Volatility was low in ICTOP10 in the past week with the highest price change coming in at 6 percent, following moderate declines in the Junior Market and the Main Market
The Junior Market ICTOP10, Iron Rock Insurance climbed just 4 percent to $2.18. Caribbean Cream fell 6 percent to $3.75 followed by Access Financial, down 5 percent to $20.
In the Main Market, Margaritaville and Palace Amusement rose by 6 percent to close at $15.95 and $1.06 respectively and Key Insurance fell 4 percent to $2.39. Of note is that Berger Paints fell 3 percent to close at $8.26, trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $10.10 on Friday as the stock closed with a big gap between buyers and sellers.
Lasco Financial was the only new addition to the ICTOP10 for the week replacing Edufocal that was suspended from trading during the week for not meeting the financial statement filing.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 14.1 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.8, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.6.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 292 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 209 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 103, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 11 stocks, or 24 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 47, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The average PE in the top half of the market is 17 and is possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks, currently.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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 on or around May 2025 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.
Profit continues higher at Scotia Group
Scotia Group had another financially successful quarter ending April this year, with profit climbing a solid 31 percent to $5.4 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.74, up from $4.1 billion in 2023, with EPS of $1.32. For the six months to April, profit rose 14 percent to $8.54 billion with earnings per share (EPS) of $2.74, from a profit of $7.49 billion in 2023 and EPS of $2.41.
Scotia Group head quarters in Kingston.
Total comprehensive income climbed to $6.65 billion in the quarter from $4.79 billion in 2023. For the half year, it fell to $2.76 billion from $3.6 billion in 2023 as other comprehensive income suffered a loss of $5.78 billion in the 2024 period and $3.86 billion in 2023 as a result of an $11 billion increase in defined benefit obligations in 2024 and $9.3 billion in 2023.
Total revenues rose 20 percent for the quarter, to $16.9 billion from $14.1 billion and climbed a solid 18 percent for the year to date, to $33.3 billion from $28.3 billion in 2023. Interest income rose 18 percent in the April quarter to $11.7 billion from $9.9 billion in 2023 and 20.4 percent for the six months to $23.3 billion from $19.4 billion.
The critical and the single most important area of the group’s operation of lending helped to deliver a 17.6 percent increase in a net interest income of $11.24 billion in the second quarter of this year, from $9.56 billion in the prior year and, it rose 18.4 percent to $22.35 billion in the six months from $18.87 billion in the 2023 half year.
According to the group directors, “Our loan portfolio increased by $35.5 billion or 14.4 percent compared to April 2023, with loans net of allowances for credit losses increasing to $282.3 billion. Our core loan book continues to perform well with mortgages increasing year over year by 24 percent, consumer loans by 13 percent, credit cards by 15 percent and commercial loans by 8 percent.” Loans grew 2.2 percent in the January quarter over October, with the pace picking up to 2.25 percent in the April quarter over January, this year, for an annualized growth rate of 10 percent.
Deposits by the public increased by 6 percent or $27 billion to $464 billion. Investment securities increased marginally to $156.5 billion from $151.6 billion last year.
Net income from foreign currency trading, fees, commission and other income went up 22 percent from $3.6 billion to $4.4 billion in the April quarter and rose 14 percent from $7.7 billion in the half year in 2023 to $8.4 billion in the current year.
Insurance activities delivered profits of $530 million for the latest quarter, up from $493 million in the previous year. For the half year, it moved to $1.05 billion, from $1.03 billion in the comparative period in 2023. Foreign currency trading gains amount to $2.23 billion in the latest quarter compared with $1.94 billion in 2023 and for the year to date, $4.56 billion in the six months to April versus $4 billion in 2023.
Credit impairment losses jumped sharply to $1 billion in the April quarter from $665 million last year to $2 billion in the half year, compared with $1.75 billion in 2023.
Segment results show Retail Banking with revenues of $11.06 billion compared with $10.1 billion in 2023 and delivered segment profit of $1.6 billion versus $2.1 billion in 2023. Corporate and Commercial banking had a 13 percent growth in third party revenues to $7.9 billion and net segment results of $7.2 billion compared with revenues of $6.9 billion in 2023 as net results surged sharply over the $5.2 billion in 2023. Treasury generated revenues of $7.7 billion up from $5.8 billion with a net position of $1.13 billion in 2024 compared with $1.03 billion in the prior year.
