Junior Market stocks bounced at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday after 26 stocks rose, six declined and six remained unchanged, leading to a rebound in the market of 13.62 points to settle at 3,320.12, following Mondays’ decline and after an exchange of 26 percent more shares than on Monday but with 18.43 percent lower value.
Trading ended with 38 active securities from 40 on Monday resulting in an exchange of 9,672,190 shares for $32,065,947 down from 13,103,080 units at $39,313,013 on Monday.
Future Energy Source led trading with 18.7 percent of total volume for 1.8 million shares, followed by Mailpac Group 16.7 percent, with 1.61 million units and Jamaican Teas with 15.8 percent market share with an exchange of 1.53 million units. Lasco Manufacturing was the only other stock to exceed a million shares, with 1.16 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 254,531 units at $843,841 in contrast to 327,577 at $982,825 on Monday. The month to date averaged 339,442 units at $862,461, compared to 347,217 units at $864,166 on Monday. April closed with an average of 329,241 units at $854,716 trading.
The PE Ratio based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings averaged 12.6.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than its last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose 50 cents to $21.50 with an exchange of 200 shares, Blue Power gained 15 cents to end at $3.90 with 1,203 units traded, Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 7 cents to $2 with a transfer of 5,019 stocks. Caribbean Cream rose 39 cents to $6.05 with 9,136 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Flavours rose 8 cents to $2.18 with 10,000 shares passing through the market, Caribbean Producers gained 10 cents to close at $3.60 with 58,723 units traded. Consolidated Bakeries climbed 21 cents to $1.55 with an exchange of 2,000 stocks, Derrimon Trading advanced 15 cents to $2.65 with a transfer of 483,093 stocks, Dolphin Cove jumped 60 cents to $7.98 with 46 shares changing hands. Elite Diagnostic gained 31 cents to close at $3.60, with investors switching ownership of 19,877 units, Everything Fresh increased by 15 cents to end at $1.15 with 2,900 stock units passing through the market, Express Catering declined by 20 cents to finish at $5.70 with 62,100 stocks traded. Fontana rose 10 cents to $6.10 with a transfer of 501,799 shares, Honey Bun climbed 49 cents to $6.79 with 43,943 units exchanged, Indies Pharma lost 10 cents to settle at $3.60 with 53,783 stocks changing hands.
Jamaican Teas slipped 6 cents to $3.89 with 1,527,305 shares passing through the market, Jetcon Corporation rose 5 cents to 91 cents with 187,309 units traded, Knutsford Express jumped 80 cents to $8 with a transfer of 274 stocks. Lasco Distributors gained 5 cents to close at $4.20 with an exchange of 18,634 stock units, Limners and Bards climbed 42 cents to settle at 52 weeks’ high of $3.45 with investors switching ownership of 345,420 shares, Lumber Depot advanced 42 cents to a record high of $3.45 with 334,579 units passing through the market. Mailpac Group increased by 21 cents to finish at $3.87 with 1,613,713 stocks traded, Medical Disposables gained 30 cents to settle at $4.70 with a transfer of 2,755 stock units, SSL Venture slipped 9 cents to 56 cents with 23,076 units changing hands. Stationery and Office Supplies jumped 87 cents to $8.50 with investors switching ownership of 267,890 stocks and tTech dropped 90 cents to close at $5 with 44,301 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Guardian knocks JSE Main Index
Market activity ended on Tuesday with the market indices all declining, but the JSE Main Index sustaining the greater loss of 6,266.26 points to close at 424,325.49, with Guardian Holdings dropping $110, with NCB Global announcing on Monday the offer of 2 million shares to the public at $795 each. Trading ended after an exchange of 31 percent fewer shares valued 30 percent less than on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
Guardian Holdings hits the lowest price on the JSE on Tuesday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 371.38 points to 454,398.73, the JSE Main Index dropped 6,266.26 points to 424,325.49 after Guardian Holdings trading at the lowest price since listing and the JSE Financial Index shed 2.89 points to settle at 105.38.
