Main market stocks start the week down

Stocks raced 2.949 points shortly after opening, with All Jamaican Composite Index hitting 452,005.57 on Monday, but some amount of selling, later on, pushed the market down for the day, with the declining stocks outnumbering those rising, after 28 percent less funds went after stocks than on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,335.19 points to 447,721.13, the Main Index dropped 4,869.78 points to 424,662.52 and the JSE Financial Index shed 1.85 points to settle at 106.69.
Trading ended with 51 securities compared to 47 on Friday and closed with 14 stocks rising, 23 declining and 14 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.2.
The market closed with 10,081,649 shares trading for $68,340,342 compared to 9,057,061 units at $95,375,441 on Friday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund was the lead trade accounting for 26.3 percent of total volume, with 2.65 million shares, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 17.7 percent for 1.79 million units, Transjamaican Highway carved out 17.5 percent, with 1.76 million units and QWI Investments 10 percent, with 1.05 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 197,679 units at $1,340,007, compared to 192,703 shares at $2,029,265 on Friday. Month to date trading averages 330,371 units at $3,975,781, in contrast to 357,658 units at $4,517,815 on Friday. April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 60 cents to $86 after an exchange of 26,212 shares, Berger Paints slipped 79 cents to close at $12.71 in switching ownership of 518 units, Caribbean Cement lost 22 cents to end at $89.98 with a transfer of 15,291 shares. Eppley fell 30 cents to $34.20 with 24,628 stocks changing hands, Grace Kennedy rose 55 cents to close at $89, after trading 105,257 stock units, Jamaica Broilers advanced $2.98 to $33 after clearing the market with 332,852 shares, Jamaica Producers fell $1.50 to $26 in the swapping 32,469 stock units. Mayberry Investments gained 44 cents to close at $5.95 while trading 40,044 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $3 to end at 52 weeks’ low of $125 in switching ownership of 839 units, Palace Amusement dropped $52 to $856 in exchanging 93 stock units. Pan Jam Investment shed 50 cents and ended at $64 with 12,386 shares changing hands, Proven Investments lost 58 cents in closing at $38.20 in transferring 36,735 units, Pulse Investments rose 24 cents to close at $4.65 with 341,070 shares crossing the market, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund advanced 8 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $1 while exchanging 221,761 units. Salada Foods dipped 30 cents to close at $9, trading 144,058 stock units, Scotia Group fell $1.29 to $40.51 in exchanging 61,843 shares, Seprod declined $4 to close at $71 after 17,111 units crossed the exchange. Supreme Ventures shed 49 cents to settle at $17.31 after an exchange of 136,667 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 29 cents to end at $14.89 with 34,847 units changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.75% preference share shed 99 cents at $6.51 with the swapping of 585 stocks and Eppley 7.5% preference shares advanced $1.40 to a 52 weeks’ high of $10.75 in an exchange of 50 units.

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

Salada stock price built on folly

What is going on with Salada Foods share price is the question of a number of investors with the price having been pushed to a record high of $100 in 2021 on a pre-split basis, with the last traded price for the stock at $9.30, the equivalent of $93 on a pre-split basis.
Before the company announced a ten to one stock split, the stock traded at $28.22 on January 12, this year, the day Salada Foods’ directors advised that it will be considering a stock split at a board meeting scheduled to be held on January 21.  The next day the price jumped to $34.04 and hit $47.89 on February 8 but pulled back to $38.09 on February 22.
The stock traded ex split on March 30, with the last trade for the day at $5.45. The day after, news reports incorrectly said the stock price had tumbled 85 percent, but the price actually rose to a record high. The JSE trading report for that day currently shows that the price hit a 52 weeks’ low of $4.95 with the 52 weeks’ high of $50.50.  On April 1, the highest price for the day was a record $7.20, but the JSE shows the 52 weeks’ high of $50.50 and the low as $4.95. On April 6, the highs and lows were adjusted to $7.20 and $2, but the graph of the stock price on the exchange still shows the high at $50 as there is no adjustment for the historical prices that would allow for proper comparison. The JSE has a note at the time of the sharp price change as a Capital Distribution, which is not correct as there was no such event.
The above leaves many investors confused. No wonder they are pushing the stock to levels that defy gravity and logic. The news that the stock fell 85 percent sent many unsuspecting investors flying into the stock thinking they are getting a bargain.
Salada reported earnings in the December quarter of 13 cents per share on revenues that fell from $288 million in 2019 to $226 million in 2020. If it is assumed that sales return to the 2019 level for the rest of the 2021 fiscal year with the same profit margin without any further increased cost, the company would earn around 23 cents per share for each quarter, putting full year earnings under $1 before the ten to one stock split. It would mean earnings per share of fewer than 10 cents, putting the PE ratio at an aggressively high of 90 times earnings. Is the company doing some things that will lift earnings dramatically? Is the question that needs an answer? To justify the current stock price, it would require earnings per share somewhere in the 50 cents region, based on the 1 billion shares now issued or $500 million for the year. That is not going to happen anytime soon.
This is a classic case for the company and the Stock Exchange to have provided the public with information on the company’s operations so that investors can be protected.

