In Monday’s trading, declining stocks exceeded those rising by a wide margin on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 60 percent with an 8 percent lower value than on Friday, after 57 securities were traded up from 54 on Friday, and ended with 16 rising, 25 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 16,146,320 shares were exchanged for $67,828,590 versus 10,072,258 units at $74,070,561 on Friday.
Trading averaged 283,269 units at $1,189,975 compared with 186,523 shares at $1,371,677 on Friday and month to date, an average of 194,595 units at $1,098,838, compared to 171,730 units at $1,075,008 on the previous trading day. October closed with an average of 231,243 units at $1,464,224.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 10.90 million shares for 67.5 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.50 million units for 9.3 percent of the day’s trade and 138 Student Living with 1.04 million units for 6.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,302.79 points to 396,650.26, the JSE Main Index fell 2,127.45 points to 347,022.71 and the JSE Financial Index declined 0.30 points to close at 83.36.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 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 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rallied $4 in closing at $61.50 after exchanging 4,250 shares, Guardian Holdings slumped $22.98 to end at $496.02 with investors transferring 2,971 stock units, Jamaica Broilers shed $1.13 after finishing at $28 trading 34,225 stocks. Jamaica Producers fell $2.78 to close at $17.52 in exchanging 5,328 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 84 cents to close at $16.05 with the swapping of 400 units, JMMB Group declined 80 cents to end at $36.50 with 32,634 stock units changing hands. Massy Holdings dipped $1 to close at $79 in transferring 1,128 stocks, Mayberry Investments dropped $1 to end at $7 with an exchange of 15,815 shares, NCB Financial lost $1 in closing at $85, trading 377,375 units. PanJam Investment shed 50 cents to finish at $54 with the swapping of 366 shares, Portland JSX gained 50 cents to end at $9.50 with 6,612 stocks changing hands, Supreme Ventures dipped 68 cents to $26 as investors switched ownership of 220,329 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% popped $100 in closing at $3,000 with an exchange of 4 shares and 138 Student Living preference share declined $1.07 to close at $49.55 after a transfer of 322 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD Market drops on Monday
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks exchanged rising 806 percent but at a 50 percent lower value than on Friday, resulting in six securities traded, compared to nine on Friday with one rising, three declining and two ending unchanged.
A total of 267,098 shares were traded for US$29,031 compared with 39,417 units at US$59,609 on Friday.
Trading averaged 44,516 units at US$4,838 versus 4,380 shares at US$6,623 on Friday, with month to date average of 25,583 shares at US$5,272 versus 22,033 units at US$5,354 on the previous trading day. October ended with an average of 40,972 units for US$2,277.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index lost 3.24 points to end at 210.72.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.3. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.comearnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending between November and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and two ended with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share shed 0.89 of a cent to end at 7.1 US cents after investors traded 16,940 shares, Proven Investments declined 1.95 cents in ending at 19 US cents after an exchange of 45,575 units, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share fell 0.92 of one cent to 9.08 US cents with 67,963 stocks crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway popped 0.01 of a cent in closing at 0.94 of one US cent with investors transferring 126,283 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share remained at US$11 in trading 50 stocks and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.07 in an exchange of 10,287 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Juniors in early week rise
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recorded gains on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded falling 74 percent less after a 44 percent fall in the value of funds passing through the market compared to Friday following trading in 45 securities trading versus 44 on Friday and ended with 13 rising, 25 declining and seven closing unchanged.
A total of 7,558,210 shares were traded for $23,889,400, down from 28,794,407 units at $42,886,545 on Friday.
