Trading activity picked up moderately on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 35 percent and the value 19 percent more than on Tuesday and ended with an exchange of 54 securities compared with 56 on Tuesday, with 16 rising, 24 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
A total of 10,337,992 shares were traded for $78,663,373 compared to 7,658,306 units at $66,155,432 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 191,444 shares at $1,456,729 compared with 136,755 units at $1,181,347 on Tuesday and trading month to date averaged 313,992 stocks at $2,022,720 versus 323,869 shares at $2,068,337 on the previous day. Trading in June closed with an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581, including bonds traded.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.30 million shares for 31.9 percent of the total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm, with 2.04 million units for 19.8 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.92 million units for 18.6 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 708.51 points to 360,690.28, the JSE Main Index lost 676.97 points to settle at 323,346.16 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.22 points to settle at 71.10.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed 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 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement shed $3.14 to close at $50.01 as investors exchanged 1,974 shares, Eppley lost 50 cents and ended at $36 as 230 stocks passed through the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $2.50 in closing at $39.50 after switching ownership of 100 stock units, First Rock Real Estate advanced $1.28 to $10.45 after 322,758 units cleared the market, GraceKennedy dipped 40 cents to end at $77.40 and closed, with 13,905 stock units changing hands, Guardian Holdings dropped $9 in closing at $391, with 1,478 stocks crossing the exchange, JMMB Group dropped 94 cents and ended at $28, with 20,883 units crossing the market, 
Key Insurance popped 44 cents to close at $2.95 with an exchange of 10 shares, Kingston Wharves rallied $1.11 to end at $29.10 with a transfer of 1,370 stock units, Massy Holdings dipped 90 cents to end at $97.10 with shareholders swapping 152 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities increased 49 cents in closing at $12 in an exchange of 14,211 units, NCB Financial rose $1.50 to close at $67 after an exchange of 739,759 stocks, Pan Jamaica shed 90 cents to end at $49.50 after a transfer of 6,194 units, Seprod declined $3.90 and ended at $70.05 in trading 5,117 stocks, Supreme Ventures fell 64 cents to $27.01 with investors transferring 62,144 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments dropped 49 cents to $11.07, with 46,568 shares changing hands.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share lost $232.50 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $977.50 in an exchange of 87 shares, 
Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $7.75 to close at $71 with stakeholders exchanging 33 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% climbed $125 in closing at $3100 while exchanging two units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market climbed higher on Tuesday
Trading activity dipped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 20 percent and the value 19 percent lower than on Monday, with trading taking place in 56 securities compared with 57 on Monday and ending with prices of 23 rising, 20 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 7,658,306 shares were traded for $66,155,432 compared with 9,606,416 units at $81,472,376 on Monday.
Trading averaged 136,755 shares at $1,181,347 compared with 168,534 shares at $1,429,340 on Monday and month to date, an average of 323,869 units at $2,068,337 compared with 340,935 units at $2,149,235 on the previous day. Trading in June closed with an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581, including bonds trading.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.58 million shares for 33.7 percent of total volume, followed by 138 Student Living with 2.0 million units for 26.1 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 1.10 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,640.94 points to 361,398.79, the JSE Main Index increased 915.36 points to conclude trading at 324,023.13 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.49 points to 70.88.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market ratios are computed 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 10 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments gained 74 cents to close at $75.49 as 28,984 shares passed through the market, Caribbean Cement shed $4.24 to end at $53.15 after an exchange of 7,588 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $3 to $42 in an exchange of just two units. First Rock Real Estate climbed 52 cents in closing at $9.17 with investors transferring 45,599 stock units, Margaritaville fell 66 cents and ended at $14.62 with a transfer of 14,064 stocks, Massy Holdings dipped $1 in closing at $98 with 10,379 stock units clearing the market. Mayberry Investments lost 86 cents in ending at $8.21 after exchanging 17,189 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 51 cents to close at $11.51 after a transfer of 69,173 shares,
Pan Jamaica advanced $1.40 to close at $50.40, with 5,619 stock units crossing the market. Portland JSX declined 89 cents to end at $10 as investors exchanged 15 shares, Proven Investments dipped 30 cents to end trading at $21.50, with 1,199 units crossing the market, Sagicor Group fell 50 cents to $47.50, with stakeholders exchanging 31,435 stocks. Scotia Group gained 70 cents to close at $34.20 with an exchange of 21,648 stocks, Seprod rallied $3.92 in closing at $73.95 in trading 2,346 units and Sygnus Credit Investments lost $1.13 to end at $11.56 while exchanging 74,880 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share jumped $60 and ended at $1210, with 216 stock units crossing the exchange, Eppley 7.50% preference share fell 95 cents to close at $6.12, after trading 371 shares. 
Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share declined 40 cents to end at $102 in switching ownership of 4,657 stock units and Transjamaican Highway 8% rallied 44 cents in closing at $3 with shareholders swapping 10,148 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading climbed on JSE Main Market
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Monday with a 26 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded after 24 percent more funds entered the market compared with Friday and led to trading in 57 securities, up from 52 on Friday, with 20 rising, 22 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
A total of 9,606,416 shares changed hands at $81,472,376 compared with 7,597,618 at $65,500,311 on Friday.
Trading averaged 168,534 shares at $1,429,340 versus 146,108 shares at $1,259,621 on Friday and month to date, an average of 340,935 units at $2,149,235, compared to 358,577 units at $2,222,905 on the previous trading day. Trading in June ended with an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581 including bond trading.
Transjamaican Highway ended at a record closing high of $2.84, up 103 percent for the year to date, after the price hit an intraday high of $2.88 at the opening of the market and ended with 2.70 million shares changing hands for 28.1 percent of total volume, Sagicor Select Financial Fund followed with 2.13 million units for 22.1 percent of the day’s trade, Ciboney Group ended with 1.30 million units for 13.6 percent of market share, 
Wigton Windfarm closed with 1.30 million units for 13.5 percent of shares traded and Sagicor Group with 1.0 million units for 10.5 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 160.74 points to close at 359,757.85, the JSE Main Index rose 837.98 points to 323,107.77 and the JSE Financial Index remained unchanged at 70.39.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed 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 five with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement climbed $2.39 to $57.39 in an exchange of 1,632 shares, Caribbean Producers increased 86 cents in closing at $10.86 after an exchange of 6,780 units, 
Guardian Holdings rose $23 and ended at $400 with 88 stock units clearing the market. Key Insurance lost 42 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.47 with investors trading 3,000 stocks, Kingston Properties dipped 31 cents to $6.99 after a transfer of 33,740 stocks, Margaritaville declined $2.70 to end at $15.28 while exchanging 985 shares. Massy Holdings gained 60 cents to close at $99 in an exchange of 10 stock units, Mayberry Investments climbed 82 cents to $9.07, with 200 units crossing the market. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $12.58 and ended at $71.27 with investors transferring 70 stock units, Proven Investments fell $1.65 in closing at $21.80 as investors exchanged 8,896 stocks, Sagicor Group popped 50 cents to end at $48, with 1,004,970 units changing hands. Scotia Group shed 60 cents to close at $33.50, with 2,727 shares crossing the market and Supreme Ventures rallied 60 cents in closing at $27.60 with an exchange of 63,553 stock units.
The preference segment continues to be fairly active with 12 securities trading. At the close, Productive Business 10.50% preference share rose $25 to close at $1150, with stakeholders exchanging 50 shares, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $8.25 and ended at $63.25 after 4,140 stocks passed through the market, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% lost $792.17 to end at $2975 after trading 43 units. Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share declined 59 cents to end at $102.40 after an exchange of 1 unit and Transjamaican Highway 8% fell 46 cents in closing at $2.56 with an exchange of 130,383 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Transjamaican out of ICTOP10
With a continually rising price, Transjamacian Highway rose 11 percent during the week to $2.78, up 57 percent since added to the Market Watch list in April and dropped out of the TOP10 this past week, while Everything Fresh closed at $1.60 and dropped out of the Junior Market TOP10.
