More funds flowed into trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, but it bought 41 percent fewer shares valued 79 percent more than on Thursday, after trading ended with 50 securities changing hands compared with 54 on Thursday, with 18 rising, 21 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
Overall, 3,872,550 shares were traded for $72,059,401 up from 6,606,269 units at $40,160,944 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 77,451 shares at $1,441,188 versus 122,338 shares at $743,721 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 174,613 units at $1,521,345, compared with 180,611 units at $1,526,293 on the previous day. August closed with an average of 316,608 units at $1,867,646.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.17 million shares for 30.2 percent of the volume, Transjamaican Highway followed with 620,445 units for 16 percent of the day’s trade and Barita Investments with 253,835 units for 6.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,768.93 points to end at 343,636.27, the JSE Main Index increased 876.64 points to 312,277.29 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.17 points to close at 69.41.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE of 12.2. The JSE Main and USD Market PE are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments jumped $1.99 to end at $78.99 in switching ownership of 253,835 shares, Berger Paints dropped 59 cents to $7.15 while exchanging 3,273 units, Caribbean Cement lost 50 cents in closing at $49 with shareholders swapping 131,630 stocks, Caribbean Producers shed 21 cents to close at $10.19 with an exchange of 18,203 stocks. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $1.90 and ended at $38.90 after 12 shares passed through the market, GraceKennedy rallied 49 cents to $72, with 148,464 stocks crossing the market, Guardian Holdings popped $5 and ended at $445 with a transfer of 366 units, Jamaica Broilers fell 47 cents to $31.03 after investors ended trading 7,824 stock units. Jamaica Producers climbed 50 cents to close at $20.50 with 60,097 units changing hands, Key Insurance declined 23 cents to end at $2.55, with 224 stock units crossing the exchange, Kingston Properties rose 28 cents and ended at $6.90 with investors dealing in 512 shares, 
Kingston Wharves skidded $3.72 to close at a multiyear low of $24 with stakeholders exchanging 45,945 stocks. Massy Holdings dipped 23 cents to end at $104.17 with traders dealing in 178 shares, Mayberry Investments shed 81 cents to $7.10 after a transfer of 18,129 stocks, Pan Jamaica increased $3.90 in closing at $45 with 230,694 stock units crossing the market, Sagicor Group climbed 80 cents in closing at $44.60 with investors transferring 15,345 units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund dipped 34 cents to close at $8, with 20,000 shares changing hands, Scotia Group popped 50 cents and ended at $34 in trading 92,228 stocks and Supreme Ventures gained 50 cents to end at $27.50 after exchanging 19,296 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share advanced 23 cents to $1.90 after an exchange of 544 stock units and 138 Student Living preference share jumped $11.52 and ended at $105 as investors exchanged 114 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading in One Great Studio plunges
Investors seem to have cooled on newly listed One Great Studio with less than 2 million units changing hands on Friday following three days of more than 14 million stocks being traded for each day since listing on Tuesday, with the price drifting down to $1.20 at the close of the week when the overall market end the week with mixed fortunes as the Junior Market inched higher and the Main Market main index rose but the All Jamaican Composite Index fell.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 869.06 points to close at 326,253.01, with the All Jamaican Composite Index falling 1,768.93 points to 343,636.27, the JSE Main Index rallied 876.64 points to close at 312,277.29, the Junior Market Index rose 5.83 points to 3809.59, while the JSE USD Market Index shed 1.12 points to finish at 254.26.
At the close, investors exchanged 11,124,804 shares in all three markets, up from 27,691,335 stock units on Thursday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $85.12 million, up from $72 million on Thursday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 580,017 shares for US$10,197 up from 73,572 units at US$2,495, on Thursday.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share jumped $11.52 and ended at $105.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 19.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 10.8 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and 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 to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Pan Jamaica sinks JSE Main market
Pan Jamaica dropped $4.65 in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, helping to push the market down even as heavily weighted Scotia Group climbed $1.30 following a 34 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded but the value fell by 54 percent from Wednesday’s levels, following trading in 54 securities up from 51 on Wednesday, with prices of 16 rising, 20 declining and 18 ending unchanged.
