Mailpac closed trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.37 on Monday while the recently listed One Great Studio traded at a record low of $0.90 before bouncing to close the day at $1.05 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday. Trading ended with the volume of stocks changing hands rising to 14,063,733 units for $27,307,285 up moderately from 13,829,730 units at $26,730,250 on Friday, with trading in 43 securities compared with 42 on Friday and ended with 14 rising, 19 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
Trading averaged 327,064 shares at $635,053 compared to 329,279 shares at $636,435 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 288,574 units at $648,457 compared with 285,783 stock units at $649,429 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 220,239 units at $459,425.
One Great Studio led trading with 3.06 million shares for 21.8 percent of total volume after the stock price sank to an all-time low of 90 cents, followed by Jamaican Teas with 2.73 million units for 19.4 percent of the day’s trade, EduFocal chipped in with 2.26 million units for 16 percent market share, Stationery and Office Supplies with 1.47 million units for 10.4 percent of stocks traded and ONE on ONE Educational with 1.07 million units for 7.6 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index slipped 6.75 points to settle at 3,882.77. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator closed with a positive reading, with 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and just three with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
At the close, Cargo Handlers jumped $1.97 to close at $12.95, with just 149 shares crossing the market, Dolla Financial lost 8 cents and ended at $2.50 after an exchange of 683,742 stocks, EduFocal fell 10 cents to $2.40 after 2,255,519 stock units passed through the market. Elite Diagnostic shed 12 cents to end at $1.65 while exchanging 43,846 units, b>Fontana dipped 28 cents in closing at $11.11 in an exchange of 78,169 stocks, Honey Bun dropped 16 cents to close at $6.34 with shareholders swapping 1,300 stock units. Indies Pharma gained 25 cents and ended at $3 with traders dealing in 2,000 shares, ISP Finance skidded $4.22 to end at $26.78 after a transfer of a mere 170 units, Jamaican Teas declined 9 cents to $2.35 with investors transferring 2,730,495 units. 
JFP Ltd shed 8 cents in closing at $1.41, with 467,658 shares changing hands, Lasco Distributors increased 17 cents to close at $4.32, with investors dealing in 35,188 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing rose 45 cents to $5 after an exchange of 16,588 stock units. Limners and Bards lost 13 cents in closing at $1.76, with 91,143 units crossing the market, Mailpac Group climbed 22 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $2.37, with stakeholders exchanging 73,614 stock units, Main Event skidded 48 cents to end at $14.01 in an exchange of 72,760 stocks. MFS Capital Partners fell 12 cents to end at $2.01 and closed after 153,971 shares passed through the market, 
Spur Tree Spices popped 8 cents and ended at $2.14 in switching ownership of 21,212 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 13 cents to close at $1.62 after investors ended trading 1,467,826 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Fall for Trinidad Stock Exchange
The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange suffered a notable loss in the main indices on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 33 percent with the value 66 percent lower than on Friday, resulting in 16 securities trading down from 20 on Friday, with prices of four stocks rising, six declining and six remaining unchanged.
Investors exchanged 156,493 shares for $1,679,903 down from 235,238 stock units at $4,973,728 on Friday.
An average of 9,781 units were traded at $104,994 compared to 11,762 shares at $248,686 on Friday. Trading for the month to date averaged 13,321 shares at $136,742 compared with 13,532 units at $138,637 on the previous day, down from the average trade for September of 21,948 shares at $198,506.
