Stocks suffered losses in trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday following a 39 percent decline in the volume passing through the exchange and the value 67 percent less than in trading on Friday and ended with trading in 57 securities up from 55 on Friday, resulting in prices of 20 rising, 22 declining and 15 unchanged.
A total of 5,884,158 shares were exchanged for $75,612,128, down from 9,589,463 units at $231,326,583 on Friday.
Trading averaged 103,231 shares at $1,326,529 compared with 174,354 shares at $4,205,938 on Friday and month to date, an average of 179,166 units at $2,201,830 compared to 183,732 units at $2,254,459 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 205,236 stock units at $1,805,558.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.79 million shares for 30.4 percent of the volume traded, Transjamaican Highway followed with 985,284 units for 16.7 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 448,665 units for 7.6 percent market share. The All Jamaican Composite Index suffered a significant loss of 4,790.29 points to finish at 372,687.17, the JSE Main Index declined by a more moderate 2,606.82 points to 330,714.66 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.38 points to settle at 78.25.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley advanced $2.51 to $40 after trading 447 shares, First Rock Real Estate rose $1.55 to $11.65 with a transfer of 220,567 stock units, GraceKennedy fell $1.55 to $77.20 after exchanging 148,988 units. Guardian Holdings climbed $19.99 in closing at $519.99 as investors swapped just 18 stocks, Jamaica Broilers rallied $2 to $35 in trading 12,001 stocks, Jamaica Producers popped $1.03 to close at $22.28 with 22,572 stock units changing hands. 
Massy Holdings gained 90 cents to settle at $79.90 in switching ownership of 23,305 units, NCB Financial shed $1.05 to end at $76.95 in trading 4,205 shares, 138 Student Living popped 69 cents to $5.70 after exchanging 2,000 stock units. Palace Amusement rose $1.45 to $5.95 after 211 stocks passed through the market, following the 600 to 1 stock split taking effect on the market, Proven Investments declined $2 to $27 after a transfer of 26,749 units, Seprod dipped $3.98 to close at $62 after swapping of 371,770 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell 80 cents to $9.20 after trading 553 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share climbed $50 to end at $1,200 with the swapping of 59 units, JMMB Group 7% preference share lost 42 cents 
in closing at $2.39 in switching ownership of 93 shares and 138 Student Living preference share declined $11.55 to $65.45with 20 stocks clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
ICTOP10 has only one new addition this week, in the Junior Market TOP10 and none in the Main Market, following major volatility in price movements in the listings.
Earnings per share for Elite Diagnostic was revised down to 28 cents per share for the current year, following a small loss of $7 million in the December quarter, even as revenues rose a solid 20 percent or $30 million over the same quarter in 2021, resulting in the stock dropping out of the ICTOP10, to be replaced by Tropical Battery that is returning after a short absence.
The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 17 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 109, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest valued stocks and 21 for the top half excluding the highest valued stocks.
A total of 9,589,463 shares were traded for $231,326,583 up from 6,903,600 units at $128,999,772 on Thursday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.7 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
GraceKennedy rose $1.55 to $78.75 with a transfer of 37,607 shares. Jamaica Broilers declined $1.96 to close at $33 with investors trading 642,278 stocks, JMMB Group fell $1.87 in closing at $31 in an exchange of 450,035 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied $7.01 to end at $69.01 with 200 stocks changing hands. 
Supreme Ventures shed 96 cents to close at $25.04 in switching ownership of 41,444 units and Wisynco Group gained 79 cents to end at $17.40 as investors traded 14,900 stock units.
A total of 6,903,600 shares were traded for $128,999,772 versus 20,246,503 units at $297,780,461 on Tuesday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.3 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Jamaica Broilers gained 96 cents to settle at a 52 weeks’ high of $34.96 trading 190,225 units, Jamaica Producers fell 60 cents to $21.25 as investors traded 13,071 stocks, JMMB Group popped $2.27 to $32.87 with the swapping of 463,131 units. Massy Holdings shed 99 cents to close at $79.01 after a transfer of 509,158 shares, Mayberry Investments fell 68 cents to close at $7.85 in switching ownership of 7,095 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose $1.04 to $12.25 with an exchange of 45,299 stock units. NCB Financial gained 48 cents in ending at $77.98 as investors traded 12,014 units, Palace Amusement gained $1 to end at $2,700 after exchanging 1,098 shares, PanJam Investment rose 60 cents in closing at $57.10 with the swapping of 3,569 stock units. Proven Investments rose $1 to $29 in an exchange of 3,575 stocks, Sagicor Group shed $1 to $51.50 with a transfer of 15,067 stock units, Scotia Group dipped $1.74 in closing at $32.26 in trading 4,072 stocks. Seprod declined $3.98 to close at $62 with 499,056 shares changing hands and Wisynco Group shed 89 cents to end at $16.61 with 165,256 units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share dropped $50 ending at $1,150 as investors exchanged 41 units. Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $3 to a record high of $15 with a transfer of 2,000 stocks and 138 Student Living preference share rose $1 to close at $77 with the swapping of 163 stock units.
