with 14 rising, 19 declining and nine closing unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index popped 12.87 points to settle at 4,178.23. The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2023.
Overall, 9,731,874 shares traded for $38,899,937 compared to 12,155,563 units at $41,626,008 on Wednesday. Lumber Depot led trading with 2.52 million shares for 25.9 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas, with 1.02 million units for 10.5 percent of the day’s trade and Tropical Battery, 839,576 units for 8.6 percent market share.
Trading averaged 231,711 shares at $926,189 down from 289,418 units at $991,095 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 292,609 units at $1,253,090 compared to 307,567 units at $1,333,381 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $2.80 to end at $20.20 while trading 16,120 shares, Blue Power dipped 20 cents to $3.95 while exchanging 2,968 units, CAC 2000 slipped 30 cents to $7.05 after an exchange of 150 stocks. Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 9 cents to $2.30 after trading 82,900 stock units, Caribbean Flavours rose 7 cents to $2 in switching ownership of 2,457 stocks, Derrimon Trading climbed 20 cents to end at $2.72, with 473,732 units crossing the market. Dolphin Cove shed 35 cents to end at $22.65, with 102,790 stock units crossing the exchange, Fontana lost 7 cents in closing at $9.91, with 217,301 shares changing hands, Future Energy Source fell 8 cents to $6.02 trading 408,778 stocks. General Accident increased 11 cents to close at $6, with 2,943 units crossing the market, Honey Bun rallied 48 cents to $9.50 with the swapping of 20,001 shares, Indies Pharma declined 15 cents to $2.90 with an exchange of 441,935 stock units. 
Jamaican Teas dropped 11 cents in closing at $3.43 in exchanging 1,018,229 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing popped 15 cents to close at $5.35 in trading 16,404 shares, Lumber Depot advanced 8 cents to end at $3.70 after 2,516,247 stocks changed hands. Mailpac Group shed 13 cents to close at $3.21 in an exchange of 492,517 units, Main Event gained 13 cents in ending at $8.13 after exchanging 7,738 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 8 cents to end at $7.80 while 301 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big Gains for JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Wednesday, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with the volume of shares trading declining 83 percent and the value plunging 87 percent below Tuesday’s levels but ending with rising stocks exceeding those declining by a ratio of two to one.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 5,549.32 points to settle at 449,468.38, the JSE Main Index rose 3,609.16 points to end at 396,015.94 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.53 points to settle at 94.66.
Trading ended with 54 securities down from 58 on Tuesday, with 32 rising, 16 declining and six ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.1. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
A total of 21,128,299 shares traded for $143,846,313 down from 122,573,847 units at $1,079,970,954 on Tuesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.28 million shares for 29.7 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 5.35 million units for 25.3 percent of the day’s trade, Pulse Investments, 3.64 million units for 17.2 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 1.08 million units changing hands for 5.1 percent market share.
Trading averages 391,265 units at $2,663,821, compared to 2,113,342 shares at $18,620,189 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 752,826 units at $6,869,517, compared to 866,339 units at $8,189,911 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints advanced $1.15 in closing at $12.17, with 27,094 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement gained 50 cents to end at $73 with the swapping of 4,998 stock units, Caribbean Producers popped $2.27 to close at $17.90 in switching ownership of 287,731 units. Eppley increased by $3.50 to $42.50, with 779 stocks clearing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $2.94 to $46.99, with 1,154 units crossing the market, First Rock Capital climbed 40 cents to $11.95, with 9,563 stock units crossing the market. GraceKennedy rose $1.40 to close at $105.40 in trading 316,548 shares, Guardian Holdings declined $8.98 to end at $540 after exchanging 1,449 stocks, Jamaica Broilers shed $1.71 in closing at $27, with 36,405 stock units crossing the exchange. Jamaica Producers fell 60 cents ending at $23 after trading 21,613 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied $1.50 to $20.50 while exchanging 142,989 shares, JMMB Group lost $3.30 in ending at $50.70 with an exchange of 410,936 stocks. Key Insurance gained 40 cents to end at $4.70 after trading 2,309 shares, Kingston Properties dropped 35 cents to $9 in an exchange of 1,150 stocks, Kingston Wharves advanced $1 in closing at $42 in exchanging 8,642 units. Massy Holdings shed $1 to $100 in exchanging 25,236 stock units, Mayberry Investments fell 94 cents in closing at $6.51 after 9,486 stock units changed hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities climbed 78 cents to close at $9.93 in an exchange of 222,201 units. 
