The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed lower on Monday after trading closed with trading occurring in 44 securities compared with 46 on Friday and resulted in 20 rising, 14 declining and 10 closing unchanged, with stocks traded moderately more than those on Friday.
Investors traded 5,733,266 shares for $17,140,162 up from 5,255,540 units at $16,475,124 on Friday.
Trading averaged 130,302 shares at $389,549 compared to 114,251 shares at $358,155 on Friday with a month to date, average of 188,336 stock units at $508,304 compared to 193,163 stocks at $518,181 on the previous trading day. Trading in May averaged 239,954 units at $648,811.
Fosrich led trading with 1.79 million shares for 31.1 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy Source with 406,539 units for 7.1 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 395,974 units for 6.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 7.88 points to close at 3,879.91.
The PE Ratio. a measure of computing appropriate stock values averages 11.3, The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $1.10 in closing at $23.20 in trading 413 shares, CAC 2000 popped 45 cents to $7.09, with 6 units crossing the market, Caribbean Cream advanced 28 cents to close at $4.17 in an exchange of 50,254 stock units. Dolphin Cove dropped 77 cents to $15 with a transfer of 41,886 stocks, Elite Diagnostic dipped 17 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $2.03 in an exchange of 100 stock units, Express Catering rallied 35 cents in closing at $5.20 after 3,572 shares were traded. Fontana climbed 22 cents to $10 with investors transferring 296,898 units, Fosrich rose 18 cents to close at $2.53, with 1,785,528 stocks crossing the market, General Accident fell 20 cents and ended at $4.80 after stakeholders exchanged 58,696 stocks. 
Honey Bun shed 46 cents to end at $6.50 in switching ownership of 13,750 shares, Image Plus Consultants lost 9 cents in closing at $2 with shareholders swapping 363,700 units, Indies Pharma rose 12 cents to $3.17, with 3 stock units changing hands. ISP Finance rallied 40 cents to end at $26.40, with 202 shares clearing the market, Knutsford Express rose 80 cents to close at $11.80 after stakeholders traded 4,447 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing declined 9 cents and ended at $4.40 as investors exchanged 30,760 stock units. Limners and Bards climbed 9 cents to end at $2.20 after an exchange of 12,157 units, Main Event dropped 81 cents to $13.89 after a transfer of 5,855 stock units, 
Regency Petroleum gained 9 cents in closing at $2.80 after 85,023 units passed through the market and tTech shed 10 cents and ended at $2.20 while exchanging 1,394 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Kremi heads ICTOP10 after gaining 22%
The performance this past week in the Junior and the Main Market diverged significantly the Junior Market recorded gains in the week and put it back at early March levels this year while the main market declined further continuing negative performance since the beginning of June and is now back at August 2018 levels and is providing investors with a great opportunity to add some of these stocks to their early Christmas shopping at bargain prices.
The Junior Market has broken through the downward-sloping resistance line of the wedge. The Junior Market reclaimed the 3,800 handle last week and is close to retaking the 3,900 level shortly, with the market set for a big rally in the second half of the year a position supported by technical analysis of the market. The Main Market seems to be weighed down by concerns relating to inflation and interest rates, if so the reading is wrong as inflation is well under control and interest rates will start dropping before the year ends.
Against the background, the Junior Market recorded gains for six stocks during the week with iCreate jumping 26 percent to $1.20, Caribbean Cream moving up 22 percent to $3.89 and Edufocal putting on 6 percent to end the week at $1.89 hey worst performer was Iron Rock Insurance down 7 percent to $2 and General Accident fell 5 percent to $5, while One and One lost 3 percent to close the week at $1.04.
The Main Market had one price movement of note with Transjamaican rising 13 percent to close the week at $2.39. Declining are 138 Student Living down 11 percent to $4.60, Guardian Holdings, with a loss of 7 percent to $450.01 and Caribbean Producers lost 5 percent to end the week at $9.48.
Transjamaican moved out of the Main Market TOP10, with a gain of 27 percent since entering the TOP10 and 35 percent since it was added to Stocks to Watch at $1.77 in April, is replaced by Caribbean Cement, with projected earnings of $6.50 notwithstanding for the first quarter profit and in the Junior Market, Edufocal moved out while Everything Fresh returns after a brief absence to the TOP10 with the price having fallen to $1.50.
Transjamaican, although out of the top 10 has much more room to grow with the potential for an additional 200% increase in the stock price. A look at the order book for Transjamaican suggests that demand is likely to overwhelm supply over the next two to three weeks with a likely price target then of $3. Even then the potential dividend yield that could be 8 percent at that price could result in the price going higher.