Investment Management Services generated revenues of $1.5 billion and a net result of $780 million in 2024, with revenues of $1.56 billion in 2023 and a net outturn of $806 million in 2023. Insurance services had a mild increase in revenues to $2.08 billion in 2024 as net results slipped to $2.05 billion, compared with revenues of $2.45 billion in 2023 and net segment results of $2.15 billion.
Salaries and staff benefits rose 12.8 percent to $2.96 billion from $2.63 billion in 2023 and for the half year, it rose by 13 percent from $5.23 billion to $5.9 billion.
Scotia Group traded at a $58 on Friday.
Other operating expenses fell marginally from $3.28 billion to $3.23 billion in the quarter and increased slightly in the nine months to $6.7 billion from $6.55 billion in the previous year. Overall, total operating expenses moved from $6.57 billion in the second quarter last year to $6.78 billion. For the six months to April, it moved by 7 percent to $15.46 billion from $14.4 billion in 2023.
Taxation on profit amounted to $2.38 billion in the April quarter up from $1.89 billion in 2023 and it rose 15 percent to $4.47 billion in the half year from $3.89 billion in 2023.
Shareholders’ equity ended the period at $127 billion, up from $108 billion at the end of March 2023.
IC Insider.com computation projects earnings of $6.50 to $7 per share for the fiscal year ending October 2024, with a PE of 6.5 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $44.41 the stock traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Net asset value ended the period at $4.78 with the stock selling at xxx book value.
The company declared a dividend of 40 cents which in line with payment in April versus 35 cents in July 2023.
Transjamaican dominates Main Market trades
Transjamaican Highway cornered trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with more than 60 percent of the volume of stocks traded on Friday, resulting in the volume of stocks traded rising 137 percent and the value 173 percent more than on Thursday, with trading in 58 securities compared with 56 on Thursday. At the close prices of 18 stocks rose, 21 declined and 19 ended unchanged.
The market closed with 28,048,957 shares being traded for $98,812,380 compared with 11,839,057 units at $36,250,961 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 483,603 shares at $1,703,662 compared to 211,412 units at $647,339 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 228,041 units at $1,086,304 compared with 165,233 units at $934,580 on the previous day and May that closed with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 16.87 million shares for 60.1 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.92 million units for 28.3 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 832,520 stocks for 3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 409.02 points to settle at 360,751.03, the JSE Main Index lost 854.79 points to end the day at 320,829.62 and the JSE Financial Index increased 0.13 points to culminate at 68.92.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints skidded 43 cents to finish at $8.26, with 13,183 stock units crossing the exchange with the price hitting an intraday high of $10.10, Caribbean Cement lost 50 cents to close at $62.50 with a transfer of 8,562 shares, Guardian Holdings dropped $9.86 in closing at $360.09 after 64 stocks passed through the market. 
JMMB Group rose 49 cents and ended at $25.49, with 17,973 units changing hands, Kingston Properties rose 48 cents to close at $8.48 after 62,979 stocks were traded, Pan Jamaica sank $1.19 to $50 in switching ownership of 11 units. Proven Investments popped $1.04 in closing at $20.99 with 1,809 shares clearing the market, Sagicor Group dipped $1 to $40 with investors dealing in 2,363 stock units and Stanley Motta gained $1.19 to close at $7.30 after a transfer of 19 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share fell 46 cents to finish at $6.59 as investors exchanged 58 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% increased $5 and ended at $115 in trading 1,517 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling prices hit the Junior Market hard
Rising stocks outpaced those falling on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but that did not prevent to market index from dropping, following a 15 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded and a 7 percent fall in value compared with Thursday with trading in 42 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 18 rising, 13 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed with the trading of 4,006,350 shares for $9,943,397 down from 4,733,856 units at $10,743,830 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 95,389 shares at $236,748 compared to 115,460 units at $262,045 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 161,098 stock units at $353,985 compared with 177,525 units at $383,294 on the previous day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Fosrich led trading with 1.15 million shares for 28.6 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 763,547 units for 19.1 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 534,396 units for 13.3 percent market share.
