Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 718 percent with little change in value compared to Friday, resulting from trading in seven securities, as was the case on Friday. No stock enjoyed a price hike, as four declined and three ended unchanged.
A total of 721,255 shares were exchanged for US$11,383 versus 88,165 units at US$11,398 on Friday.
Trading averaged 103,036 shares at US$1,626 versus 12,595 shares at US$1,628 on Friday. Trading for the month to date averaged 46,055 units at US$1,279 compared with 36,326 units at US$1,220 on the previous day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index dipped 5.57 points to close at 232.19.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.8. The PE ratio is calculated 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, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy ended at 59 US cents after 75 shares passed through the market, Productive Business Solutions lost 0.01 of a cent in ending at US$1.8999, with investors trading two stocks, Proven Investments ended at 17 US cents with a transfer of 4,829 units. Sygnus Credit Investments declined 0.02 of a cent to end at 9.4 US cents with an exchange of 6,747 stock units and Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.01 of a cent to 1.2 US cents after a transfer of 709,451 stocks.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share shed 31 cents to close at US$12.84 in switching ownership of 150 units and Eppley 6% preference share ended at US$1.40 after one stock unit crossed the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
A total of 11,476,890 shares were exchanged for $39,035,763 versus 11,772,290 units at $54,877,421 on Friday.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 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 between November 2022 and August 2023.
Key Insurance rose 50 cents and ended at $3.65 after just 1 stock unit was traded, Kingston Wharves increased $2.40 to close at $32.90, with 5,548 stock units changing hands, Massy Holdings rallied $3 to end at $98, with 4,590 shares crossing the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities dipped 85 cents to $10 after an exchange of 211,881 stocks. 138 Student Living declined 34 cents to $5.01 while exchanging 2,650 units, Sagicor Group fell $1.97 to close at $48.03 after a transfer of 70,552 shares, Scotia Group shed 85 cents in closing at $34 with a transfer of 9,525 units, Seprod rallied 50 cents to end at $70.50 as 9,753 stock units passed through the market. Stanley Motta gained 36 cents to close at $5.56, with 2,081 stocks clearing the market, Supreme Ventures lost 35 cents in closing at $27.65 with shareholders swapping 17,945 stocks and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rose $2.29 to $11.80, with 3,078 shares crossing the market.
Eppley 7.75% preference share advanced $2.21 to $19.75 in an exchange of 84 stock units, Jamaica Public Service 7% fell $15 ended at $60 as investors exchanged 11,187 shares and 138 Student Living preference share jumped $15.67 in closing at $120.17 with investors transferring a mere 4 units.
Trading ended after the JSE Combined Market Index popped 2,137.12 points to 349,051.12. The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 741.69 points to 372,452.61, the JSE Main Index gained 2,274.28 points to settle at 337,144.99, as the Junior Market Index popped 1.65 points to close at 3,765.78 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 5.57 points to 232.19.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.5 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
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.
At the previous week’s close, Image Plus released solid full year results showing profit after tax that jumped 125.6 percent to $213 million or 21 cents per share. Based on those numbers, ICInsider.com revised earnings for the current fiscal year to 35 cents from 30 cents previously. On Monday, the company reported revised results, with the profit being even higher at $252 million, with a reduction in the amount previously booked as professional fees. Based on the revision, projected earnings were raised by the publication to 40 cents per share for the current fiscal year. The stock sits at the number three spot in the ICTOP10. The revision raises some serious questions about how such matters escaped the directors, auditors and the financial controller before the audited financial statements were released.
The Junior Market’s long history of rising around a month before the release of quarterly results and declining shortly after results are released seems to be starting with a rise of 108 points in the market index in the previous week with more this past week, with the supply of some stocks continuing to fall sharply.
The differences between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
with trading activity occurring in 55 securities compared to 57 on Thursday and resulted in prices of 13 rising, 23 falling and 19 ending unchanged.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,306.49 points to close at 371,710.92, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,443.60 points to 334,870.71 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.10 points to close at 76.69.