Recent developments for some stocks – Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing increased dividends to 10 cents and 12 cents respectively, with both to be paid in July, while Stationery and Office Supplies hit a record high in the week at $24 but closed the week at $20 for a 17 percent gain for the year. The stock is now a prime candidate for a stock split. Earnings for Berger Paints were adjusted down to $1 per share for 2023.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.8, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 254 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 98, with an average of 29 and 20 excluding the highest PE stocks, 23 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.8 compared with the market at 11.1. There are 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PE from 15 to 42, averaging 21 that are well above the average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently. Junior Market is projected to rise by 270 percent to May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation is an important indicator of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
In the market generally, Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and in the process gradually reducing the supply of several stocks that are attractively priced as the market moves toward the summer months, the start of the stock market year.
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.
ICTOP10 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 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.
JSE Main Market stocks back at 2018 levels
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market continued to lose ground on Friday, with declining stocks clobbering those advanced on a 2 to 1 basis, with the losers dominated by some of the largest capitalized stocks, resulting in a decline in the market index to the lowest point since August 2018, with the market closing down for the week and ending on Friday with a 31 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with a 39 percent lower value than Thursday.
A total of 58 securities changed hands compared with 59 on Thursday and ended with 15 rising 29 declining and 14 unchanged as two stocks hit 52 weeks’ lows, with NCB Financial closing act is 52 weeks’ low of $65.70 while Salada Foods dipped to a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $2.51.
A total of 14,340,680 shares were traded for $56,260,192 compared with 20,658,946 units at $92,185,071 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 247,253 shares at $970,003 versus 350,152 units at $1,562,459 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 340,544 units at $5,192,296, compared to 349,201 shares at $5,584,125 on the previous day. May closed with an average of 226,361 units at $1,362,447.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 4.70 million shares for 32.8 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.84 million units for 19.8 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund chipped in with 1.23 million units for 8.6 percent market share and QWI Investments with 1.07 million units for 7.5 percent of total volume.
Several of the largest capitalized companies suffered big losses on Friday
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 214.10 points to end at 360,434.51, the JSE Main Index slipped 843.81 points to 322,530.46 and the JSE Financial Index climbed 0.12 points to 72.89.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed 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 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Berger Paints dropped 99 cents to end at $7.08 after a transfer of 2,600 shares, Caribbean Cement dipped 94 cents in closing at $49.19 after an exchange of 2,659 stocks, Eppley popped $4 to close at $37, with 331 stock units crossing the exchange, Guardian Holdings shed $4.95 ended at $450.05 with shareholders swapping 885 units, Jamaica Producers gained 97 cents to $19.97 crossing the market 161 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 97 cents in closing at $11.03 after an exchange of 161,640 stock units,
Kingston Wharves declined $1.90 to $28 in switching ownership of 61,995 units, Massy Holdings lost $9.50 in ending at $90 with 25,621 shares clearing the market, Mayberry Investments fell 90 cents to $8.01 in an exchange of 180,766 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 84 cents to end at $10.30, with 599,395 units being traded, NCB Financial declined $1.30 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $65.70 with an exchange of 87,054 stocks, Pan Jamaica Group dipped 99 cents to $49 in trading 1,166 shares Proven Investments dropped $1.12 to close at $25.40 after an exchange 14,963 stock units, Sagicor Group gained $1.50 in closing at $50 as investors exchanged 3,140 stocks, Seprod advanced $3.49 and ended at $70.50 after 1,265 shares changed hands and Wisynco Group rallied 94 cents to end at $18.50 after 4,903 units crossed the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share rose $1 to close at $20 as 500 stock units passed through the market, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% climbed $22 to $3000 with stakeholders exchanging 2 shares and JMMB Group 7% preference share dipped 40 cents to $2 with investors transferring 8,333 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading gains for the JSE USD Market
Trading picked up on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended with a 2,914 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands valued at 159 percent more than on Thursday, resulting in the trading of 11 securities compared to five on Thursday with six rising, two declining and three ending unchanged.
