Trading surged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange

Trading surged on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange compared with Monday after robust activity in Carreras, Jamaica Broilers, Stanley Motta in the Main Market and Dolphin Cove in the Junior Market and resulted in a jump in value and volume of stocks traded in all markets of the exchange compared with Monday.  
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 502.75 points to 331,355.08, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,999.27 points to 351,449.14, the JSE Main Index climbed 881.84 points to 317,871.56, the Junior Market Index dropped 34.97 points to settle at 3,797.20, while the JSE USD Market Index popped 1.09 points to end at 235.13.
Trading of Preference shares ended, with Jamaica Public Service 7% rallied $8.86 in closing at $58.86.
At the close, investors traded 23,495,915 shares in all three markets, down from 10,494,639 stocks on Monday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ended at $235 million, compared to $71.6 million on Monday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 593,068 shares for US$64,296, up from 884,498 units at US$16,456 on Monday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 16.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.6 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one time items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.

Falling stocks hit JSE Main Market

Falling prices dominated trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday, after trading in 55 securities up from 51 on Friday, and ended with 29 declining, just 14 rising, and 12 ending unchanged, with moderate trading levels that led to a 54 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded following a modest increase in value over Friday and closed with two stocks ending at 52 weeks’ lows.
A total of 4,844,640 shares were traded for $59,990,583 compared to 10,571,793 units at $57,562,911 on Friday.
Trading averaged 88,084 shares at $1,090,738 compared to 207,290 units at $1,128,685 on Friday and month to date, an average of 324,372 shares at $1,591,873 versus 338,081 units at $1,620,947 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.20 million shares for 24.7 percent of total volume, followed by the Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 647,176 units for 13.4 percent of the day’s trade and Supreme Ventures with 634,654 units for 13.1 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 3,967.05 points to 349,449.87, the JSE Main Index dropped 3,340.09 points to finish at 316,989.72 and the JSE Financial Index
slipped 0.67 points to 69.93.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.5 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 one with a lower offer, a strong indication that the market will open positively on Tuesday.
At the close, Caribbean Cement gained $2 to close at $52 with a transfer of 1,972 shares, Caribbean Producers fell 40 cents to close at $9.60 with shareholders swapping 55,803 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost $4.74 to close at $36.36 after trading in 5,460 units. First Rock Real Estate dropped 79 cents to end at $7.71 after investors ended trading 50 stocks, Guardian Holdings declined $19.75 and ended at $420 with investors dealing in 12 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange shed $1.24 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $8.53, with 14,677 stock units crossing the market, after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $8.25. JMMB Group dipped 95 cents to end at $27.84 with 284,271 units clearing the market, Kingston Properties climbed 35 cents to $7.35 after 7 stocks passed through the market, Massy Holdings skidded 90 cents to $100.10 with an exchange of 5,230 stock units. NCB Financial dropped $2.56 in closing at $71.44 after an exchange of 18,829 stocks, Sagicor Group fell $2.40 to close at $44.09 in switching ownership of 16,798 units, Scotia Group popped 85 cents and ended at $33.85 while exchanging 10,411 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments declined 47 cents in closing at $11.50 after trading in 4,927 stocks and Wisynco Group dipped $1.04 to end at $16.91, with 62,100 shares crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share increased 49 cents to $6 with investors transferring 66 stock units, JMMBGL 7.25% preference share traded 612 units at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.25, after declining 20 cents and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share rallied $98 to close at $1,100 as investors exchanged 40 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading picks up on JSE Main Market

