The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior market is trading at a new record high at the start of trading on Friday with the market Index crossing over the 4,100 level for the first time as the index hit a record high of 4,143.05 points having gained 70.49 points at the start, subsequent to the opening the index has hit a new high of 4,150.37.
Future Energy traded at a record $8 as the stocks continues its relentless rise since the start of the year, while another transport related stock, Tropical Battery hits a new high of $2.15 with trading in the stock frozen until minutes after 10.30 and recently listed Spur Tree Spices traded at a record $3.40.
With the lapse of 90 minutes of trading, the Junior Market is up over 100 points at a record 4173.97 at 11 am.
While the Junior Market chalks up record highs the Main Market remains under pressure and is down moderately at the open.
Junior Market hits new record of 4,174 points
Surge in JSE USD securities trading
Trading on Thursday, ended with the volume of shares changing hands rising after trading 68 percent more than on Tuesday, at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, resulting in an even number of stocks rising and declining.
A total of 11 securities traded, compared to seven on Tuesday with three rising, three declining and five ending unchanged. The JSE US Denominated Equities Index lost 0.80 points to end at 207.02.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.5. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years, up to August 2022.
Overall, 321,171 shares traded for US$28,484 up from 190,871 units at US$27,641 on Tuesday. Trading averaged 29,197 units at US$2,589, compared to 27,267 shares at US$3,949 on Tuesday and month to date averaging 28,447 shares at US$3,118. February ended with an average of 87,719 units for US$9,318.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share slipped 1.39 cents to close at 7.01 US cents after 43,000 shares crossed the exchange, Margaritaville rose 2.1 cents to end at 20.1 US cents with 20,000 stocks changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy ended at US$1.26 after exchanging 1 unit. 
Proven Investments shed 0.97 cents in ending at 24 US cents with an exchange of 58,473 stock units, Sterling Investments lost 0.07 cents in closing at 2.3 US cents after 523 shares ended up crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share remained at 12.85 US cents with the swapping of 10,000 stock units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share rose 0.5 of a cent in closing at 15.9 US cents while exchanging 28,300 units and Transjamaican Highway finished at 0.89 of one US cent after exchanging 160,865 stocks.
In the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share gained 0.1 of a cent to close at US$2 in trading 3 stock units. JMMB Group 5.75% traded one unit at US$2.09 and JMMB Group 6% remained at US$1.10 in exchanging 5 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Decline for JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Thursday with the volume of shares rising 332 percent and the value 472 percent higher than on Tuesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks exceeded those declining but the market indices gave up grounds.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,622.18 points to 440,922.44, the JSE Main Index declined 2,805.01 points to 388,891.73 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.66 points to close at 94.95.
Trading ended with 56 securities compared to 53 on Tuesday, with 25 rising, 22 declining and nine ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 74,417,192 shares were exchanged for $897,364,034 up from 17,224,141 units at $157,007,733 on Tuesday. Carreras led trading with 83.9 percent of total volume for an exchange of 62.43 million shares followed by GraceKennedy, 3.1 percent for 2.34 million units, JMMB Group accounted for 2.5 percent with 1.86 million units, Wigton Windfarm chipped in with 2.4 percent after trading 1.78 million units and Transjamaican Highway ended with 1.6 percent, with 1.17 million units changing hands.
Trading averages 1,328,878 units at $16,024,358, compared to 324,984 shares at $2,962,410 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 840,746 units at $9,673,135. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Berger Paints rallied 39 cents to $12.15 with 5,859 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement dropped $4.50 to $71 after trading 29,568 units, Carreras lost 54 cents to end at $8.35 with an exchange of 62,433,293 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $2.60 to $38 in swapping of 3,319 stock units, GraceKennedy popped 98 cents to $103.99 in an exchange of 2,337,519 units, Guardian Holdings rose 72 cents to $536 in switching ownership of 223 stock units. Jamaica Broilers advanced $1.23 to end at $29.98 with a transfer of 208,168 shares, JMMB Group shed $1.14 to end at $43 after an exchange of 1,862,118 stocks, Key Insurance rose 53 cents to $4.96 in trading 304,588 shares. Massy Holdings lost 50 cents to close at $1,949.50 with the swapping of 2,427 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed 60 cents to close at $7 with 16,643 stocks changing hands, Palace Amusement dropped $165 to end at $880 with 85 stock units crossing the market. PanJam Investment advanced $4 to $68 in transferring 22,731 stock units, Proven Investments shed 88 cents to end at $34.47 in switching ownership of 43,981 shares, Scotia Group rallied 45 cents in closing at $34.45 with an exchange of 8,547 units. 
