The JSE Junior Market Index at an all-time high.
Following a long run with the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market failing to take out the record 2019 high, the market ended for a second consecutive day at a new record closing high on Friday, with the Market Index gaining 26.21 points to finish the day at 3,695.94 after trading during the day at a high of 3,717.45 and ended with the volume of stocks traded, declining 31 percent and the value slipping 22 percent lower than on Thursday.
A total of 42 securities traded on Friday compared to 43 on Thursday and ended with 17 rising, 18 declining and seven closing unchanged. Five stocks hit 52 weeks highs during trading with four ended with a 52 weeks closing highs. The four ending with 52 weeks’ closing highs are Dolphin Cove, Fontana, Paramount Trading and Spur Tree Spices while Elite Diagnostic traded at an intraday high of $4.40 but closed much lower at the end.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 16.4. 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.
A total of 9,892,920 shares were traded for $34,889,559 compared to 14,330,907 units at $44,562,678 on Thursday, with Spur Tree Spices leading trading with 2.86 million shares for 28.9 percent of total volume followed by Tropical Battery, 1.29 million units with 13.1 percent of the day’s trade and Consolidated Bakeries with 835,948 units for 8.4 percent market share.
Trading averaged 235,546 shares at $830,704 in contrast to 333,277 shares at $1,036,341 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 319,265 units at $1,177,146, compared to 323,991 units at $1,196,703 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 409,209 units at $1,318,877.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $1 to end at $25 after trading 15,121 shares, AMG Packaging rallied 27 cents to $3.59 in an exchange of 69,316 stocks, Cargo Handlers declined 15 cents in closing at $6.85, with 7,457 stock units changing hands. Caribbean Flavours popped 14 cents to $2.10, with 69,312 units crossing the market, Dolphin Cove advanced $3.39 to close at $25.99 after 320,349 stocks changed hands, Elite Diagnostic lost 27 cents to $3.73 in switching ownership of 109,106 stock units. Everything Fresh climbed 11 cents in ending at $1.10, with 323,809 units clearing the market, Fontana rose 25 cents to close at $8.10 after trading 144,018 shares, Fosrich increased 12 cents in closing at $14.95 with 40,024 units crossing the exchange. 
Honey Bun gained 34 cents to end at $9.59 in exchanging 14,708 shares, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 20 cents in closing at $3.10, trading 16,484 stock units, ISP Finance climbed $1.51 to close at $37 with an exchange of 231 stocks. Lasco Financial fell 18 cents to end at $3.07 while exchanging 9,377 stock units, Medical Disposables shed 57 cents after ending at $6.72 with the swapping of 109,016 shares, Spur Tree Spices increased 33 cents to $2.76 in an exchange of 2,862,464 stocks. SSL Venture lost 17 cents to close at $1.73 after exchanging 156,015 units, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 10 cents to end at $5.90 exchanging 21,937 stock units and tTech dropped 20 cents after ending at $4 in trading 800 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index rose 1.74 points to end at 201.81.
Productive Business Solutions shed 9 cents to US$1.01, with 531 stocks crossing the market. Proven Investments rallied 0.2 of a cent to close at 22.95 US cents after trading 16,075 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share ended unchanged at 12.95 US cents, with 2,332 stock units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway remained at 0.83 US cents after exchanging 104,700 units.
Twenty one securities traded, up from 18 on Thursday, with seven rising, eight declining and six unchanged. The Composite Index inched by 0.04 points to 1,523.36, the All T&T Index rose 5.63 points to 2,133.01 and the Cross-Listed Index fell 0.83 points to settle at 122.08.
Massy Holdings popped 1 cent to end at $106 after trading 33,076 units, National Enterprises fell 13 cents to close at $3.12 after exchanging 700 stocks, National Flour Mills remained at $1.87 after 62,410 stock units changed hands. NCB Financial Group popped 1 cent higher in closing at $8.01, with 289,219 stock units crossing the market, Point Lisas rallied 2 cents to end at $3.27 trading 80,200 stocks, Prestige Holdings fell 5 cents to $7, with 10,000 shares changing hands, Republic Financial Holdings gained 4 cents in closing at $141.34 after trading 2,786 units, Scotiabank ended at $72 with 2,112 units crossing the market, Trinidad & Tobago NGL finished at $19.99, with 3,030 stock units crossing the market. Trinidad Cement declined 6 cents to end at $3.74 after 7,426 shares crossed the exchange, Unilever Caribbean increased 25 cents to $16 with 20 stocks changing hands and West Indian Tobacco lost 48 cents in closing at $27.50 after trading 3,999 stocks.