The Composite Index skidded 10.93 points to close at 1,182.34, the All T&T Index lost 13.72 points to finish at 1,799.09, the SME Index remained at 79.99 and the Cross-Listed Index fell 1.11 points to 73.13.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s remained at $67.05, with 150 shares crossing the market, Ansa McAl ended at $54.05 with investors exchanging 4,003 units, First Citizens Group ended at $49 in trading 1,214 stocks, FirstCaribbean International Bank remained at $6.99 with traders dealing in 100 stock units. GraceKennedy fell 20 cents in closing at $3.20 in an exchange of 6,165 stock units, Guardian Holdings increased $1 and ended at $20 with stakeholders exchanging 31,222 shares, JMMB Group remained at $1.50 with an exchange of 5,001 units. Massy Holdings dipped 4 cents to end at $4.55 with a transfer of 65,500 stocks, National Enterprises ended at $3.50, with 3,654 units changing hands, NCB Financial shed 10 cents to $2.85 after investors ended trading of 4,000 shares. Prestige Holdings declined 62 cents in closing at $10.25, with 636 stock units crossing the exchange, 
Republic Financial skidded 50 cents to $119.50 with an exchange of 1,493 stock units, Scotiabank popped 1 cent higher to $72.01, with 1,508 stocks clearing the market. Trinidad & Tobago NGL rallied 4 cents to close at $10.89 after an exchange of 2,374 units, Trinidad Cement added 1 cent and ended at $2.91 after exchanging 23,833 shares and West Indian Tobacco dropped 49 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.51, with 5,640 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Disappointing early Q3 results
Profits are the primary driver of stock prices. The early release of third quarter results for 2023 for some listed companies has been less than inspiring, with the majority reporting lower revenues and profits for the third quarter and, in some cases, reduced revenues and profits for the year to date. That is not the results the market needs to lift a sagging market weighted down by some poor profit results for the year and tight monetary policy being pursued by Jamaica’s Central Bank.
Margaritaville, located in the Turks & Caicos Islands
So far, Companies reporting include AMG Packaging, Caribbean Cream with it trading brand Kremi, Express Catering, Image Plus Consultants, Knutsford Express, Margaritaville, Mayberry Investments, Paramount Trading and Portland JSX Fund.
AMG Packaging reported a slight drop in full year earnings to August of $94 million. The 2023 performance is better than that of 2022, with the current year’s figures including a one-off charge and vastly increased taxation than in the previous year.
Profit after tax is down from $105 million in the previous year, but this is after taxation that climbed from $18 million to $39 million in the current year. Revenues in the current year come out at $1 billion, up from $996 million in the prior year. For the quarter, revenues fell to $230 million from $257 million, with profits after tax of $19 million, down from $25 million in the previous year. The 2023 result was dragged down by a one off charge relating to payroll tax credits that were not allowed in prior years, amounting to $11 million, had this not been the case, profits would have been higher than for the previous year. Additionally, the taxation charge for the year was $11 million versus just $5 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter.
Caribbean Cream reported revenues of $646 million for the 2023 August quarter versus $645 million in 2022, with the year to date revenues slipping into $1.25 billion from $1.257 billion in 2022. Profit fell to $3.6 million in the August quarter, down from $7 million in 2022, but is up to $10 million for the six months from $8.5 million in 2022.
Revenues and profits rebounded strongly at Express Catering in the first quarter to August 2023 versus 2022. Net profit for the quarter ended at US$843,114 for EPS of 0.051 US cents, up 29 percent from a profit of US$652,841, with EPS of 0.040 US cents in the similar period in 2022 as revenues climbed 30 percent to US$5.4 million from US$4.9 million in 2022 aided by a strong rebound in tourism traffic passing through the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, as well as the opening of new restaurants in the airport.
Image Plus reported sharply lower second quarter results, a 40 percent drop in earnings from $64 million before tax in 2022 to just $39 million for the second quarter as revenues declined by 7 percent to $254 million from $274 million in 2022 but remained flat for the half year at $554 million, resulting in pretax profit falling 33 percent from $153 million down to $103 million. The company indicated that revenues decreased due to machine breakdown.
Revenues at Knutsford Express jumped 18.5 percent for the first quarter ending August to $492 million from $415 million in the 2022 first quarter. The revenue improvement translated to slight growth in profit as cost rose nearly 26 percent to $380 million from $303 million. The company stated that it increased its workforce to manage growth. Before tax, profit increased marginally to $86 million from $84 million in the prior year.
Margaritaville was one company delivering improved revenues and profit for the 2023 first quarter, primarily reflecting improvement in tourism traffic in the Caribbean region. The company generated revenues of US$1.8 million in the August 2023 quarter, up solidly from US$1.42 million in the prior year and delivered gross profit of $1.33 billion this year versus US$1.03 million. Net profit surged to US$230,000 for the year to date against just US$94,000 in 2022.
