NCB stock hits low of $32, trading halted


NCB Financial Group stock traded at a 52 week low of $32 in the morning session of the Jamaica Stock Exchange after 505,889 shares with a value of $18.12 million were exchanged. The stock opened at $40.95 and gradually traded down to $32, with an exchange of just two shares, at levels not seen since late 2015.

NCB traded 22768 units trading down to $40 at 9.25 am, it then dropped to $38.03 also at 9.25 and bounced back to $40.95 with an exchange of 10,000 at 9.36 AM and went downhill from there with 106,000 units traded a few cents above $36 and 330,909 shares between $35.01 to $35.10.

The group sold shares to the public in May last year, at $65 each. The fall in price represents a drop of 53 percent at $35 per share, but that is relatively mild compared with a fall of 86 percent from the 2019 high of $249.  

In 2024, ICInsider.com commented on the public issue as follows” An APO brings an additional supply of shares to the market and will satisfy the demand for a large pool of investors for several months if not years, as such the issue is likely to keep the price of the stock subdued for some time unless there is a big jump in profitability to make them more attractive as an investment and thus encourage increased buying to move the stock price up appreciably.”

Trading in the stock was halted to resume trading at 11.46 AM, in the morning session.
After trading resumed, the stock traded at $39.94. Orders for the stock are shown in the table below. 

Trading dived on the Junior Market


The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Friday, with a 71 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, at a 47 percent lower value than Thursday, from activity in 41 securities similar to Friday and ended with prices of 18 rising, 15 declining and eight closing firm.

The market closed with trading of only 3,562,092 shares for a mere $7,189,357, down from 12,286,419 units at $13,554,086 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 86,880 shares at $175,350, well below the 299,669 stocks at $330,587 on Thursday, with the month to date, averaging 2,615,591 stock units at $1,471,728 compared to 3,458,494 stock units at $1,903,853 on the previous day and June that averaged 186,843 shares at $332,162.
Tropical Battery led trading with 710,115 shares for 19.9 percent of total volume, followed by Fosrich, with 622,637 units for 17.5 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 354,171 stocks for 9.9 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index slipped 3.84 points to 3,441.93. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
At the close of the market, Access Financial rose 6 cents to end at $17.20, in trading 32,130 shares, Blue Power lost 58 cents to close at $4.60, after 10,928 stocks crossed the market, CAC 2000 climbed 5 cents to $1.85 with traders dealing in 29 units. Caribbean Cream sank 6 cents and ended at $2.40 with 846 shares clearing the market, Elite Diagnostic popped 12 cents to finish at $1.62 with an exchange of 15,864 stock units, Future Energy fell 6 cents to close at $2.91, with 354,171 shares changing hands. Indies Pharma shed 5 cents to $3.55 after an exchange of 17,420 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance sank $1 to close at $4.99 with a transfer of 23,965 units, ISP Finance increased $3.68 in closing at $15.08 as investors exchanged just two stock units. Jamaican Teas advanced 7 cents to finish at $2.35, and closed with an exchange of 12,377 shares, Jetcon Corporation gained 21 cents and ended at a 52 week high of $1.80 after an exchange of 79,531 stocks, Knutsford Express rallied 50 cents to end at $14 with investors dealing in 162 units. Lasco Financial declined 17 cents to $1.78 after an exchange of 56,068 stock units, Limners and Bards dipped 11 cents to close at $1.05 with investors trading 124,179 shares, Regency Petroleum skidded 34 cents in closing at $4.01, with 94,827 stocks crossing the exchange. Spur Tree Spices dipped 6 cents and ended at 91 cents after a transfer of 84,421 units and Stationery and Office Supplies rose 5 cents to finish at $1.85 in trading 9,025 stock units.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Gains for JSE Main Market stocks


Stocks prices bounced for the first time since the start of July in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with gains wiping out the losses on Thursday but only partially ate into Wednesday losses, following trading in 60 securities, up from 57 on Thursday, with prices of 26 securities rising, 19 declining and 15 ending firm, with the volume of stocks traded rising 40 percent and the value remaining static compared with Thursday.