Trading averaged 167,960 shares at $530,876 compared with 654,418 units at $974,694 on Friday, with the month to date averaging 260,979 units at $643,461 versus 285,601 stock units at $673,263 on the previous trading day. October closed with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
Dolla Financial led trading with 3.24 million shares for 42.9 percent of total volume, followed by EduFocal with 887,986 units for 11.7 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 448,902 units for 5.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 20.80 points to close at 4,094.34.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.6. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial lost 74 cents to end at $23.69, with 1,233 shares crossing the exchange, AMG Packaging dropped 24 cents in closing at $3.16, with 7,218 units crossing the market, Blue Power dipped 31 cents to close at $2.99 after an exchange of 3,903 stocks. CAC 2000 declined 19 cents to $8.30 in trading 675 stock units, Cargo Handlers shed 40 cents to $12.90 after 306 stocks passed through the exchange, Caribbean Cream popped 15 cents to $4 with the swapping of 34 units. Caribbean Flavours fell 18 cents to $1.62 as investors exchanged 13,900 shares. Consolidated Bakeries dipped 30 cents to end at $2.70 in switching ownership of 41,765 stock units, Everything Fresh fell 20 cents in closing at $1.57 with a transfer of 307,508 stock units. Express Catering jumped 71 cents to $5.27 after an exchange of 1,700 units, Future Energy Source rallied 10 cents to $5.18 after 208,772 shares changed hands, Indies Pharma climbed 25 cents to $3 after investors exchanged 37,581 stocks. Iron Rock Insurance declined 43 cents to end at $2.30 with an exchange of 5,588 units, Knutsford Express advanced 62 cents in closing at $8.70, with 57,212 stocks clearing the market, Lasco Distributors rose 27 cents to $3 while exchanging 40,594 shares. Lasco Financial climbed 28 cents in closing at $3 in an exchange of 52,902 stock units, Limners and Bards dropped 12 cents to end at $2.60 in exchanging 31,105 stock units, Main Event slipped 37 cents to $9.63 after a transfer of 59,893 shares. 
MFS Capital Partners shed 13 cents ending at $2.95, with 52,810 stocks passing through the market, Stationery and Office Supplies lost 45 cents to close at $17 after trading 3,891 units and tTech dropped 49 cents to $2.80, with investors swapping 699 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading climbs on TTSE on Monday
Market activity picked up on Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday, with 108 percent more stocks trading with a value 60 percent more than on Friday, resulting in 16 securities trading compared with 19 on Friday, with prices of six rising, five declining and five remaining unchanged.
investors traded 592,466 shares on Monday for $3,826,054 versus 284,719 stock units at $2,391,052 on Friday.
An average of 37,029 shares were traded at $239,128 versus 14,985 units at $125,845 on Friday, with trading month to date averaging 18,512 shares at $205,690 compared with 13,733 units at $197,061 on the previous trading day. The average trade for October amounts to 29,755 at $358,068.
The Composite Index fell 2.07 points to 1,313.87 the All T&T Index shed 4.82 points to end at 1,950.82 and the Cross-Listed Index gained 0.12 points to settle at 88.51.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s increased 99 cents in closing at $43 while exchanging ten shares, Ansa McAl declined 80 cents to end at $53 after trading 153 stock units,Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $20.55 in exchanging 45 stocks. Clico Investment Fund remained at $29.50 with investors transferring 8,646 units, First Citizens Group remained at $50.10 after exchanging 5,240 units, GraceKennedy rose 8 cents to $5, with 32,480 stocks changing hands. Guardian Holdings rallied 31 cents to end at $25.51 with an exchange of 35,332 shares, 
Massy Holdings ended at $4.40 after trading 40,615 stock units, National Enterprises popped 1 cent to $3.26 after a transfer of 441,535 stock units. One Caribbean Media ended at $3.70 with 115 shares changing hands, Republic Financial lost $1.73 to end at $132.02 in switching ownership of 600 units, Scotiabank dropped 65 cents to $76 after exchanging 1,423 stocks. Trinidad & Tobago NGL gained 22 cents in closing at $21.97 with the swapping of 10,449 stocks, Trinidad Cement advanced 3 cents to close at $3.55, with 3,500 units clearing the market, Unilever Caribbean fell 10 cents to $12.90 in an exchange of 7,664 stock units and West Indian Tobacco dropped 9 cents to $21.70, with 4,659 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Profit climbs at Lasco Manufacturing
Profit rose 23 percent at Lasco Manufacturing for the three months to September to $469 million from $380 million in 2021 and 13 percent from $782 million in the six months to September 2021 to $883 million in 2022.
Gross profit margin fell in the first quarter to just 34 percent but rebounded to 37 percent in the second quarter to September this year, similar to what obtained in 2021 and brought the year to date margin to 36 percent compared to 37 percent the previous year, suggesting the company has now restored the margins to 2020 levels.
Revenues rose 22.6 percent in the quarter to $2.87 billion from $2.33 billion in 2021 and up 17.5 percent for the six months to $5.47 billion from $4.66 billion. Gross profit rose 18.4 percent to $1.07 billion in the quarter, from $870 million in 2021 and climbed 15.3 percent to $1.97 billion for the six months compared to $1.71 billion in 2021.
Operating expenses rose 18.5 percent to $378 million in the 2022 September quarter versus $319 million in the comparable quarter in 2021. They increased 10.75 percent to $690 million for the six months to September 2022 versus $623 million last year.
