The Main and Junior Markets closed the past week lower than the close of the previous week, with the Main market at a higher level than the third week of July, while the Junior Market continues at the lowest levels since the early summer months.
The Junior Market is currently signaling a big surge coming that will start in a few weeks as short term moving averages cross over longer-term ones to confirm a strong rally.
The price of Salada Foods sank to $20 on Friday, pushing NCB Financial out of the IC TOP 10 Main Market. As the markets continue to trade in a narrow band, there was no other movement in and out of the TOP 10.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks with the potential to gain between 282 to 764 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by 
Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. 
The focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year profit, projected to recover from reduced profit for the 2020 financial year. With expected gains of 151 to 227 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Berger Paints, followed by JMMB Group and Grace Kennedy.
The local stock market’s targeted average PE ratio is 20 based on companies reporting full year’s results from now to the second quarter in 2021. The Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, indicating the potential gains ahead. 
The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 16.1 and the Junior Market 12.2, based on ICInsider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.7 at just 47 percent to the Junior Market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.4 or 52 percent of the PE of that market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 299 percent and 144 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, indicating potentially greater gains in the Junior Market than the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in movements in and out of the lists for most weeks. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Seventy-five percent or 33 of listed stocks traded, compared to 35 on Thursday and ended with the prices of 15 stocks rising, 11 declining and seven closing with prices remaining unchanged.
At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
GWest Corporation slipped 1 cent to finish at 90 cents with 13,939 units passing through the market, iCreate gained 10 cents to settle at 70 cents with investors switching ownership of 2,000 stock units, Indies Pharma advanced 17 cents to end at $2.85 with 371 units changing hands. Iron Rock Insurance added 1 cent to close at $2.51, with an exchange of 13,282 units, ISP Finance jumped $2.49 to finish at $18.50 trading 204 units, Jamaican Teas declined 11 cents to $4.89 with 88,260 shares traded. Jetcon Corporation increased 9 cents to end at 89 cents with investors transferring 9,000 stock units, Lumber Depot gained 6 cents to close at $1.10 with 128,808 shares changing hands, Mailpac Group rose 4 cents in an exchange of 251,531 stock units to settle at $1.99. Main Event advanced 70 cents to finish at $3.70, with 2,955 stocks passing through the market, Medical Disposables climbed 35 cents to end at $4.25 with 4,033 shares traded. Stationery and Office Supplies declined 3 cents to close at $4.97, with investors switching ownership of 1,598 stocks and Tropical Battery lost 4 cents to settle at $1.19 with 462,122 shares crossing the exchange.
Like Wednesday, trading ended with 35 securities changing hands on Thursday and concluded with 15 stocks rising, the prices of 15 declining and five with prices remaining unchanged.
At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
Jetcon Corporation gained 2 cents to finish at 80 cents with investors switching ownership of 27,328 stock units, KLE Group declined 32 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.10 with 9,000 units passing through the market, Knutsford Express jumped $1.03 to end at $6.74 with 7,833 units changing hands. Lasco Distributors advanced 14 cents to finish at $3.15 with an exchange of 44,587 units, Lasco Financial gained 2 cents to settle at $2.07 with 5,589 stocks traded, Lasco Manufacturing fell 8 cents to close at $3.37 with investors transferring 25,072 units. Limners and Bards dropped 17 cents to end at $2.33 with 95,783 stock units trading, Lumber Depot finished 1 cent higher at $1.04 with 275,023 units changing hands, Mailpac Group dipped 4 cents to settle at $1.95 with an exchange of 571,731 units. Medical Disposables shed 65 cents to close at $3.90 with investors switching ownership of 1,045 shares, SSL Venture rose 9 cents to end at 59 cents with 200 units changing hands, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 15 cents to finish at $5 with 1,700 units passing through the market. Tropical Battery gained 3 cents, trading 1,139,241 shares to settle at $1.23 and tTech dropped 90 cents to close at $5.50 with 1,363 shares crossing the exchange.
At the close of market activities, the Junior Market Index lost 56.8 points after falling nearly 11 points on Tuesday to settle at 2,443.91. Trading ended with 35 securities changing hands compared to 36 on Tuesday, with the prices of 11 stocks rising, 17 declining and seven with prices remaining unchanged.
At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Knutsford Express shed 59 cents to end at $5.71 with an exchange of 11,623 stock units, Lasco Distributors declined by 9 cents to settle at $3.01 with 54,695 units changing hands, Lasco Financial slipped 2 cents to $2.05 with investors trading 180,442 units. Lasco Manufacturing advanced 3 cents to finish at $3.45 with 6,027 stocks passing through the market, Limners and Bards dropped 17 cents to close at $2.50 with an exchange of 29,545 stock units, Lumber Depot lost 5 cents trading 256,149 shares at $1.03. Main Event shed 74 cents to settle at $3 with 95,310 stocks changing hands, Medical Disposables climbed 25 cents to finish at $4.55 with investors switching ownership of 25,210 units, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 70 cents to close at $4.85 with 18,193 units passing through the market and Tropical Battery gained 6 cents to end at $1.20 with 696,728 stock units crossing the exchange.
Trading ended with 36 securities changing hands compared to 30 on Friday and closed with the prices of 10 stocks rising, 16 declining and 10 remaining unchanged.
