Junior Market backs off 3,795 points peak

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange traded over 3,875 points in the early morning session on Friday, with Lasco Manufacturing hitting $6.14 when trading was halted but later pulled back after a big trade passed through the market on a day when the volume of stocks traded, declined 71 percent, with a 45 percent lower value than on Thursday, resulting in 45 securities changing hands compared with 43 on Thursday and ending with prices of 19 rising, 20 declining and six closing unchanged.
The market closed on Friday after 9,473,714 shares were exchange for $35,695,598 versus 32,133,533 units at $65,285,279 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 210,527 shares at $793,236, compared to 747,291 units at $1,518,262 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 221,939 units at $538,572 compared with 222,732 stocks at $520,887 on the previous day and better than January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Lasco Manufacturing led trading with 4.48 million shares for 47.2 percent of the total volume that traded, followed by Stationery and Office Supplies with 990,778 units for 10.5 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 579,426 units for 6.1 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rallied 13.60 points to finish at 3,795.20 after hitting over 3,875 points in early trading, before the fall in the intraday price of Lasco Manufacturing from $6.14.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging fell 15 cents to close at $3.55 with an exchange of 11,657 stock units, CAC 2000 rallied 17 cents to $4, after 4 shares passed through the market, Cargo Handlers increased 51 cents to end at $14.51 in switching ownership of 1,744 stocks. Caribbean Cream dropped 9 cents in closing at $3.80 after an exchange of 107 units, Caribbean Flavours sank 8 cents and ended at $1.60 in trading 15,173 shares, Consolidated Bakeries popped 19 cents to $2.20, with 8,155 units changing hands. Derrimon Trading dipped 12 cents to close at $1.87 in an exchange of 11,021 stocks, Everything Fresh advanced by 9 cents to end at $1.68, with investors trading 103,479 stock units, Express Catering rose 18 cents to $3.98 while investors exchanged 72,863 shares. Future Energy lost 9 cents and ended at $3.51, with 579,426 units crossing the market, Honey Bun gained 20 cents to end at $6.85 with investors swapping 28,900 stocks, Jamaican Teas shed 13 cents and ended at $2.41 with a transfer of 1,525 stock units. Knutsford Express declined 60 cents in closing at $11.40 with investors dealing in 10,000 shares, Lasco Distributors climbed 35 cents to $4.35 in an exchange of 402,870 stock, Lasco Manufacturing skidded 36 cents to end at $5.09 after hitting a high of $6.14 during the morning session, with investors trading 4,476,083 units. Paramount Trading fell 25 cents to $1.30, after 10,851 stocks crossed the exchange, Regency Petroleum popped 10 cents to end at $2.20 with traders dealing in 164,976 shares, Spur Tree Spices shed 11 cents in closing at $2.29 as investors exchanged 357,294 units and tTech advanced 20 cents and ended at $2.22 with 10 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading jumps on Junior Market as prices soften