Finance cost fell to $7 million in the September quarter versus $13 million in the three months in 2021 and $15 million to the half year to September versus $29 million in the prior year, with taxation jumping to $210 million in the quarter versus $173 million in 2021 and to $361 million in the half year to September 2022 versus $327 million last year.
Some of Lasco’s products
Cash Flow generated inflows of $1.38 billion to September. Dividend absorbed $413 million and loan repayment $109 million while working capital took up $720 and $436 million went into short term investments and purchase of fixed assets, resulting in net outflows of $312 million.
Shareholders’ equity of $9.9 billion, up from $8.4 billion at the end of 2021. Long term borrowing is down to just $48 million, with the current portion due to be repaid over the next twelve months being $207 million, other current liabilities amount to $1.5 billion, leading to net existing assets of $5.8 billion after taking into account current assets of $7.5 billion that includes cash and equivalent of $2.9 billion.
Earnings per share was 11 cents for the quarter and 21 cents for the half year, with ICInsider.com projecting 60 cents for the entire year, giving it a PE of 6.5 at the stock price of $3.85 it closed at on Friday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and earnings of 80 cents per shares for the fiscal year 2024 that could see the stock hitting $15 by then.
According to executive chairman Lascelles Chin, the outlook is that they “remain cautiously optimistic for continued growth in the forthcoming quarters as we have seen an easing of supply chain bottlenecks and material cost inflation seems to have stabilized. With the ongoing geopolitical conflict in Europe, headwinds are, however, possible. Whatever may arise, we will remain focused and proactive in executing our business plan to deliver growth and margin progression.”
Lasco Financial heads Junior Market TOP10
Iron Rock Insurance rose 23 percent for the past week after closing at $2.72. It exited ICInsider.com TOP10 of Junior Market stocks while Lasco Financial climbed back into the top list to be the stock likely to gain the most into the first half of 2023, with 268 percent, at the same time, Key Insurance gained 8 percent to close the week at $3.76, enough to push it from the TOP10 to be replaced by Radio Jamaica that dropped to $1.81 on Friday.
Following Lasco Financial half year results, with profit up 26 percent in the September quarter, earnings for the full year were raised from 40 cents to 50 cents, with the company resuming growing the loan portfolio. Lasco Manufacturing released six months of results to September that rose 23 percent in the quarter, an improvement over the first quarter and retains earnings previously projected.
The past week ended with the Junior Market moving modestly higher, as it continues to consolidate ahead of a break that is poised to move it sharply higher, with third quarter results to start hitting the market in droves this week and next. The Main Market also closed marginally higher at the week’s end than the previous one.
The Junior Market rise during the week benefitted from three of the top 10 stocks gaining between 5 percent and 23 percent with only one decline of note. The Main Market’s highest loser fell 4 percent, while four stocks gained 4 to 8 percent.
Other notable price changes during the week include Dolphin Cove, with an increase of 8 percent to $14 and Paramount Trading, up 5 percent to $1.99, while Lasco Manufacturing declined 9 percent to close the week at $3.85 in the Junior Market and in the Main Market, Productive Business Solutions rose 6 percent to $1.38, Guardian Holdings jumped 5 percent to $519 following the release of impressive nine months results and VVM Investments popped 5 percent to $4.80 while Caribbean Producers slipped 4 percent to $13.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 6.2, well below the market average of 13.6. At the same time, the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.9 versus the market at 12.6, an important indicator of the level of undervaluation of the ICTOP10s tocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 243 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 256 percent by May 2023.
The Junior Market has 14 stocks representing a third of the market, with PEs from 16 to 38, averaging 22 compared with the average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18.5. This data shows the extent of potential gains that the TOP 10 stocks possess. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 15 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 80, with an average of 25 and 22 excluding the highest valued one and 21 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
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 are likely to 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.
Q2 profit climbs 26% at Lasco Financial
Profit climbed a respectable 26 percent for the September 2022 quarter to $74 million from $59 million in 2021, for Lasco Financial Services, with the six months’ profits climbing 17 percent to $157 million over the $134 million garnered in 2021.
The improvement in profit arose from a 12.5 percent rise in income to $623 million for its second quarter to September against income of $554 million in the 2021 second quarter. Importantly, the performance of the September quarter exceeds that for the June quarter, when revenues came in at $564 million with profits of $56 million, suggesting that growth of revenues and profitability could be accelerating quarter over quarter and not only year over year.