A total of 992,059 shares were traded for US$15,037 compared to 32,918 units at US$5,796 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 90,187 units at US$1,367 versus 6,584 shares at US$1,159 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 69,154 shares at US$2,171 compared with 65,984 units at US$2,292 on the previous day. May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased 4.90 points to finish at 242.16.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.1. 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 two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share advanced 1 cent to close at 5.5 US cents with 58 shares being traded, Margaritaville climbed 3.09 cents to end at 11.11 US cents with investors trading 35 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied 5 cents to 60 US cents, with 11 stock units crossing the exchange. Proven Investments remained at 16 US cents after 1,150 stocks passed through the market, 
Sterling Investments declined 0.41 of a cent to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 1.59 US cents after investors traded 274,980 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.99 cents to close at 10.99 US cents with investors transferring 35 stocks. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share shed 0.01 of a cent in closing at 10.99 US cents after a transfer of 35 stock units and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.02 of a cent to end at 1.44 US cents with stakeholders exchanging 715,660 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 6% preference share ended at US$1.40 after exchanging 71 stocks, JMMB Group 5.75% increased 24 cents to end at US$2.14 with a transfer of 2 units and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.18 in an exchange of 22 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big jump in Junior Market Index
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed higher on Friday, as upward momentum in the market is quietly shifting upwards, as it closed on Friday just 2.5 percent below December 2022 level, with indicators pointing to the market capturing higher grounds in the near future.
The Junior Market Index jumped 44.82 points to close at 3,887.79, the highest point since March 3 this year.
The volume of stocks traded declined 46 percent with a 29 percent lower value than on Thursday from trading in the same number of securities as the market closed with prices of 17 rising, 16 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 5,255,540 shares for $16,475,124 versus 9,723,498 units at $23,066,193 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 114,251 shares at $358,155 compared with 211,380 shares at $501,439 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 193,163 units at $518,181 compared to 200,679 stock units at $533,422 on the previous day. May closed with an average of 239,954 units at $648,811.
Future Energy Source led trading with 856,557 shares for 16.3 percent of the day’s volume followed by Tropical Battery with 854,433 units for 16.3 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial ended with 799,524 units for 15.2 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.1. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years 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, Access Financial dropped $2.87 to end at $22.10 with shareholders swapping 17,027 shares, AMG Packaging climbed 34 cents to $2.64, with 1,320 stocks changing hands, Blue Power dipped 10 cents to close at $2.55, with stakeholders exchanging 30 stocks. 
Cargo Handlers gained $2.80 in closing at 52 weeks’ high of $22, with 48 units crossing the exchange, with the stock being set up for a split, Caribbean Flavours popped 13 cents to $1.38 in an exchange of 395 stock units, Dolphin Cove rallied 77 cents to close at $15.77 with investors transferring 40,679 units. Elite Diagnostic advanced 16 cents and ended at $2.20 in switching ownership of 2,226 stocks, Express Catering declined 15 cents to $4.85 with investors trading 69,945 shares, Iron Rock Insurance shed 15 cents in closing at $2 with a transfer of 335 stock units. Limners and Bards lost 9 cents to end at $2.11, with 52,081 stocks clearing the market, Paramount Trading rose 8 cents to close at $2.19 in an exchange of 40 units, Regency Petroleum fell 10 cents to end at $2.71 and closed with 29,734 shares changing hands.
Spur Tree Spices declined 13 cents to end at $2.40 as investors exchanged 234,953 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped $1.96 to $20 after 10,704 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading slipped on Trinidad Exchange
Trading levels slipped on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 18 percent with the value just 5 percent lower than on Thursday and resulted in 18 securities trading compared with 15 on Thursday, with five stocks rising, four declining and nine remaining unchanged.
Investors exchanged 201,743 shares for $2,006,520 versus 245,649 stock units at $2,109,492 on Thursday.
An average of 11,208 shares were traded at $111,473 compared to 16,377 units at $140,633 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 15,659 shares at $167,923 versus 16,076 units at $173,217 on the previous day. The average trade for May was an average of 23,500 shares at $216,502.
The Composite Index dipped 6.14 points to 1,227.05, the All T&T Index drifted 8.45 points lower to end at 1,893.56, the SME Index remained unchanged at 70.01 and the Cross-Listed Index slipped 0.51 points to 71.90.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s shed 40 cents in closing at $68.60 after a transfer of 150 units, Angostura Holdings remained at $23.10 with investors trading 835 stock units, Ansa Merchant Bank ended at $49 in trading 24 units, Endeavour Holdings ended at $13 after 151 stock units were exchanged. Firstcaribbean International Bank closed at $7.01 with stakeholders exchanging 2,000 shares, First Citizens Group gained 9 cents to close at $48.99, with 4,066 stock units clearing the market, GraceKennedy fell 24 cents to end at $3.25 after 13,500 shares crossed the exchange, Guardian Holdings dipped 5 cents in closing at $18.95, with 10,464 units passed through the market. Guardian Media ended at $2.30 with stakeholders swapping 43 stocks, JMMB Group ended at $1.35 with an exchange of 10,000 shares, Massy Holdings advanced 1 cent in ending at $4.95, with 117,506 stock units crossing the market, 
National Enterprises closed at $3.40, with trading of 27,732 units. One Caribbean Media ended at $3.70 in an exchange of 275 shares, Republic Financial rose 13 cents to $129.06, with 2,719 units changing hands, Scotiabank ended at $76.50 with an exchange of 4,700 stocks. Trinidad & Tobago NGL climbed 13 cents to end at $17.88, with 5,893 stocks crossing the exchange, Unilever Caribbean lost 5 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $11.40 with a transfer of 1,005 units and West Indian Tobacco rallied 4 cents in closing at $12.52, with 680 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading drops on Trinidad Exchange
Trading dropped on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday, with an 81 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded, with a 56 percent lower value than on Wednesday and resulted in the trading of 15 securities compared with 19 on Wednesday, with prices of three stocks rising, seven declining and five remaining unchanged.