Another TTSE stock set to list on JSE

Massy Holdings the T&T conglomerate is set to list on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the second such company to do so, with Guardian Holdings having listed this week. The board made the decision at a meeting held on May 6.
According to a release from the company that has Patrick Hylton as one of its directors, who chairs Guardian Holdings, the directors in making their decision, considered the market sophistication and growth opportunities evident in the Jamaican securities market which has become increasingly more dynamic over the past few years. The release went on to further state, “the board anticipates greater regional and international interest in the company’s shares.”
Massy Holdings generated revenues of TT$3.2 billion up from $3.16 billion for the first quarter ending December and ended with a profit of $188 million up from $167 million resulting in EPS of $1.76 up from $1.57 in the first quarter in 2019. The group could end up with earnings around $6 per share with the stock that last traded at TT$65 on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, trading at 11 this year’s earnings.
Massy has just 97,743,000 issued shares, well below the average listed company on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, so unless they do other things to create liquidity and demand for the stock it will languish from lack of investors’ interest.
Conglomerates are notorious for disappointing investors. Jamaicans will point to Grace Kennedy as a great example of a group that promised so much over the years but constantly disappointed investors who looked elsewhere while the company’s profit stagnated.

Guardian climbs to a new high of $1,135

Guardian Holdings made another big impression on the JSE Main Index for the second day running, with the index spiking more than 6,700 points at the close compared to less than 2,000 points for the  All Jamaican Composite Index at the close on Friday of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,717.09 points to 449,056.32, the Main Index advanced 6,789.24 points to 429,532.30 and the JSE Financial Index gained 2.78 points to settle at 108.54.
Trading ended with 47 securities compared to 51 on Thursday and closed with prices of 20 stocks rising, 18 declining and nine remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.2.
Trading accounted for 9,057,061 shares for $95,375,441 compared to 14,011,500 units at $108,072,314 on Thursday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 23.6 percent of total volume for 2.14 million shares, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 12.6 percent for 1.14 million units and Radio Jamaica 10.6 percent with 959,460 units.
Trading averaged 192,703 units at $2,029,265, compared to 274,735 shares at $2,119,065 on Thursday. Month to date trading averages 357,658 units at $4,517,815, in contrast to 396,230 units at $5,099,715 on Thursday. April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.
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, Barita Investments fell $1.40 to $86.60 in trading 291,042 units, Berger Paints gained 30 cents to end at $13.50 with 5,053 stocks clearing the market. Caribbean Cement added 20 cents to close at $90.20 switching ownership of 45,139 shares, Carreras gained 25 cents to end at $9.84 in switching ownership of 334,907 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $4.79 to close at $40.01 in exchanging 3,277 units, First Rock Capital shed $1.04 to end at $15.96 in switching ownership of 210,759 stocks, Guardian Holdings climbed $27 to end at $900 with an exchange of 3,768 stock units after the price shot up to a high of $1,134.90, Jamaica Broilers declined $2.98 in closing at $30.02 in transferring 38,063 shares, Jamaica Producers shed $3.50 to finish at $27.50 with the swapping of 114,576 units. Key Insurance gained 68 cents ending at $6.50 with 132,886 shares changing hands. Kingston Wharves gained 30 cents to settle at $43.90 after exchanging 31,373 stocks, NCB Financial Group rose $1 in closing at $140 after clearing the market with 40,955 shares, 138 Student Living advanced $1.09 to close at $5.29 with 50 stocks clearing the market, Palace Amusement climbed $8 to $908 in trading 59 stock units, PanJam Investment closed $1 higher at $64.50 after clearing the market with 11,459 shares. Proven Investments rose $1.01 to $38.78 with the swapping of 112,652 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund slipped 25 cents to close at $7.95 with the transfer of 3,366 stocks, Salada Foods lost 40 cents in closing at $9.30 in trading 145,990 units, Seprod dropped $3 to finish at $75 with 105,935 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures rose 56 cents to end at $17.80 in switching ownership of 98,891 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 39 cents ending at $14.60 in trading 39,721 units.