Transjamaican Highway Gained 57% since the end of April, with more gains to come.
The Main Market continues to struggle and closed at its lowest level since the end of August 2018 based on the All Jamaica Composite Index that is down 10.7 percent for the year to date, to be highly oversold. The Junior Market fell sharply on Friday as the market pulled back from the 4,000 mark level with a modest fall year to date thus reversing last week’s positive outcome.
The Junior Market is still up 10 percent since the low in March and is currently on a big bull run over the coming months, signalled by two indicators. The Main Market is likely bottoming after the traditional sell off in May before settling off in the early summer ahead of a rebound later. The action is now with the Junior Market with more potential for growth.
For the week, 6 stocks declined and only one rose on the Junior Market and the Main Market ended with two rising and seven declining, with Caribbean Cement coming into the Main Market TOP10 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers returning to the Junior Market TOP10.
In the Junior Market, iCreate dropped 12 percent to $1.14, followed by a 10 percent decline in Caribbean Cream to $4.07, before the company released first quarter results showing marked improvements in some critical areas that lead to increased profit. Dolla Financial shed 6 percent to $2.28 after posting improved Q2 results over 2022, with profit almost doubling to $105 million and the half year climbing 92 percent to $227 million. Image Plus fell 5 percent to $2.09 following first quarter results that showed profit falling from $88 million pretax to $64 million as revenues were up 6.8 percent to $300 million. Administrative costs climbed 29 percent to $117 million.
Everything Fresh remained at $1.60, but that was all it needed to drop out of the TOP10 as Caribbean Assurance Brokers slipped from $3.30 to close at $3.09 to return to the TOP10.
While Transjamaican was the highest mover in the Main Market with the most significant change during the week and had much more room to run, Guardian Holdings declined 10 percent to $377, while Caribbean Producers fell 9 percent to $10, with all other price changes being 3 percent or less.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 6, well below the market average of 13.2. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 264 percent, by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 14 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 31 and 21 excluding the highest PE stocks, 23 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.6 compared with the market at 11.4. There are 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 44, averaging 20, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, and projected to rise by 259 percent by 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 likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
In the market generally, Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and, in the process, gradually reducing the supply of several of them that are attractively priced as the market moves through the summer months, the start of the stock market year, when new results will be coming to the market for investors to assess and determine what to do.
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 will likely 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, resulting 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.
More declines for Main Market stocks
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday with a 13 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded valued at 101 percent more than on Thursday, after trading took place in 52 securities compared to 53 on Thursday, with prices of 13 rising, 27 declining and 12 unchanged.
A total of 7,597,619 shares were traded for $65,500,311 compared with 8,704,735 units at $32,539,428 on Thursday.
Trading ended with an average of 146,108 shares at $1,259,621 versus 164,240 shares at $613,951 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 358,577 units at $2,222,905 compared to 380,455 units at $2,322,094 on the previous day. June closed with an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581 including trading in bonds.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.42 million shares for 31.8 percent of total volume and hit an intraday record high of $2.82 before settling at a record close of $2.78. Wigton Windfarm followed with 1.77 million units for 23.3 percent of the day’s trade and Scotia Group with 575,267 units for 7.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,694.92 points to finish at 359,918.59, the JSE Main Index fell 2,072.71 points to end at 322,269.79 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.71 points to 70.39.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed 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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rallied 51 cents to $75.01 after transferring 5,753 shares, Caribbean Cement rallied 30 cents to $55 with investors exchanging 4,749 stocks, Caribbean Producers shed 94 cents to end at $10 after trading 12,120 stock units. First Rock Real Estate rose 85 cents to close at $8.88 with 294 units changing hands, Guardian Holdings dropped $23 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $377 in an exchange of 90 units, Mayberry Investments declined 72 cents to close at $8.25 as investors traded 71 stock units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 50 cents to finish at $11 after trading 314 shares, Pan Jamaica shed $1.72 to $49 after 12,086 stocks passed through the market, Seprod dipped $2.45 in ending at $70.05 after exchanging 102 units and 
Supreme Ventures lost 50 cents to close at $27 in an exchange of 89,109 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $9.31 to end at $55 with 183 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market falls
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded dropping 43 percent and the value plunging 64 percent lower than on Wednesday, following trading in 53 securities compared with 57 on Wednesday, resulting in prices of 21 rising, 22 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
A total of 8,704,735 shares were traded for $32,539,428 versus 15,314,858 units at $91,506,030 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 164,240 shares at $613,951 versus 268,682 stocks at $1,605,369 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 380,455 units at $2,322,094, compared to 405,808 shares at $2,522,386 on the previous day. June closed with an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581 including trading in Bonds.