Trading activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market to close of the week on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 16 percent and the value 63 percent more than on Thursday, with 51 securities trading compared with 53 on Thursday, with 19 rising, 19 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 10,571,793 shares were traded for $57,562,911 up from 9,151,844 units at $35,266,609 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 207,290 shares at $1,128,685 compared to 172,676 shares at $665,408 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 338,081 units at $1,620,947, compared with 345,517 units at $1,648,935 on the previous day. Trading in July closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Stanley Motta led trading with 6.01 million shares for 56.9 percent of total volume, Wigton Windfarm followed with 1.82 million units for 17.2 percent of market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.14 million units for 10.8 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 1,591.81 points to finish at 353,416.92, the JSE Main Index popped 23.12 points to end at 320,329.81 and the JSE Financial Index inched 0.19 points higher to close at 70.60.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Markets’ PE ratios are calculated 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 ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rose 71 cents to end at $7.76 with stakeholders exchanging 127 shares, Caribbean Cement fell $2 to end at $50 and in exchanging 6,100 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $1.10 to close at $41.10 with investors transferring 220 stock units. First Rock Real Estate gained 79 cents in closing at $8.50, with 2,400 units changing hands, Guardian Holdings jumped $37.84 to $439.75 after an exchange of 1,029 units,Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 23 cents and closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.77 after hitting an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $9.10 in trading 86,890 shares. Jamaica Producers shed 31 cents to end at $19.18 after an exchange of 1,100 shares, JMMB Group rallied $1.76 to $28.79 with traders dealing in 82,869 stock units, Kingston Properties skidded 39 cents to $7 with a transfer of 1,302 stocks. Kingston Wharves dipped $1.90 and ended at $27 with shareholders swapping 16,096 shares, Massy Holdings climbed 90 cents in closing at $101 in an exchange of 960 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 40 cents to end at $11.80, with 38,877 stock units crossing the exchange. NCB Financial rallied $1 to $74, with 26,455 units crossing the market, Sagicor Group lost 41 cents to end at $46.49 as investors exchanged 1,711 shares, Scotia Group dropped $1 in closing at $33 in trading 4,346 units, Seprod increased 50 cents to close at $68 with 18,577 stocks clearing the market and Wisynco Group rose 94 cents and ended at $17.95 trading 7,870 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Stocks skidded on JSE Main Market

Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 21 percent but with a 56 percent lower value than Wednesday, with trading in 53 securities compared with 50 on Wednesday, and ended with 14 rising, 23 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 9,151,844 shares were traded for $35,266,609 versus 7,549,896 units at $79,965,770 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 172,676 shares at $665,408 compared with 150,998 units at $1,599,315 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 345,517 units at $1,648,935 compared to 356,373 units at $1,710,697 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
QWI Investments led trading with 2.91 million shares for 31.7 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.94 million units for 21.2 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway ended with 1.31 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 1,860.37 points to close at 355,008.73, the JSE Main Index dived 3,329.09 points to settle at 320,306.69 and the JSE Financial Index fell 1.14 points to close at 70.41.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.8 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated using the last traded prices in conjunction with ICInsider.com forecasted earnings for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
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, Caribbean Cement climbed 50 cents to end at $52 in switching ownership of 247 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $1.94 to $40 in trading 4,648 stocks, First Rock Real Estate declined $1.04 and ended at $7.71 with investors exchanging 4,414 units, Guardian Holdings dropped $37.84 to close at $401.91 after an exchange of a mere 2 shares. Jamaica Producers gained $1.49 to close at $19.49 with an exchange of 1,048 units, Massy Holdings dipped 90 cents and ended at $100.10 after 32,732 stocks passed through the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 40 cents to $11.40 with 78,223 stocks changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy skidded $12.30 to $69.70 with 2,285 shares clearing the market. NCB Financial shed $2 to close at $73 with investors dealing in 12,895 units, Sagicor Group increased $2.82 to $46.90 with traders exchanging 2,625 shares, Seprod dipped 50 cents in closing at $67.50 with 6,941 stocks crossing the market. Supreme Ventures shed 46 cents and ended at $27.99 with an exchange of 176,814 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments popped 55 cents to end at $11.99 after trading 25,143 units and Wisynco Group skidded 84 cents to close at $17.01 with a transfer of 123,716 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share dipped 49 cents to $5.51, with 17,000 stocks changing hands, Eppley 7.75% preference share fell $1.85 to close at $18.20 as investors exchanged 10,000 stock units. Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $5 and ended at $50 in an exchange of 1,000 units and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dived $249.99 to end at $2800.01 after just one stock was traded.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Rebound for JSE Main Market

Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 12 percent after the value jumping 65 percent compared to trading on Tuesday, following trading in 50 securities down from 56 on Tuesday and leading to prices of 13 rising, 21 falling and 16 ending unchanged.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,340.21 points to 356,869.10, the JSE Main Index rose 1,279.01 points to close at 323,635.78 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.32 points to end trading at 71.55.
A total of 7,549,896 shares were traded for $79,965,770 in contrast with 8,602,396 units at $48,412,908 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 150,998 shares at $1,599,315 versus 153,614 shares at $864,516 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 356,371 units at $1,710,697 compared with 369,304 units at $1,717,711 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.59 million shares for 34.4 percent of the total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.70 million units for 22.5 percent of the day’s trade and Caribbean Cement with 812,000 units for 10.8 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints dipped 74 cents to $7.05 after an exchange of 6,538 shares, Caribbean Producers fell 39 cents and ended at $9.60 while investors traded 15,883 stock units, Jamaica Producers dropped $1.08 to close at $18 with an exchange of 15,539 units. Massy Holdings rose 75 cents in closing at $101 after investors ended trading 152 stocks, Mayberry Investments increased 64 cents to end at $8.64 while a mere 202 stocks passed through the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 40 cents to close at $11 with 37,481 units being traded. Pan Jamaica advanced 86 cents in closing at $48.05 after a transfer of 23,977 stock units, Sagicor Group shed $2.82 to end at $44.08 with investors exchanging 28,063 shares, Scotia Group climbed 99 cents to close at $34 in trading 1,066 stocks. Seprod fell $1.99 to $68 with a transfer of 5,919 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments dropped 55 cents in closing at $11.44, with 9,330 shares crossing the market and Victoria Mutual Investments gained 33 cents to close at $3.03 after a transfer of 4,947 units.

In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% declined $1 and ended at $55 after three units cleared the market and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% lost $50 to end at $3050 in an exchange of 9 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Pull back for JSE Main Market

Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 12 percent and the value 36 percent lower than Monday, with 56 securities trading compared with 58 on Monday, with 25 rising, 20 falling and 11 ending unchanged.
A total of 8,602,396 shares were traded for $48,412,908 compared with 9,803,797 units at $75,092,515 on Monday.
Trading averaged 153,614 shares at $864,516 compared with 169,031 units at $1,294,699 on Monday and month to date, an average of 369,304 stocks at $1,717,711, compared to 385,670 shares at $1,782,452 on the previous day. Trading in July closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.17 million shares for 36.9 percent of total volume, Transjamaican Highway followed with 1.55 million units for 18 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 888,086 units for 10.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,282.01 points to close at 355,528.89, the JSE Main Index declined 1,867.4  points to 322,356.77 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.64 points to end at 71.23.
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 calculated 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 dropped 49 cents to close at $51.50, with investors transferring 29,125 shares, First Rock Real Estate climbed $1.05 to end at $8.75, with 2,095 units crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped 65 cents in closing at $10.05 as investors exchanged 849 stocks. Kingston Properties rallied 44 cents and ended at $7.44 after an exchange of 3,998 stock units, Kingston Wharves popped $1.10 to $28.90 as 5,630 stocks passed through the market, Mayberry Investments shed 57 cents to end at $8 in an exchange of 15,942 shares. Mayberry Jamaican Equities increased 40 cents in closing at $11.40 in an exchange of 251 stock units, NCB Financial gained $2.98 to close at $75, after 64,578 units crossed the exchange, 138 Student Living rallied 40 cents to close at $4.65 in switching ownership of 1,400 shares. Pan Jamaica rose $4.19 to $47.19 with 500 units clearing the market, Sagicor Group rallied $1.81 to $46.90, with 29,098 stocks changing hands, Scotia Group lost 99 cents to end at $33.01 after a transfer of 109,584 stock units. Seprod popped 99 cents to close at $69.99 after an exchange of 53,646 stocks, Supreme Ventures climbed $1.39 and ended at $28.50 with investors swapping 5,620 units, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 67 cents in closing at $11.99 and closed with 28,630 stocks being traded and Victoria Mutual Investments declined 30 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.70, with 104,183 shares crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share rallied $8 to end at $100 while exchanging 2,195 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Surge in JSE Main Market index

