Stocks ended higher at the close of trading on Friday after rising prices outnumbered declining ones with an exchange of 25 percent lower volume at a 65 percent jump in value over Thursday as the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed out the week down.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 429.52 points to close at 432,777.32, the JSE Main Index rose 365.83 points to 394,570.77 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.28 points to 99.30.
Trading activated 50 securities, up from 45 on Thursday, with prices of 21 stocks rising, 18 declining and 11 remaining unchanged.
The PE Ratio averages 19.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Trading ended with 8,079,230 shares trading for $124,140,641 compared to 10,771,883 units at $75,221,344 on Thursday. Jamaica Producers led with 26.2 percent of the volume traded for 2.12 million shares, followed by Ciboney Group with 13.1 percent for an exchange of 1.06 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 11.3 percent market share for 914,005 units.
Trading for the day averaged 161,585 units at $2,482,813, compared to an average of 239,375 shares at $1,671,585 on Thursday. The average trade month to date ends at 249,365 units at $2,230,008, in contrast to 256,266 units at $2,210,133 on Thursday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rose 59 cents to $69.40 in trading 36,573 stock units, Ciboney Group gained 22 cents to close at 91 cents, exchanging 1,059,730 shares, as the stock resumes its climb after a recent selloff. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell 50 cents to $40.50, with a transfer of 200 units. First Rock Capital advanced $1.50 to a record close of $18 after an exchange of 26,211 units, Grace Kennedy declined by $2 to $86.97 in switching ownership of 162,703 shares, Jamaica Broilers lost 20 cents to close at $29.80 with the swapping of 86,849 stocks. JMMB Group shed 38 cents to end at $32.50 in transferring 56,545 stocks, Key Insurance closed 24 cents lower at $5.46 after exchanging 57,458 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 50 cents to settle at $8, clearing the market with 800 stocks. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $1 to $139 trading 35 shares, NCB Financial Group climbed $1.50 to $144 in exchange of 101,774 units, 138 Student Living climbed $1.59 to $6.99, with 60,264 units crossing the market, Palace Amusement advanced $10 to $640 with 57 shares crossing the market. PanJam Investment shed $2 to $64, with 1,407 stock units changing hands, Pulse Investments gained 26 cents in closing at $4.40 with an exchange of 390,929 units, Sagicor Group slipped 38 cents to $48.50 in switching ownership of 446,505 shares. 
Salada Foods lost 30 cents to finish at $44.20 in swapping 1,782 stocks, Scotia Group rose $1.89 to $42, trading 63,546 shares. Sterling Investments fell 31 cents to $2.60 in an exchange of 6,721 stock units, Supreme Ventures gained 30 cents to finish at $15.40, with 50,715 units crossing the market and Wisynco Group closed 47 cents higher at $15.50, with 16,279 shares clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% jumped $202.69 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $1,700 trading just one share, JMMB Group C share 7.25% gained 28 cents to end at $2.14 with the swapping of 4,087 stock units and JMMB Group 7.25% declined 24 cents to $1.20 trading 230 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading for the day averaged 239,375 units at $1,671,585, compared to an average of 165,916 shares at $1,037,466 on Wednesday. The average trade month to date ends at 256,266 units at $2,210,133, in contrast to 257,553 units at $2,251,139 on Wednesday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
138 Student Living gained 24 cents in ending at $5.40, after clearing the market with 15,702 shares, Pan Jam Investment declined by $1 to $66 with the swapping of 794 units, Proven Investments advanced $1.50 to $34.50 in exchanging 72,037 stock units. Pulse Investments shed 28 cents to close at $4.14 after trading 496,531 units, Scotia Group dropped $3.59 to close at $40.11, with 29,893 stocks crossing the market, Seprod shed $1 to end at $72 in exchanging 17,660 stock units and Wisynco Group lost 49 cents to close at $15.03, with 216,294 units clearing the market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,779.81 points to 433,804.38, the Main Index fell 2,520.23 points to 395,489.77 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.86 points to settle at 99.09.
Trading averaged 165,916 units at $1,037,466, compared to 175,488 shares at $1,731,775 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averaged 257,553 units at $2,251,139, in contrast to 265,470 units at $2,355,997 on Tuesday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose $1.11 to $8.32, with 476 stocks clearing the market, Salada Foods climbed $2.80 to $44.50 in trading 2,804 units. Scotia Group gained 70 cents to end at $43.70, with 41,169 stocks crossing the market, Seprod closed 99 cents higher at $73 in switching ownership of 4,342 units and Wisynco Group declined 20 cents to $15.52 after exchanging 140,490 units.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,301.07 points to 436,584.19, the JSE Main Index advanced 2,049.07 points to end at 398,010.00 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.72 points to 99.95.