Transjamaican Highway closed at a record close of $2.74, led trading with 2.95 million shares for 33.9 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.67 million units for 19.2 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 1.56 million units for 17.9 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,227.06 points to close at 361,613.51, the JSE Main Index fell 863.88 points to close at 324,342.50 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.21 points to close at 71.10.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.3 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed 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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments fell 50 cents to end at $74.50 as 10,522 shares passed through the market, Berger Paints declined 48 cents and ended at $7.56 with an exchange of 1,112 stock units, First Rock Real Estate shed 87 cents to $8.03 as investors exchanged 1,733 units, Kingston Wharves dipped $1.20 to close at $28.10 with a transfer of 94,612 stocks, Massy Holdings rallied 32 cents in closing at $98.32 in an exchange of 12 shares, NCB Financial dropped 48 cents and ended at $65 with stakeholders exchanging 22,635 units, Proven Investments popped $3.44 to end at $23.45 after a transfer of 262 stock units, Sagicor Group lost 38 cents in closing at $47.62, with 10,232 stocks changing hands and Seprod fell 50 cents to close at $72.50 after an exchange of 3,235 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share advanced $24.99 to $1,125 with 149 units crossing the market, Jamaica Public Service 7% rose $4.15 to end at $45.69 with investors transferring 10 shares and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share lost 37 cents in closing at $3.07 with shareholders swapping 7,559 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumped on JSE Main Market
Trading activity jumped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with a 68 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, with the value rising 215 percent more than on Tuesday, with trading in 57 securities up from 55 on Tuesday and resulted in prices of 25 rising, 18 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
A total of 15,314,858 shares were exchanged for $91,506,030, up from 9,129,580 units at $29,005,096 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 268,682 shares at $1,605,369 versus 165,992 stocks at $527,365 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averaged 405,808 units at $2,522,386 compared to 425,596 units at $2,654,714 on the previous day. Trading in June averaged 366,795 units at $6,952,581, including trading in Bonds.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 6.16 million shares for 40.2 percent of the volume, Transjamaican Highway followed with 3.07 million units for 20 percent of the day’s trade after the price ended at a record close of $2.72 to be up a solid 94 percent year to date. JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 ended trading with 1.93 million units for 12.6 percent market share and Ciboney Group, with 1.02 million units, controlled 6.6 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 41.48 points to settle at 362,840.57, the JSE Main Index fell 77.50 points to 325,206.38 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.20 points to 71.31.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed 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 four with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rallied 53 cents to end at $8.04 and closed after 4,500 shares were traded, Caribbean Cement rose 65 cents to $54.65, with 4,754 stocks changing hands, Eppley gained $1.45 to close at $36.45, with stakeholders exchanging 8,012 stock units, Jamaica Producers shed 95 cents to close at $19.50, with 446,112 units clearing the market. Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped 30 cents in closing at $10.60 after 26,097 stock units crossed the exchange, JMMB Group lost 80 cents to close at $29.19 after an exchange of 7,657 units, Kingston Wharves increased 30 cents in closing at $29.30 while exchanging 750 stocks, 
Massy Holdings dropped $1 to end at $98 in an exchange of 1,722 shares. Mayberry Investments rose 48 cents to $8.98 with shareholders swapping 500 shares, Proven Investments fell $1.98 to end at $20.01 after a transfer of 2,150 stocks, Seprod climbed $2.98 to $73 after exchanging 1,492 units and Supreme Ventures declined 83 cents to close at $27.67 after 18,090 stock units passed through the market.