Investors traded 245,649 shares for $2,109,492 compared with 1,302,645 stocks at $4,753,061 on Wednesday.
An average of 16,377 shares were traded at $140,633 versus 68,560 shares at $250,161 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 16,076 shares at $173,217 compared with 16,051 units at $175,980 on the previous day. The average trade for May amounts to 23,500 shares at $216,502.
The Composite Index rose 1.56 points to close at 1,233.19, the All T&T Index popped 0.60 points to settle at 1,902.01, the SME Index remained at 70.01 and the Cross-Listed Index popped 0.36 points to close at 72.41.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s climbed 20 cents to $69 as 8,429 shares passed through the market, Angostura Holdings ended at $23.10 in an exchange of 10 stocks, Ansa McAl fell 3 cents in closing at $50.95 as investors traded 37 shares. FirstCaribbean International Bank closed at $7.01. with investors trading 168 units, GraceKennedy lost 1 cent to close at $3.49 in switching ownership of 10,100 units, JMMB Group ended at $1.35 in an exchange of 4,459 stock units. Massy Holdings dipped 2 cents to $4.94, with 93,177 shares changing hands, National Enterprises dipped 5 cents to close at $3.40 after a transfer of 18,358 stocks, National Flour Mills increased 14 cents in closing at $1.65 while stakeholders were exchanging 213 stock units. NCB Financial ended at $2.70 with a transfer of 100,000 stocks, 
Republic Financial dipped 27 cents to $128.93 after 4,590 shares were exchanged, Scotiabank remained at $76.50, with 725 units clearing the market. Trinidad & Tobago NGL shed 13 cents to close at $17.75, with stakeholders trading 830 units, Trinidad Cement popped 15 cents in closing at $2.65 and closed, with 2,811 stocks being traded and Unilever Caribbean dipped 5 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $11.45, with 1,742 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Drop in trading for JSE USD Market
Trading activities dropped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Thursday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 89 percent and the value by 83 percent compared to Wednesday and resulted in trading of five securities, compared to seven on Wednesday and ended with the price of one rising, two declining and two ending unchanged.
Investors exchanged 32,918 shares with a value of US$5,796 compared with 289,060 units at US$34,073 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 6,584 shares at US$1,159 versus 41,294 units at US$4,868 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 65,984 shares at US$2,292 compared to 70,352 units at US$2,375 on the prior day. May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The US Denominated Equities Index shed 2.75 points to 237.27.
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 three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of trading, Proven Investments ended at 16 US cents after an exchange of 1,935 shares, Sterling Investments rose 0.1 of a cent to 2 US cents with a transfer of 950 stocks, Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.03 of a cent and ended at 1.42 US cents after an exchange of 29,600 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share slipped 30 cents to close at US$12.50, with 402 stock units changing hands and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.18 after traders exchanged 31 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drifts in trading
Trading dropped and the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange pulled back on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 16 percent and the value 18 percent from Wednesday outturn, with 46 securities trading compared with 43 on Wednesday, with prices of 16 stocks rising, 22 declining and eight closing unchanged.
Investors traded 9,723,498 shares for $23,066,193 compared to 11,588,780 units at $28,016,741 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 211,380 shares at $501,439, down from 269,507 shares at $651,552 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 200,679 units at $533,422 compared with 199,552 stock units at $536,788 on the previous day. May ended with an average of 239,954 units at $648,811.
