Trading jumps on Junior Market

Trading jumped sharply at the close of the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with a 92 percent surge in the volume of stocks traded and a 47 percent increase compared to Friday, leading to 46 securities changing hands up from 42 on Friday and ending with 23 rising, 17 declining and six unchanged.
Investors traded 23,046,162 shares for $53,285,932, up from 12,029,585 units at $36,181,749 on Friday.
Trading averaged 501,004 shares at $1,158,390 compared to 286,419 units at $861,470 on Friday, with the month to date averaging 206,218 units at $547,197 compared to  68,655 stock units at $469,317 on Friday, the previous day. Trading in February averaged 318,024 units at $782,332.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 14.92 million shares for 64.7 percent of total volume followed by Regency Petroleum with 1.95 million units for 8.5 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 946,925 units for 4.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 11.64 points to 3,817.91.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.5. The PE ratios of  Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023. Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging gained 59 cents in closing at $3.10 with 70,128 shares changing hands, CAC 2000 advanced $1.28 to $8.29 after trading 15 units, Cargo Handlers gained 8 cents to close at $15 in exchanging 6,660 stock units. Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 17 cents to end at $1.91 with a transfer of 10,809 stocks, Caribbean Cream popped 10 cents to finish at $3.40 after 520 shares passed through the market, Derrimon Trading popped 10 cents to settle at $2.20 after trading 14,915,935 stocks. Dolla Financial slipped 8 cents to $2.80 with the swapping of 946,925 units, Dolphin Cove declined 63 cents to $14.70 after an exchange of 33,141 stock units,  dipped 13 cents to end at $1.86 in switching ownership of 515,305 shares. Express Catering gained 24 cents to close at $5.40 after a transfer of 300 stocks, Fontana rallied 14 cents to end at $8.55 after 115,454 stock units cleared the market, Future Energy Source rallied 15 cents to $4.55 with a transfer of 392,151 units after the price hit an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $4.16. General Accident rose 33 cents in closing at $5.33 as investors exchanged 650 stocks, GWest Corporation gained 11 cents after ending at $1.04 in trading 12,113 shares, ISP Finance advanced 66 cents to close at $25.66 with investors transferring 825 units. Knutsford Express popped 10 cents to settle at $10.16 with an exchange of 4,000 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing lost 9 cents to close at $4.30 in switching ownership of 2,200 stock units, Lumber Depot gained 14 cents in closing at $2.20 in an exchange of 206,658 stocks. Main Event jumped $1.30 to $12.30 with the swapping of 58,507 units, MFS Capital Partners popped 46 cents to end at $3.70 as investors exchanged 409,249 shares,

Paramount Trading shed 20 cents to close at $2.15 after trading 25,685 units. Regency Petroleum lost 10 cents after ending at $2.05 with 1,947,630 shares changing hands, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 50 cents to end at $15 in an exchange of 18,301 stock units and tTech fell 20 cents to $2.30 after an exchange of 94,118 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Big fall in JSE USD market n Monday

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday with a major drop in the market index following trading in 11 securities, compared to six on Friday and finished with one rising, nine declining and one ending unchanged as the volume of stocks changed hands just inched than trading on Friday but with the valued being 4,247 percent more than Friday.
Investors traded 88,737 shares at US$48,455 compared to 86,809 units at US$1,115 on Friday.
Trading averaged 8,067 shares at US$4,405 versus 14,468 shares at US$186 on Friday, with a month to date average of 8,935 shares at US$2,596 compared with 9,103 units at US$2,247 on the previous day. February ended with an average of 43,793 units for US$2,015.
The JSE USD Equities Index plunged 21.45 points to end at 188 34.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values averages 9.1. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by ICInsider.com projected earnings done  for companies with their financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.

Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share dropped 0.5 of a cent in ending at 6.5 US cents as investors exchanged 5,200 shares, Margaritaville declined 0.5 of a cent to end at 11 US cents after an exchange of 24 stock units, Productive Business Solutions shed 22.8 cents to US$1.292 with the swapping of 5,079 units. Proven Investments remained at 18.5 US cents, with 1,373 stocks changing hands, Sterling Investments fell 0.3 of a cent in closing at 1.7 US cents in switching ownership of 9,140 units, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share dipped 0.29 of a cent to 9.51 US cents with a transfer of 12,940 stocks. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share lost 1.27 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of 7.18 US cents after 195 stock units passed through the market and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.04 of a cent to 0.9 of one US cent after trading 30,081 shares.
In the preference segmentEppley 6% preference share advanced 16.12 cents in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of US$1.3112 as 155 stock units passed through the market, JMMB Group 5.75% dipped 1 cent to close at US$2 with an exchange of 14,850 stocks and JMMB Group 6% declined 7 cents to close at US$1 with investors transferring 9,700 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Surge in Monday trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange

