Trading resulted in a mild rebound on Wednesday for the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, as the volume of shares changing hands dropped 88 percent from Tuesday with the value dropping 73 percent, resulting in an even number of stocks rising and falling.
Trading ended with four securities changing hands compared to five on Tuesday, with the prices of two stocks rising and two declining.
The US Denominated Equities Index gained 3.43 points to end at 183.83.
The PE Ratio, a measure that is used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 11.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Just 62,909 shares traded for US$10,457 compared to 520,508 units at US$38,397 on Tuesday. Trading averaged 15,727 units at US$2,614 compared to 104,102 shares at US$7,679 on Tuesday and the month to date averages 73,532 at US$11,865 in contrast to 86,377 units at US$13,920 on Tuesday. September ended with an average of 853,681 units for US$132,197.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital fell 0.4 of a cent to 6.6 US cents with a transfer of 4,000 shares, Margaritaville gained 1.93 cents to finish at 10.93 US cents with investors switching ownership of 14,700 units, Proven Investments advanced 1.24 cents to 24.69 US cents with 26,757 stocks traded and Sygnus Credit Investments USD share dropped 1 cent to settle at 12 US cents with 17,452 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD Market in mild rebound Wednesday
JSE Main market down again
Trading in Sygnus Real Estate Finance shares commenced on Tuesday after the company’s initial public offer was coolly received by the investing public and traded 12,000 stock units at the IPO price of $19.20. Elsewhere Market activity ended with the volume and the value of stocks tracking close to trading on Monday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as the market indices slipped at the close.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 546.04 points to end at 451,893.58, the Main Index declined 527.95 points to 410,679.73 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.19 points to 99.20.
A total of 55 securities traded compared to 51 on Monday, with 16 rising, 19 declining and 20 ending firm.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.8 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Trading amassed 11,674,398 shares for $83,242,103 versus 11,193,417 units at $94,709,427 on Monday. QWI Investments led trading with 15.8 percent of total volume after trading 1.84 million shares followed by Ciboney Group 12.5 percent, with 1.45 million units, Wigton Windfarm traded 11.1 percent with 1.29 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund accounted for 11 percent with 1.28 million units, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund ended with 10.4 percent after an exchange of 1.21 million units and Transjamaican Highway 9.7 percent with 1.13 million units.
Trading averages 212,262 units at $1,513,493, compared to 219,479 shares at $1,857,048 on Monday and month to date, an average of 245,350 units at $4,624,261 compared to 263,019 units at $6,285,351 on Monday. 
September closed with an average of 335,669 units at $7,507,338.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed $1.05 to end at $99.96 in switching ownership of 456,340 shares, Caribbean Cement advanced $3 to $118 with 18,775 stocks crossing the exchange. Caribbean Producers gained 56 cents in closing at $5.95 with the swapping of 447,387 stock units, as investors responded to a near US$2 million profit in the company’s fourth quarter and suggesting record profits for the 2022 fiscal year. Eppley declined $4.44 to $33.06 in trading 1,439 units, First Rock Capital rose 70 cents to $13 with 8,873 stocks changing hands, Guardian Holdings shed $1 in ending at $579 in an exchange of one stock unit. Jamaica Broilers fell 50 cents to $30.50 in trading 13,368 shares, Jamaica Producers slipped 50 cents to $22 after transferring 54,134 stocks, Kingston Properties popped $1 to $10 in switching ownership of 500 shares. Mayberry Investments lost 29 cents to end at $5.51 after trading 90,670 stocks, Palace Amusement spiked $124 to $1,024 with one stock unit crossing the market,
Portland JSX fell $2.05 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.95 with an exchange of 555 units. Proven Investments dipped 75 cents to $33 after 4,667 stock units cleared the market, Pulse Investments rallied 27 cents to $5.10 with the swapping of 917,170 stocks, Sagicor Group slipped $1 to $55 in transferring 20,259 shares and Scotia Group lost 48 cents to end at $38.50 in exchanging 12,027 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.35% share due 2028, gained 30 cents to close at $3.50 with 5,728 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Sharp decline for JSE USD market on Tuesday
Trading plunged into a sharp fall on the JSE USD market on Tuesday with the market index diving 13.89 points to 180.40 as investors transferred 354 percent more shares than on Monday, with 677 percent greater value, as the market closed, with a 3.2 percent decline for the year to date, as more stocks declined than rose.
Compared to six trading on Monday, just five securities changed hands, on Tuesday, with prices of one rising, three declining, and one ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure that computes appropriate stock values, averages 11.5 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings forecast.