The Junior Market Index dipped 39.08 points to close at 3,699.06 at the close of trading.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
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, Blue Power sank 20 cents to end at $3.05 in an exchange of 33,006 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 10 cents to $3.85 with 66,906 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Cream dropped 45 cents and ended at $3.75 after investors ended exchanging 36,578 shares. Elite Diagnostic lost 8 cents in closing at $1.48 with a transfer of 23,761 stock units, Express Catering rose 39 cents to close at $4.20 after an exchange of 1,189 shares, 
Fontana advanced 7 cents to finish at $8.12 and closed after an exchange of 7,228 stock units. Honey Bun popped 9 cents and ended at $8 after a transfer of 13,092 units, Indies Pharma fell 9 cents to $2.65, with 11,315 stocks crossing the exchange, ISP Finance shed 60 cents to finish at $24.40 in switching ownership of 501 units. Knutsford Express increased 13 cents in closing at $11.50 after 554 shares crossed the market, Limners and Bards climbed 16 cents to end at $1.70 with an exchange of 151 stock units, Main Event rallied 49 cents to close at $12.99 with trading of 71,986 stocks and tTech popped 12 cents to $2.47 as investors exchanged 9,310 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Mixed trading on Trinidad Exchange
Stocks ended with a close mixture of gains and losses that were almost evenly matched at the close of trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday, resulting from trading in 19 securities up from 16 on Thursday and ending with prices of seven rising, eight declining and four ended firm, following a 69 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded at a 36 percent greater value than on Thursday.
Trading closed with of 98,850 shares for $2,451,133 compared to 318,285 stock units at $1,799,795 on Thursday.
An average of 5,203 shares were traded for $129,007 compared with 19,893 units at $112,487 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 7,430 shares at $94,552 compared with 8,001 units at $85,706 on the previous day and an average for May of 15,629 shares at $129,694.
The Composite Index gained 1.89 points to close trading at 1,114.69, the All T&T Index advanced 7.29 points to 1,677.75, the SME Index remained at 86.99 and the Cross-Listed Index slipped 0.54 points to conclude trading at 71.69.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s climbed 53 cents in closing at $68.78 as investors exchanged 1,401 shares, Angostura Holdings popped 94 cents to $18 with a transfer of 339 stocks, Ansa McAl advanced $1.89 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $62.29 after investors ended trading 143 shares. 
Ansa Merchant Bank declined 2 cents to $41.50 with an exchange of 2,019 stocks, First Citizens Group fell 99 cents to $43, with 528 shares changing hands, FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $6.93 with investors trading 1,286 stocks. GraceKennedy skidded 13 cents to $3.57, with 6,550 units passing through the exchange, Guardian Holdings ended at $15.60 with investors swapping 155 stock units, JMMB Group rose 3 cents and ended at $1.28 with 8,408 shares crossing the market. Massy Holdings slipped 7 cents to end at $4.05 after an exchange of 4,040 stocks, National Enterprises dipped 5 cents in closing at $3.45 after 23,533 units passed through the market, National Flour Mills ended at $2.25 and closed with an exchange of 21,940 stock units. 
Prestige Holdings rallied 25 cents to $13 in trading 1,125 shares, Republic Financial gained $2 to $108 after investors traded 9,460 stocks, Scotiabank lost 76 cents in closing at $65.24 with 15,258 units clearing the market. Trinidad & Tobago NGL gained 6 cents to finish at $6.99 in an exchange of 240 units, Trinidad Cement closed at $2.60 with investors dealing in 60 shares, Unilever Caribbean slipped 2 cents to close at $11.70 after a transfer of 1,315 stocks and West Indian Tobacco shed 52 cents to $8.75 with 1,050 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market rises on reduced trading value
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 50 percent but with a 42 percent lower value than on Wednesday, with trading in 56 securities compared with 57 on Wednesday, with prices of 19 stocks rising, 18 declining and 19 ending unchanged and resulted in the All Jamaican Composite Index increasing 2,623.72 points to 360,342.01, the JSE Main Index gained 2,321.13 points to end the day at 321,684.41 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.79 points to 68.79.
On Thursday, the market closed with 11,839,057 shares being traded at $36,250,961 compared to 7,896,278 units at $62,829,037, previously.
Trading averaged 211,412 shares at $647,339 compared to 138,531 units at $1,102,264 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 165,233 units at $934,580 compared with 150,866 units at $1,023,944 on the previous day and May that closed with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.97 million shares for 67.3 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.02 million units for 17.1 percent of the day’s trade and Lasco Distributors with 242,507 stock units for 2 percent market share.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.9. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and nine with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Eppley shed $1.05 and ended at $38.95, with 155 shares crossing the market, Guardian Holdings rallied $9.95 to $369.95 after a transfer of 12 stocks, Jamaica Broilers rose $1.59 in closing at $33.79 after 21,564 shares passed through the market. Jamaica Producers climbed 65 cents to end at $22.55 with a transfer of just one stock unit, Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 39 cents to close at $10.39, with 762 shares crossing the exchange, Kingston Properties lost 40 cents to finish at $8 with investors transferring 12,182 stock units. 