Palace Amusement popped $16 to end at $996 in trading 101 shares, PanJam Investment dropped 55 cents after ending at $65.50 with an exchange of 13,817 stocks, Proven Investments rose $1.60 to $38, with 14,062 units changing hands. Pulse Investments increased 52 cents to end at $4.64, with 3,641,203 crossing the market shares, Sagicor Group rallied $3.46 in closing at $57.46, with 21,469 stock units clearing the market, Scotia Group increased $1.15 to close at $37.65 with the swapping of 49,050 stocks. Seprod popped $1.30 to $62.80 after an exchange of 32,016 shares, Supreme Ventures gained $3.38 ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $26 in trading 483,864 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 44 cents to $15.30 in exchanging 335,825 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined 40 cents to end at $15.60 while trading 18,992 stock units and Wisynco Group climbed $1.01 to close at $21 in exchanging 426,350 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference share lost $3.40 in closing at $13.10 in switching ownership of 1,000 stocks, Eppley 5% preference share advanced 50 cents to close at $19, with 200 shares crossing the market and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share dropped 50 cents to $2.90 after trading 13,333 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market dips again
Trading closed on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 12 percent more, but the value was just slightly ahead of trading on Tuesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on a day when the number of stocks rising exceeded those declining.
Market activity led to 42 securities trading down from 45 on Tuesday and ended with 19 rising, 15 declining and eight closing unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index slipped 6.23 to settle at 4,165.36. The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.9. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2023.
Overall, 12,155,563 shares traded for $41,626,008 compared to 10,881,450 units at $41,038,700 on the Tuesday. Jamaican Teas led trading with 3.62 million shares for 29.8 percent of total volume, followed by Tropical Battery with 1.65 million units for 13.6 percent of the day’s trade and Jetcon Corporation with 1.03 million units for 8.5 percent market share.
Trading averaged 289,418 shares at $991,095 versus 241,810 shares at $911,971 on Tuesday with month to date, averaging 307,567 units at $1,333,381 compared to 313,476 units at $1,444,823 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped $3.50 in, ending at $23 after switching ownership of 41,205 shares, Blue Power rallied 25 cents in closing at $4.15 after 6,139 stock units crossed the market, Cargo Handlers lost 68 cents to end at $10.32 with an exchange of 179,214 units. Caribbean Cream fell 36 cents to $4.74 after trading 5,522 stocks, Dolphin Cove gained 20 cents to end at $23, with 61,496 shares clearing the market, Express Catering increased 5 cents in ending at $6 after trading 7,378 stock units. Future Energy Source declined 8 cents to end at $6.10, with 823,971 units changing hands, General Accident dropped 21 cents in closing at $5.89 after an exchange of 7,510 stock units, Honey Bun shed 87 cents to $9.02 in trading 635 stock units.
Indies Pharma shed 10 cents to close at $3.05 in exchanging 73,207 stocks, Jetcon Corporation climbed 6 cents to $1.03 in an exchange of 1,032,759 shares, Knutsford Express dropped 31 cents to end at $7.46 after exchanging 6,973 units. Lasco Manufacturing declined 25 cents to $5.20 while trading 11,105 shares, SSL Venture rose 6 cents in closing at $1.85 with an exchange of 37,579 units, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 72 cents to close at $7.72 after exchanging 1,169 stocks and Tropical Battery fell 19 cents to close at $2.41, with 1,648,475 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
