Trading pulled back from Wednesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with a decline in the market indices with the volume of stocks traded declining 50 percent with a 30 percent lower value than Wednesday, following trading in 56 securities down from 61 on Wednesday and ended with the prices of 22 rising, 21 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
At the close of trading, 9,017,684 shares valued at $47,750,582 were exchanged, down from 17,951,966 shares at $68,245,213 Wednesday.
Trading averaged 161,030 shares at $852,689, compared to 294,295 shares at $1,118,774 on the prior day and month to date, an average of 211,928 units at $1,297,068, compared with 214,851 units at $1,322,591 on Wednesday. April closed with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Transjamaican led trading with 3.21 million shares for 35.6 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.54 million units for 28.1 percent of the day’s trade and Stanley Motta with 798,674 units for 8.9 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,262.90 points to settle at 369,655.05, the JSE Main Index dipped 770.38 points to 334,401.18 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.19 points to conclude trading at 75.64.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.4 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last selling prices of stocks and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints dropped 41 cents and ended at $7.73 after an exchange of 96 shares, Caribbean Cement declined $3.85 to $52 while exchanging 3,962 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $5.69 to end at $43.69 in switching ownership of 61 units, First Rock Real Estate gained $1.29 in closing at $11.40 in an exchange of 19 stock units. GraceKennedy increased 50 cents to close at $78, with 21,613 stocks changing hands, Jamaica Broilers shed 95 cents and ended at $35.50, with 26,914 units crossing the market, Jamaica Producers climbed 48 cents to end at $20.98 in an exchange of 32,507 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 34 cents to $12.78 after an exchange of 57,726 shares after hitting an intraday low of $10.
Key Insurance dipped 50 cents to $3.15 with shareholders swapping 255 shares, Kingston Properties popped 34 cents to close at $7.25 after a transfer of 1,229 stock units, Kingston Wharves gained 47 cents to end at $31 with 2,492 units being traded. Mayberry Investments rallied $1 to $9, with an exchange of 36,025 stocks, NCB Financial lost $1 to close at $71 as investors traded 94,523 shares, 138 Student Living popped 70 cents to $5.60, with 500 stock units crossing the exchange, Sagicor Group rallied 99 cents in closing at $50.49 following the trading of 111,688 units. Scotia Group advanced 50 cents to end at $34.50 and closed with an exchange of 16,948 stocks, Seprod climbed $2 in closing at $70 after trading 2,925 stocks and Supreme Ventures dropped 54 cents and ended at $27 with investors transferring 22,109 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share gained $1.91 to close at $22.90, with 11 units clearing the market, Jamaica Public Service 7% dropped $19 to $60 after 11 stock units passed through the market and 138 Student Living preference share fell $1.67 to close at $105 with an exchange of 55 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Steady trading for JSE USD Market
Trading ended Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 79 percent valued 2 percent less than on Wednesday, resulting in trading in six securities, down from 10 on Wednesday with two rising, one declining and three unchanged.
Overall, 142,507 shares were traded for US$31,099 compared with 679,924 units at US$31,830 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 23,751 units at US$5,183 compared with 67,992 shares at US$3,183 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 37,077 shares at US$2,111 compared with 37,722 units at US$1,963 on the previous day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index slipped 0.80 points to 206.77.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.3. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded stock price divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share ended at 4.4 US cents after investors traded 28,669 shares, Proven Investments fell 0.02 of a cent to 16 US cents with 102,214 stock units crossing the exchange, Sterling Investments ended at 1.68 US cents with an exchange of 6,285 stocks and Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share popped 0.01 of a cent to close at 11.1 US cents, with 8 units changing hands.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share remained at US$11.50 after 331 shares passed through the market and JMMB Group 5.75% gained 28.5 cents to close at US$1.90 with shareholders swapping 5,000 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Decline for all JSE Markets
All three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined at the close of trading on Thursday with trading falling below Wednesday’s levels.
