Activity picked up sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday after a 68 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, with the value surging 83 percent more than on Friday, with trading taking place in 59 securities compared to 52 on Friday and resulting in prices of 18 stocks rising, 28 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 18,191,600 shares were exchanged for $322,436,055, up sharply from 10,834,252 units at $176,431,924 on Friday.
Trading averaged 308,332 units at $5,465,018, up from 208,351 shares at $3,392,922 on Friday and month to date, an average of 200,984 units for $1,803,685 verusu 194,860 units at $1,601,231 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 604,110 units at $4,072,598
Kingston Wharves led trading with 7.50 million shares for 41.3 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 5.0 million units for 27.5 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway with 1.89 million units for 10.4 percent of market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.87 million units for 10.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 1,098.53 points to close at 385,737.65, the JSE Main Market Index advanced 345.65 points to 340,663.15 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.37 points to end at 81.58.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 50 cents in, ending at $85 with 27,575 shares changing hands, Berger Paints dipped $1.01 to close at $9.59 with a transfer of 3,816 stock units, Caribbean Cement declined $2.02 to $56.71 with 12,260 stocks crossing the market. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $5.49 in closing at $44 with an exchange of 450 units, First Rock Real Estate fell $1.70 to close at $12.30 with the swapping of 1,235 stocks, Jamaica Producers shed 98 cents to end at $20.01 after an exchange of 19,433 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 60 cents to finish at $14.60 in trading 125,705 shares, 
JMMB Group dipped 70 cents to close at $34.30 with a transfer of 160,234 units, Kingston Wharves shed 96 cents to $34.74 in switching ownership of 7,504,922 stock units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 60 cents to settle at $12.50 with 1,650 units changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy jumped $14 to $84 after a transfer of 3,009 stocks, Palace Amusement surged $189 to close at $2,792 after an exchange of 265 shares. Portland JSX dropped $1.82 to $9.78 with 216 stock units crossing the market, Proven Investments fell $1.79 to $30.01 after 42,601 units passed through the market, Sagicor Group declined $2.78 to close at $49.22 in the trading of 32,689 stocks. Scotia Group lost 60 cents to finish at $34.30 with the swapping of 79,073 shares, Seprod popped $2.99 in closing at $69 in an exchange of 13,750 stock units, Sterling Investments lost 44 cents to close at $2.62 with investors transferring a mere 156 units. 
Sygnus Credit Investments shed 50 cents in ending at $12.50 after switching ownership of 55,319 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rose 49 cents to $9.50 in an exchange of 3,093 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rose 98 cents to $8.10 after 1,216 shares cleared the market, Eppley 7.75% preference share advanced $3.64 to $20 as investors exchanged 60 units, Jamaica Public Service 9.5 dropped $45 in closing at $2,955 after the trading of 9,685 stocks and JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 rallied 52 cents to $3.03 with 35,228 stock units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
A Lasco company exists ICTOP10
The Jamaica stock market continues to consolidate, awaiting a dynamic development to push it decisively in one direction or another as the Bank of Jamaica quietly tightened the money supply further in January, drying up buying power in the short run. The first big likely move is unlikely to be a reduction of interest rates which is seemingly set to occur in the second quarter, but the reporting of substantially increased profits to flow from some companies.
Tropical Battery returns to the ICTOP10 list for this week with projected earnings of 30 cents for the current year, up from 15 cents last fiscal year and replaces Lasco Manufacturing which dropped out with a rise in price during the week as the supply of the stock has drooped sharply recently, with just 11 offers to sell now in the system.
Image Plus Consultants reported nine months results with revenues rising 27 percent in the November quarter to $248 million and 43 percent in the nine months to $803 million, while profit rose moderately to $24 million from $22 million in 2021 and for the nine months profits nearly tripled that of 2021 to reach $148 million. The company reported incorrect earnings per share for the periods, using the incorrect number of shares. As a result, rather than 29 cents per share for the quarter and $1.84, it is 2.3 cents and 15 cents for the nine months. Regardless, the stock is cheap based on these earnings and those to come.