Overall, 520,508 shares traded for US$38,397 up from 114,565 units at US$4,940 on Monday. Trading averaged 104,102 units at US$7,679, compared to 19,094 shares at US$823 on Monday and trading month to date averages 86,377 at US$13,920 versus 79,560 units at US$16,320 on Monday. September ended with an average of 853,681 units for US$132,197.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital traded 14,192 shares at 7 US cents, Productive Business Solutions fell 16 cents to 74 US cents, with 394 stocks changing hands, Proven Investments fell 1.3 cents to 23.45 US cents with a transfer of 144,850 units. Sygnus Credit Investments USD share advanced 1.99 cents to 13 US cents with 11,072 stock units traded and Transjamaican Highway dropped 0.12 of a cent to 0.83 of a US cents with 350,000 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Rising stocks beat two to one
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market just hang to a modest gain at the close on Tuesday, after the volume traded fell 30 percent lower and the value traded falling 30 percent below trading activity on Monday leaving the market index with a single digit increase.
Market activity led to 37 securities trading compared to 38 on Monday and ended with 19 rising, 11 declining and seven, closing unchanged.
The Market Index gained 4.42 points to settle at 3,282.63 after it traded above the 3,300 mark.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.5 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings forecast.
Overall, a total of 4,576,086 shares traded for $14,364,164 down from 6,492,921 units at $22,067,491 on Monday. Jamaican Teas led trading with 1.14 million shares and accounted for 25 percent of total volume, after closing at a 52 weeks’ high, followed by Caribbean Flavours with 815,999 units and 17.8 percent of the day’s trade and Lumber Depot 700,592 units for 15.3 percent of the market.
Trading averaged 123,678 units at $388,221 in contrast to 170,866 shares at $580,723 on Monday. Trading month to date, averages 168,725 units at $588,260, compared to 191,248 units at $688,279 on Monday. September closed with an average of 207,032 units at $668,264.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Blue Power popped 5 cents in closing at $3.30 while exchanging 110 shares, Caribbean Cream rose 10 cents to $6.50, with 101,030 stocks clearing the market, Consolidated Bakeries fell 16 cents to $1.64 in exchanging 11,500 units. Dolphin Cove shed $1.50 in ending at $7.50, with 8,199 stock units changing hands, spiked 17 cents to end at $6.52 after exchanging 116,724 stocks, Future Energy Source rallied 5 cents to end at $2.70 after 363,385 stock units crossed the exchange. Honey Bun gained 43 cents in ending at $8.65 with the swapping of 18,521 units, iCreate advanced 10 cents to close at 85 cents with an exchange of 290,770 shares, Indies Pharma declined 50 cents in closing at $3.15, with 7,600 units crossing the market. Jamaican Teas climbed 17 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.50 in switching ownership of 1,143,669 stocks, KLE Group dropped 11 cents to end at $1.02 in an exchange of 60,000 shares, Knutsford Express lost 25 cents in ending at $8.15, after trading 179 stock units. Lasco Financial rose 15 cents to $3.15 after trading 79,696 shares, 
Lasco Manufacturing increased 12 cents to $4.69 in trading 4,063 stock units, Limners and Bards advanced 10 cents to $3.45, with 84,220 stocks changing hands. Main Event climbed 30 cents to $4.50 after exchanging 400 units, Medical Disposables fell 20 cents to end at $4.80 in exchanging 30,000 stocks, SSL Venture popped 5 cents to close at 68 cents, with one share changing hands. Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 59 cents to $6.05 after 10,000 units crossed the exchange and tTech rose 14 cents to $4.20 after 18,619 stock units changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Second day of decline for JSE main market
Stocks mostly fell on Monday, with investors trading 30 percent fewer shares at 83 percent lower value than on Friday and leading to a fall in the market indices at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 4,050.22 points to 452,439.62, the Main Index dived 3,370.07 points to 411,207.68 and the JSE Financial Index fell 1.65 points to end at 99.39.
Trading ended with 51 securities changing hands down from 52 on Friday, with 17 rising, 23 declining and 11 ending unchanged. The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.9 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
A total of 11,193,417 shares traded for $94,709,427 versus 15,897,514 units at $552,681,759 on Friday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 30.5 percent of total volume for an exchange of 3.41 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 18.2 percent for 2.04 million units and Pulse Investments 14.2 percent with 1.59 million units changing hands.
Trading averages 219,479 units at $1,857,048, down from 305,721 shares at $10,628,495 on Friday and month to date, an average of 263,019 units at $6,285,351. September closed with an average of 335,669 units at $7,507,338.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments declined $2.24 ending at $101.01 with 389,913 shares crossing the exchange, Berger Paints shed 75 cents in closing at $13.25 with the swapping of 2,825 stock units, Caribbean Cement dipped $5 to $115 after exchanging 11,326 units. Carreras gained 23 cents to close at $8.73 with the transfer of 67,276 stock units, Eppley rallied $5 to $37.50, with 1,503 units clearing the market, First Rock Capital slipped 70 cents to $12.3 in an exchange of 12,354 stock units. Guardian Holdings fell $2 to $580 in exchanging 8,734 stocks, Jamaica Broilers shed $1 in closing at $31 after trading 4,319 shares, Jamaica Producers slipped 70 cents to $22.50 in switching ownership of 13,032 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 50 cents to close at $17.10 in exchanging 5,350 stocks, PanJam Investment popped $1.44 to $64.44, with 311 stock units clearing the market, Proven Investments advanced $1.25 to $33.75 in switching ownership of 3,286 shares. Sagicor Group declined $1.30 to end at $56 with an exchange of 21,378 stocks, Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 40 cents to $8 in trading 815 shares, Salada Foods spiked 43 cents to $6.50 with 23,574 stock units crossing the market. 