The JSE Combined Market Index declined 916.16 points to 346,335.07, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,262.90 points to 369,655.05, the JSE Main Index dipped 770.38 points to settle at 334,401.18 the Junior Market Index dropped 21.56 points to end at 3,748.75 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.74 points to close at 206.83.
Shares in the preference segment of the Main Market not included in the TOP10 graphs ended with Eppley 5% preference share popped $1.91 to end at $22.90, Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $19 to close at $60 and 138 Student Living preference share dipped $1.67 to $105.
At the close, investors exchanged 20,280,791 shares in all three markets, down from 43,828,723 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $95.54 million, down from $139.5 million on Wednesday. 
Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors trading 142,507 shares for US$31,099, up from 679,924 units at US$31,830 on Wednesday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 17.5 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.4 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and put in on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
A second day of solid gains for Main Market
It was another solid day of trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the market indices putting in a second day of a robust rally following a 97 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded as the value climbed 105 percent more than on Monday, after trading occurred in 61 securities compared to 64 on Monday, leading to the prices of 30 rising, 20 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
Investors traded 17,951,966 shares for $68,245,213 versus 9,133,162 units at $33,363,180 on Monday.
Trading averaged 294,295 shares at $1,118,774, versus 142,706 units at $521,300 on Monday and month to date, an average of 214,851 units at $1,322,591, compared with 209,549 units at $1,336,194 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.65 million shares for 25.9 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 3.27 million units for 18.2 percent of trading, QWI Investments with 2.44 million units for 13.6 percent market share, Stanley Motta with 2.08 million units for 11.6 percent market share and JMMB Group 7.35% due 2028 with 1.56 million units for 8.7 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 3,546.34 points to end at 370,917.95, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,988.38 points to close at 335,171.56 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.28 points to close at 75.83.
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 selling prices of stocks and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rallied 52 cents to end at $8.14 in trading 3,409 shares, Caribbean Cement advanced $5.90 to close at $55.85, with 33,738 stocks passed through the market, Eppley popped $7.46 after ending at $39 with investors transferring 10,436 stock units. First Rock Real Estate dipped 39 cents to $10.11 while exchanging 5,154 units, GraceKennedy shed 50 cents in closing at $77.50, with 18,753 stock units changing hands, Jamaica Producers fell 30 cents in closing at $20.50 with a transfer of 18,238 stocks. 
JMMB Group increased 40 cents to $30.40 with shareholders swapping 15,197 shares, Kingston Wharves dropped 47 cents to close at $30.53 with an exchange of 2,807 units, Margaritaville declined $1.94 and ended at $16.56 after an exchange of 2,662 units. Massy Holdings rose $1.95 to end at $99 in trading 34,134 stocks, Mayberry Investments climbed 60 cents to end at $8 after 633,344 shares crossed the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 60 cents to close at $11.09 in switching ownership of 396,917 stock units. NCB Financial gained 62 cents and ended at $72 after trading 34,859 stocks, Portland JSX lost $1.25 in closing at $9 in an exchange of 10,733 units, Proven Investments advanced 50 cents to close at $26 after a transfer of 3,157 shares. Seprod declined $2.90 to close at $68 with 92,279 stock units clearing the market, Stanley Motta rose 30 cents to $5.30 and closed with 2,083,270 stock units changing hands, Sterling Investments dropped 38 cents to $2.52 after investors exchanged 2,433 stocks. Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied $1.53 in closing at $11.63, with 104 units crossing the market and Wisynco Group increased $1.10 to end at $18.50 as investors exchanged 252,155 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share popped $1.98 to end at $20.99, with 49 shares crossing the exchange, 
Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed 60 cents to $7.52 with an exchange of 6,979 units, 138 Student Living preference share dipped $13.50 and ended at $106.67, with 16 stock units crossing the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share fell $10.69 to close at $106.94 after a transfer of 34 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD market plunges
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 110 percent valued 521 percent more than on Monday and resulting in 10 securities traded, compared to eight on Monday with none rising, nine declining and one ending unchanged and sending the US Denominated Equities Index down 19.40 points to 207.57.
