Gains for JSE as trading jumps

Kingston Wharves and Pan Jamaica dominated trading with the stocks having the highest traded value on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in Thursday trading session and driving the volume and value well over Wednesday’s activities, with the market closing with Main Market indices and JSE USD market closing higher while the Junior Market just manage to eked out a gain in the last few dying moments of the market to close moderately higher, resulting in prices of 33 shares rising and 28 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,198.94 points to 336,962.83, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,030.08 points to 362,251.00, the JSE Main Index rose 1,240.26 points to conclude trading at 324,184.12. The Junior Market Index squeezed out a gain of 1.44 points to close trading at 3,758.39 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 1.69 points to settle at 240.75.
At the close of trading, 17,138,332 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 11,705,524 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $147.59 million, well over the $43.87 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 66,053 shares for US$5,573 compared to 1,005,394 units at US$50,711 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Kingston Wharves led trading with 2.51 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.80 million stock units and Pan Jamaica with 802,202 units, while in Junior Market trading, Stationery and Office Supplies led with 4.32 million shares followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.13 million stocks and EduFocal with 733,394 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rallied $1 to end at $211 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share sank $4.99 to $110.01.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 19.9 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3 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  the Jamaica Stock Exchange ordinary shares 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.

Main Market slides on thin trading

Trading dropped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 15 percent and the value 76 percent lower than on Tuesday, with trading in 61 securities compared with 59 on Tuesday, with prices of 21 stocks rising, 18 declining and 22 ending unchanged.
Trading netted 7,107,320 shares for $37,509,746 compared with 8,349,044 units at $156,852,014 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 116,513 shares at $614,914 compared to 141,509 units at $2,658,509 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 954,617 units at $3,852,247, down from 1,031,265 units at $4,148,315 on the previous day and March with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.49 million shares for 20.9 percent of total volume followed by General Accident with 1.35 million units for 19 percent of the day’s trade in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.20 and Lasco Distributors with 1.17 million units for 16.5 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index sank 1,794.74 points to lock up trading at 360,220.92, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,004.10 points to lock up trading at 322,943.86 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.36 points to cease trading at 68.72.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.8. 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 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden climbed $1.12 to $40 after a transfer of 907 units, Barita Investments increased $1 to finish at $72 with investors swapping 1,931 stocks, GraceKennedy slipped 97 cents and ended at $73 with a transfer of 76,208 shares. Guardian Holdings popped $10 in closing at $370 after trading 88 stock units, Jamaica Broilers gained $1 to close at $34 after an exchange of 15,572 shares, Jamaica Producers rose $1.14 to end at $23.02, with 12,001 stock units crossing the market. Mayberry Jamaican Equities sank 50 cents to $10 with traders dealing in 14,970 stocks, NCB Financial declined 53 cents and ended at $63.97 after 24,433 units crossed the exchange, Pan Jamaica lost 50 cents to finish at $47.50 with investors trading 11,241 stocks. Sagicor Group fell 65 cents to close at $41 as 12,998 units passed through the market, Sagicor Real Estate Fund dipped 50 cents in closing at $7 after an exchange of 4,782 shares, Scotia Group shed $1.10 to end at $44.50 with investors dealing in 29,354 stock units. Seprod rallied $2.17 to close at $82.17 in an exchange of 12,882 shares, Supreme Ventures dropped 50 cents to close at $24.50 with investors transferring 17,220 stock units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $1.21 and ended at $14 in an exchange of 202 stocks.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share skidded $5 in closing at $210 with an exchange of 16 units and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share rose $50 to end at $1200 in trading 4 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Junior stocks drift lower

Stocks drifted lower in trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, following a 16 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with an 8 percent higher value than Tuesday with trading in 42 securities the same as on Tuesday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 17 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
Trading netted 3,592,810 shares for $6,363,318 compared with 3,102,805 units at $5,901,970 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 85,543 shares at $151,508 compared with 73,876 units at $140,523 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date averages 235,064 units at $532,747 compared to 248,202 stock units at $566,245 on the previous day and March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
On a day of low trading volume, EduFocal led with 866,123 shares for 24.1 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 661,048 units for 18.4 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 459,774 units for 12.8 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index declined 24.08 points to close at 3,756.95.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, 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 two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging popped 13 cents to finish at $3.57 as 65,002 stock units passed through the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 8 cents in closing at $2.20 with investors exchanging 4,900 shares, Caribbean Cream increased 38 cents to end at $4.25 with 21,863 stocks clearing the market. Derrimon Trading lost 5 cents in closing at $1.95 in an exchange of 2,300 units, EduFocal dropped 5 cents to close at 90 cents with investors swapping 866,123 stocks, Elite Diagnostic sank 8 cents and ended at $1.51 with an exchange of 50,824 units. Everything Fresh climbed 7 cents to $1.75 with 7,955 shares crossing the market, Fontana skidded 30 cents to end at $8.60 as investors exchanged 55,829 stock units, Honey Bun fell 88 cents in closing at $7.45 with a transfer of 8,318 shares. Iron Rock Insurance rose 10 cents to close at $2.52 with 214 units passing through the exchange, Jamaican Teas slipped 22 cents to finish at $2.44 in trading 3,618 stocks, Jetcon Corporation rallied 5 cents and ended at 95 cents, with 27,645 stock units changing hands. Knutsford Express declined 10 cents to $11.40 with investors transferring 11,430 shares, Limners and Bards advanced 7 cents to close at $1.54 after 6,805 units were traded, MFS Capital Partners gained 12 cents and ended at $1.62 in switching ownership of 300 stocks. Stationery and Office Supplies popped 12 cents in closing at $1.68 with trading in 4,131 stock units, Tropical Battery advanced 6 cents to finish at $2.12 with investors dealing in 327 shares and tTech rose 23 cents to end at $2.27 with 1,899 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Fall for all JSE markets

