On Monday 24 of January, the Junior Market index reached to 3,700 mark for the first time and went on to record seven consecutive days of record closing highs, with the close on the 27 at 3,669.73 and peaking for that week at 3,717.45 on Friday, January 28, by Friday last week, the market which hit an intraday record high of 4,051.04 ended at a new closing high of 3,985.87 to be up 16.3 percent for the year to date and up just 37 percent from the pre-pandemic crash and 96 percent from the low in March 2020.
On the surface, the Junior Market has had a full recovery from the 2020 Covid-19 induced collapse that saw the index collapsing from 2,900 points at the end of February to 2,534 points on March 6 and bottoming out at 2,031.79 points on March 18 for a plunge of 39 percent from the start of 2020, and much more after peaking at 3,662 points in mid-August 2019.
A closer look at the market indicates there are elements of the market that are not back, with many stocks still trading below their pre-covid-19 levels. This group includes Access Financial that was at $32.94, just before the collapse, and is now at $25, Blue Power at $4.52 then and is now at $3.20, CAC2000 ordinary share then at $12.50, now $8.25, Consolidated Bakeries at $1.79, and now trading at $1.05, Jetcon Corporation at a $1.31, currently 94 cents, Knutsford Express at $11 in 2020, presently at $8, Main Event at $5.79 and now trades at $4 and Stationery and Office Supplies $8.86 it last traded at to be $6.
While the Junior Market has made great strides since hitting the 2020 low, the same is not the case for the heavily financially weighted Main Market that continues to be mired in depression following the initial sharp fall in March 2020 when the market fell precipitously to 375,091.09 points on the All Jamaican Composite Index from 529,722.22 at the end of February, for a 29.2 percent decline. As o Friday last the market is only up 20 percent from the March 2020 market bottom and 15 percent below the end of February 2020 level, and still well below the all-time high of 584,697.71 it closed on August 8, 2019. The major reason for the prolonged decline is primarily due to falling in stocks such as a Jamaica Stock Exchange, Kingston Wharves, NCB Financial, PanJam Investment, Proven Investments, Palace Amusement, Sagicor Group, Sagicor Select Funds, Scotia Group, Supreme Ventures, Sygnus Credit Investments, Wighton Windfarm. Strong gains in Barita Investments, Grace Kennedy, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Producers, Salada Foods, Seprod and Radio Jamaica could not negate the effect of the big decliners.
Big rise for JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Friday with the volume of shares rising 20 percent more and the value 15 percent higher than on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks beat out those declining leading the market indices to make a sharp turn higher at the close.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 4,451.26 points to 448,534.65, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,102.47 points to close trading at 396,802.02 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.17 points to end at 96.47.
A total of 59 securities traded versus 58 on Thursday, with 28 rising, 17 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.4. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
A total of 12,877,557 shares were exchanged for $136,432,061 up from 10,750,192 units at $118,283,579 on Thursday. Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund led trading with 16.4 percent of total volume in transferring 2.11 million shares followed by QWI Investments with 14.6 percent for 1.87 million units, 
Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 12 percent for 1.55 million units, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share accounted for 9.6 percent with 1.24 million units and Transjamaican Highway, 1.07 million units with 8.3 percent market share.
Trading averages 218,264 units at $2,312,408, up from 185,348 shares at $2,039,372 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 238,836 units at $2,520,773, compared to 245,893 units at $2,592,246 previously. January closed with an average of 235,328 units at $2,397,571.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with a bid higher than its last selling price and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rallied $2.50 to close at $93 in trading 3,172 shares, Caribbean Cement rose $4.95 to end at $75 with a transfer of 135,496 stock units, Caribbean Producers fell $2.05 to $17.85 with 325,734 units clearing the market. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed 98 cents ending at $42 after exchanging 34 stocks, First Rock Capital lost 30 cents in closing at $11.72 with 7,582 stock units changing hands, GraceKennedy rose $1.90 to $103.50 after a transfer of 82,660 shares. Guardian Holdings climbed $40 to close at $575 with the swapping of 3,638 units, Jamaica Producers lost 81 cents and closed at $22.19 in switching ownership of 69,771 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 95 cents after ending at $17.95 with 116,988 stock units crossing the market. JMMB Group shed $1.01 to end at $41.99 with the swapping of 455,271 stocks, Margaritaville rose $1.05 to close at $25 in exchanging 662 units, Massy Holdings dropped $50 ending at a low since listing of $2,050 after 8,308 shares crossed the market. 