The preference segment was active with, trading in several stocks but with only a few shares each. At the close, Eppley 5% preference share popped $1 in closing at $21 in switching ownership of 6 stock units, Eppley 7.25% preference share rose $2.33 and ended at $18.52 in an exchange of just one stock, Jamaica Public Service 7% fell 96 cents to end at $41.54, with 146 shares crossing the market,
Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rallied $342.47 to a record high of $3767.17 with an exchange of 5 units and 138 Student Living preference share dived $15.75 to end at $89.24, with 4 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading plunged on the Main Market
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday with a 63 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded declining with a 65 percent lower value than on Monday, following trading in 55 securities compared with 56 on Monday, resulting in 23 rising, 19 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 9,129,580 shares were traded for $29,005,096 down from 24,449,466 units at $83,643,070 on Monday.
Trading averaged 165,992 shares at $527,365 compared to 436,598 units at $1,493,626 on Monday and month to date, an average of 425,596 units at $2,654,714, down from 467,590 units at $2,998,844 on the previous day. June closed an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581 including trading in Bonds.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.62 million shares for 39.7 percent of the volume, Transjamaican Highway followed with 2.40 million units for 26.3 percent of the day’s trade and closed at a record close of $2.57 after trading at an intraday high of $2.65 and Ciboney Group with 1.10 million units for 12.1 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 497.53 points to close at 362,882.05, the JSE Main Index advanced 82.35 points to end at 325,283.88 and the 
JSE Financial Index added 0.36 points to conclude trading at 71.51.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.3 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed 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 ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement fell 50 cents in closing at $54 after an exchange of 2,005 shares, Eppley rose $1 and ended at $35, with 106 stocks crossing the market, First Rock Real Estate gained 54 cents to end at $8.90 in trading 63,305 units. GraceKennedy popped $1 to close at $78 with an exchange of 7,684 stock units, Jamaica Producers increased 95 cents to $20.45 with investors transferring 1,800 shares, 
JMMB Group climbed 74 cents in closing at $29.99 after 61,111 units passed through the market. Kingston Wharves dropped 98 cents to end at $29 while exchanging 4,738 stocks, Mayberry Investments lost 50 cents to close at $8.50 as investors exchanged 102,836 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $15.49 to $83.99, with 447 shares clearing the market. NCB Financial rallied $1.23 to close at $65.25 after 9,895 stock units crossed the market, Pan Jamaica advanced 95 cents and ended at $50.45 after 344 stocks passed through the exchange, Sagicor Group popped 50 cents to close at $48 after an exchange of 4 units. Salada Foods gained 30 cents to end at $2.80 with shareholders swapping 38 stock units, 
Seprod shed $2.73 in closing at $70.02, with 7,517 stocks changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rose 50 cents to end at $12.50 in an exchange of 16,441 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading climbs on JSE Main market
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 105 percent and the value 99 percent more than on Friday, with trading taking place in 56 securities compared with 57 on Friday, with 10 rising, 28 declining and 18 unchanged after three stocks traded at a 52 weeks’ lows and one at a 52 weeks’ high and one at a record intraday high.
A total of 24,449,466 shares were exchanged for $83,643,070 up from 11,913,117 units at $42,086,420 on Friday.