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

Guardian blasts JSE Market Index higher

The trading of Guardian Holdings shares on Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday saw the price surging $290.52 ending at $873 and blasting the JSE Main Index up 16,869.80 points to 422,743.06, but the better measure of the local market’s performance was the much more moderate rise of 1,416.87 points to 447,339.23 on the All Jamaican Composite Index at the same time the JSE Financial Index rose 6.31 points to 105.76.
Trading ended with 51 securities compared to 50 on Wednesday and closed with prices of 21 stocks rising, 16 declining and 14 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.5.
The market closed with 14,011,500 shares trading for $108,072,314 compared to 14,404,463 units at $119,739,515 on Wednesday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 32.9 percent for an exchange of 4.61 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 29.6 percent for 4.15 million units and QWI Investments 7.8 percent, with 1.1 million units.
Trading averaged 274,735 units at $2,119,065, compared to an average of 288,089 shares at $2,394,790 on Wednesday. Month to date trading averages 396,230 units at $5,099,715, in contrast to 437,538 units at $6,113,136 on Wednesday. April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.

Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments advanced $3.04 to $88 in trading 23,498 units. Berger Paints rose 50 cents to $13.20 with 2,264 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Cement finished $2 higher at $90 after exchanging 13,677 stock units, Eppley lost 23 cents to end at $34.50 with 412 stocks changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $4.04 to $44.80, with 9,004 units clearing the market, First Rock Capital fell 47 cents to $17 with the transfer of 26,006 shares. Guardian Holdings jumped $290.52 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $873 while trading 2,899 shares, Jamaica Broilers advanced $2.20 to $33 in the swapping of 599,456 stock units, Jamaica Producers closed $3.50 higher to a 52 weeks’ high of at $31 with 156,379 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 63 cents to $17.80 with 2,000 stock units changing hands. JMMB Group advanced $1.10 ending at $33.10 in switching ownership of 567,724 shares, Margaritaville declined $2.38 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $14.50 after exchanging 4,900 units, Mayberry Investments fell 60 cents to $5.60 with the transfer of 5,000 stocks. NCB Financial gained 50 cents to settle at $139 in trading 68,878 shares. 138 Student Living shed 80 cents to end at $4.20 in exchanging 2,697 shares, PanJam Investment rose $1.25 to $63.50 in exchanging 22,174 units, Proven Investments gained 75 cents to finish at $37.77 trading 7,198 stock units, Sagicor Group rose 99 cents to end at $49.49 after crossing the market with 50,855 units. Salada Foods lost 28 cents in closing at $9.70 in transferring 261,746 stock units, Stanley Motta gained 20 cents to close at $6.20 with an exchange of 3,100 shares. Supreme Ventures lost 26 cents to end at $17.24 after crossing the market with 69,748 stock units and Wisynco Group gained 52 cents to close at $15.90 with the swapping of 134,365 stock units.