Stocks closed much higher on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with the market index surging more than 4,000 points following a mild decline in the volume of stocks traded as the value surged 91 percent above the outcome on Friday, after trading in 58 securities compared with 55 on Friday, resulting in 20 rising, 23 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
A total of 9,803,797 shares were traded for $75,092,515 against 10,256,198 units at $39,416,576 on Friday.
Trading averaged 169,031 shares at $1,294,699 compared with 186,476 units at $716,665 on Friday and month to date, an average of 385,670 stock units at $1,782,452 versus 404,148 units at $1,824,055 on the previous trading day. Trading in July closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
JMMB Group 7.35% was the leading trade, with 2.42 million shares for 24.7 percent of total trades followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.82 million units for 18.6 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 1.18 million units for 12 percent market share and Wigton Windfarm with 1.10 million units for 11.2 percent of the day’s volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index surged 4,373.19 points to close at 357,810.90, the JSE Main Index jumped 4,153.40 points to 324,224.20 and the JSE Financial Index popped 1.39 points to 71.87.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated 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 five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments increased 94 cents and ended at $74.95 with a transfer of 48,849 shares, Berger Paints rose 74 cents to end at $7.79 and closed with 1,964 units changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $5.95 in closing at $41.95 as 710 stock units passed through the market. First Rock Real Estate lost $1.10 to close at $7.70, with 7,000 stocks crossing the market, Guardian Holdings advanced $18.25 to $439.75 with investors transferring 45 stock units, Kingston Wharves rallied $1.79 and ended at $27.80, with 520 shares crossing the exchange. Massy Holdings fell 75 cents to close at $100.25 in trading 691 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities dropped 40 cents in closing at $11 with investors exchanging 36,852 stocks, NCB Financial declined 98 cents to $72.02 with an exchange of 562,220 shares. 138 Student Living shed 40 cents to end at $4.25 with stakeholders trading 2,445 stock units, Pan Jamaica dipped $4.18 to $43 after a transfer of 630 units, Portland JSX popped 50 cents to $10 in switching ownership of 144 shares. Proven Investments dipped 36 cents in closing at $22.35 with shareholders swapping 4,445 stock units, Radio Jamaica fell 16 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $1.38 after an exchange of 45,658 shares, Sagicor Group gained $1.01 and ended at $45.09, with 58,600 stocks crossing the market. Scotia Group rose $1 to end at $34 after an exchange of 7,749 shares, Seprod popped $1.99 to end at $69 in an exchange of 1,343 units, Supreme Ventures lost 39 cents to close at $27.11 in an exchange of 36,633 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments dropped 68 cents and ended at $11.32, with 30,018 shares changing hands.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% climbed 75 cents in closing at $56, with 6,058 units clearing the market, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share increased by $2 to $1002 after trading 200 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share shed $8 to close at $92 while exchanging three stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Stocks to Watch

There is currently low interest in buying Main Market stocks, even when the companies perform well and deliver positive results. One exception is Transjamaican Highway which has gained 86 percent for the year to date with more gains on the cards.

Dolphin Cove gained 31% for 2023 to date but should go higher.