Trading ended with 52 securities slightly down on the 51 on Monday, with 20 rising, 24 declining and eight remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 16.2 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
The market closed with 11,779,992 shares trading for $110,710,765 versus 17,166,156 units at $158,866,078 on Monday. Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund led trading with 25.4 percent of total volume after an exchange of 3 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund 14.3 percent, with 1.68 million units, Pulse Investments contributed 12.7 percent, with 1.5 million units, Transjamaican Highway accounts for 10.3 percent after trading 1.21 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 9.1 percent after 1.07 million units changed hands.
Trading averaged 226,538 units at $2,129,053, compared to 336,591 shares at $3,115,021 on Monday. Trading month to date averages 317,134 units at $3,367,698, in contrast to 325,653 units at $3,484,171 on Monday. April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints gained 50 cents ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $15.50 in trading 18,992 stock units, Caribbean Cement advanced $2.22 to $87.22 with 122,894 units changing hands, Grace Kennedy slipped 50 cents to close at $88 with the swapping of 58,997 shares, Guardian Holdings dropped $109.96 to end at $789.99 trading 11,872 stocks after NCB Global posted its prospectus on the JSE to sell 2 million shares to the public at a price that was much lower than the Mondays’ close. Jamaica Broilers advanced $2 in closing at $36, with 251,099 units crossing the exchange. Jamaica Producers fell 48 cents to $24.50 in transferring 123,613 stock units, JMMB Group shed $1.10 to end at $32 with an exchange of 357,375 shares. Key Insurance lost 27 cents to settle at $5.33 in clearing the market of 366,006 stocks, Kingston Wharves rose $2 to $47 in switching ownership of 1,856 shares, Margaritaville closed 50 cents lower at $15 after clearing the market with 1,500 stock units. NCB Financial Group gained 70 cents to end at $138.90 in an exchange of 113,242 shares, 138 Student Living finished 89 cents higher at $5.40 after crossing the market with 4,300 stock units, Palace Amusement declined $26 to end at $914 with 2 units crossing the exchange. PanJam Investment fell $4 in closing at $65 with an exchange of 40,380 stock units, Proven Investments gained 90 cents to end at $37.95 in trading 14,404 shares, Sagicor Group shed $1.45 to end at $52.50 with the swapping of 13,121 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 74 cents to $8.29 with the transfer of 1,548 shares. 
Salada Foods gained 44 cents to finish at $7.50 in exchanging 67,172 units, Scotia Group slipped 50 cents to close at $40.80 with an exchange of 456,287 stocks, Seprod declined $4.57 to $73 after 3,586 units changed hands. Sterling Investments lost 25 cents to settle at $3.25 in transferring 15,408 shares and Victoria Mutual Investments fell 28 cents to $6.71 with 72,106 stocks changing hands.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share advanced $1.66 to $7.90, with 5 stock units clearing the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $5 to $105 in trading 100 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading picks up on JSE USD Market
Trading volume climbed 113 percent on Tuesday over Monday’s level at the close of the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulting in five securities changing hands, compared to six on Monday with prices of two rising, none declining and three remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index gained 1.96 points to end at 212.81. The average PE Ratio ends at 13.2 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Overall, 1,338,589 shares changed hands, for US$44,466 compared to 628,310 units at US$42,801 on Monday.
Trading for the day averaged 267,718 units at US$8,893, in contrast to 104,718 shares at US$7,134 on Monday. Trading averaged 117,985 units for the month to date at US$14,108 in contrast to 105,910 units at US$14,529 on the prior trading day. April ended with an average of 80,293 units for US$6,320.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital ended at 9.5 US cents with 3,629 shares changing hands, Margaritaville finished at 9 US cents with 60,000 stocks clearing the market, Proven Investments advanced 0.45 of a cent in closing at 26.45 US cents and trading 77,422 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.43 of a cent to 15.08 US cents while trading 50,786 units and Transjamaican Highway closed at 0.85 of a US cent after 1,146,752 shares passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
More gains for TTSE stocks
Market activity pushed nearly half of stocks trading higher on Tuesday, with the market rising after 71.4 percent fewer shares changed hands than on Monday at the close of trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.