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

QWI Investments took 36% of trades

QWI Investments led trading with 36 percent of total volume for 5.21 million shares and traded as high as $1.09, following the posting of half year results showing a major about turn in the profit from a big loss of $576 million last year to a profit of $171 million for the half year, but the stock closed the day at $1 with a miniscule rise after 14,404,463 shares traded for $119,739,515 compared to 13,252,508 units at $91,030,300 on Tuesday.
In the private bond market, Guardian Holdings 2025 Bond traded 104,000 units at $101.28 each.
Guardian Holdings was relisted on the Main market of the Exchange but did not trade but closed with the bid at $669.52, well above the JS$586 it is listed at in Trinidad.
The market recorded more gains at the close on Wednesday after an exchange of 9 percent more shares with a 32 percent higher value than on Tuesday, leading the All Jamaican Composite Index to advance 985.41 points to 445,922.36, the Main Index rose 816.03 points to 405,873.26 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.11 points to settle at 99.45.
A total of 50 securities traded compared to 48 on Tuesday, with prices of 17 stocks rising, 20 declining and 13 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.2.
Wigton Windfarm was the second major trading stock with 11.5 percent for 1.65 million units, Mayberry Investments followed with 10.6 percent for 1.52 million units, Transjamaican Highway controlled 8.2 percent, with 1.18 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 7.9 percent after 1.14 million units change hands.
Trading averaged 288,089 units at $2,394,790, compared to an average of 276,094 shares at $1,896,465 on Tuesday. Month to date trading averages 434,530 units at $5,986,780, in contrast to 512,262 units at $7,972,309 on Tuesday. April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has fifteen stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement declined $2 to $88 with 41,807 shares changing hands, Carreras gained 54 cents in closing at $9.69 after switching ownership of 33,186 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 76 cents to $40.76 with the transfer of 920 units. Grace Kennedy rose 50 cents to $88.50 in an exchange of 59,837 shares, Jamaica Broilers lost 20 cents to close at $30.80 in trading 9,151 stocks. Jamaica Producers shed $2.50 to end at $27.50 after clearing the market with 265,026 units, Mayberry Investments rose 95 cents to close at $6.20 with 1,522,489 shares changing hands. Mayberry Jamaican Equities ended 70 cents higher at $7.90 with the swapping of 2,700 stocks, NCB Financial slipped 50 cents to close at $138.50 after exchanging 70,300 shares, PanJam Investment advanced $1.25 to $62.25 with 23,397 stocks changing hands. Proven Investments shed 98 cents to close at $37.02 after exchanging 40,040 shares, Salada Foods gained 48 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $9.98 in switching ownership of 352,739 stock units. Scotia Group picked up 20 cents in closing at $42 after clearing the market with 670,305 shares, Seprod fell $2 to $78 in transferring 340,678 stock units, Supreme Ventures shed 45 cents to close at $17.50 in an exchange of 67,054 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference shares rose $2.16 to $9.35 with an exchange of just one share.

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

Guardian Holdings to relist on JSE Wednesday

Shares of the Trinidad based and NCB majority owned Guardian Holding shares set to be relisted on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) on Wednesday after an absence from the exchange since 2013.
The application for listing the shares was made to the JSE with the company publishing an abridged financial statement in accordance with the listing requirements of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dated 24th of March.
The company has in issue only 232,024,923 ordinary shares, with NCB Financial holding just under 62 percent thereof. Liquidity will be constrained, as such the directors would be well advised to split the stocks to bring the issued numbers to around 3 billion units and therefore ensure greater opportunity for sustained liquidity.
The move to relist is in keeping with an ICInsider.com report in 2015 when NCB and Proven Investments were jointly pursuing the acquisition of app 36 percent more of GHL shares. Proven eventually backed out and NCB made a bid to acquire an additional 30 percent.
Guardian Holdings reported increased profit for the year ended December 2020 with profit attributable to shareholders rising 12 percent to $774 million from $692 million in 2019, with earnings per share of $3.34 versus $2.98 in the prior year.
Net income from insurance underwriting activities increased to $1,413 million, a 47 percent rise over the $959 million reported in 2019 the company reported. Net income from Investing Activities declined 28 percent from $1,370 million to $989 million. The Group result in 2020 was not adversely affected by catastrophes as was the case in 2019, the directors informed the shareholders. Gross Written Premiums increased from $6,367 million to $6,557 million or 3 percent.
Total Assets rose to TT$33 billion and shareholders equity stood at TT$4.7 billion.
The company reported that new accounting standards to be implemented in 2023 will result in significant changes to the financial statements of all insurers and will change how insurers are managed. It will necessitate ­e collection of significantly more information for the construction of financial statements. While the company states that they are well on the way to be compliant, it did not state what the likely impact will be on earnings.
Guardian Holdings last traded on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange at TT$25.51 or J$586 with a PE ratio around 6.5, 2021 earnings.