Trading surged sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday but prices softened in the JSE USD market and the JSE Main Market suffered while the Junior Market popped a few points by the close.
At the close of trading, 33,504,090 shares were traded in all three markets, from 22,972,502 units, with a value of $250.45 million, up from $109.5 million on the previous trading day. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 88,737 shares for a mere US$48,455 compared to 86,809 units at US$1,115 on Friday.
The JSE Combined Market Index popped 705.24 points to 341,823.54, the All Jamaican Composite Index lost 745.02 points in ending at 372,176.69, the JSE Main Index fell 1,581.47 points to close at 328,859.80, the Junior Market dropped 11.64 points to 3,817.91 and the JSE USD Market Index plunged 21.45 points to end at 188.34 and follows a 20 points drop on Thursday and Friday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 19 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.3 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate many 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. It 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 payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that also show the closing volume pertaining to the bids and offers 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.

Everything & Guardian head ICTOP10

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Everything Fresh and Guardian Holdings continue to head the ICInsider.com TOP10 in a week when the Main Market fell 2.7 percent and the Junior Market dropped a hefty 7.8 percent and reversed all the gains of the previous week, but the Investors Choice bid-offer Indicator is flashing positive signals for both markets on Monday.
Guardian Holdings has a commanding lead over its next rival by almost 100 points, but Everything Fresh likely gain of 344 percent is just above Caribbean Assurance at 333 percent, but the latter is currently far more appealing, with the stock selling at a PE of a mere 7 times 2022 earnings and 4.6 times 2023. Everything Fresh PE based on 2022 earnings is at a much higher 17 and 4.5 based on projected 2023 earnings.
Earnings season had two companies in ICInsider.com TOP10 reporting very strong results that augur well for a full year’s profit.

Caribbean Assurance Brokers is selling at a PE of just 7 based on historical earnings.

Scotia Group reported a net income of $3.4 billion for the quarter that ended January 2023, an increase of $2.2 billion or 173 percent over the prior year period as loans the primary driver of profits increased a solid 18.8 percent to $237 billion while deposits grew only 7.7 percent to $4.05 billion and resulted in net interest income surging $2.6 billion as interest expenses actually declined. These results suggest  ICInsider.com forecast for $5 per share may be a bit light with solid prospects that earnings of $5.50 seem possible. It noted that overall comprehensive profit shows a loss of $1 billion after accounting for pension obligations of $9.5 billion and other items of gains.
Jamaica Broilers continues to churn out strong growth in profits with their nine months results more than double that of the prior year while the January quarter is up 27 percent to $1.5 billion as revenues climbed a solid 20 percent after finance cost nearly doubled. With the tourism industry back to normal the company should get a further boost for the rest of 2023. ICInsider.com forecast for $6 per share for the current fiscal year from continuing operations seem well within reach and could be exceeded making it a solid buy for the long haul.

Scotia Group had a significant increase in profits for the January 2023 quarter.

Performance in the past week was mixed for the Junior Market TOP10 but was far better than the near 8 percent fall by that market, with only three stocks rising of which two rose by 2 percent or less. Iron Rock Insurance gained 15 percent this past week to $2.30 after falling 13 percent the previous week. Lasco Distributors fell 6 percent to $2.64, followed by AMG Packaging and Stationery and Office Supplies which fell by 3 percent to $2.51 and $14.50, respectively.
The Main Market TOP10 performed worse than the overall market with only two stocks gaining and six declining. Jamaica Broilers rose 6 percent to $38 as investors warmed to the stock following release of outstanding results, with the price having a far way to run, while JMMB Group a clear winner for the long term, put on just 2 percent to close at $31.01. Key Insurance fell 7 percent to $2.61 followed by a 5 percent for NCB Financial and 138 Student Living to $72 and $5.20 respectively.
There are no new additions in either market to the ICTOP10 this past week.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.5, well below the market average of 13.3, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.1 compared with the market at 11.3. The differences are important indicators of the level of likely gains of ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 238 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 274 percent to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The Junior Market has 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 25, averaging 19.7, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16.
The Main Market 16 highest valued stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 98, with an average of 30 and 22 excluding the highest valued stocks and 20 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Main Market trading drops to close out the week