A total of 6,606,269 shares were traded at $40,160,944 compared to 4,914,260 units at $86,517,288 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 122,338 shares at $743,721 compared with 96,358 shares at $1,696,417 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 180,611 units at $1,526,293, down from 184,773 units at $1,582,191 on the previous day. August closed with an average of 316,608 units at $1,867,646.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.35 million shares for 35.5 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.39 million units for 21 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 1.23 million units for 18.6 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 541.98 points to finish at 345,405.20, the JSE Main Index dipped 445.30 points to 311,400.65 and the JSE Financial Index dropped 0.31 points to conclude trading at 69.24.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE of 12.2. The JSE Main and USD Market PEs are based on last traded prices and earnings projected by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments lost 30 cents to end at $77 with traders dealing in 10,771 shares, Caribbean Producers dropped 39 cents to end at $10.40, with 4,514 stocks changing hands, Eppley gained 97 cents and ended at $36.50 with investors dealing in 60 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund skidded $1.90 in closing at $37, with 2,320 units crossing the market. GraceKennedy dipped 49 cents to close at $71.51 with an exchange of 321,789 units, Jamaica Broilers shed 50 cents and ended at $31.50 as investors exchanged 22,100 stocks, Kingston Properties declined 67 cents to $6.62 after 6,404 shares changed hands, Kingston Wharves fell 27 cents to end at $27.72 after closing with an exchange of 16 stock units. 
Margaritaville rose 30 cents to close at $16.30 after trading in just 2 units, Mayberry Investments climbed 91 cents in closing at $7.91 after an exchange of 6,021 stock units, Pan Jamaica dropped $4.65 to $41.10 after investor traded 4,743 stocks, Proven Investments popped $2.66 to $24.18 with shareholders swapping 54 shares. Sagicor Group declined 20 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $43.80, with 18,994 stocks clearing the market, Scotia Group rallied $1.30 and ended at $33.50 with a transfer of 7,270 units, Stanley Motta increased 48 cents to close at $5.33 with investors transferring 25,900 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments advanced 26 cents to end at $2.98 after 2,400 shares passed through the market and Wisynco Group dipped 71 cents and ended at $17, with 19,911 stocks crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share lost $1.30 in closing at $18.65 after a transfer of 2 units, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $12.71 to land at $44.29 in an exchange of 809 stock units and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share skidded 23 cents to close at $1.67 in switching ownership of 1,902 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
One Great Studio dominates trading
The volume for the newly listed One Great Studio dropped back from the more than 21 million stocks traded on Wednesday to be close to that on the opening day in the region of 14 million shares with 14.8 million shares more than half of the total shares traded on Thursday with the price edging 9 cents higher to a record $1.27. Trading in the new listing, kept the volume traded elevated but below Wednesday’s level with the value of stocks traded slipping.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 223.89 points to close at 325,383.95, at the same time the All Jamaican Composite Index fell 541.98 points to close at 345,405.20, the JSE Main Index shed 445.30 points to 311,400.65, the Junior Market Index rose 20.71 points to settle at 3803.96, while the JSE USD Market Index rallied 0.95 points to settle at 255.38.
At the close, investors traded 27,691,335 shares in all three markets, up from 31,325,305 stock units on Wednesday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $72 million, up from $122.83 million on Wednesday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 73,572 shares for US$2,495 down from 218,675 units at US$32,659, on Wednesday.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share dipped $1.30 in closing at $18.65 and Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $12.71 to $44.29.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 19.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 10.8 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. 
ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors require relevant and timely information to successfully navigate the investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and 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 to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Massy Holdings jumped 16%
Massy Holdings jumped 16 percent followed by Seprod 6 percent but those were not enough to prevent a fall in the market as heavily weighted NCB Financial lost nearly 4 percent in valued to pressure the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 21 percent and the value 119 percent more than on Tuesday, with 51 securities trading, compared with 50 on Tuesday, with 17 rising, 21 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 4,914,260 shares were traded for $86,517,288 up from 4,072,123 units at $39,480,185 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 96,358 shares for $1,696,417 compared with 81,442 units at $789,604 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 184,773 units at $1,582,191 compared to 191,169 units at $1,573,928 on the previous day and down on August with an average of 316,608 units at $1,867,646.
Trading was lead by Wigton Windfarm with 885,474 shares for 18 percent of the total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 712,656 units for 14.5 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Group with 495,434 units for 10.1 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 255.62 points to finish at 345,947.18, the JSE Main Index lost 1,603.18 points to settle at 311,845.95 and the JSE Financial Index skidded 0.36 points to settle at 69.55.