Honey Bun rose 10 percent to $7.69, with the December quarter results due any time now, Lasco Financial gained 9 percent to $2.84 and Lasco Manufacturing gained 5 percent to $4.79. General Accident rallied 6 percent to $4.99. Image Plus Consultants entered the ICTOP10 after just one day of trading and fell to a low of $1.86 during the past week before rebounding to close this past week with a fall of 12 percent to $1.93, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 6 percent of its value to close at $2 and Paramount Trading fell 5 percent to $2.10.
All other movements in the Junior Market TOP10 were 3 percent or less. The Main Market Berger Paints popped 12 percent to $10.60, followed by a 9 percent rise for Jamaica Broilers to close at $31.50 and Guardian Holdings with a gain of 4 percent to $535. There were no notable losses.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 15, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.5 versus the market at 12.6, critical indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks currently. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 211 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 274 percent to May this year. The primary concern for the Main Market achieving such gains by May is that the list is dominated by financial companies that are out of favour and may need to see the summer months before the full interest of investor start to show.
The Junior Market has 15 stocks representing 31 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 29, averaging 21 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, with prices of Fosrich and Future Energy adjusting downwards closer to the average of the TOP15. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 116, with an average of 27 and 20 excluding the highest valued stocks and 27 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
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 2023 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.
JSE Main Market bounces Friday
Stocks mostly bounced on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the market indices recording moderate gains following a 35 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded and a 30 percent lower value than on Thursday, as there was trading in 52 securities compared to 55 on Thursday. The market closed with prices of 24 stocks rising, 12 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 10,834,252 shares were traded for $176,431,924 versus 16,679,571 units at $253,751,659 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 208,351 shares at $3,392,922 compared to 303,265 units at $4,613,667 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 194,860 stock units at $1,601,231 compared to 194,169 shares at $1,509,440 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 604,110 units at $4,072,598
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.51 million shares for 32.4 percent of total volume, followed by PanJam Investment with 2.24 million units for 20.7 percent of the day’s trade, Stanley Motta with 1.78 million units for 16.4 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.38 million units for 12.8 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,622.56 points to 384,639.12, the JSE Main Index advanced 1,967.53 points to 340,317.50 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.25 points to end at 81.21.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dipped 50 cents to $85.50 after 4,720 shares passed through the market, Caribbean Cement fell $1.16 to $58.73 with a transfer of 1,396 units, Caribbean Producers shed 60 cents in closing at $11.15 in trading 174,859 stock units. Eppley advanced $2.50 to $40 after trading one stock, First Rock Real Estate rose $1.99 to close at $14 after an exchange of 1,269 stock units, Guardian Holdings climbed $15 to end at $535 with the swapping of 625 stocks. 
Jamaica Broilers popped $1.50 to close at $31.50 in exchange for 178,129 shares, Jamaica Producers rallied 99 cents to $20.99 with 168 units changing hands, JMMB Group lost 50 cents to close at $35 following trading of 206,544 stocks. Kingston Wharves advanced $5.45 to $35.70 with a transfer of 319 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained $1.10 while ending at $13.10 with 5,497 stock units changing hands, Palace Amusement dropped a hefty $647 to end at $2,603 following investors exchanging 2,483 shares and pushing the stock to an intraday record high of $3,300. PanJam Investment rose $2.20 to $57.20 after trading 2,238,835 units, Proven Investments popped 80 cents to close at $31.80 with the swapping of 38,842 stock units, Scotia Group rallied $1 in closing at $34.90 in trading 3,504 shares. 