Trading declined on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday with a 39 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded valued  22 percent below Thursday’s outturn, from trading in 56 securities compared to 63 on Thursday, as the market closed with prices of 25 rising, 21 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
A total of 10,856,108 shares were exchanged for $73,363,572 down from 17,712,923 units at $93,659,946 on Thursday.
Trading averages 193,859 units at $1,310,064 versus 281,158 shares at $1,486,666 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 231,366 units at $3,641,549 compared to 236,526 units at $3,962,243 on the previous day. trading in February closed with an average of 183,599 units at $2,160,070.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 4.63 million shares for 42.7 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.56 million units for 14.4 percent of the day’s trade and Wisynco Group with 1.07 million units for 9.8 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 269.67 points to 372,921.71, the JSE Main Index climbed 948.24 points to settle at 330,441.27 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.64 points to close at 77.83.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasts 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 one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, Caribbean Cement declined $3.80 to end at $57.04 after exchanging 38,525 shares, Eppley shed 50 cents to close at $39.50 in trading 1,300 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $4.04 to $44.44 after 333 units passed through the market. First Rock Real Estate fell 70 cents to $11 with the swapping of 21,103 stock units, GraceKennedy dropped $4.99 in ending at $80 with 89,984 units changing hands, Guardian Holdings climbed $23.50 in closing at $509.50 in an exchange of 3 stocks. Jamaica Broilers lost 50 cents to finish at $38 after transferring 247,946 stock units, Key Insurance shed 53 cents to close at $2.61 with investors exchanging 24,899 shares, Kingston Wharves rose 98 cents to $32 with 1,613 stocks changing hands. Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed 64 cents to end at $12 in switching ownership of 513,273 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied $9 to end at $90 after trading 12 shares, NCB Financial popped $1.95 to $72 with a transfer of 15,018 stock units. Palace Amusement gained 49 cents in closing at $2.99 after clearing the market with 161,399 shares and Supreme Ventures lost 45 cents after ending at $24.05 as investors exchanged 27,819 units.
In the preference segmentProductive Business 10.50% preference share jumped $50 to close at $1250 in switching ownership of 100 stock units. Eppley 7.50% preference share fell 61 cents to close at $5.99 in exchanging 1,872 stocks, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $15.88 to end at a record $78.50 with the swapping of 373 stock units, 138 Student Living preference share advanced $7.44 to $77.44 after a transfer of 2 shares and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dipped $15.90 in ending at $90.10 after an exchange of 20 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading jumps on the Junior Market

Trading picked up sharply on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday with a 156 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded valued 107 percent more than on Thursday, after trading occurred in 42 securities compared with 49 on Thursday and ended with 16 rising, 18 declining and eight unchanged.
A total of 12,029,585 shares were exchanged for $36,181,749 compared with 4,690,775 units at $17,476,868 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 286,419 shares at $861,470 compared to 95,730 units at $356,671 on Thursday with the month to date averaging 168,660 units at $469,317 compared to 153,150 stock units at $417,685 on the prior day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 4.65 million shares for 38.6 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy Source with 1.54 million units for 12.8 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 981,663 units for 8.2 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 19.21 points to end at 3,806.27, but Monday looks set to be a positive day with the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator being very positive, showing nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 11.3. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price divided by ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
At the close, AMG Packaging rose 13 cents to $2.51 with a transfer of 496 shares, CAC 2000 lost 9 cents in closing at $7.01 after trading 1,460 units, Caribbean Cream dipped 20 cents to close at $3.30 in an exchange of 300 stocks. Caribbean Flavours gained 20 cents to end at $1.46 after a transfer of 1,510 stock units, Dolla Financial gained 8 cents in ending at $2.88 with 378,989 stock units changing hands, Dolphin Cove shed 57 cents after ending at $15.33 with 107,688 shares clearing the market. Express Catering shed 36 cents to end at $5.16 as investors exchanged 7,879 stocks, General Accident popped 31 cents to close at $5 with the swapping of 961,565 units, GWest Corporation fell 14 cents in closing at 93 cents after exchanging 18,016 shares. ISP Finance rallied $5 to $25 with investors transferring a mere 6 stock units, Jamaican Teas rose 19 cents to $2.44 after 4,189 stocks passed through the market,  Lumber Depot lost 14 cents to close at $2.06 with the swapping of 115,466 units. Main Event dipped 85 cents in closing at $11 with an exchange of 73,470 shares, MFS Capital Partners declined 38 cents to end at $3.24 with 981,663 stocks clearing the market, Paramount Trading popped 20 cents to $2.35 as investors traded 150 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 25 cents after ending at $14.50 in exchanging 17,000 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Jump in stocks traded on the JSE USD Market

Trading surged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 1,675 percent but valued 70 percent less than on Thursday, resulting in trading of six securities, compared to nine on Thursday with two rising, one declining and three ending unchanged.
Investors exchanged 86,809 shares for US$1,115 compared with 4,892 units at US$3,727 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 14,468 units at US$186 versus 544 shares at US$414 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 9,103 shares at US$2,247 compared with 8,472 units at US$2,489 on the previous day. February ended with an average of 43,793 units for US$2,015.
The JSE USD Equities Index dropped 14.58 points to end at 209.79. The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.7. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied 3.17 cents to 69.77 US cents in an exchange of 4 shares, Productive Business Solutions fell 28 cents to US$1.52, with ten units crossing the market, Proven Investments remained at 18.5 US cents in an exchange of 770 stock units. Sterling Investments ended at 2 US cents with the swapping of 3,723 stocks and Transjamaican Highway increased 0.04 cents in ending at 0.94 of one US cent while exchanging 82,202 stock units.
In the preference segmentJMMB Group 6% remained at US$1.07 with a transfer of 100 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Steady trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday

The volume of stocks trading remained steady with that on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but with a moderately lower value resulting in a decline in Junior and USD markets, with the JSE Main Market Index rising.  
The market ended with an exchange of 22,972,502 shares in all three markets, from 22,408,590 units valued at $109.5 million, versus $111 million previously traded. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 86,809 shares for a mere US$1,115 compared with 4,892 units at US$14,617 on Thursday.
The JSE Combined Market Index popped 705.24 points to 343,189.05, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped just 269.67 points to 2,921.71, the JSE Main Index rose 948.24 points to 330,441.27, the Junior Market dropped 19.21 points to 3,806.27 and the JSE USD Market Index plunged 14.68 points to end at 209.79.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.9 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.2 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate many 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. It 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 payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that also show the closing volume pertaining to the bids and offers 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.

Junior Market drops

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Traded mixed on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 34 percent, with a 51 percent higher value than Wednesday after all of the 49 listed securities attracted investors’ interest and action, up from 45 on Wednesday and closed with 13 rising, 22 declining and 14 were unchanged.
At the close, 4,690,775 shares were traded for $17,476,868, compared to 3,501,650 units at $11,545,037 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 95,730 shares for $356,671 compared to 77,814 units at $256,556 on Wednesday, with the month to date averaging 153,156 stock units at $417,685 compared to 163,578 stocks for $428,758 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Fontana led trading with 830,242 shares for 17.7 percent of total volume, followed by Spur Tree Spices with 604,131 units for 12.9 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 585,074 units for 12.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 38.92 points to 3,825.48.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.3. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are calculated using the last traded stock price with ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied 95 cents to $23 with investors transferring 1,010 shares, AMG Packaging shed 57 cents to end at $2.38 after a transfer of 10 units, CAC 2000 gained 10 cents ending at $7.10 with 3,507 stock units clearing the market. Dolphin Cove advanced 42 cents to $15.90 as investors exchanged 1,920 stocks, Fontana lost 15 cents to finish at $8.40 after a transfer of 830,242 stock units, Fosrich gained 9 cents to close at $2.99 with the swapping of 346,011 shares. General Accident dipped 16 cents in closing at $4.69 with 10 units changing hands, Indies Pharma fell 25 cents to end at $2.75 with investors trading 10 stocks, Jamaican Teas lost 8 cents to close at $2.25 in an exchange of 585,074 stocks.KLE Group shed 30 cents ending at a 53 weeks’ low of $1.44 in switching ownership of 61 shares, Knutsford Express fell $1.77 to end at $10.06 after 911 stock units passed through the market, Lasco Distributors dipped 20 cents to $2.60 as investors exchanged 25,828 units. Lumber Depot lost 19 cents ending at $2.20 with a transfer of 16,515 shares, Main Event popped 13 cents to settle at $11.85 after exchanging 447 stock units, Medical Disposables fell 34 cents in closing at $4.80, trading 22,010 units. MFS Capital Partners lost 8 cents to close at $3.62 with 15,055 stocks crossing the exchange, Paramount Trading shed 23 cents to end at $2.15 after a transfer of 1,540 units, Regency Petroleum gained 14 cents in closing at $2.19 in switching ownership of 350,435 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies fell 73 cents ending to $14.25 with an exchange of 1,952 stock units.
In the preference segmentCAC 2000 9.5% preference share shed 15 cents to end at 90 cents with a transfer of 180 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading plunges on the Jamaica Stock Exchange

Trading dropped back sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, resulting in aJ decline in all three markets at the close of market activity with all market major indices falling.
At the close of trading, the market ended with an exchange of 22,408,590 shares in all three markets, from 27,399,448 units, with a value of $111 million, down from $839.28 million previously traded. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging just 4,892 shares for US$3,727 versus 125,994 units at US$14,617 on Wednesday.
The JSE Combined Market Index dropped 2,174.65 points to 342,483.81, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,167.00 points to 373,191.38, the JSE Main Index lost 1,946.16  to 329,493.03, the Junior Market slipped 38.92 points to 3,825.48 and the JSE USD Market Index shed 6.93 points to end at 224.37.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 19 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.2 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate many 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. It 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 payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that also show the closing volume pertaining to the bids and offers 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.