The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market closed, with the All Jamaica Composite Index losing 2,368.58 points to 384,215.16 and the JSE Index dipping 2,158.04 points to 350,063.47.
Market activities resulted in 32 securities trading, including 3 in the US dollar market compared to 31 securities trading on Friday. The prices of 10 stocks rose, 11 declined and 11 closed, unchanged.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading is very strong for continuation of the market’s rally and shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 1 closing with a lower offer.
The main market ended with 2,957,550 units valued at over $67,644,851 compared to 10,467,731 units valued at $82,276,433 changing hands on Friday.
The day’s volume was led by, Wisynco Group with 1,164,093 units and 39.4 percent of the day’s volume and Scotia Group with 243,253 units.
Trading resulted in an average of 101,984 units valued at over $2,332,581, in contrast to 348,924 shares valued at $2,742,548 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 360,577 shares valued $4,034,759, compared to 376,915 shares valued $4,149,025 traded on the immediately preceding trading day. August closed, with an average of 224,564 shares valued at $4,310,285, for each security traded.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments lost $1.50 to close at $17 trading 23,551 shares, Grace Kennedy lost 83 and finished trading 94,795 shares at $57.17, Jamaica Broilers dived $5.44 in trading 68,512 stock units, to close at $27.05, Jamaica Producers gained $2.45 and finished trading 23,000 units at $27, Kingston Wharves declined $3.50 and finished at $69, with 7,519 stock units changing hands, Mayberry Investments gained 80 cents and settled at $8.80, exchanging 5,632 units, NCB Financial Group climbed $4.92 and ended trading of 157,027 shares at $115.02, Sagicor Group gained 50 cents to settle at $38.50, 
in the exchange of 162,322 shares, Salada Foods ended trading 100 stock units and rose $1 to end at $19. Scotia Group lost $1 in trading 243,253 units at $62.01, Sygnus Credit Investments traded just 2,350 shares but lost 95 cents to close at $12.05, Supreme Ventures fell 45 cents and ended at $16 with an exchange of 81,842 shares and Victoria Mutual Investments rose 25 cents and concluded trading 101,842 stock units at $3.89.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 39,200 units valued at $14,546 as JMMB Group 6% preference share rose 1 cents completed trading of 10,000 at $1.06, Proven Investments traded 7,500 at 22 US cents after falling by 1 cent and Sygnus Credit Investments USD Ordinary share traded 21,700 units losing 1 cent at 11 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index lost 4.92 points to close at 162.02.
Several stocks to watch this week
NCB Financial stock closed at $110 after hitting $125 on Friday.
The main stocks of interest this week are Stationery and Office Supplies, CAC 2000, NCB Financial, Caribbean Cream, Main Event and Wisynco, most of these have limited supplies.
Barita Investments that was highlighted as a stock with main stock to watch this past week, moved $12.95, to end at $18.50 after it traded as high as $19.50. The movement in the price resulted in Cornerstone more than doubling their investment in the company within a short time frame. While it is not listed as a lead stock to watch this week, the stock has much more room to grow over the coming months as demand increases and supplies decline as the potential for much increased profit unfolds.
Bulls pushed the Jamaican stock market, to new heights last week, with the main market having 12 straight days of record highs and the Junior Market moving to new highs as well.
The main moved within 1,600 points of the All Jamaica Composite Index 400,000 points last week but pulled back from what is a major resistance point. The supply of several of the main market stocks are extremely scarce and that is working in market favour to move much higher, before too long. There are several stocks priced well below the market’s average and that could encourage buying interest in them as well.
Investors should keep their eyes on a number of stocks as some may move and others may trade in a narrow band. NCB Financial closed on $110, could move higher but there is a big gap between the offer prices and the bids and this seems likely to maintain volatility in the price for a while.
Grace Kennedy may not be ready to break out of the $60 range as yet but it’s a stock to keep an eye on. Caribbean Cement keeps trading between $46 to $50, but there appears no real desire to move the price forward. Kingston Wharves has just 9,700 units on offer up to $75, with 200,000 on the bid at $68.51, so it could move back to the $75 price this week. Supply of JMMB Group have dried up and that could create the environment for the price to move higher.
An overall view of stocks indicates that the main market continues to be steered higher by an upward sloping support line as well the 45 and 125 day moving averages, lending support just below, but the 400,000 points resistance could likely stall the rally in the main market for a while. The Junior Market that traded recently at an all-time high, is being steered by an upward rising long-term support line and a golden cross. The golden cross is a very strong bullish long-term signal.