The action is in the Junior Market, but even there, the interest is glacier-like, with a few stocks moving higher as buying demand is now overwhelming sellers.
A look behind the stock order book shows that a few merit watching over the next few weeks.
The list includes Carreras, Dolphin Cove, Fontana, Lasco Distributers, Lasco Manufacturing, ISP Finance, Mayberry Investments as well as Transjamaican Highway.
Carreras is enjoying consolidation of demand around the $8 level following a jump in earnings in the June quarter from rising sales. However, that is unlikely to change it from primarily one for high dividend yield rather than capital appreciation.
Dolphin Cove’s stock is up 31 percent for the year to date, but profit for the six months to June is up 48 percent over the year to June 2022. Investors may want to note the latest report on the court judgement on the sale of Mystic Mountain. There were indications that Dolphin Cove was an interested buyer and they may well be amongst the preferred bidders. If they succeed, expect the stock with limited offers posted on the JSE platform to jump.
Lasco Distributors‘ trend line shows an upward slopping momentum for the stock supported by earnings that increased 38 percent in the first quarter to June, following a 33 percent rise in full year profits to March this year. Buying interest is solid in the $4 and over region that is overwhelming supply on offer between $4.49 and $5 after that; there are currently less than 70,000 units on offer.

Lasco

Lasco Manufacturing‘s profit for the 2023 fiscal year jumped 37 percent after tax, followed by 27 percent for the June quarter. Still, the market was slow in responding positively to both sets of results, even as the price was less than ten times 2023 earnings of 50 cents per share. The stock in the past week jumped into the $5 region for the for time in months and closed the week at $5.35, with solid buying at that level and just below but with very limited selling with few stocks on offer from just nine offers for 180,000 shares.
Investors may not be ready to pounce on Fontana just yet. Still, there is limited selling in the stock ahead of the release of full year results that could come in around 80 cents per share, but with increased earnings in the current fiscal year, that will benefit from the opening of the Portmore store in a few months.
ISP Finance is an odd candidate, but there has been above average interest in this stock in recent months, with few offers in the stock currently. There are two critical factors to consider. One is that the majority shareholder must be close to retirement as such new owners cannot be far off. The recent addition of two new directors who operate in the financial market and have collaborated closely with them has increased speculation that a takeover of the majority shares will be forthcoming sooner than later. The other factor is the sharp jump in the loan portfolio to almost $1 billion after the credit loss provision. The near $200 million increase in loans over December last year and March this year is expected to swell revenues and profits in the future. The shares have to be high on the list for a split at the current price.

Fontana Waterloo Square Branch just after it was opened in October 2019.

Mayberry Investments may not have a lot of buying currently, but selling seems to be at a low level that could ignite a jump in price at any time that buying interest jumps.
Transjamaican Highway stock has almost doubled this year, encouraged by profit ballooning 338 percent for the June quarter to US$6 million and 442 percent to US$11 million for the six months to June. Supply has diminished on the sell side and could be overwhelmed by buyers. Investors have not bought into the sharp change in fortune for this stock and where it could head to. In addition, they should declare a considerable dividend payment in a few months.