Mayberry Investments shed $1.09 to settle at $6.11 with 8,258 stocks changing hands, Portland JSX fell $2.08 to end at $6.92 in switching ownership of 10,001 shares, Proven Investments popped 99 cents to $33 with 8,854 units traded. Sagicor Group climbed $1 to $54 in an exchange of 35,143 stock units, Scotia Group advanced $1.60 to $37.60 with 25,221 units crossing the exchange, Seprod rallied $3.10 to $62.10 with the swapping of 24,328 shares. Supreme Ventures gained 30 cents after ending at $18 with 247,772 stock units clearing the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $2.70 in closing at $18.20 with an exchange of 780 stocks and Wisynco Group popped $2.25 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $20 in trading 703,826 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share gained 30 cents after closing at $6.90 in switching ownership of 900 stock units and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share lost 70 cents to end at $2.30 with an exchange of 34,582 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Rising stocks dominate in Trinidad
Investors changed course in trading activity on Friday on Thursday, pushing the majority of stocks with price changes upwards on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and resulting in nine stocks rising, two declining and seven remaining unchanged after trading 85 percent fewer shares, with 43 percent lower value than Thursday.
Trading ended with 18 securities changing hands compared to 16 on Thursday. The Composite Index rose 3.06 points to 1,518.15, the All T&T Index increased 3.65 points to end at 2,124.06 and the Cross-Listed Index advanced 0.34 points to settle at 121.91.
A total of 543,618 shares traded for $7,179,353 compared to 3,682,320 units at $12,609,856 on Thursday. An average of 30,201 units traded at $398,853 compared to 230,145 shares at $788,116 on previous day, with trading month to date averaging 86,697 units at $630,612 versus 105,529 units at $707,865. The average trade for January amounts to 39,943 units at $369,498.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
In trading, Agostini’s advanced $1 to $46 while exchanging 485 shares, Angostura Holdings increased 1 cent to end at $20 after exchanging 13,370 units, Ansa McAl climbed 25 cents to $59 in exchanging 5,406 stocks. Clico Investment Fund gained 50 cents to close at $29.50, with 30,273 stock units crossing the market, First Citizens Group rose 75 cents to end at $63.75 after trading 642 shares, FirstCaribbean International Bank lost 1 cent to end at $6.13 with 1,000 units changing hands. 
GraceKennedy popped 10 cents in closing at $6.20 in an exchange of 74,135 stocks, Guardian Holdings rallied 25 cents to $30 in trading 150 stock units, JMMB Group gained 5 cents to close at $2.35 after exchanging 27,237 stocks. Massy Holdings remained at $106 in switching ownership of 15,994 shares, National Flour Mills dropped 3 cents to $1.87, with 5,000 units changing hands, NCB Financial Group finished at $8 with 344,072 stock units clearing the market. Republic Financial Holdings ended unchanged at $143 after 1,061 stocks crossed the exchange, Scotiabank finished at $72.01 with the swapping of 604 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended unchanged at $19.50 with an exchange of 23,846 units. Trinidad Cement remained at $3.75 after trading 235 shares, Unilever Caribbean advanced 5 cents to end at $16 with an exchange of 90 stock units and West Indian Tobacco finished at $26.06 trading 18 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling stocks dominant on JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Thursday with the volume of shares traded declining 26 percent and theJ value 28 percent lower than on Wednesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as stocks declining had the upper hand on those rising but leaving the market indices with modest movements.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 128.30 points to 444,083.39, the JSE Main Index shed 748.16 points to end at 394,699.55 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.01 points to 96.64.
Trading ended with 58 securities up from 57 on Wednesday, with 19 rising, 28 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 16.5. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 10,750,192 shares were exchanged for $118,283,579 versus 14,616,612 units at $163,291,537 on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 42.8 percent of total volume with a transfer of 4.6 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 12.8 percent for 1.38 million units and Caribbean Producers, 10.6 percent with 1.14 million units changing hands.
