Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday with a 53 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded with the value ending 88 percent lower than on Monday following trading in 53 securities compared to 57 on Monday, with 22 rising, 18 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 5,344,520 shares were exchanged for a mere $29,834,911 compared with 11,450,226 units at $243,197,157 on Monday.
Trading averaged 100,840 units at $562,923 versus 200,881 shares at $4,266,617 on Monday and month to date, an average of 173,546 units at $2,176,105 compared to 181,268 units at $2,347,445 on the previous day. Trading in January closed with an average of 205,236 units at $1,805,558.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.0 million shares for 37.4 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.30 million units for 24.2 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 511,278 units for 9.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,011.35 points to 381,415.78, the JSE Main Index rose 1,590.42 points to end at 336,737.30 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.42 points to close at 80.62.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints fell 60 cents to close at $9.30 trading 6,512 shares, Caribbean Cement shed 50 cents to end at $57.50 with a transfer of 3,192 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $6 in closing at $48 after 408 stock units passed through the market. Jamaica Broilers rose 50 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $33 with an exchange of 109,861 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 65 cents to finish at $14.90 after trading 15,826 units, 
JMMB Group rallied 50 cents to $32.50 with 43,177 shares crossing the exchange. Palace Amusement climbed $75 to $2,400 in transferring 61 stock units, Sagicor Group lost 40 cents to settle at $53.10 after 14,875 stocks changed hands, Scotia Group advanced 50 cents to $34.50 with the swapping of 9,074 shares. Seprod gained 50 cents to close at $65.50 after investors traded 12,402 stocks, Stanley Motta dipped 51 cents to end at $4.31 closed with 1,888 stock units changing hands and Wisynco Group gained 53 cents in closing at $17.78 in switching ownership of 115,243 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share advanced $2 to close at $20 as investors exchanged 55 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Sharp jolt to JSE USD Market
A sharp push was given to the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Tuesday, even as the volume of stocks changing hands declined 94 percent as the value rose 17 percent over Monday, resulting in 10 securities traded, compared to six on Monday and ended with five rising, one declining and four ending unchanged as the JSE USD Equities Index surged 19.96 points to end at 250.48.
Overall, just 12,060 shares were traded for US$7,847 compared to 189,439 units at US$6,710 on Monday.
Trading averaged 1,206 units at US$785, compared to 31,573 shares at US$1,118 on Monday, with a month to date average of 39,113 shares at US$2,107 compared with 45,431 units at US$2,327 on the previous day. January ended with an average of 48,604 units for US$4,865.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.4. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with bids higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share rose 0.48 of a cent in closing at 7.48 US cents with investors transferring 347 shares, Margaritaville popped 2.98 cents to close at 12.99 US cents with 30 units changing hands, Productive Business Solutions advanced 30 cents to end at US$2.20 after trading two stocks. 
Proven Investments rallied 0.46 of a cent to 18.99 US cents after exchanging 4,680 stock units, Sterling Investments ended at 1.99 US cents in trading 196 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share remained at 10 US cents, with 167 stocks crossing the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share remained at 8.5 US cents and closed with 1,526 stock units changing hands.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share shed 89 cents to close at US$11.11 in an exchange of 161 units, after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of US$14.10, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share ended at US$1.64 with the transfer of one stock and JMMB Group 6% climbed 1.98 cents in closing at US$1 in switching ownership of 4,950 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading picks up on Trinidad Exchange
Trading picked up momentum on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with a 114 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded rising after the value jumped 105 percent over Monday and resulting in 20 securities trading compared with 21 on Monday, with the prices of six stocks rising, eight declining and six remaining unchanged.
Investors traded 493,613 shares for $4,690,597 versus 230,773 units at $2,283,316 on Monday. An average of 24,681 units were traded at $234,530 compared with 10,989 shares at $108,729 on Monday, with trading month to date averaging 30,335 shares at $406,882 versus units at $426,693 on the previous day. The average trade for January ended at 28,440 at $235,404.