The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,479.15 points to end at 360,786.78, the JSE Main Index climbed 2,138.17 points to close at 312,991.30 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.41 points to 64.47.
At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
Market activity closed after trading of 18,537,937 share worth $93,974,345 compared with 13,280,166 stock units at $93,569,848 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 308,966 shares at $1,566,239 compared to 232,985 stock units at $1,641,576 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 237,033 units at $1,286,089 compared with 211,495 shares at $1,186,628 on the previous day and June with an average of 183,242 stock units at $1,532,211.
Transjamaican Highway was the leading traded stock with 9.69 million shares for 52.3 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Energy, with 3.57 million stock units for 19.3 percent of the day’s trade and 138 Student Living closed with 2.07 million units for 11.2 percent of the day’s market share. The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings that are projected by ICInsider.com for the listed companies with financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the market, Caribbean Cement dipped by 88 cents to close at $84 after 1,919 shares passed through the market, Eppley lost $4.54 to finish trading at $26.96 after an exchange of 6,336 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $3.72 to finish at $41.97 with a mere 2 stocks clearing the market. GraceKennedy popped 45 cents and ended at $70.50 with investors trading 247,494 shares, after trading at an intraday 52 week low of $69.01, Jamaica Broilers gained $1.72 in closing at $25.84 with 12,688 stock units crossing the market, Mayberry Group rose 40 cents to end at $7.60 after an exchange of 5 shares. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $10.17 in closing at $63.50 after trading of 200 stocks, Pan Jamaica increased 78 cents to $51.48 after a transfer of 30 units, Stanley Motta advanced by 55 cents to finish at $6.60 and closed after 34,661 stocks changed hands. Supreme Ventures slipped 38 cents and ended at $19.30, with 28,229 shares crossing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments popped 35 cents to close at $12.90 in trading 357 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% climbed $1.55 to end at $43.25, with just 1 stock crossing the exchange, 138 Student Living preference share rose $3 to $220 with traders dealing in 14 units, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% sank $10 in closing at $1,080 as investors exchanged 70 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% advanced $8.49 to end at $109.49 with a transfer of 22 units.Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

More money pumped into JSE USD Market

Investors injected 55 percent more money into the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Friday and ended with 51 percent fewer shares than on Thursday. Similar to Thursday, trading ended with an exchange of eight securities, with prices of two rising, two declining and four ending unchanged.

The market closed with an exchange of 255,956 shares for US$19,600 compared to 525,864 stocks at US$12,652 on Thursday.
Trading for the day averaged 31,995 shares at US$2,450 compared to 65,733 stocks at US$1,581 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 40,763 units at US$2,114 compared with 43,461 stocks at US$2,011 on the previous day and June that ended with an average of 591,343 units for US$19,218.
The US Denominated Equities Index fell 0.58 points to 203.84. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
The PE Ratio, one of the most frequently used measures to determine appropriate stock values, averages 10.4. The PE ratio is calculated using the last traded price and projected earnings, computed by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share rose 0.15 of a cent to close at 1.95 US cents after a transfer of 100 shares, Proven Investments slipped 0.19 of one cent to 10.25 US cents, following the trading of 61,556 stocks, Sterling Investments gained 0.01 of a cent to end at 2.22 US cents after 41,249 shares passed through the market. Sygnus Credit Investments remained at 7.6 US cents with an exchange of 122,465 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share ended at 6 US cents, with 10,000 stocks changing hands and Transjamaican Highway shed 0.03 of one cent to finish at 2.32 US cents after an exchange of 20,384 units.
In the preference segment, AS Bryden ended at US$1 with a transfer of just 2 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments US 8% remained at US$9.75, with investors dealing in 200 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

JSE Main Market rises, Junior & USD stocks slip


The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed higher on Friday with the Junior Market declining moderately following a drop in the volume and value of stocks exchanged than Thursday. At the end of trading, the prices of 46 shares rose, 36 declined and 27 remained firm.

At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index rose by 2,013.93 points to 323,948.31, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 2,479.15 points to close at  360,786.78, the JSE Main Index advanced 2,138.17 points to end at 312,991.30, the Junior Market Index declined 3.84 points to end at 3,441.93 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped a mere 0.58 points to wrap up trading at 203.84.
At the close of trading, 22,355,985 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 26,092,449 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $101.16 million, down from $107.12 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 255,956 shares for US$19,600 compared to 525,864 units at US$12,652 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 9.69 million shares, followed by Wigton Energy with 3.57 million stocks and 138 Student Living with 2.07 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Tropical Battery led with 710,115 shares, followed by Fosrich with 622,637 stocks and Future Energy with 354,171 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $1.55 to finish at $43, 138 Student Living preference share advanced $3 and ended at $220, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% sank $10 to $1,080 and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% rose $8.49 in closing at $109.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.8 based on 2024-25 earnings and 16.3 based on 2024 earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other, more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. Earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major one time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to easily navigate the numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them 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 net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are due to be paid and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.