Trading picks up on JSE Main Market

Trading activity climbed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with an 86 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded as the value rose moderately compared to trading on Thursday, which resulted in 55 securities trading similar to Thursday and ended with 11 rising, 21 declining and 23 ending unchanged.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 129.65 points to end at 353,437.71, the JSE Main Index dropped 684.90 points to close at 320,070.80 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.16 points to end trading at 70.48.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator closed positively with 14 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and only two with lower offers, an indication that the market seems set to open higher on Monday.
A total of 10,256,198 shares were traded for $39,416,576 up from just 5,505,100 units at $37,890,404 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 186,476 shares at $716,665 compared with 100,093 shares at $688,916 on Thursday with a month to date average of 404,148 units at $1,824,055, compared to 423,304 stock units at $1,921,505 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.51 million shares for 34.2 percent of total volume, followed by Stanley Motta with 2.80 million units for 27.3 percent of trading and Transjamaican Highway with 1.45 million units for 14.1 percent of market share.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
At the close, Barita Investments fell 97 cents and ended at $74.01 with a transfer of 20,256 shares,  Caribbean Producers lost 30 cents in closing at $10 with investors transferring 71,971 units, Carreras advanced 33 cents to close at $8.48 in an exchange of 672,556 stock units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped $5.94 to $36 after exchanging 500 stocks, First Rock Real Estate rose 70 cents to  $8.80 as investors traded 22,920 stocks, GraceKennedy fell $1 to close at $76 while exchanging 9,262 units. Guardian Holdings shed $18.25 to $421.50 after 51 stock units were traded, Kingston Wharves dropped $2.89 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $26.01 with an exchange of 6,154 shares, Massy Holdings popped 75 cents to end at $101 with stakeholders exchanging 5,500 stock units. Mayberry Investments climbed 64 cents to $8.64 in switching ownership of 14,745 shares, NCB Financial rose 60 cents to close at $73 after an exchange of 28,933 stocks, Stanley Motta fell 48 cents to end at $4.52 in an exchange of 2,800,110 units and Supreme Ventures declined 50 cents to $27.50 with 34,040 units clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share increased 50 cents in closing at $18.50, following trading in 300 stocks, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share traded 9,271 units and slipped 5 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.45 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share dived $100 and ended at $1000, with 150 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Main Market trading plunges

Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market plunged on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded dropping 80 percent and the value 68 percent lower than on Wednesday, with trading in 55 securities compared with 52 on Wednesday, with 21 rising, 21 falling and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 5,505,100 shares were exchanged for $37,890,404 versus 27,243,669 units at $116,951,925 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 100,093 shares at $688,916 compared to 523,917 units at $2,249,075 on Wednesday, while trading month to date averages 423,304 shares at $1,921,505 versus 454,491 units at $2,040,439 on the previous day. Trading in July ended with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.63 million shares for 47.9 percent of the volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 549,264 units for 10 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 511,801 units for 9.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 757.11 points to close at 353,308.06, the JSE Main Index fell 457.71 points to 320,755.70 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.20 points to undefined 70.32.
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 calculated 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 ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments popped 98 cents in closing at $74.98 with 86,364 shares being traded, Berger Paints fell 50 cents to close at $7.05 with shareholders swapping 200 stock units, Caribbean Cement increased 50 cents to $52 after trading 8,861 units. First Rock Real Estate lost 70 cents to end at $8.10, with 2,010 stocks crossing the market, Guardian Holdings climbed $1.75 and ended at $439.75, with 102 stocks passed through the market, Jamaica Producers declined 90 cents to $19.20 with a transfer of 5,492 shares. JMMB Group gained 76 cents and ended at $27.91, changing hands 27,686 units, Key Insurance dipped 40 cents to end at $2.56 after exchanging 330 stock units, Kingston Properties shed 44 cents in closing at $6.95 as investors traded 14,986 stocks. Kingston Wharves rallied 40 cents to close at $28.90, with 3,673 stock units crossing the market, Massy Holdings dropped 75 cents and ended at $100.25, with 4,035 units clearing the market, Mayberry Investments declined 65 cents to close at $8 after a transfer of 19,470 shares. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced $12.33 in closing at $81.99 with investors trading 1,000 stocks, NCB Financial rose 65 cents to end at $72.40 after 104,630 stocks crossed the exchange, 138 Student Living increased 40 cents to $4.65 in trading 50,330 units, Proven Investments gained 50 cents in closing at $23 in an exchange of 2,211 shares, Pulse Investments advanced 55 cents and ended at $2.66 after traders swapped 132,000 stock units, Scotia Group lost $1 to end at $33 in switching ownership of 53,613 stocks. Seprod shed $1.99 to close at $67.01 with an exchange of 10,929 units and Supreme Ventures dropped $1 to $28 with investors transferring 33,173 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% fell $9.75 to $55.25 while exchanging five stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.