Trading averaged 175,488 units at $1,731,775, down from 211,498 shares at $1,978,267 on Monday. Month to date trading averaged 265,470 units at $2,355,997, versus 273,584 units at $2,412,290 on Monday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660. 
Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 99 cents to $7.21, after clearing the market with 820 stocks, Salada Foods shed 80 cents to end at $41.70 with 23,847 stocks crossing the exchange, Scotia Group fell $1 to $43, transferring 293,556 shares. Seprod advanced $1.31 to $72.01 with investors switching ownership of 26,824 stock units and Supreme Ventures lost 41 cents to close at $15 after trading 127,248 stocks.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Elsewhere, the 2021 TOP 15 listed Carreras that migrated from the 2021 ICTOP10 in February hit a new 52 weeks’ high during the week to sit at $10 for a rise of 45 percent for the year to date. The price could climb further, helped by improving profit and a high dividend yield. Future Energy Source (Fesco) hangs onto the Junior Market TOP10 list at the tenth position, with the prospectus still to be released to the public.
The Junior Market TOP10 contains companies that suffered a sharp reversal of revenues and profit in 2020, with recovery projected for them in 2021. Green shoots are showing for some, with sales picking up in recent quarters with improving bottom-line. Some of these companies may require another quarter or two of improving fortunes before there is meaningful buying into them. The Main Market has a number in the list that has put out record profits or shows strong earnings in 2021, with the stocks clearly undervalued. These include JMMB Group, Jamaica Broilers, Sygnus Credit Investments and Grace Kennedy that are currently in the TOP10 Main Market listing and Caribbean Cement that is just outside.
The top three stocks in the Junior Market with the potential to gain between 292 to 312 percent are Elite Diagnostic, followed by Caribbean Producers and Caribbean Cream. With expected gains of 190 to 441 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Radio Jamaica, followed by VM Investments and PanJam Investment.
The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 7.5 or 50 percent of that market’s PE.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
Sagicor Group rose 89 cents to $49.89 with the swapping of 267,625 shares, Salada Foods fell $1.75 to $42.75 after exchanging 459 stocks, Scotia Group shed 49 cents to close at $44 in switching ownership of 441,597 shares. Seprod declined $4.80 to end at $71 trading 32,504 units, Supreme Ventures gained 45 cents to end at $15.95 with 89,009 shares clearing the market and Victoria Mutual Investments shed 24 cents to close at $5.01 with 89,019 stocks crossing the market.
Revenues climbed eight percent in the September quarter to $574 million, with a gross profit of $304 million. Profit suffered a sharp fall in the June quarter, with sales negatively impacted by the partial closure of some businesses resulting from the spread of the covid-19 pandemic in the country. Revenues for the nine months were down, with profit after tax coming in with a loss of $60 million. Revenues for the fourth quarter to December failed to enjoy the level of growth in the September quarter and dipped against the similar quarter in 2019.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 655.57 points to 431,950.63, the Main Index shed 575.90 points to 393,880.25, while the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.19 points to settle at 98.95.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
Sagicor Group shed 61 cents in ending at $49.99 in switching ownership of 9,258 stocks, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 30 cents to $8.30 in a transfer of 2,466 shares, Salada Foods declined $2.90 to $41 trading 13,524 units. Scotia Group climbed $3 to $43 with 48,977 stock units crossing the market, Seprod rose $1 to $71, with 4,972 stocks changing hands, Supreme Ventures gained 30 cents in ending at $15.95 with 805,261 units crossing the exchange. Sygnus Credit Investments fell 26 cents to $14.45, trading 15,239 stocks and Wisynco Group shed 24 cents to close at $15.95 with the swapping of 36,249 stock units.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Salada Foods fell 60 cents to $43.90 trading 11,179 units, Scotia Group ended $3.99 lower at $40 with the swapping of 65,792 stock units, Supreme Ventures gained 21 cents to close at $15.65 in switching ownership of 20,943 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments fell 39 cents to $14.71 after exchanging 43,500 stock units and Wisynco Group gained 28 to end at $16.19, with 40,072 stock units changing hands.