KLE Group led trading with 3.31 million shares for 34 percent of total volume, followed by Fosrich with 2.06 million units for 21.2 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy Source with 479,757 units for 4.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 23.99 points to 3,842.97.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.2. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years 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 two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging dipped 15 cents in closing at $2.30 after a transfer of 25,113 shares, Blue Power advanced 45 cents to $2.65 in an exchange of 13,770 stocks, CAC 2000 declined 45 cents to $6.64 after stakeholders traded 11 units. Caribbean Flavours dropped 15 cents to $1.25 with a transfer of 1,860 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries popped 12 cents to $2.42 after an exchange of 156,000 stocks, Dolphin Cove shed 93 cents to end at $15 while exchanging 18,276 stock units. Elite Diagnostic lost 16 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.04, with 7,552 shares crossing the exchange, Express Catering rose 12 cents to close at $5, with an exchange of 22,988 units, Fontana rallied 15 cents to $9.75, with 95,969 stock units changing hands.
Fosrich increased 25 cents to close at $2.40 with stakeholders trading 2,062,959 units, Future Energy Source climbed 11 cents and ended at $4 with shareholders swapping 479,757 shares after the stock traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $3.75. General Accident 23 cents to end at $5 in switching ownership of 4,500 stocks, iCreate dipped 11 cents to $1.17 with an exchange of 20,000 units. ISP Finance declined 45 cents to close at $26 after 5,727 shares changed hands, KLE Group fell 17 cents in closing at $1.60 in an exchange of 3,309,710 stocks, Knutsford Express dropped 45 cents in closing at $11.05 in trading 4,536 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing gained 14 cents to close at $4.49 after exchanging 50,745 stocks, Regency Petroleum lost 10 cents to end at $2.81, with 126,729 stock units crossing the market, 
Stationery and Office Supplies shed $2.04 to $21.96 after 5,291 units passed through the market and tTech fell 20 cents to $2.30 as investors exchanged 163 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big trades dominate Main Market
Big bucks were exchanged in trading shares of Scotia Group, GraceKennedy and NCB Financial on Wednesday that swell trading to 29,208,655 shares for $724,590,730 compared with 54,343,616 units at $593,158,740 on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with the volume of stocks traded declining 46 percent with a 22 percent higher value.
Trading ended with 55 securities changing hands compared with 56 on Tuesday, resulting in prices of 18 rising, 24 declining and 13 ending unchanged, resulting in the trading of an average of 531,066 shares at $13,174,377 compared to 970,422 shares at $10,592,120 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 349,102 units at $6,003,345, up from 329,517 units at $5,231,512 on the previous day. Trading in May ended with an average of 226,361 units at $1,362,447.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.45 million shares for 25.5 percent of total volume followed by Scotia Group with 4.85 million units for 16.6 percent of the day’s trade, GraceKennedy with 3.76 million units for 12.9 percent market share, NCB Financial with 3.05 million units for 10.4 percent market share, Transjamaican Highway with 3.03 million units for 10.4 percent market share and QWI Investments with 2.49 million units for 8.5 percent of total volume.
At the close of the market, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,105.39 points to end at 360,982.14, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,861.20 points to 327,139.32 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.98 points to end at 72.90.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed 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 nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints gained 40 cents to close at $7.50 in switching ownership of 7,990 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost 50 cents in ending at $39.50 with stakeholders trading 1,156 units, First Rock Real Estate shed 49 cents to end at $10 after 10,000 stocks passed through the market, Guardian Holdings dropped $10 to $475 with 215 stock units changing hands. 
Jamaica Broilers fell $1.74 in closing at $33.02 after an exchange of 26,800 units, JMMB Group rallied 49 cents to end at $28.99 with investors trading 25,215 stock units, Kingston Wharves advanced $1.75 to $29.75 after a transfer of 1,527 stocks, Margaritaville rose 57 cents ended at $15.20 with shareholders swapping 2,106 shares. NCB Financial declined $1 to $67 in trading 3,051,068 units, 138 Student Living dipped 45 cents in closing at $4.55, with 1,047,762 stocks crossing the market, Proven Investments popped $1.45 and ended at $26.95 after stakeholders exchanged 205 shares, Sagicor Group dropped 45 cents to $48.50 with an exchange of 52,303 stock units. Scotia Group dipped $2.64 in closing at $32.06 with a transfer of 4,846,189 stock units, Seprod climbed $1.90 to close at $71.90 with 102,837 stocks crossing the exchange, 
Sterling Investments increased 41 cents to end at $2.91 after an exchange of 8,440 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined 80 cents to $11.20 as investors exchanged 299 shares, Wisynco Group shed 43 cents in closing at $17.87, with 587,233 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share rose $2.85 to end at $19 in an exchange of 260,585 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $1.99 in ending at $50.01 while exchanging 198 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