Market activity led to all 43 Junior Market securities trading on Thursday compared to 42 on Wednesday and ended with 23 rising, 12 declining and eight, closing unchanged.
At the close, CAC 2000 rallied 72 cents to end at $8.25 in an exchange of 50 shares, Cargo Handlers dropped 30 cents to close at $7, with 3,570 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Cream climbed 27 cents to end at $5.27 after exchanging 2,327 stocks. Dolphin Cove popped 10 cents to close at $22.60 after trading 130,213 units with the price hitting an intraday high of $24.40. Elite Diagnostic advanced 30 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $4 while exchanging 49,005 stock units, Fontana rose 16 cents to $7.85 with the swapping of 346,988 shares. Fosrich gained 26 cents in closing at $14.83 with 11,944 stocks crossing the exchange, Future Energy Source increased 12 cents to close at $3.41 in trading 617,019 units, Honey Bun declined 30 cents to end at $9.25 in switching ownership of 130,247 shares. Indies Pharma shed 7 cents after ending at $3.08, with 74,482 stock units changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance increased 33 cents in closing at $3.30 after an exchange of 100 stocks, ISP Finance fell $2.51 to end at $35.49 and trading 336 units. Jamaican Teas rose 16 cents after ending at $4.26 in an exchange of 367,087 shares, Lasco Manufacturing lost 30 cents to $4.63 trading 3,776 stocks, Lumber Depot gained 14 cents to close at $3.18 after an exchange of 578,815 units.
Medical Disposables gained 57 cents to $7.29 trading 189 stock units, Paramount Trading rallied 16 cents ending at a 52 weeks’ of $2.03 with an exchange of 236,189 stocks, SSL Venture fell 30 cents to end at $1.90 in trading 225,157 stock units and tTech popped 20 cents to close at $4.20 after 36,447 shares changed hands.
Trading ended with seven securities changing hands, compared to nine on Wednesday with prices of four rising, one declining and two holding firm.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share increased 0.1 of a cent to 6.99 US cents while trading 31,191 shares, Proven Investments rallied 1.75 cents to 22.75 US cents after 26,155 stock units changed hands, Sterling Investments remained at 2.1 US cents while exchanging 10,000 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments USD share gained 0.25 of a cent to close at 12.95 US cents after trading 2,346 units and Transjamaican Highway shed 0.02 of a cent in closing at 0.83 of one US cent in swapping of 113,477 stocks.
In the overall market, the volume of shares trading was 58 percent less and the value 28 percent higher than on Wednesday as rising stocks exceeded those declining after 55 securities traded, similar to Wednesday, with 22 rising, 16 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
Overall, 9,854,246 shares were exchanged for $213,910,310 versus 23,550,929 units at $167,256,472 on Wednesday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 23 percent of total volume with a transfer of 2.27 million shares followed by Kingston Wharves, 18.3 percent with 1.81 million units and Transjamaican Highway, 13.6 percent, with 1.34 million units changing hands.
Margaritaville fell $3 to $23 with 1,111 stocks changing hands, Mayberry Investments rallied 64 cents to $7.85 in transferring 4,183 shares, NCB Financial popped $6 to finish at $133, with 580,328 units crossing the exchange. PanJam Investment rose 50 cents to $65.50 in trading 213 units, Proven Investments declined $1.20 to end at $32 with 17,120 stock units crossing the market, Sagicor Group advanced $1.39 to $53.90 after an exchange of 17,121 shares. Seprod shed $1 to close at $60 in transferring 13,140 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 50 cents to $16 with 102,082 stocks clearing the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $2.23 to $18.25 in switching ownership of 100 units and Wisynco Group lost 30 cents to end at $17.50 with 389,966 stock units crossing the market.
A total of 18 securities traded similar to Wednesday, resulting in an exchange of 396,731 shares for $14,048,777 up from 148,186 units at $2,718,598, previously. An average of 22,041 units traded at $780,488 compared to 8,233 shares at $151,033 on Wednesday, with trading month to date averaging 41,320 units at $371,883 versus 42,372 units at $349,596. The average trade for December amounts to 21,703 units at $306,768.