At the close 17 securities traded up from 16 on Monday, with eight rising, five declining and four remaining unchanged. The Composite Index rose 6.06 points to 1,357.54, the All T&T Index gained 12.37 points to finish at 1,839.45, and The Cross-Listed Index shed 0.10 points to close at 117.98.
At the close, 111,300 shares changed hands for $2,813,902, down from 389,324 units at $5,982,945 on Monday.
An average of 6,547 units traded at $165,524, down 24,333 at $373,934 on Monday. An average of 16,870 units traded at $305,862 for the month to date versus 17,974 units at $320,866. The average trade for April amounted to 11,472 units at $184,959.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Angostura Holdings ended at $15.51 with an exchange of 182 shares, Ansa Mcal declined 2 cents to $56.73 in trading 902 stocks, Clico Investment Fund rose 15 cents to $25.25, with 43,600 units clearing the market. First Citizens Bank rose 4 cents to $46.79 and finished trading 3,110 stock units. FirstCaribbean International Bank climbed 23 cents to $6.49 after 199 shares changed hands, Guardian Holdings gained $1.95 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $32.95, with 29,618 units trading, Guardian Media dropped 24 cents to $3.01, with 150 units crossing the exchange. 
Massy Holdings climbed $2.76 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $68.76 in exchanging 78 shares, National Flour Mills ended at $2.30 with an exchange of 126 shares, NCB Financial Group added 1 cent to close at $8.21 in trading 15,642 stock units. One Caribbean Media closed at $4.50 while exchanging 10,000 stock units, Republic Financial Holdings rose $1.78 to $134.56 after an exchange of 1,800 units, Scotiabank shed 10 cents to end at $54.90 with an exchange of 67 stock units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL advanced 50 cents to $15, with 2,460 units crossing the market, Trinidad Cement fell 5 cents to $3.25 with the swapping of 149 stocks, Unilever Caribbean closed at $16.30 in switching ownership of 120 shares and West Indian Tobacco lost 2 cents to end at $32.49 in exchanging 3,097 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market in resistance territory
Market activity pushed the All Jamaican Composite Index up 4,686 points in the early morning session to just over 456,400 points and close to resistance level on Monday and the market managed to hold on 3,056.45 points at the close to end at 454,770.11, on the Main Market of Jamaica Stock Exchange, at the same time, the Main Index rose 2,576.48 points to 430,591.75, and the JSE Financial Index gained 1.14 points to settle at 108.27.
At the close, 51 securities traded, up from 49 on Friday, with 20 rising, 23 declining and eight ending unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 16.2 based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
The volume and values of shares traded, fell 46 percent and 48 percent respectively compared to Friday levels, as 17,166,156 shares changed hands for $158,866,078 versus 31,695,926 units at $306,013,533 on Friday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 40.9 percent of total volume, with 7 million shares followed by JMMB Group 7.5% took 14.1 percent of the market, with 2.43 million units, Transjamaican Highway accounted for 10.5 percent with 1.80 million units and Pan Jam Investment with 7.4 percent after 1.14 million units changed hands.