The Composite Index rallied 3.02 points to 1,329.50, the All T&T Index rose 10.35 points to 1,987.83, the SME Index lost 0.12 points to settle at 61.52 and the Cross-Listed Index declined 0.67 points to settle at 87.49.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Angostura Holdings remained at $23.52 in trading 2,550 shares, Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $21.15 after trading 3,102 units, CinemaOne dipped 10 cents to end at $7.90 in switching ownership of 60 stocks. First Citizens Group gained 51 cents to close at $53.01 while 2,054 stock units passed through the market, FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $6.50 with a transfer of 1,625 shares, GraceKennedy shed 10 cents to close at $4.50 with the swapping of 800 stocks. Guardian Holdings increased 5 cents to $25.10 with an exchange of 12 units, JMMB Group declined 7 cents in closing at $1.90, with 154,090 stock units crossing the exchange, L.J. Williams B share rallied 10 cents to end at $2.70 with a transfer of 6,470 units. Massy Holdings slipped 1 cent to $4.47 in trading 49,529 stock units, National Enterprises fell 31 cents to $3.60 in an exchange of 241,370 stocks, 
National Flour Mills ended at $1.50, with 600 shares clearing the market. NCB Financial dipped 1 cent in closing at $4.19, with 2,601 units changing hands, Point Lisas remained at $3.60 after 985 stocks passed through the market, Prestige Holdings fell 1 cent to $6.89 after a transfer of 124 stock units. Republic Financial ended at $135 after an exchange of 20,278 shares, Scotiabank climbed 39 cents to $78.39 after trading 1,494 units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL advanced 15 cents to end at $21 with 1,028 stocks changing hands. Unilever Caribbean rose 12 cents in closing at $14 after trading 3,841 shares and West Indian Tobacco lost 9 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $19.90 after an exchange of 1,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Volume rises on the JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday with a 151 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands, valued being 37 percent less than on Friday, resulting from trading in six securities, compared to three on Friday, with two rising, three declining and one ending unchanged.
Overall, 189,439 shares were traded for US$6,710 compared to 75,479 units at US$10,720 on Friday.
Trading averaged 31,573 shares at US$1,118 compared with 25,160 units at US$3,573 on Friday, with a month to date average of 45,431 shares at US$2,327 compared with 46,970 units at US$2,461 on the previous trading day. January ended with an average of 48,604 units for US$4,865.
The JSE USD Equities Index fell 2.11 points to 230.52.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.9. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share shed 0.39 of a cent to end at 7 US cents with 404 shares crossing the market, Proven Investments lost 0.47 of one cent to end at 18.53 US cents with an exchange of 8,952 stock units, 
Sygnus Credit Investments USD share rallied 0.48 of one cent in closing at 10 US cents as 28,037 stocks passed through the market and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.07 of a cent to 0.97 of one US cent after exchanging 151,900 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share remained at US$12 with a transfer of 76 units and JMMB Group 6% fell 8.94 cents in closing at 98.02 US cents with 70 stocks clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market trading rises but prices fall
Trading jumped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday with a marginal decline in the volume traded with a 164 percent surge in value over Friday, resulting in trading in 57 securities compared to 53on Friday, with 17 rising, 25 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
A total of 11,450,226 shares were traded for $243,197,157 versus 11,840,614 units at $92,145,603 on Friday.
Trading averaged 200,881 units at $4,266,617 versus 223,408 shares at $1,738,596 on Friday and month to date, an average of 181,268 units at $2,347,445 compared to 178,739 units at $2,099,950 on the previous day. Trading in January averaged 205,236 units at $1,805,558.
Scotia Group led trading with 4.13 million shares for 36.1 percent of total volume followed by QWI Investments with 1.51 million units for 13.2 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Windfarm with 1.51 million units for 13.2 percent and Transjamaican Highway with 1.01 million units for 8.8 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,641.15 points to 379,404.43, the JSE Main Index fell 1,138.54 points to 335,146.88 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.10 points to close at 80.20.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.18 to $58 with a transfer of 63,366 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $4 in closing at $42 as investors traded 1,619 stock units, Guardian Holdings advanced $4.30 in ending at $510 with 40,354 stocks crossing the market. JMMB Group shed $1.40 to close at $32 trading 15,984 units, Mayberry Investments popped 69 cents to end at $8.50 after exchanging 4,120 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $15 to finish at $71 with 100 units changing hands. 