Investors traded 679,924 shares for US$31,830, up from 323,887 units at US$5,124 on Monday.
Trading averaged 67,992 units at US$3,183, up from 40,486 shares at US$641 on Monday, with a month to date average of 37,722 shares at US$1,963 compared to 35,067 units at US$1,856 on the previous trading day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.3. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share shed 0.78 of one cent to end at 4.4 US cents, with 56,186 shares changing hands, Margaritaville dipped 1.65 cents to 9.35 US cents after 20,000 units crossed the market, Productive Business Solutions lost 24.92 cents in closing at US$1.4508 with investors transferring 1,000 stocks. 
Proven Investments dropped 0.88 of one cent and ended at 16.02 US cents as investors exchanged 60,149 shares, Sterling Investments declined 0.3 of a cent to 1.68 US cents after hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of 0.160 cents with shareholders swapping 26,907 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments fell 1.95 cents in closing at 11.03 US cents after investors exchanged 1,075 stocks and Transjamaican Highway declined 0.1 of a cent to close at 1.2 US cents with 509,141 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share dipped US$1.50 and ended at US$11.50 as 100 units passed through the market, JMMB Group 5.75% fell 18.5 cents to end at 52 weeks’ low of US$1.615 and closed with an exchange of 4,966 stock units and JMMB Group 6% remained at US$1.07 with 400 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market closes higher
Trading remained elevated on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, but the volume of stocks traded declined 33 percent, with a 16 percent lower value than on Monday after trading took place in 43 securities down from 48 on Monday and ended with the prices of 14 rising, 21 declining and eight closing unchanged.
A total of 25,198,464 shares were traded for $71,304,324, compared to 37,338,614 units at $85,131,000 on Monday.
Trading averaged 586,011 shares at $1,658,240, compared with 777,888 units at $1,773,562 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 232,248 units at $592,991 compared with 210,517 stock units at $527,554 on the previous trading day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Fosrich led trading with 13.62 million shares for 54 percent of total volume followed by Derrimon Trading with 4.17 million units for 16.5 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 1.06 million units for 4.2 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 11.17 points and ended trading at 3,770.31.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. 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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $1.20 to $24.50 after an exchange of 16 shares, Blue Power popped 39 cents and ended at $2.44 in trading 20 stock units, CAC 2000 lost $1.10 to close at $6 after 200 units passed through the market. Cargo Handlers rose 50 cents to $16.50 with an exchange of 25 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dropped 25 cents to end at $2.10 after 2,056 units were traded, Consolidated Bakeries increased 24 cents in closing at $2.43 after exchanging 10,322 shares. Derrimon Trading declined 9 cents to close at $2.01 in an exchange of 4,167,867 stocks, 
Dolphin Cove dipped $1.40 and ended at $15.50, with 3,070 stock units changing hands, Everything Fresh shed 16 cents to end at $1.50, with 495,000 stock units crossing the market. Fosrich gained 59 cents to end at $3 while shareholders exchanged 13,616,560 shares, Future Energy Source fell 9 cents to close at $4.02 with the swapping of 310,781 units, Honey Bun fell 90 cents to $6.10 in an exchange of 17,410 stocks, Indies Pharma advanced 9 cents in closing at $3.15, with 311 units crossing the market, Knutsford Express rallied 96 cents to $11 with a transfer of 15,755 stock units, Lasco Distributor shed 25 cents to end at $2.50 after a transfer of 20,195 stocks. Main Event advanced 44 cents to $12.99 and closed after 6,705 shares were traded, Medical Disposables dipped 90 cents to end at $4.60 with 300 stock units clearing the market, 
Stationery and Office Supplies lost $1.09 in closing at $14.50 with investors transferring 5,100 units and tTech climbed 36 cents to close at $2.51 in switching ownership of 119 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main & Junior Market rally, JSEUSD drops
Main Market on stocks recorded solid gains in trading following the closure of the market for the Labour Day holiday on Tuesday while the Junior Market got added push with the price of Fosrich jumping to over $3 on heavy trading but the JSE USD Market dropped sharply to close much lower than Monday, following a pickup in the value of stocks trading.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 2,890.60 points to 347,251.23, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 3,546.34 points to end at 370,917.95, the JSE Main Index advanced 2,988.38 points to end at 335,171.56 the Junior Market Index popped 11.17 points to close at 3,770.31 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 19.40 points to close at 207.57.