Mayberry Investments released nine months’ results with a $985 million loss for the third quarter and $693 million loss for the nine months after reporting significant investment losses of around $2 billion in both periods, but shareholders’ equity remains strong at $15.75 billion.
Paramount
Paramount Trading reported lower revenues and profits in the first quarter ending August, following what the company states is the conclusion of the best major six month contract to supply admixture to the construction sector. Revenues declined by 28 percent to $426 million from $595 million the year before and profits fell by 32 percent to $65 million from $97 million the previous year.
Portland JSX Fund reported a worsened loss of US$1,457,327 for the quarter to August this year, up from US$416,643 in the similar quarter in 2022 and a loss of US$8.71 million versus a profit of US$376,681 profit for the six months to August 2022.
The results reflect net fair value losses on investments of US$1.3 million in the quarter and US$8.3 million for the half year.
85% gainer jumps ICTOP10
The Junior Market had an 85 percent winner during the past week, with only three stocks recording notable price changes in a market that remained fairly stable in the holiday-shortened week, with a slippage of only a few points. Price movements in the Main Market were moderate, with the highest being 5 percent at the end of the week, in which the JSE Index dropped more than 3,000 points, with the All Jamaica composite Index slipping just 90 points.
Edufocal was the star performer of the week with a big 85 percent surge in price to close at $2.50, following the company reporting that the board of directors is to meet on October 27 to discuss a possible rights issue and a stock split. Elite Diagnostic rose 13 percent to $1.77 and Everything Fresh dropped 11 percent to $1.40. The Main Market closed the week with JMMB Group falling 5 percent to $27.10, being the only stock with a notable change.
Market activity resulted in two new additions to the Junior Market ICTOP10 and one to the Main Market. Returning to the Junior Market TOP 10 are Lasco Financial Services and Lasco Manufacturing, replacing Caribbean Cream and Edufocal. Full year earnings for the former were downgraded to 55 cents per share following the release of second quarter results, which showed flat revenues for the August quarter and half year compared with 2022 and lower profit for the second quarter, with increased profit for the six months compared to 2022. Lasco Financial Services reported disappointing results for the first quarter of the new fiscal year to June. 
The company did not benefit as much from interest income as would be expected and had adequate funds on hand to expand the loan portfolio, development management indicated they would be pursuing for the rest of the year. Significant expansion of loans could radically transform both revenues and profit for the year. The extent of this improvement is unclear currently, however, the potential suggests that this is a stock to watch going forward as it could surprise to the upside. Lasco Manufacturing is, without question, a stock that is seriously undervalued, but investors pushed the price down during the week. This is clearly one for the future and one that investors should see continuous improvement in stock price over the next 12 months as the company rolls out improved profits in the quarters to come.
In the Main Market, Caribbean Producers returned to the ICTOP10 and replaced Scotia Group that was just squeezed out of the TOP10. CPJ performed well during the fiscal year ending June. The performance was obscured by a onetime charge related to past GCT claims that were booked in the past year, but for this charge, results would have been vastly better than reported, but investors may have been turned off by the results. 
The expectation is for profitability to improve during the current fiscal year ending in June 2024. The stock is clearly undervalued and has much room for growth over the next 12 months and beyond. Scotia Group, although out of the TOP10, reported a 74 percent in profit for the nine months to July and is terribly undervalued. Investors should be accumulated in the stock with the expectation for gradual appreciation, especially when the full year results are released with earnings expected to top $5.50 for the year to October 2023.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5, well below the market average of 12. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 328 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
A total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 105, with an average of 29 and 20 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 22 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight valuations.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6, just over half of the market at 10.7. There are 9 stocks or 19 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 26, averaging 19 that are well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 14, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, with the market projected to rise by 261 percent by May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2024 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 and result 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.
A week of decline for JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with the market declining on each trading day for the week and ended with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 39 percent and the value surging 694 percent more than on Thursday, resulting in eight securities traded, compared to five on Thursday, with five rising, three declining and no ending unchanged.