Trading averages 185,348 units at $2,039,372, compared to 256,432 shares at $2,864,764 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 245,893 units at $2,592,246, down from 276,696 units at $2,873,533 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 235,328 units at $2,397,571.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments fell $2.50 to $90.50 after swapping of 10,004 shares, Berger Paints rose $1 to $13.50 in exchanging one stock unit, Caribbean Cement shed $1.45 to end at $70.05 with 22,242 units changing hands. Eppley lost 49 cents to settle at $34.50 with a transfer of 1,468 stocks, Guardian Holdings declined $25 in closing at $535after exchanging 799 stocks, Jamaica Broilers lost 50 cents to end at $27 in trading 37,827 shares. Jamaica Producers slipped 37 cents after ending at $23, with ownership of 24,322 units switched, JMMB Group rose $1.10 in closing at 52 weeks’ closing high of $43 after exchanging 286,808 shares, Kingston Wharves shed $1.15 to end at $40.30 after 16,595 stock units crossed the market. Margaritaville advanced $2.92 to $23.95 with the swapping of 6,611 units, Massy Holdings dropped $100 to close at $2,100 in trading 3,379 shares, Mayberry Investments advanced $1.64 to $7.20 with 4,205 stocks clearing the market. Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 43 cents to $8.95 in trading 26,825 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $5 to $120 in switching ownership of 2 stock units, NCB Financial fell 51 cents to $132.49 with the swapping of 279,319 shares. Palace Amusement rallied 52 cents to close at $930 in transferring 57 stocks, PanJam Investment popped 30 cents in closing at $65.80 after trading 7,461 units, Proven Investments declined 99 cents to end at $32.01 with 59,351 stock units changing hands. 
Sagicor Group advanced $1.25 to $53 with an exchange of 63,042 shares, Scotia Group rose 50 cents to $36 in trading 8,092 stocks, Seprod slipped 91 cents in closing at $59 with 10,603 stock units crossing the exchange. Supreme Ventures lost 30 cents to finish at $17.70 after exchanging 28,346 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 60 cents to end at $15.30 in switching ownership of 299,610 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined $1.50 to $15.50 in trading 12,100 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share fell 51 cents to close at $3 with an exchange of 1,623 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
More declines for Trinidad stocks
Price movements were mostly down at the close of trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday as the volume of shares exchanged surged 293 percent valued 38 percent more than on Wednesday.
The number of securities traded remained 16 as was the case on Wednesday, with two rising, six declining and eight remaining unchanged. The Composite Index slipped 1.40 points to 1,515.09, the All T&T Index declined 6.39 points to end at 2,120.41 and the Cross-Listed Index rose 0.55 points to settle at 121.57.
A total of 3,682,320 shares traded for $12,609,856 up from 937,553 units at $9,155,489 on Wednesday. An average of 230,145 units traded at $788,116 compared to 58,597 shares at $572,218 on the previous day, with trading month to date, averaging 105,529 units at $707,865 versus 53,059 units at $674,075. The average trade for January amounts to 39,943 units at $369,498.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Agostini’s lost $1 to end at $45, with100 shares changing hands, Angostura Holdings ended unchanged at $19.99 with the swapping of 64 units, Ansa McAl dropped 25 cents in closing at $58.75 after ownership of 550 stock units was shifted. Clico Investment Fund remained at $29, with 256 stocks crossing the market, First Citizens Group declined $1 to $63 trading 269 units, FirstCaribbean International Bank rose 14 cents to $6.14 after 100 stocks changed hands. 
GraceKennedy finished at $6.10 with an exchange of 48,271 shares, Guardian Holdings shed 25 cents to close at $29.75 after 7,980 stock units cleared the market, JMMB Group ended at $2.30 after exchanging 3,381,000 units. Massy Holdings remained at $106 while exchanging 18,240 stock units, NCB Financial Group finished at $8 in swapping 186,740 stocks, One Caribbean Media rallied 10 cents to $4.20 after exchanging 20,200 shares. Republic Financial Holdings finished at $143 in an exchange of 2,128 stock units, Scotiabank ended at $72.01 after trading at 475 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 49 cents to $19.50 with an exchange of 300 shares and West Indian Tobacco shed 54 cents to $26.06 in trading 15,647 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Down day for JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Wednesday with the volume of shares declining 14 percent with the value a shade lower than on Tuesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks beat out those declining, but that failed to prevent the market indices from falling.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 2,070.35 points to 443,955.09, the JSE Main Index dropped 3,606.20 points to 395,447.71 as Massy Holdings dipped to a low during the day since listing last week and the JSE Financial Index shed 1.19 points to end at 96.63.