Investors traded 20,246,503 shares for $297,780,461 up from 14,762,179 units at $69,659,072 on Monday.
the JSE Main Index dropped 105.61 points to settle at 332,427.42 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.06 points to close at 79.33.
Jamaica Producers gained $1.65 in ending at $21.85 with the swapping of 14,000 stock units, Kingston Wharves rose $1.49 to close at $31.99 with seven shares changing hands. Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 79 cents to end at $11.21 in switching ownership of 4,264 stocks, NCB Financial dipped 49 cents to close at $77.50 with the exchange of 15,205 units, Palace Amusement lost $1 in closing at $2,699 with a transfer of 439 stocks. Portland JSX rose 90 cents to $10.90 after an exchange of 17,347 shares, Proven Investments declined $1.22 in closing at $28 as investors traded 14,642 units, Sagicor Group shed 50 cents to $52.50, with 14,971 stock units crossing the market. Scotia Group advanced $1.75 to $34 with an exchange of 307,103 stocks, Sterling Investments popped 44 cents to close at $2.90 after trading 79,998 shares, Supreme Ventures gained 80 cents to finish at $26 after 32,071 units passed through the market and Wisynco Group popped 89 cents to end at $17.50 as investors exchanged 2,495,740 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share climbed $50 in ending at $1,200 after a transfer of 240 stock units, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $2 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $12 with 2,000 stocks changing hands and 138 Student Living preference share rallied $6 to $76 in an exchange of 33 units.
A total of 14,762,179 shares were traded for $69,659,072 compared to 6,585,063 units at $45,380,317 on Friday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,961.53 points to 375,485.96, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,287.99 points to 332,533.03 and the JSE Financial Index gained 1.18 points to close at 79.39.
Kingston Wharves shed $1.47 to end at $30.50 after investors transferred 35,439 stock units. Margaritaville dropped $3.70 in closing at $19.20 with 244 stocks changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dipped $2 to $62 after swapping 1,611 shares, Portland JSX advanced 89 cents to $10 with a transfer of 10 stock units. Sagicor Group rallied $1.50 to $53 with the swapping of 51,666 shares, Salada Foods fell 38 cents to close at a multiyear low of $3.51 after an exchange of 2,875 shares. Scotia Group lost 70 cents to settle at $32.25 after 336,678 stocks passed through the market, Seprod popped 50 cents to $66 after an exchange of 8,856 units, Sterling Investments lost 44 cents to settle at $2.46 in switching ownership of 90,858 units and Wisynco Group shed 63 cents to close at $16.61 with 605,928 stock units clearing the market.
Jamaica Public Service 7% rose $1.50 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $10 with 4,442 shares changing hands, 138 Student Living preference share declined $7.99 to close at $70 after trading 303 shares and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share gained $1 to finish at $107 after investors exchanged 86 stocks.
In closing out the week, Lasco Distributors rose 6 percent to $2.75, while Tropical Battery gained just 4 percent to $2.40. Iron Rock Insurance fell 15 percent to $2.03, the only declining stock above one percent.
The Junior Market is projected to rise by 220 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 288 percent to May this year. The primary concern for the Main Market achieving such gains by May is that the list is dominated by financial companies that are out of favour and may need to see the summer months before the full interest of investor start to show.
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.
Trading ended with two stocks in the preference segment hitting new 52 weeks’ highs and three ordinary shares hitting 52 weeks’ lows.
The All Jamaican Composite Index plunged 6,402.06 points to end at 372,524.43, some 6 percent lower than at the start of the year, the JSE Main Index dropped 4,529.20 points to 330,245.04, to be down 5.9 percent for the year to date and the JSE Financial Index dipped 1.40 points to close at 78.21 with a loss of 7.3 percent year to date.