Scotia Group advanced $1.38 in ending at $38.98 after an exchange of 6,181 units, Seprod shed 35 cents to end at $62.15 in trading 15,515 stocks, Stanley Motta rose 30 cents to $6 with 2,655 units crossing the market and Victoria Mutual Investments gained 25 cents in closing at $5.70 in exchanging 93,216 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 dipped 25 cents to $3.10 in transferring 225,025 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD Market fumbles on Monday
Trading on the USD market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Monday with the volume of shares changing hands declining after investors transferred 88 percent fewer shares, with 98 percent less funds than on Friday, and ending with falling stocks outnumbering rising ones.
Trading ended with six securities changing hands, compared to seven on Friday, with one rising, three declining and two ending unchanged.
The US Denominated Equities Index fell 1.91 points to end at 194.29. The PE Ratio, a measure that computes appropriate stock values, averages 11.6 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings forecast.
Overall, 114,565 shares traded for US$4,940, down from 919,720 units at US$207,226 on Friday. Trading averaged 19,094 units at US$823, compared to 131,389 shares at US$29,604 on Friday and the month to date averages 79,560 at US$16,320. September ended with an average of 853,681 units for US$132,197.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital traded 13,472 shares at 7 US cents, Margaritaville dropped 2 cents to 9 US cents with 5,449 stocks traded, Proven Investments climbed 0.05 of a cent to 24.75 US cents with 8,462 stock units changing hands. Sterling Investments finished at 2.09 US cents with a transfer of 340 units, Sygnus Credit Investments USD shed 1.99 cents to end at 11.01 US cents with investors switching ownership of 6,383 stocks and Transjamaican Highway declined by 0.02 of a cent to close at 0.95 US cents with 80,459 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks dived Monday on the Junior Market
Stocks mostly fell in trading closed on Monday, Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market, with the volume traded declining 15 percent and the value traded falling 24 percent less than below Friday’s trades.
Market activity led to 38 securities trading compared to 36 on Friday and ended, with 11 rising, 20 declining and seven, closing unchanged.
The Junior Market Index shed 34.29 points to 3,278.21.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.4 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings forecast.
Trading ended with 6,492,921 shares changing hands for $22,067,491 down from 7,659,422 units at $28,865,188 on Friday. Jamaican Teas led trading with 49.8 percent of the volume traded, after an exchange of 3.24 million shares, followed by Lumber Depot 18.9 percent, with 1.23 million units and Future Energy Source 10.4 percent after 677,720 shares changed hands.
Trading averaged 170,866 units at $580,723 in contrast to 212,762 shares at $801,811 on Friday. Trading month to date, averages 191,248 units at $688,279. September closed with an average of 207,032 units at $668,264.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging declined 7 cents to $1.63 in an exchange of 19,888 shares, Blue Power shed 12 cents in closing at $3.25, with 19,781 stock units crossing the exchange, Cargo Handlers fell 19 cents to $7.60 after trading 1,000 units. Caribbean Cream dropped 60 cents to $6.40 with an exchange of 10,000 stock units, Caribbean Flavours lost 7 cents to end at $1.91 in switching ownership of 16,227 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries increased 10 cents to $1.80 while exchanging three shares. Dolphin Cove fell $1 to $9 after exchanging 2,246 units, Express Catering lost 23 cents to end at $5.40 in trading 2,600 stocks, Fontana shed 15 cents in closing at $6.35 in trading 45,705 units. Fosrich climbed 6 cents to close at $8.13, with 15,125 stock units changing hands, Future Energy Source declined 5 cents to $2.65, with 677,720 shares clearing the market, Honey Bun dropped 43 cents to $8.22 trading 22,677 stocks. iCreate fell 5 cents to 75 cents, with 30,100 units crossing the market, Indies Pharma rallied 42 cents in closing at $3.65 with the swapping of 18,292 stock units, Jamaican Teas advanced 33 cents to $4.33 in trading 3,235,514 stocks. Jetcon Corporation rose 13 cents to $1.14 with 165,000 shares crossing the market, Lasco Distributors gained 40 cents to close at $3.90 while exchanging 6,631 stocks,
Lasco Financial declined 15 cents to $3 in exchanging 109,786 units. Lasco Manufacturing rallied 7 cents to $4.57 with an exchange of 28,959 shares, Limners and Bards shed 15 cents to $3.35, with 75,791 stock units changing hands, Medical Disposables lost 15 cents to end at $5 after 1,083 units crossed the exchange and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 15 cents to $6.64 after trading 500 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
86% surge in Scotia Group Q3 profit
An 86 percent surge in profit after taxation at Scotia Group pushed the July 2021 quarter profit to $2.8 billion over $1.55 billion reported in 2020, a period heavily impacted by a massive provision for credit losses amounting to $2.57 billion. Profit after tax for the nine months to July climbed 31 percent to $7.29 billion compared to $5.56 billion last year, helped by the drop in credit loss provisioning in the current year.
