The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed out the worse month in its 50-year history, with a plunge of 29 percent from the start of the month to March 25, before it recovered 41,011.81 of the 154,631.13 points lost up to that point to close the month with a loss of 21 percent.
At the close of trading for March and the end of the first quarter of 2020, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index soared 15,152.90 points to 416,102.90, the JSE Market Index jumped 13,681.82 points to 379,242.11 and the JSE Financial Index gained 2.76 points to end at 103.30.
The market closed with 48 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with prices of 29 stocks advancing, 9 declining and 10 securities trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 42 securities accounting for 46,241,343 units valued at $672,264,195, in contrast to 29,160,780 units valued at $111,371,550 from 39 securities on Monday.
Pulse Investments led trading with 17.2 million shares, for 37 percent of overall Main Market volume, Trans Jamaican Highway traded 7.3 million units, in the JSE US dollar market, the equivalent of 15.7 percent of the Main Market volume and Barita Investments exchanged 7 million units for 15 percent market share.
Other stocks trading more than one million units were Wigton Windfarm with 6.9 million units, Trans Jamaican Highway with 6.1 million shares, JMMB Group with 2.5 million shares and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.1 million units.
The Market closed with an average of 1,100,984 units amounting to $16,006,290 for each security traded, in contrast to 747,712 units valued at an average of $2,855,681 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security changing hands compared to 1,148,383 units valued at 7,111,386 for each security traded. 
Trading in February resulted in an average of 624,731 units valued at $3,239,665 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator│ At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows fifteen stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three stocks closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 14.2, while the Main Market ended at 14.5 times 2020/21 earnings.
In the Main Market, Barita Investments climbed $4.01 to $59, in exchanging 6,970,721 shares, Caribbean Cement jumped $5.50 trading 70,198 shares and closed at $45.50, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed 50 cents to finish at $39.50, with an exchange of 4,500 units. Grace Kennedy ended $5.50 higher at $60, in switching ownership of 261,243 shares, Jamaica Broilers traded 87,050 shares, with gains of $1.91 to close at $30, Jamaica Producers ended at $23, after climbing $4 while exchanging 163,786 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped $4.50 to $23.50, with 267,697 shares changing hands, JMMB Group surged $5.98 to reach $39.98, in transferring 2,521,461 shares, Kingston Wharves gained 91 cents to close at $42.91, trading 4,795 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities ended $1.08 higher in trading 16,911 units at $7.72, PanJam Investment rose $1 to $79, with 54,643 shares changing hands, 
Proven Investments ended at $35, after losing 94 cents while trading 36,309 shares. Pulse Investments added 32 cents to finish at $3.45, in transferring 17,162,610 shares, Sagicor Group leaped $8.40, in exchanging 341,368 shares and closed at $52.40, Salada Foods finished at $29, advancing $4 and trading 20,327 units. Scotia Group closed $3.98 higher at $47.99, with 155,932 shares changing hands, Seprod added $4.50 to end at $47, in swapping 51,191 units, Stanley Motta gained $1.14 exchanging 16,615 units and closed at $5.75. Supreme Ventures shed 50 cents to end at $13, with 177,935 shares traded, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at $18, with gains of $1.40 transferring 154,566 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments exchanged 560,714 shares at $7, after picking up 55 cents and Wisynco Group closed $1.44 higher at $14.69 after trading 501,240 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the day’s last transaction unless otherwise stated.
Trading in February resulted in an average of 624,731 units valued at $3,239,665 for each security.