Kingston Wharves dipped 40 cents to $26 in an exchange of 6,182 stocks, Margaritaville advanced $1.45 to end at $15.95 with 1,013 units clearing the market, Sagicor Group gained $1 in closing at $41 after an exchange of 10,102 stocks. Seprod increased $2 to close at $80 in trading 21 units, Supreme Ventures popped 30 cents and ended at $23 after exchanging 40,316 shares and Wisynco Group sank 38 cents to finish at $21 with investors swapping 22,617 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share dropped 43 cents and ended at $7.05 in an exchange of 6 shares and Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $3.50 to $45 with traders dealing in 101 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The Junior Market bounce
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange bounced at the close of trading on Thursday, following a 52 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded, with a 53 percent lower value than Wednesday with trading in 41 securities up from 39 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 17 rising, 14 declining and 10 closing unchanged and ending in the Junior Market Index gaining 30.53 points to 3,738.14.
Trading ended with an exchange of 4,733,856 shares with a value of $10,743,830 versus 9,936,988 units at $23,043,491 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 115,460 shares at $262,045 compared with 254,795 units at $590,859 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 177,525 units at $383,294 down from 197,562 stocks at $422,437 on the previous day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Lasco Financial led trading with 1.38 million shares for 29.1 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 1.24 million stocks for 26.1 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 378,131 units for 8 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging rallied 25 cents to close at $3.30 after an exchange of 21,432 stocks, Blue Power gained 18 cents in closing at $3.25 after an exchange of 2,534 stocks, CAC 2000 climbed 18 cents and ended at $3.53 in switching ownership of just 6 shares. Cargo Handlers sank 15 cents to end at $14, with 105 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 13 cents to finish at $3.75 with a transfer of 271,391 shares, Caribbean Cream dipped 17 cents to close at $4.20 with investors dealing in 7,028 units. Caribbean Flavours advanced 7 cents to $1.65 after a transfer of 1,519 stocks, 
Derrimon Trading popped 17 cents to end at $2.10 with traders dealing in 2,294 stock units, Dolphin Cove fell 50 cents in closing at $22.50 with 328 shares clearing the market. Fontana declined 10 cents and ended at $8.05 with an exchange of 13,802 units, Indies Pharma gained 9 cents to close at $2.74, with just 4 stocks changing hands, ISP Finance popped 99 cents in finishing at $25, with a mere 2 units being traded. Lasco Financial lost 8 cents to end at $1.52 with investors trading 1,377,242 stock units, Lumber Depot gained 11 cents to $2.79 after exchanging 55,779 units and Paramount Trading rose 15 cents to finish at $1.30 with investors swapping 20,011 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big fall for Trinidad Exchange
Big declines in prices of Republic Financial and Ansa McAl stocks pushed the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange prime indices sharply lower on Thursday, following a 287 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded with a 15 percent lower value than Wednesday’s and ending in an exchange of 16 securities similar to Wednesday and ending with prices of five stocks rising, six declining and five ended firm.
The market closed with trading of 318,285 shares valued at $1,799,795 compared to 82,230 stock units at $2,125,118 on Wednesday.
An average of 19,893 shares were traded at $112,487 compared to 5,139 units at $132,820 on Wednesday, with trading month to date averaging 8,001 shares at $85,706 compared with 4,721 units at $78,313 on the previous day and an average for May of 15,629 shares at $129,694.
The Composite Index dropped 18.55 points to end at 1,112.80, the All T&T Index dived 34.64 points to end the day at 1,670.46, the SME Index remained unchanged at 86.99 and the Cross-Listed Index fell 0.18 points to 72.23.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s skidded 50 cents to close at $68.25 as investors exchanged 110 stocks, Ansa McAl fell $3.15 to $60.40 in switching ownership of 1,555 units, Ansa Merchant Bank popped 1 cent to end at $41.52, with 50 shares crossing the exchange. First Citizens Group slipped 31 cents in closing at $43.99 with investors trading 2,613 stock units, FirstCaribbean International Bank remained at $6.93 after 1,175 shares passed through the market, GraceKennedy sank 17 cents and ended at $3.70 with investors swapping 732 units. JMMB Group ended at $1.25 with a transfer of 60,557 stocks, Massy Holdings gained 8 cents to finish at $4.12 with investors trading 239,249 stock units, National Enterprises ended at $3.50 after an exchange of 990 shares. 