Trading averaged 336,591 units at $3,115,021, compared to 646,856 shares at $6,245,174 on Friday. Trading month to date averages 325,653 units at $3,484,171, in contrast to 324,542 units at $3,521,674 on Friday. April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments advanced $3 to $86, trading 29,830 units, Caribbean Cement climbed $3.98 to $85 with 12,710 stocks changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $3.20 to end at $40.80, with 10,011 shares clearing the market. First Rock Capital shed 50 cents to end at $16 with an exchange of 15,785 stock units, Jamaica Broilers closed 50 cents lower at $34 with 99,562 units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves declined $3 to $45 in transferring 8,444 shares, NCB Financial Group lost 30 cents to end at $138.20 in exchanging 102,400 stocks, 138 Student Living shed 79 cents to close at $4.51 with 963 stock units crossing the exchange, Palace Amusement climbed $30 to $940 in switching ownership of 81 units, PanJam Investment rose $2.50 to close at $69 with 1,138,183 shares changing hands. Portland JSX skidded 90 cents to $9.50 trading 8,289 stock units, Proven Investments ended 90 cents lower at $37.05 in an exchange of 20,235 shares, Pulse Investments lost 30 cents in closing at $4.20 with the swapping of 787,692 shares. Sagicor Group advanced $3.40 to $53.95, with 158,237 units crossing the market, Sagicor Real Estate Fund shed 75 cents to end at $7.55 in an exchange of 10,397 stocks. Salada Foods slipped 60 cents to $7.06 with a transfer of 47,709 shares, Scotia Group gained 30 cents to end at $41.30 in exchanging 128,645 stocks. Seprod fell 37 cents to close at $77.57 in switching ownership of 18,230 units, Sterling Investments rose 50 cents in closing at $3.50 with 255,486 stock units changing hands. 
Supreme Ventures gained 31 cents to settle at $19.81 in switching ownership of 37,888 units, Sygnus Credit Investments closed 75 cents higher at $15.50 in the swapping of 624,203 stock units and Victoria Mutual Investments rose 69 cents to $6.99 after an exchange of 227,405 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference share advanced 81 cents in closing at $6.24 after exchanging 46 shares and Eppley 8.25% gained 85 cents to end at $7 in transferring 1,500 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
83% of traded stocks fell
Trading ended on Monday with stocks mostly falling on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Index declining after an exchange of 80 percent fewer shares than on Friday, with 93 percent less value after 83 percent of stocks trading declined.
Six securities traded, similar to Friday, with five stocks, declining and one remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index lost 2.22 points to end at 210.85 and the average PE Ratio ended at 13.1 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Overall, 628,310 shares traded, for US$42,801 down sharply from 3,100,463 units at US$616,848 on Friday.
Trading averaged 104,718 units at US$7,134, in contrast to 516,744 shares at US$102,808 on Friday. Month to date, trading averaged 105,910 units at US$14,529 in contrast to 106,038 units at US$15,321 on Friday. April ended with an average of 80,293 units for US$6,320.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital declined by 2.3 cents to 9.5 US cents in an exchange of 12,074 shares, 
Proven Investments lost 0.85 of a cent to close at 26 US cents after the trading of 113,096 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments fell 0.05 of a cent to settle at 14.65 US cents with 10,293 units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway slipped 0.05 of a cent to 0.85 US cents with 490,000 shares crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investment remained at US$2, after trading 147 stock units and JMMB Group 5.75% lost 3 cents to close at US$2.02 with 2,700 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Rising stocks push T&TSE higher
Higher stock prices beat out falling ones at the close of activity ended on Monday, with the market rising after trading 25.54 percent fewer shares than on Friday at the close of trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.
Trading took place in 16 stocks compared to 15 on Friday, with eight rising, three declining and five ending unchanged. The Composite Index gained 8.26 points to settle at 1,351.48, The All T&T Index increased 7.26 points to 1,827.08 and the Cross-Listed Index gained 1.31 points to close at 118.08.
At the close, 389,324 shares were traded for $5,982,945 down from 522,888 units at $8,105,696 on Friday.