At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Jetcon Corporation rose 9 cents to settle at 89 cents, clearing the market with 35,416 shares, Knutsford Express dipped 45 cents to $6.30, trading 10,004 stock units, Lasco Distributors shed 5 cents to close at $3.10 after crossing the market, with 441,987 shares. Lasco Financial lost 1 cent in closing at $2.07, with 36,683 stock units passing through the market, Lasco Manufacturing slipped 3 cents to $3.42, with 10,900 stock units crossing the exchange, Lumber Depot gained 3 cents in ending at $1.08 and exchanging 370,772 shares. Mailpac Group rose 1 cent to close at $1.99, with a transfer of 422,033 stocks, Main Event rose 49 cents to $3.74 in an exchange of 600 units, Medical Disposables gained 79 cents in closing at $4.30, with 20,154 stock units changing hands. Tropical Battery lost 3 cents to finish at $1.14, in trading 3,944,991 shares and tTech rose 90 cents to settle at $6.40 after exchanging 1,000 units.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks with the potential to gain between 293 to 705 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. The focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year profit, projected to recover from reduced profit for the 2020 financial year. With expected gains of 151 to 245 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Berger Paints, followed by JMMB Group and
The Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, indicating the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.8 and the Junior Market 11.6, based on ICInsider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.7 at just 49 percent to the Junior Market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.5 or 54 percent of the PE of that market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in the selection process in and out of the lists for most weeks. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Trading ended with 32 securities changing hands compared to 31 on Tuesday, with the prices of nine stocks rising, 15 declining and eight remaining unchanged. The average PE Ratio of the market ended at 11 based on the IC Insider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Honey Bun lost 8 cents in ending at $4.81, with a transfer of 1,977 units, Indies Pharma gained 19 cents to close at $2.89, crossing the market with 155,294 shares, Jamaican Teas lost 9 cents to settle at $4.91 trading 262,197 stocks. Knutsford Express shed 69 cents to finish at $5.80 after the transfer of 500 units, Lasco Distributors gained 4 cents to end at $3.17 and clearing the market with 2,450 units, Lasco Financial added 4 cents to close at $2.09, with an exchange of 2,210 units. Limners and Bards ended 9 cents higher at $2.69, after trading 33,000 shares, Lumber Depot closed at $1.04, with gains of 4 cents and 517,587 shares changing hands, Mailpac Group lost 1 cent in closing at $1.94, with investors swapping 86,270 shares. Main Event picked up 1 cent in closing at $3.26, in transferring 2,446 units, Medical Disposables shed 25 cents to close at $4.30 trading 6,129 units and Tropical Battery gained 6 cents in closing at $1.16, with trades of 1,549,487 shares.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging added 6 cents to finish at $1.86, with a transfer of 100 units, Blue Power rose 35 cents to $3.55 in trading 17,596 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 4 cents to settle at $1.95, with 750 units passing through the market. Caribbean Flavours gained 42 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.38, with investors transferring 90,527 stocks, after the ten to one stock split took effect, Elite Diagnostic lost 5 cents to finish at $3.10, in exchanging 500,110 shares, Express Catering gained 38 cents to close at $3.98 with 6,500 units passing through the market. Fontana ended 5 cents lower at $4.95 in trading 98,829 shares, Fosrich lost 10 cents to finish at $3.44, with a transfer of 1,001 units, GWest Corporation lost 6 cents to settle at 74 cents, with an exchange of 10,052 stock units. Honey Bun gained 1 cent to close at $4.90 with 16,065 stock units changing hands, iCreate slipped 6 cents to 66 cents with 3,000 units passing through the market, Indies Pharma ended at $2.75, after losing 14 cents trading 7,350 units. 
Jamaican Teas gained 1 cent, with an exchange of 194,095 shares to finish at $5, Lasco Distributors closed 5 cents lower at $3.08, with 325 units changing hands, Lasco Financial gained 5 cents to close at $2.10, after a transfer of 16,712 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing slid 14 cents to end at $3.36, in trading 84,408 shares, Limners and Bards lost 2 cents to end at $2.65 after exchanging 204,682 shares, Mailpac lost 1 cent to close at $1.94 with 267,482 stock units changing hands, Main Event rose 49 cents to $3.74, with 2,266 units passing through the market. Medical Disposables gained 5 cents to close at $4.55, in exchanging 5,000 units, SSL Venture Capital lost 10 cents trading 2,382 units to close at 50 cents, Stationery and Office Supplies slid 75 cents to $4.85, with investors switching ownership of 2,000 units. Tropical Battery added 1 cent in trading 793,822 shares to settle at $1.10 and tTech dropped $1.40 to end at $5, with 1,600 units crossing the exchange.
The markets moved moderately higher to close at their highest levels since mid-August for the. The Main Market closed the past week higher than the previous one, but the Junior Market closed the week lower than the prior one.
With expected gains of 152 to 240 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Berger Paints, followed by JMMB Group and Carreras. Radio Jamaica is now down to the fifth spot with slightly lower earnings per share of 15 cents from 20 cents previously.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 279 percent and 145 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication of potentially greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
Trading ended with 35 securities changing hands compared to 33 on Thursday and ended with 13 stocks rising, the prices of 10 declining and 12 with prices remaining unchanged.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
iCreate slipped 1 cent to 72 cents with 38,675 units passing through the market, Indies Pharma gained 14 cents to end at $2.89 with 762,551 shares changing hands, Jamaican Teas fell by 26 cents, with an exchange of 2,445,271 shares to finish at $4.99. Knutsford Express increased 38 cents to $6.88 with investors switching ownership of 488,661 stocks, Lasco Distributors advanced 11 cents to settle at $3.13 with 132,100 stocks changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing added 1 cent to end at $3.50 after trading 3,137 shares. Mailpac Group slipped 2 cents to $1.95 with 192,409 units passing through the market, Main Event shed 50 cents to finish at $3.25 with 4,035 units changing hands, Medical Disposables dropped 5 cents to close at $4.50 with an exchange 2,000 units. Tropical Battery gained 1 cent in trading 876,254 shares to settle at $1.09 and tTech jumped 65 cents to end at $6.40 with 865 shares crossing the exchange.