For the half year, revenues rose just 3.7 percent to $1.188 billion from $1.145 billion for the six months in 2021.
For the 2022 September, quarter expenses excluding finance costs rose 11 percent to $469 million from $424 million in 2021 as administrative and other expenses climbed 18 percent to $324 million from $275 million in the 2021 September quarter and selling and promotional expenses declined from $150 million in the September 2021 quarter to $145 million in 2022. For the six months, total expenses increased by just 5 percent, from $857 million to $900 million. Administrative expenses increased 7 percent to $592 million from $555 million in 2021, Management reported that the increase is “in line with the expansion of services and growth in staff.” Selling and Promotional expenses rose marginally to $307 million from $302 million for the same period.
Finance costs fell from $46 million to $28 million in the September 2022 quarter and from $93 million for the September 2021 half year to $55 million in 2022. Taxation more than doubled from $25 million to $52 million in the September quarter and increased from $61 million in the six months to September 2021 to $76 million in 2022.
Earnings per share came in at 5.8 cents for the September 2022 quarter and 12.3 cents for the half year. With the December quarter usually generating the largest income and profit, ICInsider.com projects earnings of 50 cents for the year ending March 2023 and 90 cents per share for 2024. The outcome could be even better if the loan portfolio that was nearly $2 billion in 2019 grows back fast enough from the $812 million net of loan losses it fell to in March this year. Based on the earnings per share, the company’s stock trades at a PE of just 5.4 compared to an average of 12.6 for the Junior Market and just three times 2023 earnings, based on the closing price of $2.72 on Friday making the stock a strong buy.
Lasco Financial profit dropped 39% in 2018 Q2.
The company moved to expand its loan portfolio. Management points to a reduction in cash resulting from an “increase in loan disbursements as we make a push to expand our portfolio and market share”, management states in the commentary to shareholders.
Shareholders equity stood at $2.1 billion at the end of September this year, up from $1.84 billion at the end of September 2021, while borrowed funds amount to $1.5 billion, down from $1.64 billion at the end of September last year. Loans and receivables rose to $1.5 billion from $1.4 billion in September last year and cash and cash at bank and short term deposit amount to $1.64 billion versus $1.7 billion in 2021.
During the six months, $278 million in cash was provided from operating activities compared to $376 million in 2021, after $523 million was used in investing and financing activities cash and bank balance fell $244 million and reduced cash and cash equivalent to $722 million from $897 million in 2021.
Gains for JSE USD Market
More money passed through the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Friday, but investors traded vastly fewer shares than they did on Thursday with the number of shares traded dropping 92 percent from Thursday trades even as the value rose 93 percent and resulted in an exchange of nine securities up from, six on Thursday with four rising, three declining and two unchanged.
A total of 29,492 shares traded, for US$57,624 versus 390,586 units at US$29,911 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 3,277 shares at US$6,403 versus 65,098 stock units at US$4,985 on Thursday, with the month to date average of 21,723 shares at US$5,292 in contrast with 28,941 units at US$4,857 previously. Trading in October averaged 40,972 units for US$2,277.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index gained 1.39 points to end at 213.96.
The PE Ratio a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.6. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending between November and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ending with a bid higher than the last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share fell 0.01 of a cent after ending at 7.99 US cents and closed with an exchange of 91 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy gained 3.01 cents to end at 65 US cents in trading 15 stocks, Proven Investments climbed 0.95 of one cent to close at 20.95 US cents as investors exchanged 814 units. 
Sterling Investments remained at 2 US cents, with 17,000 stock units crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share ended at 10 US cents after 713 shares were exchanged and Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.02 of a cent in ending at 0.93 of one US cent, with 2,995 stock units crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share dropped US$2.02 to close at US$11 with the swapping of 4,425 units, JMMB Group 5.75% rose 25 cents in closing at US$2 trading 600 stocks and JMMB Group 6% advanced 1 cent to end at US$1.07, with investors exchanging 2,839 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Week end rally for JSE Main Market
Stocks registered solid gains for the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday ended, with Guardian Holdings jumping $24, GraceKennedy nearly $5, Seprod $3.50 and Scotia Group $3, helping to drive the market index solidly up, with funds chasing stocks rising 29percent over Thursday even as the volume of stocks trading declined 24 percent and resulting in trading in 54 securities traded compared to 56 on Thursday, with 22 rising, 17 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
A total of 10,072,258 shares were exchanged for $74,070,561 against 13,269,863 units at $57,335,875 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 186,523 shares at $1,371,677 compared to 236,962 stocks at $1,023,855 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 171,730 units at $1,075,008 versus 166,859 units at $977,324 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 231,243 units at $1,464,224.