Main Event & Stanley Motta in IC TOP 10
Main Event returns to IC TOP 10.
Main Event fell to $5.50 on Friday and climbed back into the Junior market IC TOP 10 stock listing, while Recently listed Stanley Motta climbed on board the main market list.
Moving on out of the top 10 are JMMB Group with a rise in the bid price to $32.70 and Caribbean Cream that closed the week at $7.90, from $6.50 last week. Both are worth watching for more gains in the coming week. Barita Investments and Berger Paints long time TOP 10 listees, moved up in price during the week but still remain in the list but could be out by the end of the coming week if current demand continues.
During the past week, the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, racked up more record closes but pulled back on sharply on Thursday and Junior market hit new highs during the week but dropped sharply on Friday due mainly to Lasco Distributors falling to $3.35 and Express Catering dropping to $6.40 before rebounding at the close.
Gains in the two markets are driving the PE ratio of the market higher with the overall PE for the Junior Market rising to 14 and the main market to 14.5 as the valuation multiple grows with historically low interest rates and high liquidity abounding.
The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks average 9.3 up from 8.9 last week, as the market continues to revalue the multiple higher and the main market PE is now 9.1, up from 8.8 last week, for the top stocks.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 35 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings. The main market stocks trade at a discount of 38 percent to the overall market.
TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns within a 12 months period.
Stocks are selected based on projected earnings for each company’s current fiscal year. Based on an assumed PE for each, the likely gains are determined and then ranked, with the stocks with the highest potential gains ranked first followed by the rest, in descending order. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis based on new information received that can result in changes in and out of the list as well.
NCB plunges All Jamaica to 11,805 points fall
NCB dropped $13 on Thursday.
The main market of Jamaica Stock Exchange All Jamaica Composite Index dropped 11,805.54 points from its 398,386.05 peak on Thursday as the price of NCB Financial was cut from $124.99 at the peak for the day to $110 at the close.
The main market with less than a minute of the market’s opening surged sharply by 5,783 points to within less than 1,614 points of the critical 400,000 mark on the All Jamaica Composite Index.
The market closed, with the All Jamaica Composite Index plunging 6,023.92 points to 386,578.70 and the JSE Index dropping 5,488.47 points to 352,216.9. Market activities resulted in just 29 securities trading, including 2 in the US dollar market compared to 29 securities trading on Wednesday. At the end of trading, the prices of 9 stocks rose, 13 declined and 7 closed, unchanged. Three stocks traded at 52 weeks’ high but only one held on to the gains at the close.
The main market ended with 2,861,546 units valued at $139,051,316 compared to 6,162,805 units valued at $201,094,929 changing hands, on Wednesday.
The day’s volume was led by, NCB Financial Group with 967,108 units, 33.8 percent of total volume traded, followed by Carreras with 349,836 units and 12.23 percent of main market volume and Wisynco Group with 320,465 units 11.2 percent of the day’s volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 105,983 units valued at over $5,150,049, in contrast to 228,252 shares valued at $7,447,960 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 378,872 shares valued $4,253,986, compared to 409,365 shares valued $3,936,656 traded on the immediately preceding trading day. August closed, with an average of 224,564 shares valued at $4,310,285, for each security traded.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments rose 10 cents to closed at a 52 weeks’ high at $18.60 trading 23,085 shares, after peaking at $19.50 earlier in the day. Caribbean Cement jumped $2.45 and finished trading 51,830 shares at $49.95, Grace Kennedy gained $1 ending trading at $58, with 52,990 shares. Jamaica Broilers lost 75 cents in traded 42,294 stock units, at $31.25, with Jamaica Producers rose 20 cents and finished trading 43,944 units at $27, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $8 after falling 20 cents in the exchange of 24,477 shares, 
JMMB Group ended 50 cents higher at $32.50, in exchanging 71,988 shares after it reached a 52 weeks’ high of $33.50. Kingston Wharves dropped $3.50 and finished at $68.50, with 9,171 stock units changing hands, Mayberry Equities gained 36 cents and settled at $8.30, exchanging 3,357 units, NCB Financial Group dived $13 and ended trading 967,108 shares at $110. Sagicor Group fell 60 cents to settle at $39.25, in the exchange of 67,713 shares, Seprod finished trading at $46.80, after falling 20 cents trading 9,397 shares, Stanley Motta lost 30 cents to end trading of 14,100 stock units at $4.80, Sygnus Credit Investments traded 20,756 shares and lost 21 cents to close at $12.29 and Wisynco Group finished 20 cents higher at $9 with 320,465 units changing hands.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 5,066 units valued at $1,447 as JMMB Group 6 % preference share completed trading of 400 units with a loss of 1 cent to end at $1.05 and Proven Investments ended trading with 4,666 shares and declined 0.10 cents at 22 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index lost 1.70 points to close at 167.10.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading is very strong for continuation of the market’s rally and shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 closing with lower offers.