Trading averaged 436,598 shares at $1,493,626 compared with 209,002 units at $738,358 on Friday and month to date, an average of 467,590 units at $2,998,844 compared with 473,702 units at $3,295,648 on the previous day. June closed with an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581 including trading in Bonds.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 17.37 million shares for 71.1 percent of total volume while it traded at a record high of $2.60 and was followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.51 million units for 10.3 percent of the day’s trade and Ciboney Group with 924,651 units for 3.8 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 91.60 points to close trading at 363,379.58, the JSE Main Index dipped 1,424.39 points to end at 325,201.53 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.30 points to conclude trading at 71.15.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed 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 none with a lower offer.
At the close, Berger Paints fell 20 cents in closing at $7.50 in an exchange of 1,050 shares, First Rock Real Estate lost $1.39 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $8.36 in an exchange of 24,264 shares, following the dropping of the price to a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $7, GraceKennedy fell 80 cents in closing at $77 while exchanging 29,539 stocks. 
Guardian Holdings dropped $20 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $400 with investors transferring 2,043 units, after the price hit a 52 weeks intraday low of $375.05, Jamaica Producers dropped $1 to end at $19.50, with 14,200 stock units crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange declined 20 cents to $10.80 after 2,100 stocks changed hands, JMMB Group shed 75 cents and ended at $29.25 after trading 13,118 shares. NCB Financial declined $1.38 and ended at $64.02 after an exchange of 123,940 stock units, Pan Jamaica declined $1.25 to close at $49.50 with 207 stocks changing hands. Salada Foods shed 30 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.50 after 234,280 units passed through the market, Seprod climbed $2.57 to $72.75, with stakeholders exchanging 1,837 stocks and Supreme Ventures dropped 30 cents in closing at $28.50 in switching ownership of 40,906 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $7.50 to close at $42.50 with shareholders swapping 50 stock units and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rose $446.70 to a record high of $3,424.70 with a transfer of one unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains continue for ICTOP10
The Junior Market wiped all 2023 losses this past week, with the market index reclaiming the 4,000 mark for the first time since January and wiping out all of the 2023 losses recorded up to Thursday. The Main Market continues to struggle and has remained down 8 percent for the year to date.
Jamaica Broilers is now in at 3 on ICTOP10.
The Junior Market is now up 11.6 percent since the low in March and is on what will be a big bull ride over the coming months that is signalled by two indicators. The Main Market is likely bottoming after a traditional sell off in May before settling off in the early summer ahead of a rebound later. The action is now with the Junior Market with more potential for growth.
The Junior Market had 5 stocks for the week, each rising and falling. The Main Market ended with 3 rising and three declining, with the most significant change being a loss of 9 percent for JMMB Group to $30 and Berger Paints with a five percent fall being the biggest losers as all other changes were just one percent.
In the Junior Market, iCreate rose 18 percent to $1.30, Dolla Financial rallied 8 percent to $2.43, Everything Fresh popped 5 percent to $1.60, and Edufocal and Image Plus rose 3 percent. OneonOne slipped 10 percent to $1.10, while Iron Rock Insurance and Caribbean Cream fell 4 percent.
During the week whole, year results came out for Jamaica Broilers, with earnings of $4.43 including the write off of the Haitian operations, with revenues rising 23 percent but excluding the Haitian operations, earnings were $5.40 per share, with just over $7 projected by ICInsider.com for the current year, making it a compelling buy at current prices. The stock now sits at the number 3 position on the ICTOP10.
Dollar Financial reported second quarter profit after trading ended on Friday, showing a profit of $105 million compared with $59 million in the 2022 June quarter and $227 million for the six months to June versus $119 million in 2022. Earnings per share ended at 4 cents in the latest quarter and 9 cents year to date. The period shows a small amount set aside for expected credit losses, but the cash flow shows that only 75 percent of interest earned was paid during the period, down from 77 percent for the 2022 first half and 80 percent for the 2022 full year.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 6.1, well below the market average of 13.3. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 252 percent, by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 29 and 20 excluding the highest PE stocks, 23 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.9 compared with the market at 11.4. There are 10 stocks representing 21 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 44, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently. Junior Market is projected to rise by 240 percent by 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 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 will likely 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, resulting 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.