The Main Market closed with an average PE Ratio of 12.2. The JSE Main and USD Market PEs are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 85 cents to $77.30 in switching ownership of 343,759 shares, Caribbean Cement popped 50 cents to end at $49.50 with stakeholders exchanging 137,030 stocks, Caribbean Producers gained $1.09 and ended at $10.79 with investors dealing in 7,704 units, First Rock Real Estate declined 50 cents to close at $7.30 in trading 1,205 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange skidded 31 cents in closing at $9.78 with an exchange of 605 units, Kingston Properties advanced 66 cents in closing at $7.29 after a transfer of 3,062 shares, Kingston Wharves climbed 44 cents and ended at $27.99 crossing the market 930 stocks, Massy Holdings rallied $14.36 to end at $104.40 with investors transferring 14,543 stock units, Mayberry Investments fell $1.18 to $7 in an exchange of 218,904 units, 
Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 34 cents to close at $11.25 clearing the market with 2,300 shares, NCB Financial dropped $2.50 in closing at $65 with a transfer of 97,064 stock units, 138 Student Living increased 21 cents to end at $4.31 closed at 12,878 stocks, Pan Jamaica lost 25 cents and ended at $45.75 after exchanging 14,580 stock units, Proven Investments dipped 48 cents to close at $21.52 crossing the exchange 14,426 stocks, Pulse Investments declined 21 cents to $1.84 after an exchange of 130,001 shares, Scotia Group lost $1.75 and ended at $32.20 crossing the market 31,010 units, Seprod gained $3.89 in closing at $69.90 trading 6,819 units, Supreme Ventures rose 50 cents to end at $27 with traders dealing in 169,979 shares, Wisynco Group dropped 29 cents to close at $17.71 while exchanging 125,1stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share dipped $1.21 to $5.56 changing hands 156,664 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 7% rallied $15 to $57 passed through the market 222 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading plunges for JSE Main Market
Trading activity dropped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, with a 51 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with a 51 percent lower the value than on Monday, with trading in 50 securities down from 55 on Monday, with 16 rising, 27 declining and seven ending unchanged.
A total of 4,072,123 shares were traded for $39,480,185 versus 8,294,756 units at $80,258,458 on Monday.
Trading averaged 81,442 shares at $789,604 in contrast with 150,814 units at $1,459,245 on Monday and month to date, an average of 191,169 units at $1,573,928, down from 199,546 units at $1,633,800 on the previous day. Trading in August closed with an average of 316,608 units at $1,867,646.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.67 million shares for 41 percent of total volume followed by Ciboney with 440,951 units for 10.8 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 416,225 units for 10.2 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 2,014.32 points to 346,202.80, the JSE Main Index skidded 2,127.01 points to 313,449.13 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.31 points to finish at 69.91.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.2. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 81 cents in closing at $78.15 with traders dealing in 123,561 shares, Caribbean Cement dropped 85 cents to $49 with an exchange of 5,901 stock units, Caribbean Producers shed 35 cents to end at $9.70 with investors dealing in 118,616 units, Eppley lost 47 cents to close at $35.53 with 284 stocks clearing the market. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $1.89 to $38.90 in trading just one unit, First Rock Real Estate dipped 58 cents to close at $7.80 after 7,012 stocks were traded, GraceKennedy skidded 43 cents in closing at $72.02 as 15,669 stocks passed through the market, Guardian Holdings advanced $10 to $440, with 5 shares changing hands. 
Jamaica Broilers fell 98 cents and ended at $32 in an exchange of 22,966 shares, Jamaica Producers lost $1 to end at $20 after a transfer of 200 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 47 cents to $10.09 with a transfer of 6,044 units, Kingston Properties skidded 67 cents in closing at $6.63 after exchanging 1,254 units. Kingston Wharves shed 44 cents and ended at $27.55 as investors traded 2,025 units, Margaritaville dipped 29 cents to end at $16 in switching ownership of 2,500 shares, Massy Holdings declined $7.76 to close at $90.04, with 62,695 stock units crossing the market, Mayberry Investments increased 68 cents to $8.18 with investors transferring 3,800 stocks. Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 34 cents to end at $10.91 with stakeholders exchanging 42,449 shares, Sagicor Group dropped 81 cents to close at $44.09 and closed after 11,950 stocks changed hands. 