JSE All Jamaica surges 7,458 points to record close
The main market of Jamaica Stock Exchange surged to the highest level ever on Wednesday with the All Jamaica Composite Index surging 7,458.32 points to a new record close of 392,602.62 and the JSE Index jumping 6,795.37 points to a record close at 357,705.39.
Market activities resulted in just 29 securities trading, including 2 in the US dollar market compared to 33 securities trading on Tuesday. At the end of trading, the prices of 12 stocks rose, 12 declined and 5 closed trading, unchanged. Three stocks closed at 52 weeks’ high at the close.
The main market ended with 6,162,805 units valued $201,094,929 compared to 4,785,990 units valued at $69,191,788 changing hands, on Tuesday.
The day’s volume was led by, Sagicor Group with 4,574,803 units, 74.23 percent of the volume traded, followed by Jamaica Stock Exchange with 547,640 and 8.9 percent of main market volume and Carreras with 507,942 units and 8.24 percent of the day’s volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 228,252 units valued at an average of $7,447,960, in contrast to 149,562 units valued at over $2,162,243 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 409,365 shares valued $3,936,656, compared to 433,603 shares valued $4,116,343 traded on the immediately preceding trading day. August closed, with an average of 224,564 shares valued at $4,310,285, for each security traded.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments jumped $2.80 to closed at a record $18.50, trading 8,800 shares, Berger Paints fell 50 cents to $21.50, with 2,525 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Cement lost 75 cents to finish at $47.50, trading 15,870 shares, Grace Kennedy declined by 50 cents and ended trading of 25,183 shares at $57.00, JMMB Group climbed $1 and ended at record $33, with 9,700 shares trading. Kingston Wharves gained $2 and finished at $72 trading 500 stock units, Mayberry Investments gained 36 cents and settled at $8.30, exchanging 3,357 units, NCB Financial Group climbed $3 and ended trading 19,217 shares at $123. 
Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose $1 to $12 with the trading of 47,657 units, Salada Foods lost $1 to end trading 8,600 stock units at $18, Scotia Group traded 4,883 units after rising $1 to a record closing high of $63 and Sygnus Credit Investments lost $1.03 in trading 58,536 shares to end at $12.50.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 29,915 units valued at $14,950 as Productivity Business ended trading increased 0.20 cents and completed trading at 55 US cents with 25,300 shares and Proven Investments ended trading with 4,615 shares and declined 0.10 cents to 22 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index lost 0.76 points to close at 168.80. The JSE USD Equities Index increased 0.04 points to close at 169.56. IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading is very strong for continuation of the market’s rally and shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 closing with lower offers.
12 day record run ends for JSE stocks
The main market of Jamaica Stock Exchange shot to a new record high on Tuesday putting the All Jamaica Composite Index at 391,561.55 points and the JSE index at 356,765.86 but falling prices of NCB Financial and Kingston Wharves put the halt to the 12 days of unbroken record run.
Shortly after hitting the intraday high, 300,000 of NCB Financial shares were sold between $119.65 down to $110.01 dragging the market into negative territory, but the trading of 55,007 shares after ward lifted the price to $120 at the close.
The market closed, with the All Jamaica Composite Index falling 693.30 points to close at 385,144.30 and the JSE Index losing 631.67 points to close at 350,910.02.
NCB Financial Group fell $6 to $120.
Market activities resulted in just 34 securities trading, including 2 in the US dollar market compared to 33 securities trading on Monday. At the end of trading, the prices of 14 stocks rose, 13 declined and 7 closed trading, unchanged. Three stocks closed at 52 weeks’ high at the close.
The main market ended with 4,785,990 units valued at $69,191,788 compared to 10,670,045 units valued $110,767,731 changing hands, on Monday.