National Flour Mills lost 5 cents after ending at $1.87 in switching ownership of 1,152 stocks, NCB Financial Group dropped 3 cents in closing at $8 after exchanging 224,190 units, Scotiabank fell $2 to close at $72 with an exchange of 3,146 stock units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL declined 1 cent in closing at $19.99 trading 390 shares, Trinidad Cement finished at $3.80 after 9,314 shares changed hands and West Indian Tobacco shed 1 cent to $27.98 while exchanging 2,526 stocks.
At the close, Access Financial increased $1 in closing at $24 after an exchange of 5,226 shares, AMG Packaging advanced 15 cents to close at $3.30 in trading 149,663 stock units, Blue Power lost 9 cents in ending at $3.16 after 4,655 stocks were traded. CAC 2000 dropped 77 cents to $7.53 in switching ownership of 2,921 units, Cargo Handlers fell 21 cents to $7.30 in an exchange of 1,001 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 10 cents to finish at $2.99 with the swapping of 144,260 shares. Caribbean Cream shed 20 cents in ending at $5, with 301,934 units changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries declined 9 cents to close at $1 in trading 160,517 stock units, Elite Diagnostic popped 21 cents to end at $3.70, with 78,665 units clearing the market. Fosrich dropped 23 cents in closing at $14.57 while exchanging 49,509 stock units, Future Energy Source fell 11 cents to $3.29 with an exchange of 1,936,712 shares, iCreate declined 7 cents to close at 78 cents after 338,244 stocks crossed the market. Iron Rock Insurance lost 13 cents to end at $2.97 with 15,424 units changing hands, ISP Finance spiked $8.50 to $38 after exchanging one stock unit, Jamaican Teas rallied 7 cents to $4.10 trading 39,341 stocks. 
Knutsford Express rose 10 cents to $8 with 12,150 shares changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 37 cents in closing at $4.93 after 642,854 shares passed through the exchange, Lumber Depot rose 7 cents to $3.04 in trading 885,926 stocks. Mailpac Group gained 13 cents to end at $3.34 after trading 595,822 units, Spur Tree Spices increased 16 cents to close at $2.46 with 2,218,267 stock units changing hands, SSL Venture shed 9 cents to $2.20 after 479,032 stock units crossed the market and Stationery and Office Supplies climbed 24 cents to close at $5.99 after trading 54,587 units.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,169.31 points to 436,515.05, the JSE Main Index fell 2,739.24 points to settle at 395,499.17 and the JSE Financial Index shed 1.10 points to close at 97.49.
At the close, Berger Paints fell 59 cents to $12.40 with 89,460 units clearing the market, Caribbean Producers shed 72 cents in closing at $16.23 after 171,442 stock units changed hands. Eppley rose $1.45 to end at $36.45 in switching ownership of 590 stocks, First Rock Capital lost 63 cents to close at $10.37 with the swapping of 24,812 shares, Guardian Holdings dropped $10.65 to end at $537.35 in trading 87 units. Jamaica Broilers gained 50 cents in closing at $27.50 with 1,610,187 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers lost 32 cents after ending at $22.68 in transferring 1,574 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell $1.67 to close at $15.83 in exchanging 126,376 shares. Margaritaville popped $1 to end at $26 in switching ownership of 3,266 units, Mayberry Investments declined 69 cents after ending at $7.21 and trading 9,074 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied $3 to close at $100 with an exchange of 3,228 stock units. 
NCB Financial declined $5 to end at $127 with the swapping of 594,363 units, 138 Student Living traded 662 shares and gained 40 cents to land at $4.20, PanJam Investment advanced $2 in closing at $65 after 759 stock units crossed the exchange, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 62 cents to $15.50 with a transfer of 234,060 stocks and Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $2.23 to $16.02 with the swapping of 2,124 shares.
Nine securities traded compared to six on Tuesday, with stocks rising, declining and ending unchanged sharing three each. The JSE US Denominated Equities Index rose 0.62 points to end at 198.91.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share ended at 6.89 US cents with 38 shares crossing the exchange, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell 4.2 cents to end at US$1.20 in an exchange of 20 stocks, Proven Investments popped 0.45 of one cent to close at 21 US cents in switching ownership of 186,658 units. Sterling Investments ended at 2.1 US cents in exchanging 232 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share climbed 0.4 of a cent in ending at 12.7 US cents after 6,350 stock units crossed the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share shed 0.3 of a cent to 13.5 US cents after exchanging 1,463 stocks and Transjamaican Highway advanced 0.02 of a cent after ending at 0.85 of one US cent in trading 200,000 units.