All three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined in trading on Wednesday and ended with a sharp rise in trading on the USD market, with trading in the rest of the market enjoying a modest increase in the volume of stocks changing hands but with a fall in the value traded compared with the previous day and resulting in prices of 32 shares rising and 33 declining.
At the close of trading on Wednesday, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 1,130.34 points to end trading at 335,763.89, while the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,794.74 points to close at 360,220.92, while the JSE Main Index lost 1,004.10 points to close at 322,943.86. The Junior Market Index fell 24.08 points to lock up trading at 3,756.95 and the JSE USD Market Index declined 3.55 points to end at 239.06.
At the close of trading, 11,705,524 shares were exchanged in all three markets compared to 11,538,316 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amount to $43.87 million, well below the $162.75 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,005,394 shares for US$50,711 compared to 86,667 units at US$14,748 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.49 million shares followed by General Accident with 1.35 million units and Lasco Distributors with 1.17 million stock units.
In Junior Market trading, EduFocal led trading with 866,123 shares followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 661,048 stock units and Dolla Financial with 459,774 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share skidded $5 in closing at $210 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share rose $50 to end at $1,200.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 19.9 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.6 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 jumps on the JSE Main Market

Trading climbed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, with 36 percent rise in the volume and after a 429 percent surge in value over Monday, with trading in 59 securities compared with 61 on Monday, with prices of 20 stocks rising, 18 declining and 21 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 8,349,044 shares trading for $156,852,014 up from 6,145,603 units at $29,633,029 on Monday.
Trading averaged 141,509 shares at $2,658,509 compared to 100,748 units at $485,787 on Monday and month to date, an average of 1,031,265 units at $4,148,315, in comparison with 1,117,606 units at $4,292,885 on the previous day and March that closed with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Sagicor Group led trading with 3.04 million shares for 36.4 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.63 million units for 19.5 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway with 1.13 million units for 13.5 percent market share and General Accident with 1.08 million units for 12.9 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index sank 4,420.59 points to culminate at 362,015.66, the JSE Main Index skidded 3,062.56 points to lock up trading at 323,947.96 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 1.00 point to 69.08.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden lost $1.12 to close at $38.88 after 334 shares were traded, Barita Investments slipped $1.50 and ended at $71 after 9,956 stocks passed through the market, Caribbean Cement gained 75 cents to close at $57.99 after a transfer of 8,209 shares. Eppley sank $1 to end at $39, with 110 stock units crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped 55 cents in closing at $11.56 with investors trading 57,058 shares, Kingston Properties shed 32 cents to finish at $7.75, with 52,114 stocks crossing the market. Lasco Manufacturing declined by 30 cents and ended at $5.25 after an exchange of 35,532 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 50 cents to $10.50 with 400 stock units clearing the market, NCB Financial fell 75 cents to end at $64.50 with an exchange of 32,268 shares. Proven Investments dipped 50 cents to close at $21.50 after investors traded 1,103 stock units, Scotia Group rallied $1.60 to finish at $45.60 after an exchange of 28,074 stocks, Seprod increased $2.42 to end at $80 with traders dealing in 1,110 units and Supreme Ventures popped $1 to $25, with 8,401 stocks crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $3.01 to finish trading 22 units at $50, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $5 in closing at $215 after exchanging one share, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share skidded $3.45 and ended at $115 with a transfer of 110 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% popped $5.49 to finish at $109.49 with investors dealing in 2,000 shares.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading slips on the Junior Market

Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with a 35 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with 44 percent lower value than on Monday and ended with trading in 42 securities down from 45 on Monday and closing with prices of 16 rising, 16 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading in 3,102,805 shares for $5,901,970 down from 4,798,812 units at $10,594,590 on Monday.
Trading averaged 73,876 shares at $140,523 compared to 106,640 units at $235,435 on Monday with a month to date, average of 248,202 units at $566,245 compared to 264,995 stock units at $607,255 on the previous day and March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
One Great Studio led trading with 1.06 million shares for 34 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.05 million units for 33.8 percent of the day’s trade and ONE on ONE Educational with 199,059 units for 6.4 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index slipped 2.92 points to finish at 3,781.03.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.7, 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 three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging advanced 7 cents to $3.44 in switching ownership of 106,018 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 8 cents to finish at $2.28 with investors swapping just one share, Consolidated Bakeries increased 19 cents and ended at $2.19, with 2,273 shares crossing the market. EduFocal declined 5 cents to close at 95 cents with traders dealing in 22,734 stock units, Everything Fresh shed 6 cents to end at $1.68 with 3,905 shares clearing the market, Honey Bun fell 7 cents in closing at $8.33 with a transfer of 15,162 stock units. JFP Ltd popped 5 cents to $1.27 with investors dealing in 3,587 units, Lumber Depot rose 6 cents to end at $2.56 in an exchange of 5,000 stocks, Mailpac Group rallied 11 cents in closing at $2.01 as 14,091 units passed through the market. Main Event gained 39 cents and ended at $13.99 with an exchange of 49 shares, MFS Capital Partners slipped 30 cents to finish at $1.50, with 41,551 stocks crossing the market, Spur Tree Spices lost 5 cents to close at $2.45 after a transfer of 1,049,690 stock units. Stationery and Office Supplies skidded 13 cents to $1.56 as investors exchanged 18,169 shares, Tropical Battery sank 5 cents in closing at $2.06, with 17,019 stocks changing hands and tTech dipped 23 cents to finish at $2.04 in an exchange of 5 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Fall for Main & Junior Markets but USD rises

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined in trading on Tuesday as the Junior Market JSE USD market closed moderately higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands rising moderately over that on Monday, with a much higher the value, resulting in prices of 31 shares rising and 32 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 2,956.19 points to close at 336,894.23, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 4,420.59 points to 362,015.66, the JSE Main Index dropped 3,062.56 points to end the day at 323,947.96. The Junior Market Index dipped 2.92 points to end at 3,781.03 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 1.19 points to settle at 242.61.
At the close of trading, 11,538,316 shares were exchanged in all three markets, marginally up from 11,094,504 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $162.75 million, well over the $40.23 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 86,667 shares for US$14,748 compared to 152,339 units at US$5,545 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Group led trading with 3.04 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.63 million stock units, Transjamaican Highway with 1.13 million stocks and General Accident with 1.08 million shares.
In Junior Market trading, One Great Studio led trading with 1.06 million shares followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.05 million units and ONE on ONE Educational with 199,059 units for 6.4 percent market share.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $3.01 to end at $50, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $5 in closing at $215, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share skidded $3.45 and ended at $115 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% popped $5.49 to finish at $109.49.
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.

Jamaica’s inflation plunges but BOJ cautious

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica reported negative inflation of 0.6 percent for March, for a second consecutive month and point to point inflation of 5.6 percent to the year to date and follows and negative inflation of 0.6 percent in February and negative 0.10 in January.
With most businesses having granted healthy wage increases in 2022 and 2023, this publication does not expect there to be much wage pressure on inflation this year. With the inflation rate for the first three months of the year now at negative1.3 percent, which could climb even more in April, the increases in the summer months that usually flow from farm produces is likely to wipe out the gains in the early months but that should set the stage for the point to point to continue to trend to the lower end of BOJ’s mandate of 4 to 6 percent.
Bank of Jamaica has taken note of the inflation outturn in March 2024. According to a released by the central bank, “the 12-month point-to-point inflation (March 2023 to March 2024) was 5.6 per cent, which is within the Bank’s target range. The Bank welcomes the reduction in headline inflation, which was 0.6 percentage points lower than the 6.2 per cent point-to-point inflation rate for the period February 2023 to February 2024 and also lower than our most recent forecast”.
“The Bank notes that this is the second consecutive month of decline in headline inflation, which is a positive development, and the first time that the inflation outturn was within the Bank’s target range since October 2023.”
The bank went on to state “the analysis of the inflation numbers shows that the downward movement in the Consumer Price Index, for March 2024 was largely influenced by a 1.8 per cent decline in the index for the heaviest weighted division, Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages. While the Bank had anticipated a decline for this division, the contraction was larger than expected and reflected reductions in the prices of some agricultural produce, such as tomato, yam, sweet potato, cabbage and carrot.”
“The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee will continue to closely watch the inflation numbers and other incoming data over the ensuing months to assess the extent to which the current level of inflation will be sustained, before making a  determination on whether to change the Bank’s monetary policy stance’ the statement concluded.