The day’s volume was led by, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share with 1.5 million units, 31.34 percent of the volume traded, followed by JMMB Group 7.25% preference share with 1 million and 20.9 percent of main market volume and Victoria Mutual Investments with 474,825 units and 9.9 percent of the day’s volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 149,562 units valued at over $2,162,243, in contrast to 333,439 shares valued at $3,461,492 on Monday.
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 409,365 shares valued $3,936,656, compared to 433,603 shares valued $4,116,343 traded on the immediately preceding trading day. August closed, with an average of 224,564 shares valued at $4,310,285, for each security traded.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments climbed 10 cents to end at a record closing high of $15.70, after the price hit a high of $16.50 and trading 12,100 shares, Berger Paints ended at $22 after gaining 55 cents with 10,687 stock units trading, Caribbean Cement lost $1.75 and finished exchanging 20,450 shares at $48.25, Grace Kennedy lost 50 cents to end at $57.50, trading 26,214 shares, Jamaica Broilers rose $1 in trading 16,505 stock units at a record close of $32. JMMB Group ended at 52 weeks’ high of $32 after rising $1 with 41,642 shares, Kingston Wharves fell $2 in trading 9,400 shares at $70, NCB Financial Group dropped $6 and ended trading 359,907 shares at $120, PanJam Investment climbed $2.95 to $56.95 trading 6,571 stock units, Portland JSX fell 80 cents in trading 11,000 shares close at $8.20, 
Pulse Investments gained 41 cents and concluded trading of 500 shares at $2.80, Sagicor Group rose 85 cents and settled at $39.85, trading 76,764 shares. Sagicor Real Estate Fund shed 77 cents and settled at $11, trading 287,700 shares. Scotia Group jumped $1.49 to end at a record close of $62, after trading 29,759 units and Seprod dropped $3 to end at $47 in trading 13,368 units.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 3,406 units valued at $2,476 as JMMB Group 6% preference share completed trading 2,041 stock units at $1.05, Proven Investments ended trading with 1,365 shares at 23 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index increased 0.04 points to close at 169.56.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading is very strong for continuation of the market’s rally and shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 closing with lower offers.
12 straight record close for JSE stocks
More records got shattered in trading on The Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday as the All Jamaica Composite Index (AJI) reached a new high during the trading session at 389,650.08 points, with less than 37 minutes before the close.
While the AJI was pushing closer to the 400,000 mark, JSE Index hit a new high of 355,015.30 having gained 3,504.55 points at 12.23 in the afternoon, before investors pushed down the price of National Financial to the $113 level after it traded for most of the day around the $126-130 level.
The main market closed with just modest gains in the indices and pushed the consecutive daily record close to 12. Monday’s close brings to 35, the number of record close for the year and 23 since the start of July.
The market closed with the All Jamaica Composite Index rising 33.96 points higher to a record close at 385,837.60 and the JSE Index gaining 30.94 points to a record close of 351,541.69.
Market activities resulted in just 33 securities trading, including 1 in the US dollar market compared to 25 securities trading on Friday. At the end of trading, the prices of 15 stocks rose, 8 declined and 10 closed trading, unchanged. Two stocks closed at 52 weeks’ high and while Mayberry Equities traded at a record high of $10.57 but failed to hold on at the close.
The main market ended with 10,670,045 units valued $110,767,731 compared to 2,715,718 units valued at $59,199,085 changing hands, on Friday.
The day’s volume was led by, Wisynco Group with 4,737,868 units 44.4 percent of the volume traded followed by 138 Student Living with 3,333,333 units and 31.24 percent of main market volume and Victoria Mutual Investments with 487,461 units and 4.57 percent of the day’s volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 333,439 units valued at over $3,461,492, in contrast to 118,075 shares valued at $2,573,873 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 443,910 shares valued $4,190,129, compared to 443,910 shares valued $4,190,129 traded on the immediately preceding trading day. August closed, with an average of 224,564 shares valued at $4,310,285, for each security traded.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments climbed $2.65 to close at a record high of $15.60, trading 3,100 shares, as investors show increased interest in the stock with the new majority owners took control after the recent acquisition of the majority shares. 