Sygnus Credit Investments gained 40 cents in closing at $15.10 after trading 3,151 stocks, Victoria Mutual Investments lost 70 cents to close at $6.30 with 855,007 stock units clearing the market.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share fell $1.25 to $6.50 after exchanging 138 stock units and Eppley 7.50% preference share shed 50 cents in ending at a 52 weeks’ low of $5.50 with 27,424 shares crossing the market and providing a 14 yield per annum and nearly 30 percent per annum yield to maturity.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
New record close for Junior Market
The Junior Market Index gained 49.51 points to end at a record closing high of 4,072.56, after posting a record high of 4,098.56 shortly after the market opened on Thursday and bettering the previous record close of 4,058.99 on February 14 and ended with the volume of stocks traded declining 77 percent from the elevated level on Tuesday and the value falling by 82 percent from Tuesday.
New record high for the JSE Junior Market.
Market activity led to 40 securities trading compared to 43 on Tuesday and ended with 11 rising, 22 declining and seven closing unchanged, but the market closed with three stocks ending at 52 weeks’ high and one trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday high.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 18.8. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
Overall, 12,011,698 shares traded for $54,018,344 down from 51,846,941 units at $294,976,122 on Tuesday, with Future Energy Source led trading with 3.42 million shares for 28.4 percent of total volume followed by Derrimon Trading, 2.87 million units with 23.9 percent of the day’s trade and Tropical Battery, 841,887 units with 7 percent market share.
Trading averaged 300,292 shares at $1,350,459 in contrast to 1,205,743 shares at $6,859,910 on Tuesday and month to date, averaging 769,381 units at $4,204,753, compared to 1,205,743 units at $6,859,910 on Tuesday. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial declined 25 cents in closing at $20.75 with 89 shares changing owners, AMG Packaging rose 14 cents to $3.34 with an exchange of 10,255 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 46 cents to close at $2.45 in trading 229,901 stock units. Derrimon Trading climbed 24 cents to end at $2.99 in switching ownership of 2,874,342 units, Dolphin Cove rallied 68 cents to $27.98 as 123,335 shares changed hands, Everything Fresh shed 10 cents to $1.05, with 157,296 stock units clearing the market. Fontana dropped 55 cents to end at $10.90 in exchanging 116,703 units, Future Energy Source popped 79 cents in ending at a record close of $7.19, after trading 3,415,097 stocks, General Accident fell 22 cents to $5.88 with 345,951 units crossing the market. Honey Bun shed 30 cents to close at $9 in an exchange of 33,488 stocks, ISP Finance lost $2.10 to close at $27.90, with 19 stock units crossing the exchange, KLE Group gained 23 cents in closing at $2.68 after exchanging 3,183 shares. Knutsford Express declined 10 cents to $7.90 in exchanging 13,681 shares, Lasco Financial fell 24 cents to $3.26 with the swapping of 10,507 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing dropped 13 cents to $4.35, with 119,055 stocks crossing the market.
Lumber Depot advanced 10 cents in closing at $3.80, with 487,689 units changing hands, SSL Venture dropped 31 cents ending at $1.40 while exchanging 483 stock units, Tropical Battery increased 22 cents to end at $1.99 whilst trading 841,887 shares and tTech advanced 29 cents to close at $4.30 with the swapping of 29 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
EduFocal IPO closed
EduFocal Limited offer of 129,689,219 Ordinary Shares to the public at $1 each that opened on March 3, 2022, has closed well ahead of the scheduled date of March 17, as was expected word emanating from the company indicates, with the issue attracting almost twice the amount that was on offer when it closed just seconds after the 9 o’clock opening.