Kingston Wharves slid $1.50 to $42, trading 7,109 units, Mayberry Investments picked up 60 cents and closed at $5.60, with an exchange of 67,881 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed 36 cents with 16,100 units trading to end at $6.64. NCB Financial Group declined by $4 to close at $150, with 114,390 shares changing hands, 138 Student Living rose 81 cents to end at $5.50, in swapping a mere 86 units, Proven Investments ended at $35.94, after picking up 94 cents and transferring 35,465 shares. Pulse Investments ended at $3.13, with gains of 60 cents trading 1,882,701 shares, Sagicor Group dropped $2.60 to end at $44, with an exchange of 46,235 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed $1.10 higher to $7.70 with the trading of just 1,901 units. Scotia Group a lost $3.49 and finished at $44.01 with 38,328 units changing hands, Seprod added $3.50 to end at $42.50, after transferring 73,476 units, Stanley Motta lost 39 cents swapping 1,000 units and closed at $4.61 and Supreme Ventures fell 49 cents to end at $13.50, with 253,252 shares traded.
Major uncertainties abound about the local and global economy and how each company may be affected. It is not possible to determine the exact fall out from the crisis and the impact on company earnings. Accordingly, actual earnings could vary materially from IC Insider.com’s forecast. In this regard, investors need to be alert to new information that will come to the fore on an ongoing basis and be prepared to adjust their investment decisions as time passes.
The Jamaica stock market suffered sustained pressure during March, leading to one of the most rapid falls in stock prices in the history of the market. In the past week, prices have bounced with the Main Market putting in strong gains on Thursday and Friday, but the market index is down by a sizeable 29.5 percent year to date.
The current year has changed markedly as the Corona Virus impact on countries worldwide has been significantly disruptive, inflicting significant damage to the individuals, businesses and economies. With the wipeout of fiscal deficits and debt to GDP set to be below 90 percent, the Jamaican economy is in a far better place than at the time of the 2008 crisis that severely tested the country and led to many measures that severely affected the economy from then until 2016.
The Group consists of Caribbean Producers, Dolphin Cove, Everything Fresh and Express Catering. Entertainment company Main Event and restaurant operator KLE Group will be hurt from patrons staying home as well as fewer tourists visiting Montego Bay and patronizing the restaurant in that town. Some major contributors to the tourism market are Grace, Jamaica Broilers and Wisynco. The results for some companies are hit by falling stock and bond prices. The results for the 2020 first quarter will show the impact of the recent market decline. The latter includes JMMB Group, Proven, NCB Financial Group, Barita Investments, VMBS Investments, Jamaican Teas, QWI Investments and Sagicor Group. Banks may have to increase loan loss provisions as businesses encounter cash flow problems and defaulting on loan payments.
Trading in February resulted in an average of 624,731 units valued at $3,239,665 for each security.
NCB Financial Group closed $2 higher at $154, in trading 41,906 shares, 138 Student Living shed 81 cents to end at $4.69 exchanging 6,216 units, Portland JSX closed $1.60 lower to $7.30 after transferring just 416 units. Proven Investments ended at $35, after falling by $1 in trading 19,278 shares, Sagicor Group jumped $4.20 to $46.60, with 70,977 stock units changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 82 cents to $6.60 with the transfer of 5,774 units. Scotia Group climbed $3.50 to finish at $47.50 and trading 77,214 shares, Seprod added $2 to end at $39, with an exchange of 41,696 shares, Sterling Investments picked up 30 cents to close at $2.80, in transferring 1,300 units. Victoria Mutual Investments ended at $6.54, with gains of 48 cents and exchanging 160,790 shares and Wisynco Group closed at $13.30, with a loss of 70 cents after 558,494 shares crossed the exchange.
National Flour ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.10, with a loss of 10 cents transferring 750 units and NCB Financial declined by $1.01 to $8.99, with 5,862 stock units changing hands.
The PE ratio of the market ended at 14.9, while the Main Market ended at 13.8 times 2019 earnings.
Portland JSX closed $1.60 higher to $8.90 after the transferring of 2,005 units. Proven Investments jumped $3.50 to $36, after exchanging 51,818 shares, Sagicor Group advanced by $2.40 to $42.40, in swapping 608,061 shares, Scotia Group regained ground with gains of $7 to settle at $44, with 170,469 shares changing hands. Seprod added $1 to end at $37, in trading 30,390 units, Stanley Motta shed 74 cents with a transfer of 7,500 units to end at $5. Sterling Investments closed 40 cents lower at $2.50 trading 68,830 units, Supreme Ventures ended at $14, with a loss of 99 cents exchanging 252,623 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments closed 53 cents lower to $16.50, trading 22,971 units and Wisynco Group swapped 840,773 shares at $14, after gaining $1.30.