Seprod shed $1.89 to end at $66.01 with an exchange of 6,860 stocks, Stanley Motta advanced 99 cents to $5.24 with investors transferring 1,778,058 stock units and Supreme Ventures popped 85 cents in closing at $27 after 132,915 units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share gained $1.50 to settle at $7.12 in trading 800 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading surge leads to market decline
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed lower on Thursday with a 49 recent drop in the volume of stocks traded after a 451 percent surge in the value of trading over Wednesday, following an exchange of 55 securities similar to Wednesday, with prices of just 12 rising, 25 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
A total of 16,679,571 shares were traded for $253,751,659 compared to 32,907,198 units at $46,037,711 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 308,265 units at $4,613,667 compared with 598,313 shares at $837,049 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 194,169 units at $1,509,440 versus 187,918 units at $1,331,594 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 604,110 units at $4,072,598.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 8.29 million shares for 49.7 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.24 million units for 13.4 percent of the day’s trade and GraceKennedy with 2.24 million units for 13.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,148.60 points to 383,016.56, the JSE Main Index fell 1,743.19 points to 338,349.97 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.77 points to close at 80.96.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley dipped $1.50 to end at $37.50 after trading 135 shares, First Rock Real Estate fell 54 cents to close at $12.01 with 455,534 stock units changing hands, Jamaica Producers shed 99 cents to end at $20 with 56,447 stocks crossing the market. JMMB Group rose $1.25 to $35.50 with an exchange of 99,960 units, Kingston Wharves dropped $5.49 in closing at $30.25 in switching ownership of 600,195 stock units, 
Mayberry Investments fell 81 cents to $8 after investors traded 25,212 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed $1 to settle at $12 after exchanging 303,361 stocks, Palace Amusement jumped $350 to end at a record high of $3,250 with 817 shares crossing the market, PanJam Investment dropped $2.20 to $55 after 2,528 stocks cleared the market. Proven Investments dipped 50 cents to $31 with the swapping of 1,705 stock units, Scotia Group fell 97 cents to end at $33.90 in trading 238,458 shares, Supreme Ventures fell $1.85 to $26.15 after a transfer of 66,596 units. Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 50 cents in closing at $13 in switching ownership of 25,136 stocks and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 47 cents ending at $3.53 with a transfer of 112,178 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 shed 40 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.51 with investors transferring 50,000 shares and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $3.99 to $68.99 in an exchange of 253 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks pop higher on JSE Main Market
Investors exchanged 43 percent more stocks in the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, valued slightly more than Tuesday, with trading in 55 securities, similar to Tuesday, and leading to prices of 26 stocks rising, 16 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 32,907,198 shares were traded for $46,037,711 compared to 23,052,827 units at $45,065,813 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 598,313 units at $837,049 versus 419,142 shares at $819,378 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 187,918 units at $1,331,594 compared to 162,977 units at $1,361,649 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 604,110 units at $4,072,598.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 27.79 million shares for 84.5 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.77 million units for 5.4 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.09 million units for 3.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 555.68 points to 386,165.16, the JSE Main Index popped 104.88 points to settle at 340,093.16 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.50 points to end at 81.73.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15.1 on the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped $3.43 to end at $86 after a transfer of 15,111 shares, Caribbean Cement rose $1.89 to close at $59.89 in an exchange of 6,533 stock units, Eppley shed $1.70 to end at $39 with the swapping of 170 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $1.89 to $49.89 in trading 57 stocks, GraceKennedy popped 50 cents to end at $79 with investors transferring 34,697 shares, Guardian Holdings climbed $9.90 in closing at $520 after 1,370 stocks crossed the market. Jamaica Broilers fell 94 cents to $30.05 with 14,612 units changing hands, Jamaica Producers rose 99 cents to close at $20.99, trading 11,016 stock units,
Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 76 cents to $13.72 after a transfer of 16,369 shares. Mayberry Investments advanced 74 cents to $8.81 in switching ownership of 504 units, NCB Financial rallied 99 cents to $79 in swapping 8,469 stock units, 138 Student Living gained 59 cents to finish at $4.90 trading 236 stocks. Palace Amusement climbed $100 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2,900 in transferring 832 stocks, PanJam Investment popped $2.20 to $57.20, with 250 units crossing the exchange, Proven Investments rose $1.48 in closing at $31.50 trading 1,539 stock units. Sagicor Group gained $1 to end at $52 with an exchange of 667 shares, Scotia Group popped 87 cents to $34.87 after an exchange of 32,403 units, Seprod rallied $1 to $68 with the swapping of 1,234 stock units. 