The Company intends to apply to the Jamaica Stock Exchange for admission of the shares on the Junior Market and will bring the total listings on that market to 45.
The company experienced rapid growth with revenues of $27 million in 2019 rising to $103 million in 2020 and profit before tax of $15.6 million. For the period to September 2021 revenues rose 39 percent to $107.6 million with a loss of less than a million dollars, from $77.5 million in revenues and a small profit of $7.5 million before tax. Preliminary results to December 2021 saw revenues rising to $168.6 million with a profit of $15 million or 2.8 cents per share, putting the PE ratio around 36 times 2021 earnings.
The company is projecting revenues rising to $322 million in 2022 and $355 million in 2023, with profits of $50 million and $69 million respectively. The projected revenues for 2022 would result in growth of 91 percent, well above the December quarter revenues annualized of around $240 million. The forecasted profit appears reasonable if the performance in the December quarter carries over for the rest of 2022 and would represent earnings per share of 8 cents with a PE of 12.
EduFocal Learn encompasses the Company’s core business offering which is focused on providing a social learning platform that combines study with play, with the primary offering, focused on test preparation for Jamaica’s Primary Exit Profile exams, previously known as the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). In September 2020, the Company launched the EduFocal Academy product which entailed a full-day learning programme.
The proceeds of the offer will be used to pay transaction costs of $12 million, $42 million will be used towards the repayment of short term debt and approximately $62 will be used towards expansion in new markets.
The company is involved in online education, relatively new business activity as such the risk associated with an investment in these shares may be higher than for long established businesses in tried and proven segments of the economy.
More money committed to TTSE stocks
Market activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange ended on Thursday and resulted in 26 percent fewer shares trading, with 148 percent greater value than on Wednesday and ended with more prices falling than rising while two ended at 52 weeks’ high.
Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange Head Quarters
A total of 16 securities traded down from 18 on Wednesday, with three stocks rising, five declining and eight remaining unchanged as the Composite Index lost 2.58 points to close at 1,477.99, the All T&T Index rallied 6.81 points to 2,098.54 and the Cross-Listed Index dropped 1.77 points to 114.08.
A total of 328,500 shares traded for $11,352,308 compared to 445,842 units at $4,582,058 on Wednesday. An average of 20,531 units traded at $709,519 versus 24,769 shares at $254,559 on Wednesday and month to date averaging 18,277 units at $393,645 against 17,247 units at $249,246. The average trade for February amounts to 47,858 units at $516,870.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, Agostini’s rose $3.25 in ending at 52 weeks’ high of $50.25 while exchanging 1,350 shares, Angostura Holdings finished at $19.75, with 4,488 units crossing the exchange, First Citizens Group added 75 cents in closing at $61 after exchanging 8,208 stock units. GraceKennedy shed 5 cents to end at $5.95 in an exchange of 2,540 stocks, Guardian Holdings declined $1.25 to $28.50, with 56 stock units crossing the market, JMMB Group remained at $2.30 while closed with an exchange of 8,645 stocks. 
Massy Holdings ended at $106, with 84,897 units changing hands, National Enterprises lost 14 cents to $3.10 in switching ownership of 51,000 shares, NCB Financial Group fell 5 cents to $7.25 in exchanging 82,735 stock units. One Caribbean Media remained at $4.20 with the swapping of 117 shares, Prestige Holdings finished at $7.10, with 35 stocks changing hands, Republic Financial Holdings dropped $1.92 in closing at $140.08 with an exchange of 125 units. Scotiabank popped $2.50 to a 52 weeks’ high of $75 in trading 5,294 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended unchanged at $20.50 trading 10,210 stock units, Trinidad Cement remained at $3.70 after an exchange of 66,800 units and Unilever Caribbean finished at $15.50 after exchanging 2,000 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Steady trading in Trinidad
Trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday resulted in 183 percent more shares passing through the market, with 11 percent higher value than on Tuesday and resulted in more stocks declining than rising.