Trading jumped sharply on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with a 608 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, after a sharp jump of 565 percent in value compared with Wednesday and resulting in trading in 43 securities down from 46 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 13 rising, 18 declining and 12 unchanged.
Trading ended with an exchange of 32,133,533 shares for $65,285,279 up from 4,540,074 units at $9,824,488 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 747,291 shares for $1,518,262, compared with 98,697 units at $213,576 on Wednesday with a month to date, average of 222,732 units at $520,887 compared with 185,449 stocks at $449,999 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Derrimon Trading controlled trading with 22.64 million shares for 70.4 percent of the total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 2.25 million units for 7 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 1.85 million units for 5.8 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index sank 21.66 points to end the day at 3,781.60, to be down 1.7 percent for the year.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Access Financial skidded $1.08 to $21.60 with investors trading 1,003 stock shares, AMG Packaging gained 62 cents and ended at $3.70 after an exchange of 85,009 stocks, Blue Power rose 41 cents in closing at $3.32 with an exchange of 849 stocks. CAC 2000 lost 68 cents to close at $3.83 in an exchange of 4,411 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 25 cents to end at $2.36 with investors transferring 1,000 shares, Express Catering dipped 19 cents in closing at $3.80, with 154,568 stock units crossing the market. Future Energy fell 10 cents to $3.60 with investors swapping 184,342 stocks, KLE Group shed 58 cents to close at $1.90 after an exchange of 20,285 units, Knutsford Express sank 30 cents and ended at $12 with a transfer of 6,466 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing increased 36 cents to end at $5.45, with 753,346 units crossing the market as the supply of the stocks has sharply declined with only five offers to sell less than 80,000 shares on the board at the close. Limners and Bards popped 12 cents in closing at $1.62 with traders dealing in 3,128 shares, Regency Petroleum dripped 10 cents to $2.10, with 980,532 stock units changing hands, Stationery and Office Supplies declined 8 cents to close at $1.75 in trading 300,607 shares and tTech shed 46 cents and ended at $2.02 after a transfer of 9,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading drops on Junior Market

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday, with a 48 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 60 percent lower value than Tuesday with trading in 46 securities as was the case on Tuesday and ended with prices of 18 rising, 19 declining and nine closing unchanged, with KLE Group ending at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $2.48.
The Junior Market trading ended on Wednesday with 4,540,074 shares at $9,824,488 versus 8,723,426 units at $24,310,202 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 98,697 shares at $213,576 compared with 189,640 units at $528,483 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 185,449 units at $449,999 compared with 192,588 stock units at $469,455 on the previous day and more than January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Dolla Financial led trading with 1.06 million shares for 23.3 percent of the total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 837,365 units for 18.4 percent of the day’s trade and EduFocal with 373,478 units for 8.2 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rose 8.29 points to conclude trading at 3,803.26.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging advanced 34 cents to $3.08 with an exchange of just one share, Cargo Handlers rose 90 cents and ended at $14, with 842 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 27 cents to close at $2.11 with investors dealing in 4,001 shares. Caribbean Cream rallied 12 cents in closing at $3.89 in an exchange of 6 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries shed 19 cents to end at $2.01 with traders dealing in 101 shares, Dolla Financial sank 14 cents to $2.70 as investors exchanged 1,059,407 units. Dolphin Cove increased 30 cents to end at $18.80 after a transfer of 119 stocks, EduFocal climbed 10 cents in closing at $1.45 with 373,478 stock units clearing the market, Express Catering popped 9 cents to close at $3.99 while exchanging 124 shares. Fontana dipped 15 cents and ended at $9.79, with 17,099 units passing through the market, Future Energy gained 8 cents to $3.70 in trading 51,568 stocks, Honey Bun rose 25 cents and ended at $6.70, with 2,250 stock units crossing the market. Indies Pharma climbed 18 cents in closing at $2.75 with investors trading 42,965 shares, Iron Rock Insurance fell 42 cents to close at $2.10 in an exchange of 375 units, ISP Finance increased by 50 cents to end at $31.50, with 22,796 stock units changing hands. Lasco Distributors popped 13 cents to $4 after an exchange of 23,090 shares, Limners and Bards dropped 12 cents to close at $1.50 with investors swapping 38,046 shares, Mailpac Group gained 13 cents and ended at $2.30 in switching ownership of 74,668 stock units. Main Event skidded 65 cents in closing at $13.55 after an exchange of 1,401 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 18 cents to end at $1.83 following the trading of 143,479 units and Tropical Battery declined 10 cents to $2.40 after an exchange of 260,861 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Rising stocks dominate Junior Market