Berger Paints ended at $21.45 after gaining 44 cents with 5,025 stock units trading, Grace Kennedy lost 40 to end at $58, trading 26,924 shares, Kingston Properties rose 25 cents in concluded trading 7,450 shares at $6, Mayberry Investments fell 80 cents and settled at $8 in trading 31,000 units, NCB Financial Group fell $3 and ended trading 147,486 shares at $126, PanJam Investment shed $2 and closed at $54 trading 12,200 stock units, Pulse Investments declined 41 cents and concluded trading of 17,050 shares at $2.39, Sagicor Group fell 85 cents and settled at $39, trading 13,496 shares. Sagicor Real Estate Fund climbed 77 cents and settled at $11.77, trading 352,320 shares. Scotia Group jumped $4.38 to end at a record close of $60.51, after trading 244,840 units, Seprod climbed $3.10 to end at $50 in trading 3,855 units, Stanley Motta jumped 51 cents in trading 41,600 shares close at $5.31 and Wisynco Group rose 25 cents and finished trading 4,737,868 units at $9.10.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 220,794 units valued at $50,765 as Proven Investments the sole stock trading in this segment of the market, rose 0.5 cents and ended trading at 23 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index increased 1.74 points to close at 169.52.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading is very strong for continuation of the market’s rally and shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 closing with lower offers.
Barita is stock to watch this week
The main stock of interest this week is Barita Investments that came into buying interest this past week leading the price to move to $12.95, this one seems headed higher in the short term as the supply that is on the market has been taken out with few stocks on offer now.
Bulls pushed the Jamaican stock market, to new heights last week, with the main market having 11 straight days of record highs and the Junior Market cleared the historical high reached in 2017, in the past week as well.
NCB Financial that was in the spotlight for the past two weeks, still has buying interest but seems to be having most bids around the $120 mark and may find it tough to break over the $130 mark where it traded during the past week.
While the stock is trading close the $130 mark in Jamaica, it is trading in Trinidad around J$115 and that may hold back the price from moving much higher locally until the price in the twin island state picks up. Scotia Group reported profit that showed gains, some of it was non-recurring income and exceptional foreign exchange gains that seems unlikely to repeat anytime soon.
While the supply of several of the main market stocks being scarce, the main market is just under 15,000 points from a major resistance level at 400,000 points and that could stymie much more movement in the short term, with some prices having moved quite a bit recently. There are several stocks priced well below the market’s average and that could encourage buying interest in them.
NCB stock closed at $129 on Friday.
Investors should keep their eyes on a number of stocks this week. NCB Financial that closed on $115, should move higher this week as demand continues to build and with limited supply on offer.
Grace Kennedy may not be ready to break out of the $60 range as yet but it’s a stock to keep an eye on. Caribbean Cement keeps trading between $46 to $50, but there appears no real desire to move the price forward. Kingston Wharves traded at a record high of $75 on limited volume in the past week but pulled back slightly to $72 at the close with a PE ratio of 46 is compared to a market average of 14.6. Supply of the stocks remain low, but some investors keep on buying. Sygnus Credit Investments picked up last week and moved back within a cent of the IPO price, buoyed by full year results of US$1.4 million. The PE ratio is 11.4, well below the market average of 14.6, that will encourage more interest in the stock. Jamaica Producers has very limited volume on offer and that could help buying at higher prices in spite of a PE of 28, twice the market average. Stanley Motta with a PE of 11 based on 2019 earnings has been recovering for the recent decline and is one to watch.
In the Junior Market, Indies Pharma, came in for continued buying that pushed the price to a record high of $4.10 on Friday against very limited supply. Some selling came into the market on Friday to ease the buying pressure on the price which could stick around the current level of $4 for a while. Bulls came in and bought out a big parcel of Access Financial that was on offer for weeks but the $50 level seems a barrier in the short term. Demand is building for Elite Diagnostic while supply has waned.
Jamaica Producers stock in demand in spite of high price.
General Accident could move higher as more demand comes in for it with limited selling, but investors may not want to be more aggressive with this stock at this time. If the company were to announce expansion into the Eastern Caribbean it may well make a difference.
Stocks with scarce supplies that could spring surprises include, Grace Kennedy, NCB Financial, Berger Paints, Caribbean Cement, Kingston Wharves, PanJam Investment, Sagicor Group, Salada Foods, Seprod and Scotia Group.
The Junior Market supplies continue to be limited for many of the listings. The list includes, Caribbean Flavours, Cargo Handlers, Derrimon Trading, Express Catering, General Accident, ISP Finance and Medical Disposables.
An overall view of stocks indicates that the main market continues to be steered higher by an upward sloping support line as well the 45 and 125 day moving averages, lending support just below, but the 400,000 points resistance could likely stall the rally in the main market for a while. The Junior Market now at an all-time high, is being steared by an upward rising long-term support line and a golden cross. The golden cross is a very strong bullish long-term signal.