Supreme Ventures gained 65 cents to close at $28 in trading 20,247 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 44 cents in closing at $12.50 with 1,305 shares crossing the market.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share declined $4, ending at $65, with nine stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market slips on higher trading
Market activity climbed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday with a 135 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded and a 32 percent increase in the value over Monday, resulting from trading in 55 securities compared to 58 on Monday, with 24 rising, 25 declining and six ending unchanged.
A total of 23,052,827 shares were traded for $45,065,813 up from 9,807,711 units at $34,195,444 on Monday.
Trading averaged 419,142 units at $819,378 versus 169,098 shares at $589,577 on Monday and month to date, an average of 162,977 units at $1,361,649 compared with 146,402 units at $1,396,737 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 604,110 units at $4,072,598.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 19.69 million shares for 85.4 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.03 million units for 4.5 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 929,755 units for 4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 387.49 points to 385,609.48, the JSE Main Indexd ipped 110.19 points to 339,988.28 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.06 points to settle at 81.23.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 65 cents to end at $89.43 trading 2,257 shares, Berger Paints rose 65 cents to close at $10.60 after an exchange of 343 units, Caribbean Cement lost 45 cents to end at $58 with 4,529 stock units clearing the market. Caribbean Producers gained 47 cents to finish at $11.64 with the swapping of 69,452 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $1.94 in closing at $48 after trading 1,440 stock units, GraceKennedy declined $3.50 to close at $78.50 with investors transferring 20,075 stocks. Guardian Holdings dropped $9.90 in closing at $510.10 with 368 units changing hands, 
Jamaica Broilers advanced $1.99 to $30.99 in an exchange of 70,831 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 78 cents to settle at $14.48 after a transfer of 55,036 units. JMMB Group popped 40 cents to end at $34.40 with the swapping of 22,833 stocks, Kingston Wharves rallied 98 cents to end at $35.50 in switching ownership of 520 stock units, Massy Holdings advanced $1.42 to $80 in trading 1,106 shares. Mayberry Investments shed 79 cents to end at $8.07 after 714 stocks cleared the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $5 in closing at $70 in transferring 580 shares, NCB Financial lost 59 cents to close at $78.01 in an exchange of 60,001 units. 138 Student Living dipped 59 cents to $4.31 as investors traded 312 stock units, Palace Amusement climbed $700 to a 52 weeks’ high of $2,800 with a transfer of 2,676 stocks, with shareholders voting at the annual general meeting held after trading closed to spill the stock 600 to one in late February, Sagicor Group advanced $2.49 to end at $51 in switching ownership of 21,332 shares. 
Seprod lost 50 cents in closing at $67 after 3,356 units passed through the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $1.30 to close at $9.05 with the swapping of 9,400 stock units and Wisynco Group dipped 42 cents to close at $16.58 after exchanging 37,141 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Rising Main Market stocks clobbered on Monday
Falling stocks dominated those rising 2 to 1 at the close of market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday after 58 securities traded up from 51 on Friday and ended with 14 rising, 27 declining and 17 ending unchanged with the volume of stocks traded rising moderately and the value falling 73 percent compared to Friday.
A total of 9,807,711 shares were traded for $34,195,444 compared to 9,464,712 units at $128,636,676 on Friday.