An average of 24,333 units traded at $373,934 compared to 34,859 at $540,380 on Friday. For the month to date, an average of 17,974 units traded at $320,866 versus 17,263 units at $314,929. The average trade for April amounted to 11,472 units at $184,959.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s closed at $24.40, trading 4,525 shares, Angostura Holdings gained 1 cent to end at $15.51 in exchanging 1,064 shares, Clico Investment Fund lost 5 cents in closing at $25.10 after exchanging 2,572 units. First Citizens Bank shed 4 cents to close at $46.75, with 21,725 shares crossing the exchange. FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $6.26 in an exchange of 2,037 stock units, Grace Kennedy rose 10 cents to end at 52 weeks’ high of $5.10, with 88,322 shares changing hands, Guardian Holdings gained $1 to end at 52 weeks’ high of $31 in exchanging 13,605 units.
Massy Holdings advanced 94 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $66 in trading 10,105 stock units, National Enterprises settled at $3 in switching ownership of 2,372 units, National Flour Mills rose 35 cents to close at $2.30 in an exchange of 60,620 shares. NCB Financial Group stayed at $8.20, with 115,974 shares changing hands, Prestige Holdings climbed 2 cents to $6.53, with 50 units crossing the exchange, Republic Financial Holdings climbed 26 cents to $132.78 in trading 6,333 stocks. Scotiabank gained 25 cents to end at $55 in an exchange of 8,975 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL lost 30 cents to close at $14.50 with an exchange of 50,545 shares and Unilever Caribbean settled at $16.30 while exchanging 500 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market plunges 61 points
Trading closed on Monday, with the market declining after an exchange of 31 percent more shares valued 48 percent less than on Friday’s and leading to a fall in the Junior Market index after it surged 61.40 points to 3,382.95 points within 17 minutes of the opening, but the market failed to hold off selling pressure, leaving the Market index down 15.05 points to close at 3,306.50.
Overall 40 securities traded, up from 37 on Friday and ended with the prices of nine stocks rising, 23 declining and eight remaining unchanged. At the close, the PE Ratio based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings averaged 12.
At the market close 13,103,080 shares traded for $39,313,013 compared to 10,030,984 units at $26,609,052 on Friday. Jamaican Teas led trading with 20.7 percent of the total volume after trading 2.72 million shares, followed by Mailpac Group with 19 percent for 2.49 million units, Elite Diagnostic with 14.9 percent after a transfer of 1.95 million units and Derrimon Trading controlled 8.9 percent with 1.17 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 327,577 units at $982,825 compared to 271,108 at $719,164 on Friday. The month to date trading averaged 347,217 units at $864,166, compared to 349,312 units at $851,510 on Friday. Trading in April closed with an average of 329,241 units at $854,716.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $1.15 to $21 with trading just 4 shares, Blue Power fell 20 cents to $3.75 with an exchange of 5,026 stocks, Caribbean Producers lost 28 cents to settle at $3.50 with 29,880 units changing hands. Derrimon Trading declined 10 cents to $2.50 with 1,170,771 stock units passing through the market, Dolphin Cove shed 61 cents to close at $7.38 with an exchange of 841 shares, Elite Diagnostic advanced 16 cents to $3.29 with a transfer of 1,953,169 stocks. Everything Fresh rose 5 cents to $1 with 17,063 units traded, Express Catering jumped $1 to $5.90 in switching ownership of 25,104 shares, Fontana dropped 20 cents to $6 with 272,750 stocks changing hands. Fosrich climbed 48 cents to $8.47 with 49,909 units passing through the market, General Accident fell 40 cents to $5.70 in an exchange of 20,782 shares, Honey Bun lost 12 cents to end at $6.30 with a transfer of 35,630 stock units. iCreate rose 7 cents to 86 cents with 366,532 stocks traded, Indies Pharma shed 30 cents to close at $3.70 in switching ownership of 83,302 units, Iron Rock Insurance fell 10 cents to $3.45 with 250 shares changing hands. Jamaican Teas gained 5 cents to end at $3.95 with 2,715,570 stock units changing hands, KLE Group lost 10 cents to finish at $1.10 with an exchange of 45,672 units, Knutsford Express dropped $1.25 to close at $7.20 with a transfer of 7 stocks. 