Best & worse Main Market 2025 performers


JSE Main Market stocks declined 5.5 percent in the first six months of 2025, with only 12 stocks gaining while 37 declined, with Eppley being the best performer and Blue chip Jamaica Broilers the worst.

The leading performing stock for the half year is the financial entity, Eppley, up 33 percent, followed by another financial stock, Sterling Investments with a rise of 25 percent, cigarette distributor Carreras, was up 21 percent following improved results and an increase in dividend payment and Innovative Energy rose 15 percent for the half year.

Chicken processors, Jamaica Broilers stocks got hit by accounting irregularities in their US operations, with investors marking the stock down by 33 percent to be the biggest Main Market loser, VM Investment fell 21 percent, Transjamaican Highway, Supreme Ventures and AS Bryden all lost 20 percent and NCB Financial fell 19 percent in the first six months of 2025.

JSE Main Market falls Thursday


Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended, with the volume of stocks traded just declining marginally on Thursday, with the value 106 percent more than on Wednesday, following trading in 57 securities compared with 56 on Wednesday, with prices of winning and declining stocks sharing 21 stocks each and 15 ending unchanged, sending the market into a fall.

The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,493.92 points to conclude trading at 358,307.63, the JSE Main Index declined 838.31 points to 310,853.13 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.29 points to 64.06.
At the close of the market, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator  is showing nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The market closed with 13,280,166 shares trading for $93,569,848 compared with 13,517,427 stock units at $45,330,088 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 232,985 shares at $1,641,576 compared to 241,383 stocks at $809,466 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 211,495 units at $1,186,628, more than 200,557 shares at $955,092 on the previous day compared to June with an average of 183,242 stock units at $1,532,211.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 5.82 million shares for 43.9 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Energy with 1.24 million stocks for 9.3 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund closed with 1.23 million stocks for 9.3 percent of the volume traded, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund with 1.20 million units for 9 percent of stocks trading and QWI Investments with 1.0 million units for 7.6 percent market share.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close, AS Bryden advanced $2.33 to finish at $26.50 following 541 shares being traded, Berger Paints sank 46 cents to $6.99 with traders dealing in 10,012 stock units, Eppley fell $1.49 to close at $31.50 in exchanging 757 shares. GraceKennedy lost $1.95 to close at $70.05, with 119,910 units crossing the market. Jamaica Broilers popped 52 cents in closing at $24.12 in trading 4,580 stocks, JMMB Group shed 72 cents and ended at $20.12 and closed with an exchange of 11,990 shares. Mayberry Jamaican Equities rallied $1.65 to $10.90 with trading in 274 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy sank $9.42 in closing at a 52 week low of $53.33 with investors dealing in 285 units, NCB Financial increased 82 cents and ended at $40.89 in an exchange of 11,311 stocks.
Pan Jamaica dropped $1 to close at $50.70 with investors trading 294 shares, Sagicor Group climbed $1.55 to end at $40.95 with 22,909 stock clearing the market, Scotia Group declined 55 cents to finish at $52.50 with an exchange of 42,373 units. Seprod rose 70 cents to $81.70 after 3,648 stock units passed through the market, Supreme Ventures gained 68 cents to end at $19.68 with 88,824 shares crossing the exchange and Sygnus Credit Investments skidded 40 cents in closing at $12.55 with a transfer of 4,699 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $5.11 to finish at $41.70 as investors exchanged 84 stocks, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% slipped $35 and ended at $1,090 after a transfer of 110 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments 10% dipped $8.69 to close at $101 with investors trading 418 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% fell $1.50 to $105.99 after an exchange of 140 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Steady trading on the JSE USD Market


The Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market closed Thursday, with a 392 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, with a 20 percent lower value than on Wednesday, resulting in an exchange of eight securities, compared with 10 on Wednesday, with the price of one rising, three declining and four ending unchanged.