NCB Financial rose $3 to close at $78 after a transfer of 4,277 shares, 138 Student Living lost 49 cents to settle at $4.51 after 3,019 stock units passed through the market, Palace Amusement climbed $22.90 to $2,325 in switching ownership of 64 units. Proven Investments fell $1.30 in closing at $28 after trading 1,130 stock units, Sagicor Group gained 50 cents to end at $53.50 with investors transferring 1,645 stocks, Scotia Group dipped 85 cents in closing at $34 with an exchange of 4,131,234 shares. Seprod rose $1 to end at $65 with the swapping of 7,501 stock units, Stanley Motta rallied 52 cents to close at $4.82 after an exchange of 4,980 units, Supreme Ventures shed 51 cents in ending at $26.49 in transferring 365,798 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments USD share gained $1.90 to finish at $20.90 after clearing the market with 12 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance lost 43 cents in closing at $9.07 as investors traded 1,000 shares, 
Wisynco Group fell 73 cents to $17.25 with the swapping of 320,246 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share climbed $84.09 to close at $1,200 after exchanging 176 stocks and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $13 to end at $107 with a transfer of 10 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Surge in trading as most prices drop
The volume of stocks traded surged on Monday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with ONE on ONE Educational trading with 31.23 million shares followed by Everything Fresh with 29.22 million that pushed the number of stocks traded up by a massive 970 percent valued 484 percent compared to Friday with trading in 44 securities compared with 43 on Friday and ending with 11 rising, 26 declining and 7 unchanged leading the market Index to slip by just 2.17 points to 3,894.48.
A total of 73,141,898 shares were traded for $113,341,861 compared to 6,834,372 units at $19,392,171 on Friday.
Trading averaged 1,662,316 shares at $2,575,951 compared to 158,939 units at $450,981 on Friday with the month to date averaging 355,581 units at $742,090 compared with 190,836 stock units at $510,887 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 42.7 percent of total volume followed by Everything Fresh with 39.9 percent of the day’s trade, MFS Capital Partners chipped in with 4.19 million units for 5.7 percent and Image Plus Consultants with 2.80 million units for 3.8 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.1. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped $1.16 in closing at $23.23, with an exchange of a mere 78 shares, AMG Packaging lost 16 cents in ending at $3.02 after an exchange of 135 units, Cargo Handlers rallied $1.92 to close at $14.90 in trading 28,711 stocks. Caribbean Cream fell 40 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $3.10, with 14,889 shares changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries shed 40 cents to end at $2.20 with a transfer of 5,794 stocks, Dolla Financial dipped 9 cents to close at $2.90 in transferring 640,209 units. Dolphin Cove declined 49 cents to end at $14 after exchanging 135,752 stock units, EduFocal shed 19 cents to settle at $2.03 as investors transferred 588,020 shares, Elite Diagnostic gained 8 cents in closing at $3.20 with 1,600 units changing hands.
Everything Fresh fell 26 cents to $1.20 after 29,215,940 shares passed through the market, Fosrich fell 23 cents to end at $3.42 in trading 909,036 stocks, General Accident shed 24 cents in closing at $4.46 with investors transferring 12,353 stock units. Indies Pharma lost 8 cents to finish at $2.90 in switching ownership of 16 stocks, JFP Ltd dipped 8 cents to close at $1.68 with the swapping of 635,942 stock units, Knutsford Express declined 80 cents to $11 as after 29,480 shares cleared the market. Lasco Financial shed 30 cents to end at $2.50 with an exchange of 34,951 units, Lasco Manufacturing dipped 11 cents in closing at $4.22 with a transfer of 25,881 stocks, Lumber Depot advanced 17 cents to close at $2.32 after hitting an intraday low of $2.02, with the swapping of 52,041 units. Mailpac Group lost 10 cents to end at $2 after trading 110,397 shares, Main Event declined 52 cents to $10 with 2,192 stock units changing hands, MFS Capital Partners rose 37 cents to $3.94 in exchanging 4,185,425 stock units. 
ONE on ONE Educational popped 9 cents to end at $1.25 in transferring 31,230,186 shares and Paramount Trading shed 24 cents to close at $2.34 in an exchange of 205 stocks.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share shed 10 cents in closing at $1.07 after a transfer of 2,501 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Losers crush winners on Trinidad Exchange
Trading plunged well below Friday’s levels on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 91 percent with 86 percent lower value than on Friday resulting in 21 securities trading compared with 22 on Friday, resulting in prices of eight stocks rising, 10 declining and three remaining unchanged.
Investors traded 230,773 shares for $2,283,316 versus 2,678,820 stock units at $16,631,803 on Friday. An average of 10,989 units were traded at $108,729 down from 121,765 shares at $755,991 on Friday, with trading month to date averaging 30,985 shares at $426,693 compared to 33,729 units at $470,335 on the previous day. The average trade for January amounts to 28,440 at $235,404.