Sagicor Real Estate Fund popped 34 cents and ended at $8.34, with 500 stock units crossing the exchange, Seprod skidded $1.49 in closing at $66.01 in an exchange of 2,680 units and Supreme Ventures fell 99 cents to end at $26.50 after 20,420 stocks changed hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share gained $1.30 to close at $19.95 crossing the market 50 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
One Great Studio hits market
One Great Studio was listed on the Junior Market of Virgin America Stock Exchange with more than 14 million shares trading up to $1.29 but closing at $1.14, the listing brings the total number of companies listed on the Junior Market to 49. Trading in the new listing lifted the volume of stock traded well above Monday, but it failed to lift the value of stocks traded and did little for the Junior Market Index that fell along with the rest of the market.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 803.13 points to 329,164.88, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 2,014.32 points to finish at 346,202.80, the JSE Main Index fell 2,127.01 points to end at 313,449.13, the Junior Market Index dipped 21.90 points to 3,770.02 while the JSE USD Market Index slipped 0.47 points to end at 254.89.
At the close, 21,288,720 shares were traded in all three markets, up from 13,322,055 stock units on Friday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $61.34 million, down from $91.5 million on Friday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 90,382 shares for US$2,822, down sharply from 183,401 units at US$13,204 on Friday.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share rose $1.30 and ended at $19.95.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 19.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 10.8 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with companies grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and 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 to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Solid big cap stocks rally lifts JSE Main Market
Scotia Group closed with a $4 rebounded on Monday followed by a $3.94 jump in Pan Jamaica as Caribbean Cement rallied $2.35 and Jamaica Producers rose a solid $2.29 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market accompanied by a 52 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded and a 22 percent lower value than on Friday, after 55 securities changed hands up from 52 on Friday, with prices of 17 rising, 23 declining and 15 unchanged.
A total of 8,294,756 shares were traded for $80,258,458 versus 5,471,926 units at $103,330,084 on Friday.
Trading averaged 150,814 shares for $1,459,245 compared to 105,229 shares at $1,987,117 on Friday and month to date, an average of 199,546 units at $1,633,800 compared with 204,013 units at $1,649,801 on the previous trading day. August closed with an average of 316,608 units at $1,867,646.
Radio Jamaica led trading with 2.67 million shares for 32.1 percent of total volume followed by JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 1.05 million units for 12.7 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 909,670 units for 11 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 1,789.14 points to 348,217.12, the JSE Main Index increased 1,229.06 points to close at 315,576.14 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.48 points to 70.22.
The Main Market closed with an average PE Ratio of 12.7. 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 up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose 66 cents to $78.96 in an exchange of 177,976 shares, Caribbean Cement increased $2.35 to $49.85 after 582,105 stocks passed through the market, Caribbean Producers climbed 20 cents to end at $10.05, with 104,650 stock units crossing the exchange, GraceKennedy rallied 50 cents in closing at $72.45 in an exchange of 103,290 units, Guardian Holdings lost $2 to close at $430, with 278 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers gained $1.13 to end at $32.98 with an exchange of 14,235 stock units, Jamaica Producers advanced $2.29 to close at $21 after a transfer of 21,540 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped 36 cents in closing at $9.62 as investors exchanged 26,490 shares, JMMB Group shed 60 cents and ended at $27.50 after exchanging 24,853 units, 
Kingston Wharves popped $1.47 to close at $27.99 in switching ownership of 3,552 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy skidded $11.50 and ended at $70 after an exchange of 494 stock units, NCB Financial popped 51 cents to close at $67.51 with investors dealing in 27,212 shares, 138 Student Living dipped 20 cents to end at $4.11 with traders dealing in 837 units, Pan Jamaica advanced $3.94 to close at $45.95 with a transfer of 2,043 stocks, Sagicor Group rose 78 cents to $44.90 in an exchange of 13,599 shares, Scotia Group increased $4 in closing at $34, with 8,903 stock units clearing the market, Seprod gained $1.50 to $67.50 after investors traded 1,289 units and Stanley Motta declined 53 cents to end at $4.81 after closing with an exchange of 34,754 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share fell $1.40 and ended at $18.65 with investors transferring 2 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Scotia climbs in ICTOP10
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market and the Main Market moved in opposite directions in the past week with the Junior Market enjoying some recovery from the fall in the past week and the Main Market suffering more pain, with a near 2 percent fall, with a few of the stocks hitting 52 weeks’ low, with Scotia Group being one of them and pushed to stock to 6 positions in the TOP10.