The market closed with trading of 525,864 shares valued US$12,652 compared with 106,960 stocks at US$15,796 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 65,733 shares at US$1,581, up from 10,696 stocks at US$1,580 on Wednesday, with the month to date averaging 43,461 units at US$2,011 compared with 33,562 stocks at US$2,201 on the previous day and well below June that ended with an average of 591,343 units for US$19,218.
The US Denominated Equities Index declined by a mere 0.05 points to close at 204.43. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
The PE Ratio, one of the most frequently used measures to determine appropriate stock values, averages 10.4. The PE ratio is calculated by dividing the last traded price by projected earnings, as computed by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share ended at 1.8 US cents with a transfer of 450,270 shares, Margaritaville drifted 0.05 of a cent lower to 8.15 US cents after 292 units crossed the market. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy sank 11 cents to finish at 39 US cents with investors trading only 90 stocks. Proven Investments remained at 10.44 US cents in an exchange of just 91 shares, Sterling Investments ended at 2.21 US cents with investors trading 11,883 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments remained at 7.6 US cents after a transfer of 317 shares and Transjamaican Highway advanced 0.01 of a cent to close at 2.35 US cents in switching ownership of 60,363 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% lost 1 cent to end at US$1.09, with 2,558 units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

ONEonONE Junior Market lead trade


ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 73 percent of the day’s reduced trading volume, with nearly 9 million of the company’s shares on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, following a 78 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with 72 percent lower value than Wednesday. Trading ended similarly to Wednesday, with 41 securities changing hands and ending with prices of 21 rising, 15 declining and five closing unchanged.

The market closed with trading of 12,286,419 shares for $13,554,086, sharply down from 56,678,732 units at $49,193,048 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 299,669 shares at $330,587, well below 1,382,408 stocks at $1,199,830 on the prior day. Trading ended  with the month to date, averaging 3,458,494 units at $1,903,853, below the 5,037,907 stocks at $2,690,486 previously and well above June with an average of 186,843 shares at $332,162.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 8.95 million shares for 72.9 percent of the total volume, followed by Image Plus, with 457,627 units for 3.7 percent of the day’s trade and Jetcon Corporation with 381,419 stocks for 3.1 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 14.16 points to conclude trading at 3,445.77. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
At the end of market close, Access Financial popped $1.88 to finish at $17.14, with 2,055 shares being traded, Caribbean Cream rose 35 cents and ended at $2.46, after an exchange of 3,273 units, Dolphin Cove rose $1.56 to $13.96, with 17,359 stocks changing hands. Express Catering gained 22 cents to end at $2.75 after an exchange of 18,020 shares, Fontana increased 8 cents in closing at $8.88 following trading of 72,003 stock units, Fosrich fell 6 cents to close at $2.60 with a transfer of 121,106 shares. Honey Bun advanced 18 cents to $7.48 with investors swapping 10,303 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance rallied $1 to finish at $5.99 after a transfer of 182 units, Jetcon Corporation popped 9 cents and ended at a 52 week high of $1.59, with 381,419 stock crossing the exchange. Knutsford Express slipped 36 cents to close at $13.50 with investors trading 1,410 shares, Lasco Financial sank 10 cents in closing at $1.95, with 200,148 stocks clearing the market. Limners and Bards rallied 8 cents to end at $1.16 as investors exchanged 6 units. Mailpac Group rose 6 cents to $2.51 in trading 12,972 stock units, Omni Industries climbed 6 cents to finish at 72 cents, with 11,329 shares crossing the market, Regency Petroleum lost 5 cents and ended at $4.35 with investors dealing in 20,255 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies increased 10 cents to end at $1.80 in switching ownership of 367,363 units.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Majors slide, Juniors rise on the JSE


Trading closed Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a fall in the volume of stocks exchanged, carrying a greater value than on Wednesday and ending in prices of 43 shares rising, 39 declining and 24 remaining firm, resulting in the Main Market major indices and the JSE USD Market indices declining, with the Junior Market index rising.

At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index sank 697.54 points to end at 321,934.38, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 1,493.92 points to 358,307.63, the JSE Main Index dropped by 838.31 points to 310,853.13, the Junior Market Index rallied by 14.16 points to 3,445.77 and the JSE USD Market Index shed 0.05 points to 204.42.
At the close, 26,092,449 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 70,303,119 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $107.12 million, up from $94.52 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 525,864 shares for US$12,652 compared to 106,960 units at US$15,796 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with 5.82 million shares, followed by Wigton Energy with 1.24 million stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.23 million units.
In Junior Market trading, ONE on ONE Educational led with 8.95 million shares, followed by Image Plus with 457,627 stocks and Jetcon Corporation with 381,419 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $5.11 to close at $42, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% dipped $35 to $1,090, Sygnus Credit Investments 10% sank $8.69 in closing at $101 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% slipped $1.50 to finish at $106.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used in valuing stocks, ended at 13.8 based on the 2024-25 earnings and 16.1 based on 2024 earnings.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other, more detailed daily charts provide investors with updated data to help in decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major one time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals, while 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 net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are due to be paid and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.