Caribbean Cement fell $1.23 to end at $56.77 with the swapping of 7,685 stock units. Eppley popped 41 cents to $37.90 after trading five units, GraceKennedy shed $2.60 in closing at $76.40 with 41,276 stocks changing hands, Guardian Holdings rallied $7 in closing at $513 in switching ownership of 17,101 shares. Jamaica Broilers rose $1.93 to $33.90 with investors transferring 119,956 stock units, JMMB Group lost $1.50 to $30.80 after 48,007 units passed through the market, Mayberry Investments gained 54 cents in ending at $8.54 after an exchange of 35,199 shares. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $6 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $64 with the swapping of 2,948 stock units, Palace Amusement dropped $179 in closing at $2,700 in an exchange of 671 units, Proven Investments rose $1.65 to end at $29.20 in trading 1,138 stocks. Sagicor Group dipped $1.50 to $51.50 with 26,466 units changing hands, Salada Foods lost 6 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.89 after trading 13,991 shares, Scotia Group shed $1.05 to close at $32.95 as investors exchanged 40,352 stock units, Seprod fell $1.50 in ending at $65.50 after trading 35,293 shares. Stanley Motta gained 90 cents to end at $5.40 with 76,722 stocks clearing the market and Supreme Ventures lost 60 cents in ending at $25.50 after an exchange of 44,939 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share popped 94 cents to close at $22.94 after crossing the exchange with 11 shares. Jamaica Public Service 7% gained 50 cents to settle at a 52 weeks’ high of $8.50 in exchanging 546 stocks, JMMBG7.25C – 2025 climbed 39 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.33 after an exchange of 694 shares, JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 popped 49 cents in closing at $3 in switching ownership of one stock unit and 138 Student Living preference share rallied $5.99 to $77.99 with the swapping of 38 stock units.
A total of 6,869,971 shares were traded for $71,142,724 compared to 13,423,503 units at $91,730,395 on Wednesday.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
JMMB Group advanced $1.60 to $32.30 in switching ownership of 8,541 stocks, Kingston Properties rose 40 cents to $7.40 in exchanging 135,083 units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell $1 to end at $70 with an exchange of 200 shares, NCB Financial advanced $3 to $78 in trading 16,948 stocks, Palace Amusement popped $440 to $2,879 with a transfer of 492 stock units. PanJam Investment fell 60 cents to close at $56.50 with an exchange of 1,120 stocks, Proven Investments lost 45 cents to end at $27.55 as investors swapped 6,091 stock units, Scotia Group rallied $1.22 in closing at $34 with 25,491 shares changing hands. Stanley Motta popped 50 cents to end at $4.50 after 61,156 units crossed the exchange, Supreme Ventures lost 40 cents in closing at $26.10 with investors transferring 14,531 units and Wisynco Group dipped 40 cents to $17.50 trading 353,875 shares.
JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 lost 49 cents in closing at $2.51 in switching ownership of 20,011 units, 138 Student Living preference share dropped $6 to settle at $72 after a transfer of 53 stocks and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dipped $1 to close at $106 with 18 shares changing hands.
A total of 13,423,503 shares were exchanged for $91,730,395 versus 5,344,520 units at $29,834,911 on Tuesday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dived 4,989.03 points to 376,426.75, the JSE Main Index fell 3,607.32 points to 333,129.98 and the JSE Financial Index shed 1.42 points to end at 79.20.
Jamaica Producers rose $1.85 to end at $21.85 after exchanging 24,713 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange shed 90 cents in ending at $14 with a transfer of 40,399 stocks, JMMB Group fell $1.80 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $30.70 in switching ownership of 70,187 units. Mayberry Investments lost 49 cents to end at $7.81 with 15,904 stock units changing hands, NCB Financial declined $3.30 to finish at $75 as investors exchanged 17,727 shares, Palace Amusement advanced $39 in closing at $2,439 with the swapping of 235 stock units. Scotia Group fell $1.72 to $32.78 exchanging 25,898 shares, Seprod gained $1.50 to settle at $67 in trading 4,464 stocks, Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied 95 cents to close at $10 in an exchange of 200 units and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 40 cents to end at $4 in switching ownership of 162,668 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share popped $4.78 ending at $22 with 33 stock units crossing the market and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share rose 47 cents in closing at $3.58 with an exchange of 30 shares.