The decline in the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange continued unabated into Thursday as declining stocks dominated rising ones leading to the T&T Composite Index falling 2.54 points to 1,361.21 and the All T&T Index slipping 5.87 points to 1,755.62 as the Cross Listed Index inched 0.11 points higher at 130.94.
One Caribbean Media ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.95, after losing 5 cents in exchanging 1,018 units, Republic Financial Holdings shed 20 cents to end at $141.52 with 17,778 shares changing hands and West Indian Tobacco declined by $1.09 to $33.66, in swapping 4,323 stock units.
The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 899,129 units valued at $6,578,450 for each security changing hands compared to 775,631 units valued at $6,653,987 for each company traded. Trading in February resulted in an average of 624,731 units valued at $3,239,665 for each security.
Kingston Wharves closed, with gains of $2 at $44 in trading 2,440 stock units, Mayberry Investments lost 50 cents transferring 27,849 shares to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $5. NCB Financial advanced $5 to $145, trading 67,140 units, 138 Student Living gained 39 cents to close at $4.50, with an exchange of 481 shares, PanJam Investment declined $2 to $78, with 49,817 units crossing the exchange. Portland JSX shed 50 cents trading 17,000 stock units and closed at $7.30, Proven Investments fell $4.98 to $32.50, after transferring 9,581 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 40 cents to close at $7.40, in swapping 900 stock units. Scotia Group closed 99 cents lower to end at $37, in exchanging 117,469 shares, Seprod ended the day’s trade at $36, with gains of $1 after 10,932 shares changed hands, Stanley Motta added 44 cents with a transfer of 25,175 units to end at $5.74. Sterling Investments closed 65 cents higher to $2.90, trading 116,210 shares, Supreme Investments ended at $14.99, after gaining 99 cents exchanging 433,163 stock units and Wisynco Group closed at $12.79, with a loss of 79 cents after trading 161,608 shares.
The other big move for the day, was the substantial fall of $16 in the shares of NCB Financial to close at $140, the lowest price of in a year.
The Market closed with an average of 1,817,851 units valued $11,653,928 for each security traded, in contrast to 640,893 units valued at an average of $8,466,980 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 775,631 units valued at $6,653,987 for each security changing hands compared to 708,783 units valued at 6,313,433 for each security traded. Trading in February resulted in an average of 624,731 units valued at $3,239,665 for each security.
NCB Financial dropped $16 to a 52 weeks’ low of $140, after trading 2,289,514 units, 138 Student Living lost 30 cents to close at $4.11, with 36,389 shares crossing the exchange, Proven Investments slid to $37.48, after losing $1.02 with 21,006 stock units changing hands. Sagicor Group shed $3 after exchanging 186,808 units and closed at $40, Scotia Group fell by $2.01 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $37.99, in trading 138,446 shares, Seprod ended at $35, with a loss of $2 in swapping 94,065 units. Stanley Motta closed 30 cents higher with a transfer of 11,000 stock units $5.30, Supreme Investments ended at $14, after a loss of $1 and trading 206,576 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments lost 55 cents to close at $17, in transferring 202,528 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments slipped to $6.30 after losing 39 cents with 176,895 units changing hands and Wisynco Group closed at $13.49, with gains of 99 cents after exchanging 493,269 shares.
Massy Holdings declined by $1 to close at $57, with 199 stock units changing hands, Point Lisas lost 25 cents in trading 2,500 stock units to finish at $3.45. Republic Financial Holdings dropped $8, after transferring 12,000 units to finish at $136, Trinidad Cement ended at $1.75, after falling 20 cents exchanging 2,464 stock units and West Indian Tobacco lost 1 cent to close at $34.99, with 75,200 stock units crossing the market.