Lasco Distributors slipped 5 cents to $4.15 with 38,968 shares traded, Lasco Financial fell 14 cents to $3.80 with 85,342 units changing hands, Lumber Depot declined 15 cents to $3.03 with 807,322 stocks passing through the market. Main Event shed 41 cents to end at $4.50 with a transfer of 1,575 stock units, Medical Disposables advanced 15 cents to $4.40 with 1,534 units traded and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped $1.87 to close at $7.63 with 32,890 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Profit gains push Berger & SOS out of ICTOP10
Stationery & Office Supplies – Montego Bay office.
Investors got a serious dose of a new set of company results and they liked a number of them, driving up prices of some up, following results that surprised positively. Many of the surprising ones matched the ICInsider.com forecast. Stationery & Office Supplies that was in the ICTOP10 up to last week reported earnings in line with ICInsider.com projections of $1 and investors pushed the price to a 52 weeks’ high of $9.50, with a gain of 109 percent for the year so far, with more gains ahead.
tTech is another company reporting earnings in line with the ICInsider.com forecast, with the stock jumping to $5.91 to be up 41 percent for the year. Berger Paints another TOP 10 stock up to last week, seems well on the way to earn $1.50, ICInsider.com forecasted, the price closed the week at $15, pushing it out of the TOP10. There are only 4,852 units on offer up to $17 thereafter, just over 154,000 between $18.99 and $19.86, Grace Kennedy reported a 26 percent rise in profit for the quarter, a continuation of good growth it enjoyed in 2020, but the market is yet to reward it with a price rise.
Access Financial and Key Insurance have moved into the TOP10 to fill the space left by the two stocks that fell out at the end of the week.
When ICInsider.com embarked on the 2021 profit forecast, it was a most difficult time due to the turbulence in the economy and businesses of many listed companies. Nevertheless, we boldly made our forecast and the first fruits are now showing and investors like them in driving up nine of 15 Junior Market stocks selected in January, bettering the gains for the year of 26 percent. Two stocks more than doubled and one is up 96 percent after more than doubling in trading for the year to date, earlier this week, before some profit taking set in. One stock rose 64 percent, one gained 43 percent, two 35 percent and two with 29 percent gain. Added to this is Future Energy Sources that was a part of the TOP10 listing starting at the end of February and has since gained 35 percent.
The ICTOP15 stocks in continuing an outstanding performance saw, Stationery & Office Supplies jumping 109 percent for the year to date, Lumber Depot 104 percent, Jamaican Teas 96 percent, Main Event 64 percent, Lasco Financial rose 43 percent, Caribbean Cream and Caribbean Producers up 35 percent, Lasco Distributors and MailPac a rise of 29 percent each.
The JSE Main Market is only up 4 percent year to date, but ICTOP15 stock selection saw Carreras and Grace Kennedy rising 37 percent, QWI Investments and Caribbean Cement up 29 percent, Seprod up 20 percent, Jamaica Producers 19 percent and Jamaica Broilers up 15 percent.
The bullish tone of both markets continues, but the Junior Market had hit the top line of an upward sloping channel that could act as resistance and is worth watching. The Main Market is a few thousand points away from its channel top, but those resistance points should be only temporary barriers if they, in fact become that.
The top three stocks in the Junior Market are headed by Elite Diagnostic followed by Medical Disposables and Jetcon Corporation, with the potential to gain between 245 to 283 percent. The top three Main Market stocks are Radio Jamaica in the number one spot, followed by Jamaica Broilers and PanJam Investment, with expected gains of 165 to 385 percent.
The targeted PE ratio for the market averages 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results, up to the second quarter of 2022. Fiscal 2020-21 ended March 2021 with the average PE at 17 for Junior Stocks and 19 times for the Main Market. With interest rates on government paper below 5 percent and likely to remain there for a few years, the likelihood is for the average PE ratios to climb higher during the next twelve months.