Shares in the preference segment of the Main Market not included in the TOP10 graphs ended with Eppley 5% preference share popping $1.98 to end at $20.99, 138 Student Living preference share dipped $13.50 to $106.67 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share fell $10.69 to close at $106.94.
At the close, investors exchanged 43,828,723 shares in all three markets, down from 46,795,133 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $139.5 million down from $118.5 million on Wednesday. 
Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 679,.924 shares for US$31,830 up from 323,887 units at US$5,124 on Wednesday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 17.3 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.2 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and put in on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
JSE USD Market inches higher
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with the market index squeezing out a modest rise as the volume of stocks changing hands declined by 27 percent with a 55 percent lower value than on Friday, resulting in the trading of eightm securities, similar to Friday and ending with prices of three rising, three declining and two ending unchanged.
Some 323,887 shares were traded for US$5,124 compared to 441,233 units at US$11,332 on Friday.
Trading averaged 40,486 units at US$641 compared with 55,154 shares at US$1,417 on Friday, with a month to date average of 35,067 shares at US$1,856 compared to 34,658 units at US$1,947 on the previous trading day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index gained 0.34 points to close at 226.97.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.2. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts 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 ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share dipped 0.02 of a cent to 5.18 US cents in an exchange of 3,739 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell 3 cents in closing at 55 US cents, with 350 stocks changing hands, Proven Investments ended at 16.9 US cents after trading 2,512 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments popped 1.48 cents ended at 12.98 US cents in an exchange of 116 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share increased 2.09 cents to end at 11.09 US cents with a transfer of one stock and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.1 of a cent to 1.3 US cents after a transfer of 316,635 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% lost 10 cents in ending at US$1.80 while exchanging 34 stock units and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.07 after 500 units crossed the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Majors rise against dominant fallen prices
Falling stock prices dominated trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Monday, but the primary market indices ended taring strongly positive, with prices of 36 securities declining and only 11 rising, leaving 17 ending with unchanged prices, following a moderate decline in trading volume with a 58 percent lower value than on Friday, with trading taking place in 64 securities up from 56 on Friday.
A total of 9,133,162 shares were traded for $33,363,500 compared to 9,818,276 units at $78,748,697 on Friday.
Trading averaged 142,706 shares at $521,305, versus 175,326 shares at $1,406,227 on Friday and month to date, an average of 209,549 units at $1,336,194, compared with 214,582 units at $1,397,550 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 4.97 million shares for 54.5 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.21 million units for 24.2 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% due 2028 with 478,678 units for 5.2 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 3,640.76 points to 367,371.61, the JSE Main Index gained 2,217.69 points to close at 332,183.18 and the JSE Financial Index increased 1.11 points to close at 75.55.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last selling prices of stocks and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement lost $1.05 to close at $49.95 while exchanging 42,487 shares, Caribbean Producers rose 34 cents to end at $9.39 as investors exchanged 43,347 units, Eppley dropped $5.56 and ended at $31.54 in an exchange of 1,754 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped $5.70 to close at $38 after 2,935 stocks were traded, Jamaica Broilers popped $1.49 in closing at $36.49 and closed with 28,359 shares being traded, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 74 cents in closing at $13.10 after a transfer of 209 stock units,
JMMB Group declined 30 cents and ended at $30 after exchanging 62,193 units, Kingston Properties shed 50 cents to close at $6.70 with 16,917 stocks changing hands, Margaritaville dipped 49 cents to end at $18.50 after 50 units crossed the market, Massy Holdings declined $2.95 to close at $97.05 in switching ownership of 650 shares, 138 Student Living shed 77 cents to close at $4.90 after investors traded 19,872 stocks, Portland JSX lost $1.23 to end at $10.25 with a transfer of one stock unit, Proven Investments dropped 50 cents to $25.50 after an exchange of 12,700 stocks and Supreme Ventures climbed 50 cents to $27.50 with investors transferring 77,229 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share gained $59.75 in closing at $1101 after 50 stock units passed through the market, Eppley 5% preference share fell $3.96 in closing at $19.01 with shareholders swapping one unit, Jamaica Public Service 7% dipped $6.95 to close at $79.06, with 374 shares changing hands. 