Tepid Main Market trading

Trading activity dipped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday, with a 44 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded, with an 82 percent lower value than on Friday, following trading in 61 securities as was the case on Friday, with prices of 15 stocks rising, 28 declining and 18 unchanged.
The market ended trading of 6,145,603 shares at $29,633,029 compared to 10,926,398 units at $160,297,742 on Friday.
Trading averaged 100,748 shares at $485,787 compared to 179,121 units at $2,627,832 on Friday and month to date, an average of 1,117,606 units at $4,292,885 compared with 1,231,003 units at $4,717,442 on the previous day and March with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.33 million shares for 37.9 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.53 million units for 25 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 541,191 stocks for 8.8 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 64.70 points to close at 366,436.25, the JSE Main Index rose 255.28 points to end the day at 327,010.52 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.11 points to end at 70.08.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and eight with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden increased $1.02 and ended at $40 with investors trading 4,641 shares, Barita Investments shed 50 cents to $72.50 in an exchange of 5,198 shares, Caribbean Cement lost $2.25 in closing at $57.24 with investors swapping 3,071 units. Eppley climbed $4 to close at $40 with a transfer of 2,500 stocks, Guardian Holdings sank $9.50 to finish at $360 after exchanging 347 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 53 cents to end at $12.11 in switching ownership of 31,956 stocks. Kingston Wharves advanced 30 cents to $30.70 after a transfer of 7,584 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 85 cents to finish at $10, with 9,216 stock units crossing the exchange, NCB Financial dropped $1.25 and ended at $65.25 with traders dealing in 25,786 shares. Scotia Group declined $2.93 to end at $44 in an exchange of 3,421 units, Seprod dipped $5.77 in closing at $77.58 with 9,441 stocks clearing the market, Stanley Motta slipped 75 cents to close at $6.05 with an exchange of 4,597 stock units. Supreme Ventures skidded $1 to $24 after 126,649 shares crossed the market and Wisynco Group dropped $1.39 to finish at $20.61 as investors exchanged 51,035 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% slipped $1.01 and ended at $46.99, with 110 stocks crossing the market, 138 Student Living preference share lost $3 to end at $210 after an exchange of 6 stock units, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $23.37 in closing at $118.45 with investors transferring 8 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% dipped $6 to close at $104 after 379 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

More decline for Junior Market

Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with a 52 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with 82 percent more value than Friday, with trading in 45 securities compared with 44 on Friday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 20 declining and 11 closing unchanged as Honey Bun closed at a new 52 weeks’ high and EduFocal traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of 90 cents.
The market closed trading of 4,798,812 shares for $10,594,590 compared with 3,153,277 units at $5,829,829 on Friday.
Trading averaged 106,640 shares at $235,435, compared with 71,665 units at $132,496 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 264,995 units at $607,255 compared to 283,220 stock units at $650,048 on the previous day and March with an average of 221,659 units at $464,382.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 1.47 million shares for 30.6 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 536,957 units for 11.2 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies with 517,761 units for 10.8 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index declined 20.07 points to lock up trading at 3,783.95, with indications that it could fall further on Tuesday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.8, 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 seven with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial increased $1.12 and ended at $21.13 with investors trading just one share, AMG Packaging climbed 17 cents to $3.37, with 126,389 units crossing the exchange, following the release of b six months results with profit up 79 percent, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 12 cents to end at $2.20, in switching ownership of 9,954 shares. Caribbean Flavours popped 12 cents in closing at $1.70 with an exchange of 7 stock units, EduFocal rallied 7 cents to finish at $1 with traders dealing in 536,957 shares, but only after hitting an intraday 52 weeks’ low of 90 cents, Express Catering fell 55 cents to close at $3.90 after a transfer of 29,969 units, following release of increased earnings for the nine months. But with a slightly lower profit in the third quarter, Fontana shed 10 cents to $8.90 as investors exchanged 18,527 stocks, Honey Bun rose 48 cents to finish at a new 52 weeks’ high of $8.40 after 65,847 stock units passed through the market, Iron Rock Insurance gained 22 cents and ended at $2.42, with 3 shares changing hands. ISP Finance dropped 49 cents to close at $30.51 with investors swapping 4 stocks, Jamaican Teas advanced 24 cents to end at $2.67 with a transfer of 16,616 units, Jetcon Corporation lost 7 cents in closing at 88 cents, with 54 stock units crossing the market. KLE Group skidded 50 cents to $1.90 with investors transferring 10 shares, Limners and Bards sank 26 cents to close at $1.45 with 44,863 units clearing the market, Mailpac Group declined 19 cents in closing at $1.90 after trading 327,193 stocks. Main Event slipped 40 cents and ended at $13.60, with 8,274 stock units crossing the market, MFS Capital Partners sank 7 cents to finish at $1.80 with an exchange of 38,315 shares and tTech rose 7 cents to end at $2.27 in trading 2 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.