Developments in the past week, the Main Market, Key Insurance rose 11 percent to close the week at $2.77, followed by a 10 percent fall in Scotia Group down to $30, but the bid closed higher than the last price, suggesting a rebound in the coming week. Scotia Group reported solid results for the nine months to July. ICInsider.com upgraded earnings to $5.50 but it could hit $6, with the stock being extremely undervalued. Caribbean Cement declined by 6 percent to close the week at $47.50 and JMMB Group fell 5 percent to $28.10
The Junior Market ICTOP10 closed the week with a 16 percent rise in the price of Caribbean Cream to $4.06 followed by a 12 percent decline for Elite Diagnostic to $1.61 and an 8 percent fall in General Accident Insurance to $4.55.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5, well below the market average of 12.3. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 336 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
A total of 12 of the most highly valued stocks representing 26 percent of the Main Market are priced with a PE of 15 to 84, with an average of 30 and 21 excluding the highest PE ratios, with a PE of 21 for the top half and 17 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5 compared with the market at 10.6. There are 12stocks or 26 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 38, averaging 21 that are well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, and projected to rise by 300 percent to May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 
ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Scotia big fall bites market
Scotia Group dropped $3.93 with more than 1.1 million shares changing hands and closed at a 52 weeks’ low on Friday, on a day when rising and falling stock prices were almost even at the end of trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, resulting in a drop in the market index, following a sharp fall in the volume of stocks traded as investors swapped 89 percent fewer shares with 68 percent less value than Thursday.
The market closed with trading in 52 securities, down from 53 on Thursday, and ended with 18 rising, 19 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
A total of 5,471,926 shares were traded at $103,330,08 versus 50,800,250 units at $320,174,232 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 105,229 shares for $1,987,117 compared to 958,495 units at $6,041,023 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 204,013 stocks at $1,649,801 compared to 213,386 units at $1,617,793, on the previous day. August closed with an average of 316,608 units at $1,867,646.
Scotia Group led trading with 1.16 million shares for 21.1 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.08 million units for 19.7 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Group with 970,955 units for 17.7 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,705.34 points to close at 346,427.98, the JSE Main Index shed 1,827.78 points to 314,347.08 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.61 points to finish at 69.74.
The Main Market closed with an average PE Ratio of 12.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PEs are based on the last traded prices and earnings projections by ICInsider.com, for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments gained 50 cents to end at $78.30 and closed with 21,219 shares being traded, Caribbean Cement dipped $1.50 to $47.50 as 4,206 stocks passed through the market, First Rock Real Estate popped $1 to close at $8.30 as investors exchanged 100 units. GraceKennedy skidded $1.15 and ended at $71.95, with 21,295 stock units crossing the exchange, Guardian Holdings rose $2 in closing at $432 while exchanging 612 stocks, Jamaica Broilers dropped 65 cents to end at $31.85, with 5,122 units changing hands. Jamaica Producers declined $1.37 to close at $18.71 after 5,391 shares crossed the market, JMMB Group advanced 39 cents in closing at $28.10 with traders dealing in 13,560 stock units, Massy Holdings rallied $1.34 to end at $97.84 after the trading of 416 shares. 
Mayberry Jamaican Equities declined by 25 cents to $11.25 with investors exchanging 200 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $11.50 to end at $81.50 with investors trading 1,292 units, NCB Financial increased $1 to close at $67, with 7,585 stock units clearing the market. Pan Jamaica lost $4.39 to $42.01 with investors trading 550 units, Proven Investments shed 45 cents in closing at $22 after an exchange of 6,352 stock units, Salada Foods increased 25 cents and ended at $2.80 in an exchange of 8,468 stocks. Scotia Group dropped $3.93 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $30 with investors dealing in 1,155,439 shares, but the bid of $32.01 at the close was higher than the last traded price.
Seprod dipped $3.49 in closing at $66 in an exchange of 1,279 shares and Supreme Ventures popped 26 cents and ended at $27.50 as 316,047 stocks changed hands.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rallied $8.50 to end at $93.48 in switching ownership of 6 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