A total of 18 securities traded, up from 17 on Tuesday, with four rising, six declining and eight remaining unchanged. The Composite Index rose 1.15 points to 1,480.57, the All T&T Index popped 0.34 points to 2,091.73 and the Cross-Listed Index advanced 0.28 points to settle at 115.85.
A total of 445,842 shares traded for $4,582,058 up from 157,807 units at $4,141,544 on Tuesday. An average of 24,769 shares traded at $254,559 compared to 9,283 units at $243,620 on Tuesday, with trading month to date averaging 17,247 units at $249,212. The average trade for February ended at 47,858 units at $516,870.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, Angostura Holdings lost 25 cents to close at $19.75 after trading 12,984 shares, Ansa McAl increased 50 cents in closing at $57.50 with an exchange of 620 units, Ansa Merchant Bank ended at $41 trading 2,500 stocks. Clico Investment Fund fell 99 cents to $29.51 in switching ownership of 17,809 stock units, First Citizens Group finished at $60.25 in exchanging 31 shares, GraceKennedy popped 1 cent in closing at $6, with 348,215 stocks crossing the market. Guardian Holdings remained at $29.75, with 101 stock units clearing the market, JMMB Group rose 5 cents to $2.30 after an exchange of 7,506 units, Massy Holdings finished at $106 in trading 9,535 stocks. 
National Enterprises ended at $3.24 with the swapping of 27,300 stock units, National Flour Mills remained at $1.95, with 300 units crossing the exchange, NCB Financial Group finished at $7.30, with 4,474 shares changing hands. One Caribbean Media advanced 10 cents to $4.20 while exchanging 2,280 stocks, Republic Financial Holdings shed $1 to end at $142 after investors traded 735 shares, Scotiabank dropped 75 cents to end at $72.50 in exchanging 1,333 units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 50 cents to $20.50 in an exchange of 6,087 stock units, Unilever Caribbean dropped 25 cents after ending at $15.50, with 3,432 stock units crossing the market and West Indian Tobacco ended at $25 after exchanging 600 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Steady trading on the JSE Main Market
Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday with the volume of shares trading rising moderately with a slightly higher value than on Monday and ended with declining stocks dominating the market with nearly five stocks for every three rising stocks were less than those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 30.08 points to settle at 444,544.62, the JSE Main Index popped 573.54 points to 391,696.74 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.04 points to end at 95.61.
A total of 53 securities traded down from 59 on Monday, with 15 rising, 24 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.3. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 17,224,141 shares were exchanged for $157,007,733 versus 14,925,719 units at $141,613,197 on Monday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 28.4 percent of total volume for 4.88 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 22.2 percent after exchanging 3.82 million units, QWI Investments accounted for 11 percent with 1.89 million units and Transjamaican Highway traded 1.05 million units for 6.1 percent market share.
Trading averaged 324,984 shares at $2,962,410, up from 252,978 stock units at $2,400,224 on Monday. February losed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 35 cents to close at $90.05 with an exchange of 274,827 shares, Caribbean Cement climbed $10.49 in closing at $75.50 after trading 15,342 units, Caribbean Producers shed 94 cents to end at $15.90 in switching ownership of 243,680 stocks. GraceKennedy lost 59 cents in ending at $103.01 after 62,013 stock units crossed the exchange, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 95 cents to $17 in trading 42,906 shares, Kingston Properties gained 50 cents to finish at $9 with the swapping of 1,451 stock units. Kingston Wharves advanced $1.30 to $41.80 with 1,829 units clearing the market, NCB Financial
declined $2.30 to close at $121.70 after exchanging 48,782 stocks, Palace Amusement popped $95 to end at $1,045 with 6 units crossing the market.