One Caribbean Media rose 3 cents in closing at $3.68 after 431 units were traded, Republic Financial declined $4 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $106, with 3,856 stocks changing hands, Scotiabank climbed 76 cents to close at $66 in an exchange of 644 stock units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $6.93 with 3,346 shares crossing the market, Trinidad Cement ended at $2.60 with an exchange of 31 stock units, Unilever Caribbean popped 1 cent to close at $11.72 with 2,506 units clearing the market and West Indian Tobacco shed 73 cents and ended at $9.27 with investors dealing in 440 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading picks up on the JSE Main Market
Falling prices dominated those rising at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, following trading in 57 securities down from 62 on Tuesday, with prices of 18 rising, 25 declining and 14 ending unchanged, with the volume of stocks traded, rising 25 percent with a 27 percent greater value than on Tuesday.
The market closed with trading of 7,896,278 shares for $62,829,037 up from 6,312,177 units at $49,633,997 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 138,531 shares at $1,102,264 up from 101,809 units at $800,548 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 150,866 units at $1,023,944 compared with 156,583 units at $987,649 on the previous day and May that closed with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.43 million shares for 43.5 percent of the volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.68 million stocks for 21.3 percent of the day’s trade and Scotia Group with 360,975 units for 4.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,046.83 points to 357,718.29, the JSE Main Index rose 1,447.87 points to end the day at 319,363.28 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.14 points to close at 68.00.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments dropped 30 cents in closing at $71.20 with 3,729 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Cement rose 50 cents to $63 with investors swapping 17,789 shares, Eppley rallied $1 to $40 with 76 stocks changing hands. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $1.25 to finish at $40 with an exchange of 5,851 units, Jamaica Broilers shed $1.29 and ended at $32.20 after 5,179 stocks passed through the market, Jamaica Producers declined $1.20 to close at $21.90 in switching ownership of 1,067 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 40 cents to end at $10 with investors dealing in 154,096 shares, JMMB Group climbed 40 cents to $25 after an exchange of 60,519 stock units, Kingston Wharves dipped $1.05 in closing at $26.40 in trading 121,219 shares. Lasco Manufacturing popped 45 cents to close at $5.85, with 43,846 units crossing the market, Margaritaville sank $1.65 to finish at $14.50 in trading 2,609 stocks, Massy Holdings gained $7.99 and ended at $88 after an exchange of 35 stock units. 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy slipped $3 to $92 with a transfer of 100 shares, Pan Jamaica advanced $1.40 and ended at $51.30, with 125 stocks crossing the exchange, Scotia Group rose 50 cents in closing at $44.40 with traders dealing in 360,975 units, ahead of second quarter results due out on Thursday along with a dividend announcement. Seprod fell $1.40 to close at $78 in an exchange of 6,468 stock units, Stanley Motta skidded $1.34 to finish at $6.11 with 2,847 shares crossing the market and Supreme Ventures sank 30 cents to end at $22.70 after a transfer of 133,409 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share advanced $90 in closing at $1200 with an exchange of 10 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD Market drops on reduced trades
Market activity dropped at the end of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Wednesday, with a 54 percent fall in the volume of stocks being exchanged, with a 62 percent drop in value on Tuesday, resulting in trading in seven securities, down from 10 on Tuesday, with prices of three rising, four declining and none ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 552,161 shares for US$14,011 down from 1,188,623 units at US$36,705 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 78,880 units at US$2,002 down from 118,862 shares at US$3,671 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 74,070 shares at US$3,004 compared with 72,200 units at US$3,394 on the previous day and May that ended with an average of 32,077 units for US$3,201.
The US Denominated Equities Index declined nearly 4 percent in dropping 9.12 points to close at 221.76.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.4. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or 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, AS Bryden rose 0.49 cents to finish at 22.49 US cents, with 10,250 stock units crossing the market, First Rock Real Estate USD share advanced 0.3 of a cent and ended at 5 US cents after an exchange of just one share, 
Productive Business Solutions slipped 22.5 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of US$1.275, with 30 stocks changing hands. Proven Investments lost 0.08 of a cent to end at 13 US cents with investors transferring 1,340 units, Sterling Investments skidded 0.05 of a cent in closing at 1.55 US cents in switching ownership of 5,640 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments popped 0.29 of one cent to close at 9 US cents as 6,900 stock units passed through the market and Transjamaican Highway sank 0.01 of a cent to 2.14 US cents and closed with an exchange of 528,000 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.