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Stocks mostly rose at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with prices of 23 rising, 11 declining and 12 closing unchanged with nearly all stocks on the market traded result in 46 securities changing hands compared with 47 on Monday, following a 55 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a 65 percent greater value than on Monday and ending with.
The market ended trading on Tuesday with 8,723,426 shares for $24,310,202 up from 5,643,750 stock units at $14,776,971 on Monday.
Trading averaged 189,640 shares at $528,483 compared to 120,080 units at $314,404 on Monday with the month to date, ending with an average of 192,588 units at $469,455 compared with 192,852 stock units at $464,162 on the previous day and January ending with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Future Energy led trading with 2.09 million shares for 24 percent of the total volume followed by Fosrich with 1.13 million units for 13 percent of trading, ONE on ONE Educational ended with 1.02 million units for 11.7 percent market share and Lasco Distributors with 1.02 million units for 11.6 percent of the total volume.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 2.07 points to end the day at 3,794.97.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose 8 cents to close at $22.68 as investors traded just one stock, AMG Packaging lost 35 cents to end at $2.74 after a transfer of 5,955 units, Cargo Handlers declined 90 cents to close at $13.10 after investors traded 1,063 shares. Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 25 cents to $2.38 after 21,855 stock units passed through the market, Caribbean Cream popped 42 cents to $3.77 with an exchange of 4 shares, Express Catering increased 10 cents to $3.90, with 52,915 units changing hands. Jamaican Teas popped 10 cents in closing at $2.50 with a transfer of 161,220 stocks, KLE Group rose 8 cents to $2.47 with investors swapping 178,198 stock units, Lasco Financial sank 11 cents to close at $1.88 in an exchange of 62,675 shares. Lasco Manufacturing rallied 14 cents and ended at $5.09 with investors trading 661,103 stocks, Limners and Bards popped 12 cents to $1.62 after exchanging 12 units, Mailpac Group dipped 16 cents and ended at $2.17 with investors dealing in 141,373 stock units. Main Event climbed 10 cents to close at $14.20 while exchanging 1,595 shares, Medical Disposables rose 8 cents to end at $2.68 after trading 1,262 units and Paramount Trading gained 8 cents in closing at $1.48 in an exchange of 8,330 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Falling stocks dominates Junior Market

Trading closed on Monday, with all stocks being active, except for suspended iCreate at the close of the Junior Market on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the volume of stocks traded rising 32 percent following a 30 percent rise in the value compared to Friday with trading in 47 securities up from 42 on Friday and ending with prices of 13 rising, 24 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
Trading closed on Monday after 5,643,750 shares were exchanged for $14,776,971 up from 4,262,868 units at $11,405,667 on Friday.
Trading averaged 120,080 shares at $314,404, compared with 101,497 units at $271,563 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 192,852 units at $464,162 compared with  200,192 stock units at $479,266 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Stationery and Office Supplies was the traded stock with 1.46 million shares followed by Regency Petroleum with 685,156 units and Image Plus with 493,784 units for 8.7 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 19.99 points to end at 3,792.90.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging climbed 9 cents to end at $3.09 in switching ownership of 15,563 shares, Blue Power declined 50 cents in closing at $2.85 after an exchange of 434 units, CAC 2000 rose 30 cents to $4.51, after hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $3.02 with investors dealing in just 4 shares. Cargo Handlers shed 59 cents and ended at $14 after 713 stocks passed through the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 27 cents in closing at $2.13 with investors swapping 64,750 shares, Caribbean Cream skidded 55 cents to $3.35 in an exchange of 100,615 stocks. Consolidated Bakeries advanced 22 cents to close at $2.20 after trading 61 units, Dolphin Cove fell 47 cents to $18.50 while exchanging 862 stock units, Express Catering sank 19 cents to $3.80 with a transfer of 148,713 shares. Fontana dipped 25 cents and ended at $10 as investors exchanged 297,440 stock units, Honey Bun dropped 24 cents to $6.45, with 2,369 stocks crossing the market, ISP Finance popped $5.98 to end at $31 after exchanging 1,978 units. Lasco Distributors fell 13 cents in closing at $3.87 after 18,025 stocks crossed the market, Lasco Financial increased 14 cents to close at $1.99 in an exchange of 1,296 units, Limners and Bards sank 12 cents and ended at $1.50 with investors transferring 5,295 shares. Lumber Depot rallied 15 cents to $2.45 and closed after investors traded 1,165 stock units, Main Event dipped 66 cents to end at $14.10 with investors trading 4,053 shares, Medical Disposables lost 10 cents in closing at $2.60 with an exchange of 10 units. Paramount Trading gained 13 cents to close at $1.40 with 5,607 stocks clearing the market and Stationery and Office Supplies skidded 19 cents and ended at $1.61 with traders dealing in 1,463,420 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Junior Market rallied on Friday

Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with a 29 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded at a 15 percent lower value than Thursday, following trading in 42 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 21 rising, 14 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investors traded 4,262,868 shares for $11,405,667 compared with 6,026,066 units at $13,427,737 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 101,497 shares at $271,563, compared to 146,977 units at $327,506 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 200,192 units at $479,266 down from 209,968 stocks at $499,840 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 904,399 shares followed by Image Plus with 904,064 units and Mailpac Group with 458,730 stocks for 10.8 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index gained 4.31 points to culminate at 3,812.89.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined by 8 cents to end trading at $22.60 after a transfer of 4,253 stocks, AMG Packaging popped 28 cents to close at $3 with investors trading 26,000 units, Consolidated Bakeries fell 23 cents and ended at $1.98, with 120,000 shares passing through the exchange. Fontana skidded 23 cents in closing at $10.25 with a transfer of 166,963 stock units, Honey Bun advanced 39 cents to close at $6.69 after investors ended up trading 16,191 shares, KLE Group rose 14 cents to $2.39 after exchanging 92 stocks. Knutsford Express gained 8 cents in closing at $12.38, with two units crossing the market, Lasco Distributors rallied 13 cents and ended at $4 in trading 22,865 stock units, Limners and Bards increased 15 cents to end at $1.62 after 853 shares passed through the market. Lumber Depot popped 10 cents to close at $2.30 while exchanging 196,403 units, Paramount Trading sank 21 cents to $1.27 with traders dealing in 2,814 stocks and tTech rose 49 cents to close at $2.49 in an exchange of just one stock unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Junior Market slips on Thursday

Declining stocks edged out rising ones at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, following an increase in trading activity resulting from a 74 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, valued 51 percent more than for trading on Tuesday following activity in 41 securities compared with 45 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 16 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed trading of 6,026,066 shares for $13,427,737 compared with 3,460,585 stock units at $8,913,356 on Tuesday, following release of several results of companies for the December quarter prior to the start of trading.
Trading averaged 146,977 shares at $327,506, compared with 76,902 units at $198,075 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 209,968 units at $499,840 compared with 216,711 stock units at $518,289 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Mailpac Group led trading with 2.05 million shares for 34.1 percent of total volume followed by Image Plus with 783,408 units for 13 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 731,290 units for 12.1 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 5.26 points to end trading at 3,808.58.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and five with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped $1.27 to close at $22.68 with investors trading 774 shares, CAC 2000 climbed 38 cents to $4.21 in an exchange of 469 units, Caribbean Flavours increased 10 cents and ended at $1.70 with investors swapping 3,038 stocks. Derrimon Trading rose 15 cents in closing at $2.06 in an exchange of 16,927 stock units, Dolphin Cove rallied 97 cents to end at $18.97 after an exchange of 7,290 shares, Elite Diagnostic advanced 8 cents in closing at $1.77 after investors traded 144,846 units. Fontana dropped 12 cents to $10.48 with an exchange of 42,236 stocks, Honey Bun sank 39 cents to end at $6.30, with 24,354 stock units crossing the market, Jamaican Teas shed 18 cents to close at $2.40 with traders dealing in 124,722 shares. Knutsford Express declined 8 cents and ended at $12.30 after a transfer of 1,785 stocks, Lasco Distributors gained 11 cents to $3.87 in switching ownership of 27,706 units, Lasco Financial fell 13 cents to close at $1.91 while exchanging 5,933 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 10 cents to end at $4.90 with 11,723 shares clearing the market, Limners and Bards lost 18 cents in closing at $1.47 after an exchange of 9,866 stock units, Lumber Depot skidded 12 cents to $2.20, with 185,704 units changing hands. Mailpac Group popped 19 cents to $2.38, with an exchange of 2,052,755 stocks and Medical Disposables increased 18 cents and ended at $2.70 with investors transferring 11,894 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading plunges on Junior Market