The Junior Market, with an average PE 12.3 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings, is currently trading well below the target, as well as the recent historical average of 17. This represents another 39 percent rise in the market that would equate to a rise of 60 percent to March 2022. The Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 6.4 at just 52 percent of the market average, indicating substantial gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week with an overall PE of 16.5, some distance from the 19 the market ended March, suggesting a 15 percent rise from now to March 2022. The Main Market TOP 10 trades at a PE of 7.8 or 47 percent of the PE of that market and well off the potential of 20.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 220 percent and 168 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2021-22 earnings. IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely increase 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 weekly. 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.
Main market retreats from robust early gains
Stocks trading climbed sharply on Friday with an exchange of 118 percent more shares valued 268 percent more than in Thursday trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market. The All Jamaican Composite Index just managed to squeeze out a gain of 87.75 points to close at 451,713.66 after it traded up close to 6,000 points to a high of 457,408.33 within an hour of the market’s opening.
JSE All Jamaica Composite Index heading for the top of the upward sloping channel top at 460,000 points and could face resistance there.
The JSE Main Index rose 581.22 points to settle at 428,015.27 and The JSE Financial Index gained 0.24 points to end at 107.13.
Trading ended with 49 securities compared to 47 on Thursday and ended with prices of 21 stocks rising, 17 declining and 11 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 16.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
The market closed with 31,695,926 shares trading for $306,013,533 compared to 14,522,547 units at $83,441,774 on Thursday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 41.6 percent of total volume for 13.18 million shares, followed by Supreme Ventures with 31.7 percent for 10.04 million units and JMMB Group 7.50% with 5.4 percent for 1.70 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 646,856 units at $6,245,174, compared to an average of 308,990 shares at $1,775,357 on Thursday. Trading month to date averages 324,542 units at $3,521,674, in contrast to 289,678 units at $3,227,079 on Thursday. Trading in April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eleven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped $3.05 to $83 with 33,408 shares changing hands. Berger Paints advanced $1.35 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $15 after exchanging 30,727 stock units, Caribbean Cement slid $4.98 to $81.02 with 96,636 shares crossing the exchange. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed 98 cents to close at $44 trading 11 units, First Rock Capital fell 40 cents to $16.50 in exchanging 50,337 shares, Grace Kennedy slipped 19 cents to close at $88.66 in switching ownership of 161,912 stocks. Jamaica Broilers ended $1 lower at $34.50 in exchanging 30,864 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 24 cents to close at $17.99 with 11,600 stock units crossing the market, JMMB Group rose $1.05 to $33.05 in trading 33,966 units, Kingston Wharves advanced $1 to end at $48 in an exchange of 3,152 stocks, NCB Financial declined $1.50 to $138.50 after transferring 39,781 units, 138 Student Living gained 30 cents to end at $5.30 in exchanging 2,129 stocks. PanJam Investment rose $1 to close at $66.50 in trading 594,688 units, Proven Investments rose 94 cents to $37.95 in trading 26,800 shares, Sagicor Group closed 54 cents higher at $50.55 in an exchange of 35,406 stocks. Salada Foods rose 86 cents to $7.66 in switching ownership of 116,542 stock units, Scotia Group shed 50 cents to end at $41 in trading 20,188 units, Supreme Ventures picked up 50 cents to close at $19.50 with the swapping of 10,037,859 shares, 
Victoria Mutual Investments declined 78 cents to $6.30 in trading 154,338 stock units and Wisynco Group gained 30 cents to close at $15.90, with 240,532 shares crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.25% shed 74 cents to close at $6.15 with 1,800 stock units changing hands, JMMB Group 7.25% rose 19 cents to $1.46 in transferring 3,019 stocks and JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 lost 18 cents to finish at $2.82 trading 20,000 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