A total of 390,785 shares were traded for US$54,548 compared with 281,542 units at US$6,866 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 48,848 units at US$6,818 compared to 56,308 shares at US$1,373 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 45,010 shares at US$1,972, up from 44,626 units at US$1,487 on the previous day. September ended with an average of 73,281 units for US$5,102.
The US Denominated Equities Index dipped 6.28 points to 224.32.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.5. The PE ratio is calculated based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share gained 0.51 of one cent to end at 4.86 US cents while exchanging 3,939 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy increased 2 cents in closing at 56 US cents after a transfer of 368 stocks,
Productive Business Solutions dipped 10 cents to close at US$1.50 in an exchange of 270 stocks. Proven Investments climbed 0.01 of a cent to end at 14.51 US cents with shareholders swapping 6,450 units, Sterling Investments dipped 0.3 of a cent and ended at 1.6 US cents after investors traded 11,631 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 0.15 of a cent and ended at 8.75 US cents in trading 103,566 shares and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.02 of a cent to end at 1.62 US cents, with 244,791 units changing hands.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% popped 2 cents to US$2, with 19,770 stock units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market in weekend rally
Trading activity dropped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 36 percent, with the value 52 percent lower than on Thursday, after dealing in 55 securities compared with 51 on Thursday, with 20 rising, 15 declining and 20 ending unchanged.
The market rally benefitted from some significant price increases after Guardian Holdings jumped $29, Massy Holdings rose $8.80, Pan Jamaica climbed $3.46, followed by Sagicor Group, adding $1.29 and Caribbean Cement gaining $1.27.
A total of 5,448,012 shares were traded for $31,523,597, down from 8,555,217 units at $65,664,035 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 99,055 shares at $573,156 versus 167,749 shares at $1,287,530 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 224,992 units at $1,391,827, compared with 232,031 units at $1,437,586 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.56 million shares for 28.7 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.41 million units for 25.9 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 688,813 units for 12.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 168.58 points to finish at 346,820.31, the JSE Main Index popped 3,589.20 points to end at 315,399.16 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.19 points to close at 68.67.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. 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 up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints dipped 93 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.50 in trading 6,563 units, Caribbean Cement rallied $1.27 to $50.32 and closed with an exchange of 13,083 stocks before the company reported nine months results with profit for the quarter rising bly from $1.2 billion in the 2022 third quarter to $1.94 billion on increasing revenues, with the nine months profit up modestly to $4.39 billion from $4.25 billion in 2022. Eppley rose 80 cents and ended at $34 with investors dealing in 209 shares, Guardian Holdings climbed $29 to close at $440 after an exchange of just one stock unit, 
Jamaica Producers lost 95 cents to end at $19 with 4,000 shares, clearing the market. JMMB Group popped 50 cents to $27.50 after trading 36,025 units, Massy Holdings gained $8.80 and ended at $98.80, with just three stocks crossing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy skidded $13.50 in closing at $76.50 as investors exchanged 100 stock units. Pan Jamaica increased $3.46 to close at $50.46 after a transfer of 50 shares, Proven Investments fell $2.24 to end at $21.50 with stakeholders trading 6,000 units, Sagicor Group advanced $1.29 to $43.50 in switching ownership of 3,697 stocks. Seprod popped 50 cents to close at $71.50 after 2,054 stock units crossed the market and Wisynco Group advanced 71 cents in closing at $19.95 in an exchange of 107,030 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $9 to end at $2,890, with one stock changing hands and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share rose $4.25 and ended at $125 with traders dealing in 10 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market slips into weekend
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped moderately by 14.20 points to 3,889.52 on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 4 percent and the value 15 percent lower than Thursday after dealing in 42 securities compared with 43 on Thursday and ended with 18 rising, 16 declining and eight closing unchanged.
Investors traded 13,829,730 shares for $26,730,250 compared to 14,406,305 units at $31,278,834 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 329,279 shares at $636,435 compared to 335,030 units at $727,415 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 285,783 units at $649,429 in comparison with 282,468 stock at $650,420 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 220,239 units at $459,425.