Trading averages 169,098 units at $589,577 versus 185,583 shares at $2,522,288 on Friday and month to date, an average of 146,402 units at $1,396,737 compared with 144,740 units at $1,455,847 on the previous day. Trading in December averaged 604,110 units at $4,072,598.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.82 million shares for 49.2 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.19 million units for 12.1 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.10 million units for 11.2 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 840.56 points to 385,221.99, the JSE Main Index declined 632.70 points to 340,098.47 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.11 points to 81.17.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rallied 45 cents to end at $9.95 after 854 shares cleared the market, Caribbean Cement shed $1.55 in closing at $58.45 with 16,327 units changing hands, Caribbean Producers shed 33 cents in ending at $11.17 with 119,694 units being exchanged. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced 44 cents to $49.94 in switching owners of 50 stock units. GraceKennedy popped $3 while ending at $82 after exchanging 32,986 stocks, 
Guardian Holdings climbed $8 to close at $520 with a transfer of 170 units, JMMB Group lost 40 cents to end at $34 in exchanging 79,318 stock units. Massy Holdings fell $1.42 to close at $78.58 in trading 44,995 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced $1.09 to $12.99 after swapping of 1,305 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $8 to $75 with investors transferring 1,124 stocks. Portland JSX rose $1.10 in ending at $11.50 after three shares passed through the market, Sagicor Group declined $1.99 to close at $48.51 trading 19,963 stock units, Seprod dipped $1.49 to $67.50 as investors exchanged 9,530 units and Sterling Investments shed 47 cents to $2.60 trading 26,099 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7% preference share gained 59 cents in closing at $2.84 transferring 31 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
ICTOP10 buy rated Knutsford gains 44%
Shares of Image Plus Consultants were listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday to become the 48 listed company on the exchange and the 52nd company to be listed since the market commenced operations in 2010.
Knutsford Express
The stock failed to sparkle on listing, rising just 10 percent at the close and could come under selling pressure as investors exit for what they see as greener pastures. Regardless, the stock climbed into the ICTOP10 list for this week and replaces Caribbean Cream got an earnings downgrade.
Knutsford Express dropped out of the ICTOP10 at the end of the prior week and closed this past week at $12.49 to be up a solid 44 percent since it entered the TOP10 on the end of December. It still has much more room to rise with a current PE of just 12.5 and less, based on next fiscal years’ earnings. The move shows, the power that increased earnings have on price movement, with the company posting a profit of $143 million for the six months to November up from $13 million in 2021.
The Junior Market rose this past week t into poo record a rise for the first time this year, the move resulted in three solid gains and three sizable losses for the ICTOP10. 
Iron Rock Insurance jumped 19 percent to $2.40, Lasco Manufacturing gained 13 percent to $4.55 and Paramount Trading climbed 11 percent to $2.20, after release of strong second quarter results that showed continued improvement in profit, jumping 212 percent for the half year to $149 million. Caribbean Cream reported improving results but the overall profit was light and the stock fell 20 percent to $3.20, Lasco Financial shed 8 percent to $2.60 and General Accident slipped 7 percent to $4.71. All other movements in the Junior Market TOP10 were 3 percent or less. The Main Market only major mover was Berger Paints with an 11 percent loss to $9.50.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.5, well below the market average of 15.9, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.5 versus the market at 13, important indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks currently. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 212 percent and the Main Market TOP10 an average now of 285 percent, to May this year.
The Junior Market has 17 stocks representing 35 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 30, averaging 20.7 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 19 and shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks. 
The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 104, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest valued stocks and 27 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
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 2023 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.
Trading value surges on JSE Main Market
Trading ended with a 27 percent decline in the volume of stocks passing through the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the value rising 292 percent over Thursday and ended with trading in 51 securities down from 56 on Thursday, with 21 rising, 20 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
A total of 9,464,712 shares were exchanged for $128,636,676 versus 12,878,672 units at just $32,824,074 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 185,583 shares at $2,522,288 versus 229,976 shares at $586,144 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 144,740 units at $1,455,847 compared with 141,929 units at $1,382,448 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 604,110 units at $4,072,598.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.84 million shares for 40.6 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.05 million units for 11.1 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 964,522 units for 10.2 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 921.76 points to 386,062.55, the JSE Main Index declined 214.32 points to 340,731.16 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.23 points to settle at 81.28.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments declined 92 cents to $90.09 in exchanging 4,562 shares, Berger Paints fell $1.15 in closing at $9.50 with investors transferring 1,199 stock units, Caribbean Producers rallied 60 cents to end at $11.50 with an exchange of 7,712 units. Eppley advanced $1.88 to $40.88 after trading 1,150 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $6.50 ending at $49.50 after a transfer of 20 shares, First Rock Real Estate gained 88 cents to close at $12.80 after 12 stocks crossed the market. 