PanJam Investment declined $2 to close at $64 with 786,655 shares changing hands, Proven Investments rallied $1.54 to $35.35 with the swapping of 43,708 stocks, Sagicor Group fell $3.90 in closing at $54 after the transferring of 178,498 stock units. Scotia Group shed 60 cents to end at $34 after trading 41,319 stocks, Seprod slipped 90 cents to $56.10 with 11,300 shares changing hands, Stanley Motta lost 42 cents to close at $5.28 with a transfer of 753 units. Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 35 cents to end at $14.70 with an exchange of 72,199 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained 50 cents to close at $16.70 with the swapping of 224 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Positive March start for JSE USD Market
The volume of shares changing hands on Tuesday declined sharply by 89 percent, with an equivalent value as Monday’s as the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, with slightly more stocks rising than falling.
A total of seven securities traded, down from 11 on Monday, with four rising, three declining and none ending unchanged. The JSE US Denominated Equities Index rose 1.84 points to end at 207.82.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.7. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years, up to August 2022.
Overall, 190,871 shares traded for US$27,641 versus 1,705,073 units at US$27,762 on Monday. Trading averaged 27,267 units at US$3,949, compared to 155,007 shares at US$2,524 on Monday. February ended with an average of 87,719 units for US$9,318.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and four with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share popped 0.4 of a cent in ending at 8.4 US cents trading 4,789 shares, Margaritaville shed 2 cents to end at 18 US cents with 950 units changing hands, 
Proven Investments gained 0.97 of one cent in closing at 24.97 US cents, with 33,388 stocks clearing the market. Sterling Investments rallied 0.27 of a cent to close at 2.37 US cents after 5,059 stock units changed hands, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share declined 0.09 of a cent to 12.85 US cents with an exchange of 123,767 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share advanced 1.41 cents to 15.4 US cents in switching ownership of 19,088 shares and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.06 of a cent in closing at 0.89 of one US cent after exchanging 3,830 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market reclaims 4,000 mark
Trading closed on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising after trading 265 percent more and the value surging 493 percent higher than Monday with Future Energy Source trading 43 million shares with the price hitting a record $6.40 and valuing the trades at $267 at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market.
Big Fesco trade pushed the price to a record high of $6.40.
All 43 securities traded up from 41 on Monday and ended with 20 rising, 12 declining and 11 closing unchanged. Trading ends with three stocks closing at 52 weeks’ high.
The Junior Market Index popped 32.82 points to end at 4,023.05.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in the computation of appropriate stock values, averages 18.3, with the average declining with new results coming to the market. PE ratios in the chart below are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
Overall, 51,846,941 shares traded for $294,976,122 up from 14,209,361 units at $49,761,855 on Monday. Future Energy Source led trading with 43.22 million shares in controlling 83.4 percent of total volume followed by Tropical Battery, 1.45 million units with 2.8 percent of the day’s trade and Derrimon Trading, 1.37 million units, with 2.7 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices, 1.16 million shares changing hands for 2.2 percent market share.
Trading ended with an average of 1,205,743 shares at $6,859,910 in up from 346,57 shares at $1,213,704 on Monday. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with the bid higher than the last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging lost 20 cents to end at $3.20 with an exchange of 8,344 shares, Cargo Handlers rose 69 cents in closing at $8.79, with 44,172 stock units clearing the market, Express Catering declined 76 cents to $5.33 in trading 364,101 units, following release of the second quarter results. Fosrich climbed 10 cents to close at $14.30 after exchanging 69,209 stocks, Future Energy Source popped 60 cents ending at a record $6.40 while exchanging 43,215,296 stocks, General Accident increased 20 cents to $6.10, with 1,804 units crossing the market. Honey Bun rallied 30 cents to end at $9.30 with an exchange of 14,000 stock units, KLE Group advanced 25 cents to close at $2.45 after exchanging 16,103 shares, Knutsford Express gained 55 cents in closing at $8 and trading 200 units.
Lasco Manufacturing dropped 17 cents to $4.48 in an exchange of 38,353 stock units, Lumber Depot rallied 10 cents to close at $3.70 in switching ownership of 631,978 shares, Main Event climbed 97 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.47 with the swapping of 82,122 stocks. SSL Venture advanced 31 cents in ending at $1.71 with 1,500 stock units changing hands, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 10 cents to end at $7.40 after trading 10,788 units and tTech fell 28 cents to $4.01 after trading 100 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