Major rebound for Main Market

Trading activities returned to more normal levels on Tuesday, with the market rebounding from a massive 12,000 plus points drop of the All Jamaican Composite Index on Monday. The market closed on Tuesday, with more stocks rising than declining, but with a 65 percent drop in volume after 87 percent less funds chased stocks than on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 9,180.51 points to 444,936.95 after the index rose to a high in the morning session to 449,375.45. The Main Index advanced 8,254.00 points to 405,057.23 and the JSE Financial Index rose 1.11 points to settle at 99.34.
Trading ended with 48 securities compared to 52 on Monday and closed with prices of 20 stocks rising, 18 declining and 10 remaining unchanged as two stocks closed at 52 weeks’ high and one at a 52 weeks’ low. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.4.
The market closed with 13,252,508 shares trading for $91,030,300 compared to 37,973,727 units at $706,200,616 on Monday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 26 percent of total volume for an exchange of 3.44 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 19.74 percent for 2.62 million units and Radio Jamaica 10.8 percent, with 1.43 million units.
Trading averaged 276,094 units at $1,896,465, compared to 730,264 shares at $13,580,781 on Monday. Month to date trading averages 512,262 units at $7,972,309. April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints shed 80 cents to close at $12.70, trading 16,246 shares. Caribbean Cement advanced $3 to end at $90 with 66,131 stock units changing hands, Eppley gained 24 cents in ending at $34.74 with the transfer of 8,667 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund closed 74 cents lower at $40 after crossing the market with 14,250 stock units. First Rock Capital declined $1.09 to $17.50 trading 9,372 units, Jamaica Producers advanced $3 to a 52 weeks’ high of $30 after exchanging 63,913 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 26 cents in closing at $17.31 with the swapping of 1,615 stock units. JMMB Group shed 90 cents to settle at $31.90 in switching ownership of 86,169 shares, Margaritaville declined $2.99 to a 52 weeks’ low of $17.01 with the transfer of 3,101 units. Mayberry Investments lost 65 cents to end at $5.25 in an exchange of 96,817 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell $1.79 to close at $7.20 after crossing the market with 52,300 shares, NCB Financial rose $1 to $139 with an exchange of 26,195 units. Palace Amusement climbed $49.50 to $900 with 252 stocks changing hands, PanJam Investment fell $3 in closing at $61 in trading 133,113 shares, Sagicor Group rose $1.01 to end at $48.51 after exchanging 47,529 stocks, Salada Foods continues its relentless rise, with a gain of 35 cents in ending at 52 weeks’ high of $9.50 in an exchange of 270,188 shares. Scotia Group advanced $2.30 to $41.80 with the transfer of 224,092 stocks, Seprod gained 55 cents to close at $80 in switching ownership of 24,938 shares, Stanley Motta ended 50 cents higher at $6 trading 4,665 stocks. Supreme Ventures picked up 48 cents to finish at $17.95 in swapping 721,683 shares and Wisynco Group lost 40 cents to end at $15.35 with 272,429 units changing hands.

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

16,632 points drop in JSE All Jamaica Index

Stocks suffered more than a 16,600 points swing in trading on Monday after the Main Market stocks jumped 4,268 points to a multi-month high of 452,388.58 after 14 minutes of the markets opening as the All Jamaican Composite Index plunged 12,364.61 points from Friday’s close to close at 435,756.44 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
The JSE Main Index dropped 11,219.79 points to 396,803.23 and the JSE Financial Index declined 2.16 points to t 98.23.
Trading ended with 52 securities from 53 on Friday and closed with 17 stocks rising, 21 declining and 14 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.5.
Trading ended with the volume rising 124 percent with the value being 399 percent higher than on Friday.
The market closed with 37,973,727 shares trading for $706,200,616 compared to 16,976,414 units at $141,423,527 on Friday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 33 percent of total volume after trading 12.54 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm 16.9 percent with 6.40 million units, Caribbean Cement with 9.3 percent, with 3.52 million units. Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund accounted for 8.5 percent for an exchange of 3.24 million units, Sagicor Group with 4.9 percent for 1.86 million units, Carreras with 4.6 percent for 1.74 million units, Scotia Group with 3.4 percent market share for 1.28 million units, QWI Investments with 3 percent for 1.14 million units, Transjamaican Highway with 2.7 percent for 1.02 million units and Grace Kennedy with 2.7 percent for 1.01 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 730,264 units at $13,580,781, compared to an average of 320,310 shares at $2,668,368 on Friday. April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement slipped $1 to $87 with an exchange of 3,518,333 shares, Carreras lost 80 cents to close at $9.15 with the swapping of 1,740,765 stock units, Eppley declined 20 cents to settle at $34.50 trading 1,453 units, First Rock Capital advanced $1.14 to $18.59 with 65,455 stocks changing hands. Jamaica Broilers rose $2.49 to close at $30.99 with investors switching ownership of 778,063 stock units, Jamaica Producers fell $1 to close at $27 in the transfer of 5,547 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange shed 90 cents in closing at $17.05, with 10,542 stocks clearing the market, Margaritaville declined $1 ending at 52 weeks’ low of $20 with 4,005 units changing hands, Mayberry Investments gained 54 cents to close at $5.90 in transferring 579,433 stocks. Mayberry Jamaican Equities finished $1.04 higher at $8.99 in an exchange of 74,861 shares, NCB Financial fell $1 to $138 with an exchange of 941,639 stocks, Palace Amusement dropped $29.50 to $850.50 in switching ownership of 303 stock units. Portland JSX ended $2.64 lower at $7.11 with the transfer of 9,000 shares, Proven Investments rose 23 cents to $38 in the swapping of 16,207 units, Sagicor Group slid $5 in closing at $47.50 with 1,858,449 shares crossing the market. Salada Foods gained $1.74 in ending at a record close of $9.15 in an exchange of 128,211 stock units, Scotia Group shed $2.50 to close at $39.50 in trading 1,279,986 shares. Seprod fell 55 cents to end at $79.45 after 50,221 stock units cleared the market and Stanley Motta lost 40 cents to close at $5.50 with an exchange of 50,000 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.5% preference share rose 94 cents to end at 52 weeks’ high of $7.19 with 967 shares changing hands, Eppley 8.25% closed 90 cents higher at $7 with 4,059 stock units crossing the market and JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 gained 30 cents ending at $3 with 100 stock units clearing the market.