Trading dropped sharply on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with a decline of 71 percent in the volume of stocks traded, following a 65 percent fall in value compared with Monday’s trading, resulting in 45 securities changing hands compared with 42 on Monday and ending with prices of 10 stocks rising, 26 declining and nine closing unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 3,460,585 shares for $8,913,356 down from 11,955,696 units at $25,250,753 on Monday.
Trading averaged 76,902 shares for $198,075 compared to 284,659 units at $601,208 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 216,711 stock units at $518,289 compared to 235,325 stock units at $560,921 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Tropical Battery led trading with 847,958 shares for 24.5 percent of total volume followed by One Great Studio with 346,363 units for 10 percent of the day’s trade and Indies Pharma with 292,036 units for 8.4 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index sank 19.52 points to wrap-up trading at 3,813.84.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $1.24 to close at $21.41 with investors dealing in a mere 76 stock units, AMG Packaging shed 24 cents to close at $2.71 in an exchange of 1,265 shares, CAC 2000 declined 68 cents to end at $3.83 with traders dealing in 526 units. Caribbean Flavours lost 10 cents in closing at $1.60, with 2,000 stocks crossing the market, Consolidated Bakeries increased 11 cents and ended at $2.21 with investors trading 2,000 shares, Dolphin Cove skidded 32 cents to $18 and closed with an exchange of 7,149 units. Elite Diagnostic sank 12 cents in closing at $1.69 after a transfer of 19,333 stocks, Everything Fresh dipped 18 cents and ended at $1.52 in trading 13,655 stock units, Fontana climbed 28 cents to close at $10.60 after 52,304 shares passed through the market. Honey Bun rose 19 cents to end at $6.69 with investors transferring 768 stocks, Indies Pharma fell 8 cents in closing at $2.60 in an exchange of 292,036 units, ISP Finance dropped $6.33 to $25.02 with 16 stock units clearing the market. Jamaican Teas rallied 9 cents and ended at $2.58 with a transfer of 111,114 shares, Lasco Distributors fell 22 cents to close at $3.76 after an exchange of 86,350 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing popped 14 cents to end at $5 after trading 166,322 stocks. Limners and Bards gained 10 cents in closing at $1.65 with an exchange of 6,102 units, Lumber Depot fell 18 cents to $2.32, with 110,547 shares crossing the market, Mailpac Group advanced 9 cents to end at $2.19 with investors exchanging 86,500 stock units, ahead of the company announcing the acquisition of MyCart Express, a Jamaican based courier service company. Main Event dipped 13 cents to close at $14.79 in switching ownership of 248 stocks, Medical Disposables sank 20 cents and ended at $2.52, with 262 stock units crossing the exchange, Spur Tree Spices shed 8 cents to $2.32 with investors swapping 200,107 shares and Tropical Battery declined 15 cents in closing at $2.55 after exchanging 847,958 units after the company reported a solid 45 percent growth in their first quarter profit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Junior Market slips on Monday

Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with a 25 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 30 percent lower value than Friday and ended with trading in 42 securities compared with 40 on Friday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 15 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
The market ended trading on Monday as 11,955,696 shares changed hands at $25,250,753 down from 15,974,371 units at $35,900,988 on Friday.
Trading averaged 284,659 shares at $601,208 compared to 399,359 units at $897,525 on Friday with trading month to date, averaging 235,325 units at $560,921 up from 228,325 stock units at $555,204 that was previously traded and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 5.46 million shares, Mailpac Group with 1.44 million units and One Great Studio with 1.10 million stock units for 9.2 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dropped 14.17 points to lock up trading at 3,833.36.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for their financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Cargo Handlers rose 9 cents in closing at $14.59 after 3,000 units passed through the market, Consolidated Bakeries sank 11 cents to $2.10 with investors dealing in 304 stocks, Dolla Financial fell 10 cents to end at $2.90 t with 175,289 shares clearing the market. Dolphin Cove fell 66 cents and ended at $18.32 after an exchange of 3,094 stock units, Elite Diagnostic rallied 17 cents to close at $1.81 with 541,872 shares crossing the market, Fontana shed 18 cents to $10.32 with investors transferring 123,834 stocks. Indies Pharma lost 11 cents in closing at $2.68 in switching ownership of 42,921 units, Knutsford Express gained $1 and ended at $12.38 after an exchange of 960 stock units, Lasco Distributors popped 8 cents to end at $3.98 in an exchange of 27,000 shares. Limners and Bards skidded 14 cents to close at $1.55, with investors trading 29,784 stocks, Main Event dropped 8 cents to $14.92 with a transfer of 5,780 units, MFS Capital Partners dipped 9 cents and ended at $2.20 with 18,441 stock units changing hands. Spur Tree Spices advanced 15 cents to close at $2.40 with investors trading 101,446 shares and Tropical Battery climbed 30 cents to end at $2.70 after a transfer of 378,410 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

ICTOP 15 Main & Junior Market stocks for 2024

Stocks are set for a major ride higher in 2024 following two years of subpar performance of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The market did not perform well in 2023, the Main Market fell 8.5 percent and the Junior Market the US dollar market declined by 3.5 percent and 1.2 percent respectively, but technical reading of the Main Market is pointing to a solid rally ahead, with some stocks breaking out of a prolonged period of consolidation.
Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) raised interest rates in 2021 with the overnight rate landing at 7 percent in November 2022 and has remained there since, with BOJ keeping a tight lid on market rates by the use of Certificate of Deposits with rates mostly around 10 percent on average, to tame inflation that peaked close to 12 percent in early 2023.
The stock market has not performed well in that environment. Contrasting that with the US where the Federal Reserve raised rates over two years, with the last increase in July last year. Notwithstanding, the US stock market indices were racing forward and are now at record levels while the JSE Main Market is still below the Covid-19-affected levels but the Junior Market trades at much higher levels than the lows of 2020.
Many investors consider that higher interest rates reduce stock prices, but they are only partially correct. Interest rates affect the valuation of stocks not necessarily the price of stocks. Put another way, higher rates reduce the PE ratios used to value stocks but if profits are rising faster than the increase in rates, stock values will tend to rise as the company is more valuable despite the rate increase. With rising rates the PE ratio mostly used in stock valuation will fall with rising rates and rise when rates are declining.

The Junior Market is presently in a triangular formation that will lead to a big breakout soon.