GraceKennedy shed $1.05 to finish at $79 with the swapping of 185,510 units, Jamaica Producers lost 89 cents to end at $20 after an exchange of 152,479 stock units, JMMB Group popped 51 cents to close at $34.40 as investors traded 63,698 shares. Kingston Wharves dipped 48 cents to $34.52 with 1,560 stocks changing hands, Mayberry Investments rose 87 cents to $8.87 with a transfer of 8,489 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities dropped $1.10 to close at $11.90 in trading 35,760 stock units. NCB Financial shed $1.40 after ending at $78.60 in switching ownership of 132,060 shares, 138 Student Living rallied 65 cents to close at $4.97 after 190 stocks cleared the market, Palace Amusement traded 252 shares with a gain of 2 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2,100, PanJam Investment declined $3.09 in closing at $55.01 with the swapping of 16,506 units. Seprod advanced $1.54 to $68.99 after an exchange of 11,020 stock units, 
Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 42 cents to end at $12.58 with 41,177 shares changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rose $1.35 to close at $10.35 in switching ownership of 4,253 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share shed 98 cents in closing at $5.62 in exchanging 25,000 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Low trading pressures JSE majors
Stocks tumbled on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday with 56 securities trading up from 57 on Wednesday and leading to 17 rising, 26 declining and 13 ending unchanged as the volume of stocks traded rose 239 percent with the value increasing modestly over Wednesday.
A total of 12,878,672 shares were traded for $32,824,074 compared with 3,798,109 units at $31,876,506 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 229,976 units at $586,144 compared to 66,633 shares at $559,237 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 141,929 units at $1,382,448 compared with 134,731 units at $1,447,548 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 604,110 units at $4,072,598.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 9.27 million shares for 72 percent of total volume followed by Pulse Investments with 1.11 million units for 8.6 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 594,031 units for 4.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,548.29 points to 386,984.31, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,426.90 points to 340,945.48 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.24 points to end at 81.51.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offerindicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 87 cents to close at $91.01 with an exchange of 16,138 shares, Caribbean Cement declined by $2 in closing at $60 with the swapping of 13,036 stock units, Caribbean Producers dipped 86 cents to end at $10.90 trading 71,740 units. Eppley fell $1.88 to $39 after 112 stocks cleared the market,Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 55 cents to $43 in switching ownership of 640 stock units, First Rock Real Estate fell 97 cents to end at $11.92 after an exchange of 5,141 shares. 
Guardian Holdings dropped $8 to close at $512 after a transfer of 289 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange declined $1.38 after ending at $13.52 after 650 stocks changed hands, Kingston Properties gained 49 cents to close at $7.29 after a transfer of 1,774 stock units. Kingston Wharves lost 40 cents in closing at $35 in trading 284 stocks, NCB Financial popped $1.50 to $80 in swapping 25,551 shares, Palace Amusement jumped $249.98 to a 52 weeks’ high of $2,099.98 in exchanging 797 units. PanJam Investment dipped 90 cents in closing at $58.10 with 1,356 units changing hands, Proven Investments declined $2.38 to $30 with investors transferring 8,825 stocks, Sagicor Group lost 50 cents to end at $50.50 after trading 2,769 stock units. Scotia Group gained 75 cents to close at $34 after an exchange of 106,838 shares, Stanley Motta shed 60 cents to finish at $4.20 as investors transferred 14,070 units, Supreme Ventures lost 47 cents in ending at $27.50 with an exchange of 724 shares. 
Sygnus Credit Investments declined 97 cents in closing at $13 trading 21,385 stock units and Wisynco Group shed 69 cents to end at $17 in clearing the market with 95,594 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% advanced $420 to $3,000 with a transfer of 20 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.