The Composite Index slipped 2.10 points to 1,326.48, the All T&T Index dipped 3.20 points to 1,977.48, the SME Index increased 4.52 points to end at 61.64 and the Cross-Listed Index dipped 0.13 points to end at 88.16.
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, Angostura Holdings lost 3 cents in closing at $23.52 in finishing trading of 11,356 shares, Ansa McAl advanced $1 to close at $50, with 150 stocks crossing the market, Ansa Merchant Bank dipped $2.50 to end at $43.50 in switching ownership of 1,259 units. Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $21.15 after swapping of 45 stock units, Endeavour Holdings rose 95 cents to $11 while exchanging 250 stock units, First Citizens Group popped 50 cents to $52.50, with 5,648 stocks crossing the exchange. FirstCaribbean International Bank shed 9 cents to end at $6.50 with investors transferring 200 shares, GraceKennedy increased 10 cents in closing at $4.60 with a transfer of 200 units, Guardian Holdings dropped 10 cents to close at $25.05 in an exchange of 610 shares. L.J. Williams B share gained 5 cents to end at $2.60 with an exchange of 200 units, Massy Holdings remained at $4.48 as investors exchanged 138,031 stocks, 
National Enterprises rallied 31 cents to $3.91, 253 stock units changing hands. National Flour Mills ended at $1.50 after trading 1,500 shares, One Caribbean Media fell 34 cents to $3.16 after 18,127 units passed through the market, Prestige Holdings declined 10 cents in closing at $6.90 after a transfer of 47 stock units. Republic Financial declined $3.50 in ending at $135, with 864 stocks clearing the market, Scotiabank climbed $3.50 to $78 in an exchange of 741 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL shed 15 cents to close at $20.85 after trading 12,200 stock units. Trinidad Cement advanced 9 cents in closing at $3.59 after exchanging 1,500 units, Unilever Caribbean dipped 12 cents to end at $13.88 in trading 37,205 stocks and West Indian Tobacco lost 1 cent after ending at a 52 weeks’ low of $19.99 with an exchange of 387 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Four new ICTOP10 stocks
ICTOP10 has four new additions this week. The changes followed release of new company results that saw upward and downward movements in earnings per share, while the price of one stock rose to exit the list.
At the end of the week, Paramount Trading jumped 17 percent to $2.58 after the supply of stocks in the market fell sharply during the week as the stock hit a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $2.95 before pulling back by the end of the week and Honey Bun rose 4 percent to $7.35. Lasco Manufacturing fell 8 percent to close at $4.33, General Accident slipped 6 percent to $4.70, Lasco Distributors lost 5 percent to end at $2.60 and Iron Rock Insurance fell 4 percent to $2.39.
Stocks rising in the Main Market TOP10 were hard to come by as losers outgunned winners. Jamaica Broilers jumped 8 percent to close at 52 weeks’ high of $32.50, but 138 Student Living dropped 10 percent to $5.00, as investors reacted negatively to a board decision to raise added capital by issuing more shares to the public. Radio Jamaica fell 7 percent to $1.90 after reporting poor results to December, while Caribbean Producers and Sygnus Investments fell 6 percent to $10.80 and $12.25, respectively, followed by a 5 percent decline for Guardian Holdings to close at $505.70.
Tropical Battery returns to ICTOP10 after a one week absence, Main Event posted better than expected full year results and moved into the TOP10 with projected earnings of $1.45 for the 2023 fiscal year and One on One Education moved into the TOP10, while Lasco Manufacturing moved out followed by Lasco Financial and Paramount Trading. In the Main Market, Radio Jamaica slipped out of the TOP10 and Scotia Group reentered after a brief respite.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 14.7, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.6 compared with the market at 12.3, important indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 207 percent and the Main Market TOP10, an average of 280 percent, to May this year. The primary concern for the Main Market achieving such gains by May is that the list is dominated by financial companies that are out of favour and may need to see the summer months before the total interest of investor start to show.
The Junior Market has 15 stocks representing 31 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 30, averaging 20 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks.