If profits don’t rise above the level of PE decline then the market will most likely adjust the stock price down. So while interest rates remained stable in 2023 at levels higher than 2021, a total of 31 companies posted gains in the market last year. That is the reason why Scotia Group posted gains from late 2023 into 2024, with some others doing likewise. Other factors to consider are that higher rates may result in higher interest costs for some companies or reduced revenues that could reduce profit but companies with investment funds may enjoy higher profits as they may enjoy increased interest income.
The lack of performance for the Jamaica Stock Exchange last year was not interest rates, but mostly lacklustre profit performance by several companies. What the issue illustrates is the import of careful stock selection with a focus on companies with a good track record of growing profits consistently over several years.
Technical indicators are pointing to a bottoming out of the Main Market that has broken out from a market squeeze, with technical indicators indicating a huge run ahead for the market, see market index chart. At the same time, the Junior Market closed 2023, with a negative undertone that could remain in place for a while until events push it in a new direction. Company profits seem the most likely factor in the medium term.
Part of the decline in the Junior Market in 2023 is due to an overall level of over-exuberance by investors in 2022, pushing the prices of a limited number of Junior Market stocks to unrealistic levels, with sharp correction for some of these in 2023 and helping to drag the market. The situation in the Main Market was somewhat different with a lack of interest from institutional investors until the final quarter of the year which is reflected in a continuous slide in the Main Market Index throughout the year until the end of September, indeed from a two-year high of 461,783 points on the All Jamaica Composite Index in May 2022 until it bottomed at the end of September 2023 at 344,153 points and put on almost 23,000 points to the end of the year. While the Main Market declined for two consecutive years, the Junior Market was experiencing its first yearly decline since 2020.
Inflation moderated during the year within the central bank’s target of 4 to 6 percent on a number of occasions. By the end of November, the year over year inflation rate was just above the bank’s upper limit of 6 percent, with the rate hitting 6.9 percent in December. Certain price adjustments particularly in public transportation impacted inflation negatively towards the latter part of the year, some of these may carry over into 2024. The bank also fears possible wage increases that could be unusually high and place upward pressure on inflation.
For the first three months of 2024, it should be instructive to see where inflation is likely to be and what could become of interest rates during the year. What is clear is that falling market rates in the USA are likely to set the tone ultimately in Jamaica and that should be aided by expectations that the FED will start reducing rates during the second quarter of 2024.
A look at the stock market at this juncture suggests that profits should continue to be positive as can be seen from a compilation of company results for the third quarter of 2023. Data shows that profits for the nine months are up 4 percent and for the quarter up a B 46 percent over similar periods in 2022. A major part of the drag on profits was approximately $11 billion provisions made by NCB Financial for staff redundancies and one-time bonus compensation.
Barring increased interest rates, the Jamaican economy should grow just around two percent in 20224 and that ought to be sufficient to help generate increased demand for goods and services and assist many listed companies to increase profits from existing operations. Expanding companies will see above average performances.
The Junior Market and the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange are flashing bullish signals that suggest an uptick in the market. This is reflected in projected PE ratios for 2024 for both markets with the projected ratios well below the current levels of valuation for 2023.
The average PE for the JSE Main and Junior Market for 2024 based on that year’s earnings is 10.5 and 9 respectively, compared to the current levels of 14 based on 2023 earnings, at the same time the ICTOP 15 based on 2024 earnings stand at around 5, well below the market average of 14, barring increases in interest rates and disappointing profits, PE ratios should return to the average around 14, resulting in a 180 percent jump in values for the IC TOP15 stocks during 2024 at the minimum, and more if the country’s central bank lowers rates during 2024, with a 50 percent rise in the overall market.
Data for the market in 2023 showed that companies with outstanding profit growth found favour with investors who bid the prices of those stocks higher in most cases. Stocks of companies with profit declining or with moderate profit increases were mostly marked down by the investing public. Examples, are to be found in TransJamaican Highway, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturers, Dolphin Cove, General Accident, Fontana, Main Event, Knutsford Express and Scotia Group with Wisynco Group to name a few that enjoyed price gains. A number of the performances of these stocks benefited from recovery in the tourism sector directly or indirectly.
For 2024, companies that are expanding may be worth investing in as they are likely to enjoy above-average growth in revenues and profits going forward. Companies in this category include Wisynco, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Cream, Grace Kennedy, Jamaican Teas, Caribbean Producers, Jetcon, Fontana, Express Catering, Stationery and Office Supplies, Edufocal, Transjamaican Highway, Stanley Motta, and Tropical Battery.

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