Trading ended with 57 securities similar to Tuesday, with 23 rising, 21 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.6 The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 14,616,612 shares were exchanged for $163,291,537 versus 16,926,745 units at $164,291,275 on Tuesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 30.4 percent of total volume for an exchange of 4.44 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund, 16.7 percent with 2.45 million units, Transjamaican Highway, 10.8 percent with 1.58 million stock units, Caribbean Producers, 10.6 percent after an exchange of 1.55 million shares and QWI Investments with 7.5 percent after trading 1.09 million units.
Trading averaged 256,432 units at $2,864,764, compared to 296,960 shares at $2,882,305 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 276,696 units at $2,873,533. January closed with an average of 235,328 units at $2,397,571.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
In trading, Barita Investments lost 49 cents to finish at $93 in exchanging 13,158 shares, Berger Paints slipped 50 cents to $12.50 with a transfer of 24,808 units, Caribbean Producers fell $3.72 to $20 with 1,547,894 stocks clearing the market. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $5.15 to $42.99 after trading 454 stock units, First Rock Capital gained 35 cents in closing at $12.15 with 23,437 units changing hands, GraceKennedy declined $1.95 to close at $101.50 with an exchange of 125,259 stock units. Guardian Holdings climbed $29 to $560 after exchanging 221 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 90 cents to $17 in switching ownership of 7,610 stocks, JMMB Group rose 61 cents to end at $41.90 with the swapping of 121,622 stock units. Kingston Wharves gained 45 cents in ending at $41.45 after 19,723 shares crossed the market, Massy Holdings popped $51 to close at $2,200 in exchanging 13,779 stocks after hitting a slow of $2,050 since listing last week, Mayberry Investments fell $1.94 to $5.56 in switching ownership of 35,359 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 48 cents in ending at $8.52 with 39,274 stock units changing hands, Palace Amusement shed $20.52 in closing at $929.48 with the swapping of 29 stocks, PanJam Investment rallied 50 cents to $65.50 in transferring 3,393 shares. 
Proven Investments popped 99 cents to settle at $33 after 9,405 units crossed the market, Sagicor Group fell $1.45 to $51.75 in an exchange of 38,073 stocks, Scotia Group rallied 50 cents in closing at $35.50 trading 439,789 shares. Stanley Motta rose 83 cents to close at $5.83 with 695 stocks changing hands, Supreme Ventures gained 50 cents to finish at $18 with the swapping of 146,271 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 30 cents to end at $14.70 with 297,540 stock units crossing the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rose 95 cents to close at $17 in exchanging 3,511 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rose 60 cents to $6.60 with 200 stock units changing hands and JMMB Group 7.25% gained 32 cents after ending at $3.51 with 530 units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading slips for Trinidad stocks on Tuesday
Trading dipped on Wednesday compared to Tuesday, with an exchange of 13 percent fewer shares and 44 percent lower value after 16 securities traded compared to 22 on Tuesday, with five rising, four declining and seven ended unchanged at the close of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.
The Composite Index dipped 1.62 points to 1,516.49, the All T&T Index rallied 0.27 points to 2,126.80 and the Cross-Listed Index slipped 0.51 points to settle at 121.02.
Overall, 937,553 shares traded for $9,155,489 compared to 1,078,680 units at $16,459,376 on Tuesday. An average of 58,597 units traded at $572,218 compared to 49,031 shares at $748,153 on Tuesday. Tading month to date ended with an average of 53,059 units at $674,589. The average trade for January amounts to 39,943 units at $369,498.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
Agostini’s gained $1 to close at $46 in switching ownership of 4,415 shares, Angostura Holdings ended unchanged at $19.99 after trading 48 units, Ansa McAl finished with an exchange of 12,735 stocks at $59. Clico Investment Fund rallied 2 cents to $29, with 8,050 stock units crossing the market, First Citizens Group remained at $64 after exchanging 1,323 stock units, GraceKennedy lost 10 cents in closing at $6.10, with 166,758 shares crossing the exchange. 
Guardian Holdings popped 15 cents to close at $30 after exchanging 12,000 units, JMMB Group shed 4 cents ending at $2.30 trading 65,122 stocks, Massy Holdings ended at $106 with 9,577 stock units changing hands. National Flour Mills dipped 1 cent to $1.90 in trading 3,928 stocks, NCB Financial Group ended at $8 with the swapping of 606,255 shares, Republic Financial Holdings remained at $143 after trading 32 units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL advanced 99 cents to close at $19.99 while exchanging 10,409 shares, Trinidad Cement ended unchanged at $3.75 in exchanging 26,425 units, Unilever Caribbean fell 5 cents to $15.95 and ended trading of 10,040 stock units and West Indian Tobacco rose 59 cents to end at $26.60, with 436 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Mixed trading for JSE majors
Market activity ended on Tuesday with the volume of shares rising 21 percent valued 15 percent below Monday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with a mixed performance at the close as declining stocks overwhelmed those that declined.