The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 90, with an average of 27 and 22 excluding the highest valued stocks and 27 for the top half excluding the highest valued stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but not always. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Trading drops on JSE Main Market
Trading dropped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday with a 30 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded at a 77 percent lower value than on Thursday, after trading in 53 securities up from 51 on Thursday, resulting in prices of stocks 24 rising, 19 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
A total of 11,840,614 shares were traded for $92,145,603 compared to 16,899,213 units at $398,378,363 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 223,408 shares at $1,738,596 compared to 331,357 shares at $7,811,340 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 178,739 stock units at $2,099,950 compared with 172,653 stocks at $2,149,183 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 205,236 units at $1,805,558.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 4.40 million shares for 37.1 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.34 million units for 19.7 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.21 million units for 10.2 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 466.42 points to 381,045.58, the JSE Main Index rose 302.30 points to close at 336,285.42 and the JSE Financial Index rallied 0.57 points to settle at 80.30.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded price and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments lost 50 cents in closing at $84 in trading 4,996 shares, Caribbean Cement advanced $2.41 to $59.18 with a transfer of 26,011 units, Caribbean Producers dipped 77 cents to $10.80 with 274,070 stock units changing hands after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $10.19 following the release of half year results showing reduced profit in the December quarter compared with that of 2021. GraceKennedy shed 90 cents to end at $77.10 after an exchange of 174,611 stocks, Guardian Holdings rallied 69 cents to close at $505.70 with the swapping of 20,423 shares, 
Jamaica Broilers gained 50 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $32.50 after 946,442 stocks passed through the market. Jamaica Producers fell $1 in ending at $20 after trading 32,439 stock units, JMMB Group popped 45 cents to close at $33.40 with investors transferring 83,865 units, Kingston Properties shed 50 cents to finish at $6.60 in an exchange of 147,000 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 99 cents to end at $12.39 in switching ownership of 49,660 stocks, NCB Financial declined $1 in closing at $75 with the swapping of 27,651 stock units, Palace Amusement dropped $185.90 to close at $2,302.10 while trading 549 shares. Seprod dipped $1.20 to end at $64 with an exchange of 25,136 units, Stanley Motta fell 93 cents to settle at $4.30 with 47,129 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures rose $1 to $27 in an exchange of 25,496 stock units. 
Sygnus Real Estate Finance shed 50 cents to end at $9.50 after 1,100 stocks cleared the market and Wisynco Group popped 78 cents in closing at $17.98 in a transfer of 325,355 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share advanced $15.91 to end at $1,115.91 trading 60 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drops to close out week
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising moderately, with a 12 percent increased value than on Thursday after trading in 43 securities up from 40 on Thursday and ended with 18 rising, 14 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
A total of 6,834,372 shares were traded for $19,392,171 compared to 6,781,412 units at $17,334,001 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 158,939 shares at $450,981 compared with 169,535 units at $433,350 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 190,428 units at $509,428 compared to 194,682 stock units at $517,614 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 239,755 units at $646,375.
MFS Capital Partners led trading with 1.54 million shares for 22.6 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 730,092 units for 10.7 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 619,095 units for 9.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 22.37 points to settle at 3,896.65.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.5. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed based on the last selling price and ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging increased 43 cents ending at $3.18 trading 8,356 shares, Cargo Handlers lost 22 cents in closing at $12.98 after exchanging 1,000 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries advanced 55 cents to end at $2.60 exchanging 9,981 units. Dolphin Cove with 10,983 stock units fell 49 cents to $14.49 crossing the market, EduFocal gained 14 cents to close at $2.22 crossing the market 228,036 shares, 
Elite Diagnostic dropped 8 cents to end at $3.12 passed through the market 20,556 units. Express Catering dipped 31 cents ending at $4.77 while exchanging 48,995 stocks, Fosrich popped 13 cents to $3.65 finishing at 305,373 stock units, General Accident declined 25 cents in closing at $4.70 as investors exchanged 10,534 shares. GWest Corporation shed 11 cents to close at 99 cents in exchanging 8,324 stocks, Knutsford Express rallied $1.49 to $11.80 with investors transferring 805 stock units, Lasco Financial rose 18 cents to end at $2.80 with an exchange of 238,200 units. Lasco Manufacturing climbed 27 cents in closing at $4.33 clearing the market with 12 stocks, Limners and Bards rallied 20 cents ending at $2.70 with the swapping of 77,151 shares, Main Event rose 32 cents to close at $10.52 in switching ownership of 53,343 stock units. 
Medical Disposables dipped 50 cents to end at $4.50 crossing the exchange 70,000 units, Stationery and Office Supplies gained 90 cents in closing at $15.40 after a transfer of 80 shares and Tropical Battery lost 13 cents to $2.31 with a transfer of 238,098 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