Jamaica Public Service 9.5% lost $21 to end at $2979 in trading 6 stock units, JMMB Group 7% preference share advanced 34 cents to $2.11 with 51 stocks crossing the exchange, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share fell 75 cents to $4.25 after 2,085 units crossed the market. 138 Student Living preference share dropped $5.33 to end at $120.17 with 55 shares clearing the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share increased $10.69 in closing at $117.63 with shareholders trading just one stock.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Paramount, the dominant Junior Market trade
Paramount Trading dominated market activity on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, on Monday in cornering 75 percent of the market and sending the volume of stocks traded surging 453 percent and the value 524 percent higher than on Friday after trading took place in all 48 securities compared with 43 on Friday and ended with 23 rising, 19 declining and six closing unchanged.
Investors traded 37,338,614 shares at $85,131,000 compared with 6,750,745 units at $13,652,638 on Friday.
Trading averaged 777,888 shares at $1,773,562, up from 156,994 units at $317,503 on Friday, with a month-to-date average of 210,517 stock units at $527,554 versus 168,748 shares at $435,824 on the previous day. Trading in April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Paramount Trading led trading with 27.82 million shares for 74.5 percent of total volume, followed by Jamaican Teas with 2.72 million units for 7.3 percent of the day’s trade, Spur Tree Spices with 2.10 million units for 5.6 percent market share and Fosrich with 1.59 million units for 4.3 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 12.74 points to 3,759.14.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.7. 
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 ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Blue Power fell 39 cents to $2.05 with an exchange of 21 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 9 cents in closing at $2.35 with shareholders swapping 71,020 units, Dolphin Cove climbed 45 cents to end at $16.90 after an exchange of 17,847 stocks, Express Catering popped 21 cents to $5.15, after 263,085 stock units changed hands, 
Fosrich slipped 9 cents to $2.41 after 1,593,293 shares passed through the market, GWest Corporation fell 12 cents to end at 90 cents in trading 654 stock units, Honey Bun advanced 70 cents in closing at $7 after a transfer of 165,127 stocks, Indies Pharma declined 9 cents and ended at $3.06, with 42,605 units crossing the market, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 65 cents to close at $1.85 with 66,268 units clearing the market, KLE Group dipped 16 cents to $1.50 with a transfer of 35,269 shares, Knutsford Express fell 96 cents to end at $10.04 with investors transferring 1,397 stock units, Lasco Distributors rose 8 cents in closing at $2.75 with an exchange of 44,444 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 13 cents and ended at $4.13 after 25,603 shares changed hands, Lumber Depot increased 8 cents to close at $2.28 with investors swapping 87,229 units, Main Event shed 45 cents to end at $12.55 8,189 stock units changing hands, Medical Disposables gained 70 cents to close at $5.50, with a mere 11 stocks crossing the market, 
Paramount Trading climbed 11 cents in closing at $2.19 with an exchange of 27,820,000 shares, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced $1.59 in ending at $15.59 following the switching ownership of one unit and tTech lost 36 cents to end at $2.15 in trading 179 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