The All Jamaican Composite Index gained 532.85 points to settle at 446,025.44, the JSE Main Index dropped 2,606.23 points to 399,053.91 and the JSE Financial Index shed 1.29 points to close at 97.82.
Trading ended with 57 securities down from 59 on Monday, with 21 rising, 25 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.3. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 16,926,745 shares were exchanged for $164,291,375 versus 13,983,941 units at $192,500,816 on Monday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 24 percent of total volume for an exchange of 4.05 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway, 17.2 percent with 2.92 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund, 11 percent share with 1.87 million units, QWI Investments with 1.49 million units for 8.8 percent market, Caribbean Producers, 6.1 percent after a transfer of 1.03 million units and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 6 percent for 1.02 million units changing hands.
Trading averages 296,960 units at $2,882,305, compared to 237,016 shares at $3,262,726 on Monday. The average trade for January was 235,328 units at $2,397,571.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Caribbean Cement fell 50 cents to $71.50 after 5,494 shares crossed the exchange with, Caribbean Producers rose 82 cents to close at $23.72 in trading 1,033,334 stocks, GraceKennedy advanced $3.45 to end at $103.45 in switching ownership of 218,380 stock units. Guardian Holdings declined $8.99 in closing at $531 with 729 units clearing the market, JMMB Group popped $1.29 to $41.29 with the swapping of 369,420 stocks, Kingston Properties rose 89 cents in closing at $9.74 with 500 units changing hands. Kingston Wharves lost 60 cents to finish at $41 in transferring 6,301 shares, Massy Holdings dropped $314 to close at the lowest point since listing on this market at $2,149 in exchanging 7,385 stock units, NCB Financial rallied $3 to end at $133 in switching ownership of 260,052 shares. Palace Amusement climbed $10 to $950 in an exchange of 147 stocks, PanJam Investment advanced $1.98 to $65 after trading 15,609 stock units, Sagicor Group declined $5.05 to close at $53.20 with 95,833 units changing hands. Scotia Group fell 50 cents to$35 with 94,066 stock units crossing the market, Stanley Motta lost 83 cents to settle at $5 with the swapping of 204,812 shares, Supreme Ventures gained 30 cents to close at $17.50 after trading 19,042 stock units.
In the preference segment, Community & Workers Credit Union gained 37 cents to end at $2.45 after exchanging 295 stocks, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% climbed $322.57 to a record $2,473.07 with a mere transfer of 2 units, JMMB Group 7.25% popped 39 cents to close at $3.19 in trading 3,000 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference shares rallied $38 in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $138 with 1,443 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Slippage in Port of Spain
Trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange started in February, with the market indices slipping when the market closed on Tuesday, with slightly more stocks rising than falling after 100 percent more shares were exchanged, with 116 percent higher value than on Monday.
A total of 22 security traded down slightly from 24 on Monday, with eight stocks rising, seven declining and seven remaining unchanged.
FirstCaribbean International Bank and West Indian Tobacco both closed trading at 52 weeks’ low.
The Composite Index declined 4.56 points to 1,518.11, the All T&T Index fell 5.15 points to 2,126.53 and the Cross-Listed Index dipped 0.55 points to settle at 121.53.
A total of 1,078,680 shares traded or $16,459,377 up from 539,621 units at $7,631,985 on Monday. An average of 49,031 units traded at $748,153 compared to 22,484 shares at $317,999 on Monday. The average trade for January amounted to 39,943 units at $369,498.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Agostini’s rose 50 cents in ending at $45, with 2,327 shares crossing the market, Angostura Holdings remained at $19.99 while exchanging 1,100 stock units, Ansa McAl ended unchanged at $59 trading 73 units. CinemaOne fell 5 cents to end at $4 after an exchanging of 4,149 stocks, Clico Investment Fund increased 48 cents to $28.98 with the swapping of 2,285 stock units, First Citizens Group dropped 49 cents to $64 after finishing trading of 577 shares. FirstCaribbean International Bank shed 14 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $6 after the switching ownership of 1,000 units, GraceKennedy popped 9 cents to end at $6.20 trading 955,600 stocks, Guardian Holdings lost 15 cents to close at $29.85, with 69 stock units changing hands.