Carib Producers returns to IC TOP 10
Caribbean Producers back in TOP 10
Caribbean Producers climbed back into the Junior market IC TOP 10 stock listing but there was no change to the main market list. Main Event dropped out of the top list having recovered from a big price fall in the previous week.
Caribbean Producers recently released full year results that were slightly lower than the year before but with a 10 percent rise in revenues. A lower profit margin by 2 percent and an increase of 10 percent in administrative and selling expenses resulted in lower profit but forecast suggest that earnings for 2019 should be up strongly to around 65 Jamaican cents. The company will have to report new results to see the likely increased earnings start to show up in the stock price.
During the past week, the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, racked up 5 consecutive days of record close on Friday and 11 record close in a row, while the Junior market closed the week for with two record close, for the first time since May 2017.
The gains in the two markets is driving the PE ratio of the market higher with the overall PE for the Junior Market rising from to 13 and the main market from 13.7 last week to 13.7 and 14 respectively, this week. Recent movement in the PE suggest that average PE for the market will end 2018 around 18 and 20 by the end of January as conditions continue to favour stocks as the preferred investment of choice along with real estate.
The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks average 8.9 up from 8.7 last week, as the market continues to revalue the multiple higher. 
The latest valuation compares to an average PE for the overall market of 14.3, based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is now 8.8 and is the up from 8.5 last week, for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 14.6.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 38 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 40 percent to the market.
TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns within a 12 months period.
Stocks are selected based on projected earnings for each company’s current fiscal year. Based on an assumed PE for each, the likely gains are determined and then ranked, with the stocks with the highest potential gains ranked first followed by the rest, in descending order. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis based on new information received that can result in changes in and out of the list as well.
2 weeks of record run for JSE stocks
The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market, continues to shatter daily records, with 11 consecutive record close up to Friday, as the all Jamaica composite Index pushes 1,000 points nearer to the 400,000 mark.
The market closed with the All Jamaica Composite Index rising 1,072.57 points higher to a record close at 385,803.63, after peaking around 387,321.24 and the JSE Index gaining 977.24 points to a record close of 351,510.71 after peaking around 352,893.45. Friday’s close brings to 34, the number of record close for the year and 22 since the start of July.
The main market surged to new record at the start of the morning session and continued to create new highs throughout the trading session.
Market activities resulted in just 25 securities trading, including 2 in the US dollar market compared to 30 securities trading on Thursday. At the end of trading, the prices of 12 stocks rose, 11 declined and 2 closed trading, unchanged. The main market ended with 2,715,718 units valued at $59,199,085 compared to 13,536,420 units valued at $68,566,185 changing hands, on Thursday.
The day’s volume was led by, Victoria Mutual Investments with 877,157 units and 32.30 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Sygnus Credit Investments with 483,665 units or 17.8 percent of main market volume and Mayberry Jamaican Equities with 225,459 units 8.3 percent of the volume traded.
Trading resulted in an average of 118,075 units valued at over $2,573,873, in contrast to 483,444 units valued at an average of $2,448,792 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 443,910 shares valued $4,190,129, compared to 469,931 shares valued $4,332,558 traded on the immediately preceding trading day. August closed, with an average of 224,564 shares valued at $4,310,285, for each security traded.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments climbed $1.68 to close at $12.95, trading 3,577 shares, as investors show increased interest with plans the new majority owners have for the company, to extract much more profits for it going forward. Grace Kennedy rose $1.39 to end at $58.40, trading 165,573 shares, Jamaica Producers jumped $4 and finished trading of 94,085 units at a record high of $27, Kingston Wharves dropped $2 and ended trading 3,197 stock units to close at $72, NCB Financial Group fell $1 and ended trading 154,635 shares at $129, PanJam Investment gained $1 and closed at $56 trading 77,423 stock units, 
Portland JSX put on 60 cents in trading 7,377 shares and ended at $9, Sagicor Group rose 69 cents and settled at $39.85, trading 48,812 shares. Seprod added 90 cents to end at $46.90 in trading 11,025 units and Sygnus Credit Investments jumped 91 cents in trading 483,665 shares close at $13.71.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 94,323 units valued at US$21,208 as , Margaritaville traded 1,740 shares settled and ended at 19 US cents and Proven Investments lost 0.5 cents and ended trading of 92,583 shares at 22.5 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index declined by 1.78 points to close at 167.78.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading is very strong for continuation of the market’s rally and shows 5 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 closing with lower offers.