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

JSE Main Market at 14 and a half months’ high

Stocks trading started out with spirited early movements on Friday taking the market up by 2,978 points at 8 minutes into the trading session to sit just below the mid-March close, but the market slipped thereafter, with All Jamaican Composite Index hanging to 1,524.26 points to settle at 448,121.05, the JSE Main Index rose up by 1,331.40 points at 408,023.02 and the JSE Financial Index climbed 0.47 points to settle at 100.39, with the majority of price movements ending in favour of falling stocks.
Trading ended with 53 securities compared to 45 on Thursday and ended with 13 rising, 22 declining and 18 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.5.
Trading ended with an exchange of 82 percent more shares valued 77 percent higher than on Thursday as 16,976,414 shares for $141,423,527 compared to 9,318,055 units at $79,985,841 on Thursday. JMMB Group 7.5% preference share led trading with 40.6 percent of total volume for an exchange of 6.88 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 14.8 percent for 2.5 million units, Jamaica Broilers 10.8 percent, with 1.83 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 6.1 percent for 1.04 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 320,310 units at $2,668,368, compared to an average of 207,068 shares at $1,777,463 on Thursday. Month to date trading averages 234,200 units at $1,772, 561, in contrast to 229,207 units at $1,720,616 on Thursday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement fell $1.25 in closing at $88 with 91,088 shares changing hands, Carreras gained 36 cents to end at $9.95 after clearing the market with 257,861 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped 26 cents to end at $40.74 with 1,691 stocks crossing the market. First Rock Capital advanced $1.55 to $17.45 in an exchange of 122,961 units, Jamaica Broilers declined $2.50 to $28.50 with the swapping of 1,830,085 shares, Jamaica Producers shed 45 cents to close at $28 after 8,381 stock units crossed the exchange. Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 20 cents to finish at $17.95 in trading 40,396 shares, Key Insurance closed 33 cents lower at $5.61 with 248,172 units changing hands, Kingston Properties rose $1.12 to end at $8.57 in clearing the market with 1,743 stocks. Margaritaville declined $1.10 to settle at a 52 weeks’ low of $21 in the transfer of 15,002 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 40 cents to close at $7.95 in exchanging 17,902 shares. NCB Financial Group fell $1 to $139 with the swapping of 63,842 units, Palace Amusement dropped $70 to close at $880 in trading 5 shares, Pan Jam Investment shed $1 to end at $64 in switching ownership of 9,466 units. Proven Investments closed 23 cents lower at $37.77 in an exchange of 6,043 shares, Sagicor Group advanced $2.50 to $52.50 with 139,229 units changing hands. Salada Foods ended 41 cents higher at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.41 in an exchange of 137,535 shares, Stanley Motta shed 50 cents to close at $5.90, with 19,000 stocks crossing the exchange, Supreme Ventures closed 52 cents lower at $17.47 with a transfer of 419,230 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments fell 58 cents to finish at $6.82 in exchanging 233,240 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped 99 cents to close at $109.51 in switching ownership of 99 stocks.

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