JMMB Group declined 1 cent to $2.34 with 5,319 stocks clearing the market, L.J. Williams B share gained 4 cents to end at $1.84 with an exchange of 1,621 shares, Massy Holdings finished at $106 in exchanging 9,524 units. National Flour Mills rallied 4 cents to $1.91 after exchanging 15 units, NCB Financial Group finished at $8 after 19,842 stocks crossed the market, One Caribbean Media remained at $4.10 in an exchange of 1,999 stock units. Point Lisas ended unchanged at $3.27 in trading 200 shares, Republic Financial Holdings advanced $1 to close at $143 after trading 62,644 stocks, Scotiabank popped 1 cent to $72.01 in switching ownership of 800 units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL declined 99 cents in closing at $19 after 2,001 stock units passed through the exchange, Trinidad Cement gained 1 cent to end at $3.75 while exchanging 7,000 shares, Unilever Caribbean ended unchanged at $16 after trading 129 shares and West Indian Tobacco lost $1.49 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $26.01 in an exchange of 406 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market strolls into month end with gains
Market activity ended on Monday with the volume of shares falling sharply by 68 percent and the value 65 percent lower than on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks outpaced those declining and sending the main indices higher at the close to close off the first month of 2022, with overall gains of 1.5 percent.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 3,483.91 points to 445,492.59, the JSE Main Index gained 1,195.33 points to end at 401,660.14 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.27 points to 99.11.
Trading took place in 59 securities compared to 57 on Friday, with 28 rising, 22 declining and nine ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.4. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 13,983,941 shares were exchanged for $192,500,816 versus 43,055,439 units at $551,820,655 on Friday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 37.3 percent of total volume after a transfer of 5.2 million shares followed by Caribbean Producers, 10 percent, with 1.4 million units, QWI Investments accounted for 9.4 percent with 1.32 million units, Wigton Windfarm controlled 8.9 percent after trading 1.24 million shares and Sagicor Select Financial Fund contributed 7.9 percent for an exchange of 1.1 million units.
Trading averages 237,016 units at $3,262,726, compared to 755,359 shares at $9,681,064 on Friday and month to date, an average of 235,328 units at $2,397,571, compared to 235,234 units at $2,349,866 on Friday. December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rallied 50 cents to $72 with 24,367 shares changing hands, Caribbean Producers advanced $2.90 to finish at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $22.90 with the swapping of 1,399,893 units, Eppley shed $1.30 to end at $35.20 trading 276 stocks. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $4.36 in closing at $37.84 with an exchange of 434 stock units, GraceKennedy fell $3.50 to $100 in switching ownership of 208,862 shares, Guardian Holdings dropped $10.01 to close at $539.99 in exchanging 469 units. Jamaica Producers rallied 49 cents to $23.49 with a transfer of 49,196 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose $1.17 in closing at $17.94 with the swapping of 110,303 stocks, JMMB Group shed 99 cents to end at $40 with 226,181 shares clearing the market. Kingston Properties lost 65 cents in ending at $8.85 with 1,628 stock units changing hands, Kingston Wharves advanced $1.60 to $41.60 in trading 1,829 stocks, Margaritaville popped $2.50 to $21 in switching ownership of 94 units. Massy Holdings dropped $257 in closing at $2,463 after an exchange of 24,441 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $14.87 to close at $114.87 with 100 stock units crossing the market, NCB Financial declined $3 to $130 in transferring 159,694 units. Proven Investments lost 45 cents to settle at $32 with the swapping of 26,315 shares, Radio Jamaica gained 40 cents in closing at $4.48 in an exchange of 696,349 stock units, Sagicor Group popped $4.74 to finish at $58.25 with 340,252 units changing hands. 
Salada Foods gained 40 cents to close at $6.90 after 16,436 shares cleared the market, Scotia Group rose 94 cents to $35.50 in exchanging 35,368 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments fell 71 cents to end at $15.13 in switching ownership of 152,529 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $2.18 to $16.02 with the swapping of 1,605 stocks and Wisynco Group gained 35 cents to close at $17.85 with an exchange of 152,587 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% shed 78 cents in closing at $2.80 after trading 3,681 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share fell $20 to $100 in switching ownership of 5 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.