Jamaica Broilers dipped $1.28 to end at $35.70 as 29,289 stocks passed through the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied $1.24 to end at $14.24 with an exchange of 6,691 units, JMMB Group declined $1.40 to close at $29.60 after investors traded 126,267 shares. Kingston Wharves dropped $2.40 to $30.50 with investors trading 20,319 units, Mayberry Investments popped 45 cents in closing at $7.95 in an exchange of 60,363 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 45 cents and ended at $10.85 after 6,511 units passed through the market, NCB Financial fell $1 to close at $72 with a transfer of 268,196 stocks. Portland JSX shed 48 cents in closing at $11 in an exchange of 20 stock units, Proven Investments increased $1.69 and ended at $27.10 in trading 1,888 units, Seprod declined $1.50 to end at $70, with 27,546 stock units crossing the exchange. Stanley Motta lost 50 cents to close at $5.20 while exchanging 834 stocks and Sterling Investments climbed 38 cents to end at $2.87 after a transfer of 517 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share dipped $1 to $17.54, with 558 shares changing hands, Jamaica Public Service 7% rose $7 and ended at $75, with 175 units clearing the market and JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 climbed 47 cents to close at $2.94 after investors exchanged 10,905 stocks.
A total of 5,893,458 shares for $15,143,469 up from 4,043,628 units at $9,615,722 on Thursday.
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.
Fontana advanced 15 cents and ended at $8.65 in an exchange of 151,260 stocks, Fosrich climbed 7 cents in closing at $2.61 as investors traded 523,888 units, GWest Corporation rose 7 cents in closing at 95 cents in trading 102,020 stock units, ISP Finance popped $1.85 to end at $21.50 after exchanging 6 shares. Jamaican Teas dipped 12 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $1.98 and closed with an exchange of 293,709 stocks, Jetcon Corporation climbed 14 cents to close at $1.19 as 10,101 shares passed through the market, KLE Group shed 41 cents in ending at $1.61 with an exchange of 56 stock units, Lasco Distributors dipped 17 cents to end at $2.58 after a transfer of 140,104 units. Limners and Bards declined 25 cents and ended at $2.23 in an exchange of 13,847 units, Main Event dropped 6 cents to $13.29 while exchanging 76,777 stocks, Medical Disposables rallied 53 cents in closing at $5.61 after 51 shares crossed the market. 
MFS Capital Partners gained 24 cents to close at $3.56, with 55,275 stock units changing hands, Stationery and Office Supplies lost 98 cents to end at $14.52, with investors trading 33,582 stocks and Tropical Battery increased 8 cents to close at $2 with a transfer of 973,055 units.
A total of 88,165 shares were traded for US$11,398 compared with 122,385 units at US$18,559 on Thursday.
At the close, Margaritaville dipped 0.47 of a cent to 11 US cents with shareholders trading 26 shares, Productive Business Solutions rallied 10 cents to close at US$1.90 as 2 shares changed hands, Proven Investments ended at 17 US cents after shareholders traded 67,557 units, Sterling Investments ended at 1.9 US cents as investors swapped 205 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.38 of one cent and ended at 9.42 US cents as 30 through the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share gained 2.05 cents to end at 12.39 US cents with an exchange of 23 stocks and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.11 of a cent to close at 1.21 US cents in switching ownership of 20,322 units.
Trading ended with the JSE Combined Market Index popping 1,250.75 points to 346,914.00. The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,306.49 points to end at 371,710 .92, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,443.60 points to close at 334,870.71, the Junior Market Index shed 10.52 points in closing at 3,764.13 and the JSE USD Market Index jumped 12.51 points to 237.76.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.4 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
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.
A total of 3,816,748 shares were traded for $33,796,305 compared to 6,353,061 units at $48,244,526 on Wednesday.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 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 between November 2022 and August 2023.
Massy Holdings jumped $5.50 to end at $95 after an exchange of 3,762 stock units, NCB Financial declined $1.11 in closing at $73 with 41,486 shares changing hands. Proven Investments dipped $1.89 to $25.41 with investors trading 4,483 shares, Sagicor Group lost 50 cents to close at $50 in switching ownership of 13,572 stock units; Scotia Group rose 75 cents in closing at $34.85 with a transfer of 71,051 stocks, Supreme Ventures advanced 50 cents to $28, with 23,422 units changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance shed $1.39 to close at $9.51 in an exchange of 1,000 stocks.
Jamaica Public Service 7% fell $22.52 in closing at $68, with 1,526 units crossing the market. JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 dropped 45 cents to close at $2.47 while exchanging 60,000 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share declined $4 to close at $100 with an exchange of 89 shares.
Overall, 122,385 shares were traded for US$18,559 compared with 1,042,369 units at US$14,647 on Wednesday.
Proven Investments remained at 17 US cents after transferring 2,340 stock units. Sterling Investments ended at 1.9 US cents after exchanging 31,455 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 0.38 of a cent to 9.04 US cents after an exchange of 8,600 shares and Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.11 of a cent to close at 1.1 US cents 66,413 stocks changing hands.