EduFocal led trading with 4.74 million shares for 34.3 percent of total volume, followed by One Great Studio with 3.46 million units for 25 percent of the day’s trade and ONE on ONE Educational with 1.63 million units for 11.8 percent of the day’s trade.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.7, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial advanced 89 cents and ended at $25, with 546 shares crossing the exchange, Blue Power rose 23 cents to $2.93, with 500 stock units crossing the market, CAC 2000 popped 44 cents to close at $4.92 with traders dealing in 30 units, Cargo Handlers shed $3.52 to end at $10.98 in trading 1,271 stocks. Caribbean Flavours climbed 8 cents in closing at $1.48 after 72 units passed through the market, Dolphin Cove skidded 15 cents in closing at $16 in an exchange of 1,000 shares, EduFocal gained 14 cents and ended at $2.50 after an exchange of 4,737,278 stocks, Elite Diagnostic increased 12 cents to close at $1.77 with investors transferring 104,458 stock units. Everything Fresh lost 28 cents to finish at $1.40 with an exchange of 1,792 units, Express Catering declined 9 cents to end at $4.60, with 3,864 stocks clearing the market, Fosrich rallied 7 cents in closing at $2.60 while exchanging 20,590 shares, 
Honey Bun gained 15 cents to close at $6.50, with 7,698 stock units crossing the market. ISP Finance fell $2.33 to $31 as investors exchanged 145 units, Jamaican Teas advanced 14 cents to end at $2.44 with dealings in 300 stock units, Jetcon Corporation dropped 16 cents and ended at 88 cents with a transfer of 59,054 stocks, Knutsford Express dipped $1.28 to close at $11.11 after 13,819 shares changed hands. Lasco Distributors lost 14 cents and ended at $4.15 after a transfer of 344,799 stock units, Limners and Bards rallied 13 cents to end at $1.89 after an exchange of 174,618 shares, Mailpac Group declined 8 cents in closing at $2.15 after 212,021 units changed hands, Main Event dipped 11 cents to $14.49, with 13,836 stocks changing hands. 
MFS Capital Partners climbed 36 cents to end at $2.13, with shareholders swapping 312,940 units and ONE on ONE Educational rose 7 cents to $1.07, with stakeholders exchanging 1,625,329 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading dropped on the Trinidad Exchange
Trading slipped on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded dropping 26 percent with the value marginally lower than on Thursday, resulting from trading in 20 securities similar to Thursday and ended with prices of four stocks rising, 10 declining and six remaining unchanged.
Investors exchanged 235,238 shares for $4,973,728 down from 315,926 units at $5,092,135 on Thursday.
An average of 11,762 units were traded at $248,686 compared with 15,796 shares at $254,607 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 13,532 shares at $138,637 compared with 13,675 units at $129,762 on the previous day. The average trade for September amounts to 21,948 shares at $198,506.
The Composite Index lost 1.86 points to close at 1,193.27, the All T&T Index fell 3.60 points to end at 1,812.81, the SME Index remained at 79.99 and the Cross-Listed Index ended unchanged at 74.24.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s skidded 10 cents in closing at $67.05, with 6,000 shares crossing the market, Ansa McAl declined $2.90 and ended at $54.05 with trading in 763 stock units, Ansa Merchant Bank fell 38 cents to end at $42.12 after 26,030 units changed hands, First Citizens Group ended at $49 while exchanging 3,675 stocks. 
FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $6.99 after investors exchang 12 edunits, GraceKennedy closed at $3.40 with a transfer of 41,035 shares, Guardian Media dropped 29 cents to end at $2.01 after an exchange of 478 stocks, JMMB Group advanced 10 cents and ended at $1.50 in switching ownership of 40,404 stock units. L.J. Williams B share dipped 1 cent to $2.39 and closed with an exchange of 2,000 stocks, Massy Holdings lost 11 cents to end at $4.59 after 43,295 units passed through the market, National Enterprises shed 5 cents and ended at $3.50 with an exchange of 37,303 stock units, National Flour Mills ended at $1.63 with traders dealing in 10 shares. One Caribbean Media increased 1 cent to close at $3.31 with stakeholders exchanging 211 stocks, Point Lisas rose 44 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.51 with shareholders swapping 2,000 units, 
Prestige Holdings climbed $1.37 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $10.87 with investors dealing in 800 shares, Republic Financial remained at $120 with 17,662 stock units clearing the market. Scotiabank dropped 50 cents to $72 in an exchange of 7,138 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL declined 15 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $10.85 after an exchange of 3,225 stock units, Trinidad Cement fell 5 cents to close at $2.90 with investors transferring 197 units and West Indian Tobacco ended at $10, with 3,000 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on JSE Main Market
Trading activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, but still
remained dismally low even with the volume of stocks traded rising 57 percent and the value jumping 55 percent more than on Wednesday, following trading in 58 securities, up from 53 on Wednesday, with 22 rising, 18 declining and 18 ending unchanged.
A total of 6,370,228 shares were traded for $39,980,722 compared with 4,057,118 units at $25,768,191 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 109,832 shares at $689,323 versus 76,549 shares at $486,192 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 263,942 units at $1,644,181, compared with 277,403 units at $1,727,587 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.04 million shares for 32 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.35 million units for 21.2 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 529,471 units for 8.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 3,669.02 points to settle at 347,821.93, the JSE Main Index increased 2,954.52 points to conclude trading at 315,397.91 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.59 points to 69.50.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. 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 up to August 2024.
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, Berger Paints rallied 44 cents to close at $7.44 with an exchange of 130 shares, Caribbean Cement advanced $1 and ended at $50 in trading 2,304 stock units, General Accident increased 71 cents to end at $5.72 with stakeholders exchanging 12,882 units, GraceKennedy declined 77 cents in closing at $72.23, with 56,996 stocks changing hands. Jamaica Broilers dropped 52 cents to $33.48 in an exchange of 11,241 stock units, Jamaica Producers skidded 50 cents to end at $19.50 after an exchange of 109 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost $1.21 to a 52 weeks’ closing low $8.11, with 230,481 units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves shed $1.30 to close at $25.70 in an exchange of 1,668 stocks. 
Massy Holdings dipped 60 cents to $96.50 with 1,251 shares clearing the market, Mayberry Investments rose 45 cents and ended at $7.45 after 75 stock units passed through the market, but before the company released nine months result with a $985 million loss for the third quarter and $693 million loss for the nine months, after reporting big investment losses in both periods. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $9 in closing at $90 while exchanging 56 stocks, NCB Financial fell $1.01 to $63.99 as investors exchanged 97,603 units, Pan Jamaica popped $2.10 to close at $50.10 in switching ownership of 90 shares, Sagicor Group dipped 98 cents and ended at $43.50 and closed with an exchange of 4,169 stock units. Scotia Group gained 95 cents to end at $34.70 with traders dealing in just 2,800 stocks, Seprod rallied $4.74 to $70 with shareholders swapping 55,404 units, Supreme Ventures popped 50 cents in closing at $26.75 after 3,600 shares crossed the exchange and Wisynco Group gained $1.40 to end at $19.50 with a transfer of 293,089 stocks.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share jumped $54 to close at $1100 after trading 19 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on JSE USD market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks changing hands surging 9,370 percent with a value 55 percent lower than on Wednesday and resulted in five securities traded, compared to four on Wednesday with one rising, three declining and one ending unchanged.
Overall, 281,542 shares were traded for US$6,866 compared to 2,973 units at US$15,157 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 56,308 units at US$1,373, versus 743 shares at US$3,789 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 44,626 shares at US$1,487 compared with 43,847 units at US$1,495 on the previous day. September ended with an average of 73,281 units for US$5,102.
The US Denominated Equities Index dropped 0.88 points to end at 230.60.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.6. 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 between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share fell 0.52 of a cent and ended at 4.35 US cents after trading 21,613 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy ended at 54 US cents with stakeholders exchanging 54 stock units, Proven Investments dipped 0.19 cents to close at 14.5 US cents as investors exchanged 734 stocks and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.01 of a cent in closing at 1.64 US cents in an exchange of 258,358 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% dropped 2 cents to US$1.98 in switching ownership of 783 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