Transjamaican Highway was the lead trade, with 5.93 million shares for 58.9 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.08 million units for 10.7 percent of the day’s trade and Pulse Investments with 564,202 units for 5.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 3,654.63 points to 397,953.05, the JSE Main Index advanced 4,247.25 points to 349,150.16 and the JSE Financial Index popped 1.10 points to end at 83.66.
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 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dipped $4 to $57.50, trading 227,991 shares, First Rock Real 
Estate rose $1.44 to $14.44 in exchanging 10,904 stock units, GraceKennedy rallied $4.98 to end at $86.98 with the transfer of 8,513 stocks. Guardian Holdings climbed $24 to $519 with 3,296 units changing hands, Jamaica Broilers increased $1.03 in closing at $29.13 after 613 stock units crossed the market, Kingston Properties gained 47 cents to close at $7.32 in transferring 77,215 shares. Kingston Wharves popped 50 cents in closing at $37.50 in trading 2,599 stocks, Mayberry Investments rose 50 cents to end at $8 with an exchange of 20,000 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 78 cents to close at $13.78 with investors transferring 3,100 stock units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $4 to $80 with the swapping of 32 units, NCB Financial increased $1 in closing at $86 with 345,924 stocks clearing the market, 138 Student Living shed $1 to end at $4.50 after trading 35,857 shares. Palace Amusement dropped $107.82 to end at $720 as investors exchanged just six shares, 
Scotia Group rose $3 to close at $36 with a transfer of 69,965 stock units, Seprod advanced $3.50 to $71 with 12,086 units changing hands. Victoria Mutual Investments popped 61 cents in closing at $4.80 after an exchange of 751 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share fell 46 cents to $22.99 with an exchange of 20 stock units and 138 Student Living preference share climbed $7.52 to $50.62 after a transfer of 11 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior slipped with positive gains
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped modestly at the close of trading on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded surging 380 percent with the value 128 percent higher than on Thursday as 44 securities were exchanged versus 46 on Thursday and ended with 20 rising, 16 declining and eight closing unchanged.
A total of 28,794,407 shares were traded for $42,886,545 up from 5,995,653 units at $18,822,588 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 654,418 shares at $974,694 compared to 130,340 units at $409,187 on Thursday with a month to date average of 285,601 units at $673,263 up from 156,808 stock units at $568,001 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
GWest Corporation led trading with 21 million shares for 72.9 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 2.99 million units for 10.4 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 863,593 units for 3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 5.56 points to 4,073.54.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging increased 17 cents to close at $3.40, with 2,102 shares crossing the market, Blue Power rose 30 cents to end at $3.30 in exchanging 79,736 stock units, Cargo Handlers rallied 45 cents to $13.30 while exchanging 768 stocks. Caribbean Flavours rose 15 cents in closing at $1.80 with an exchange of 4,193 units, Dolphin Cove fell $1 in ending at $14 as investors exchanged 6,853 shares, Express Catering declined 73 cents in closing at $4.56 after trading 6,453 units. Future Energy Source dipped 11 cents to $5.08, with 252,563 stock units changing hands, Honey Bun gained 35 cents to close at $7.05 after 45,662 stocks crossed the market, Indies Pharma shed 25 cents after ending at $2.75 in an exchange of 51,530 shares. Iron Rock Insurance advanced 53 cents to $2.73 after exchanging ten units, Jamaican Teas popped 17 cents to $2.75, with 500 stock units clearing the market, Knutsford Express lost 42 cents in closing at $8.08 after 1,091 stocks passed through the market. Lasco Distributors dropped 17 cents to close at $2.73 with the swapping of 39,160 stock units, Lasco Financial lost 12 cents to end at $2.72 trading 4,148 units,
Lasco Manufacturing dipped 15 cents ending at $3.85 after exchanging 208,497 stocks before the company reported continued increase in revenues and profits for the second quarter to September. Medical Disposables increased 40 cents to end at $5.50 after a transfer of 77,905 shares, MFS Capital Partners climbed 12 cents to $3.08 in switching the ownership of 32,272 stock units, Spur Tree Spices declined 12 cents to $3.35 trading 385,925 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 95 cents to $17.45 with investors transferring 7,282 units
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share rallied 18 cents in closing at $1.18 as 1,688 stocks crossed the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