Scotia Group headquarters in Kingston.
Net interest income fell 8.4 percent for the third quarter to $5.7 billion from $6.2 billion in 2020 and slipped 9 percent to $17 billion for the nine months to July from $18.7 billion in 2020. Expected credit losses for the latest quarter of $584 million was a fraction of the 2020 provision. For the nine months expected credit losses dropped sharply to $1.99 billion from $5.25 billion in 2020. Falling interest rates on investments, reduction in lending and growth in funds deposited by the public would have negatively impacted the results. The recent increase in interest rates by the Bank of Jamaica could benefit the group with investments and loans that could generate higher income and widen the net interest income margin.
Net fees and commission income rose to $1.95 billion from $1.65 in 2020 in the third quarter but fell slightly from $5.08 billion in 2020 to $4.99 billion in 2021 for the nine months. Gains on foreign currency activities slipped from $1.75 billion in July 2020 quarter to $1.65 billion and rose 17 percent to $6.2 billion from $5.3 billion for the nine months. Insurance revenues grew to 35 percent in the latest quarter to $696 million from $516 million and fell in the nine months to $2 billion from $2.4 billion. Other revenues brought in $1 billion for the nine months compared to just $39 million for the prior period and are attributable primarily to gains realized on the extinguishment of debt facilities.
Loans advanced to customers that stood at $222 billion at the end of July last year declined modestly to $216 billion at the end of July this year but is up slightly from $214.7 billion at the end of April this year. The report to shareholders stated that mortgage loans recorded growth of 11 percent year over year and is similar to increase up to the April quarter. Growth in loans is essential for the group is it is an area that contributes most to the rise in profits and creates stability in earnings.
Audrey Tugwell Henry Scotia group’s CEO
Segment results show the problem local banks have with retail banking. That segment generates the most income for Scotia but contributes the least in profits. For the nine months to July, Retail Banking contributed $1.3 billion to profit on revenues of $14 billion and in 2020, the segment contributed a loss of $975 million from revenues of $14.5 billion. Treasury generated $1.3 billion in segment profits from $2.9 million in revenues to third parties against $1.46 billion from revenues of $3.1 billion in 2020. Corporate Banking resulted in a profit of $3.5 billion on revenues of $8.44 billion and profit of $3.23 billion on revenues of $8 billion in 2020. Investment Banking delivered a profit of $1.85 billion on revenues of $2.6 billion and profit of $1.3 billion on revenues of $2.29 billion in 2020 and Insurance produced profit of $2.12 billion on revenues of $3.1 billion and profit of $2.5 billion with revenues of $3.48 billion in 2020.
Customer deposits grew 10.7 percent to $371 billion to July, from $335 billion for the comparable quarter of 2020. Investment securities rose from $141 billion at the end of July 2020 to $146 billion after dipping to $116 billion at the end of the 2020 fiscal year and cash resources stood at $147 billion, up from $116 billion at the end of July 2020.
Shareholders’ equity ended at $116 billion at the end of July this year, up from $110 billion as of July 2020.
Earnings per share stood at 90 cents for the July quarter and $2.34 for the nine months this year and should end up around $3.50 for the entire year; for 2022, and earnings should exceed $4 per share. At the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market to stock at $39 at the start of the final week of September.
While the stocks trade at 11 times the current year’s earnings, 2022 should see growth in profits, thus reducing the valuation most likely below ten times 2022 earnings.
Carib Producers surges to top ICTOP10
Caribbean Producers surges in ICTOP 10
Caribbean Producers raced to the top of ICTOP10 listings this week after the company released full year results that showed a loss, but with the final quarter posting a profit of US$2 million before exceptional onetime cost and resulting IC Insider.com upgrading earnings from 65 cents per share to a $1.20 for the current year.
Based on years of underperformance and the knock from the closure of the hotel industry last year, many investors thought this stock was a lost cause. Based on research and understanding of the business sector, this publication had the stock the number three position on the Junior Market Top 10 list at the start of the year, just behind Caribbean Cream. 
So far to October, CPJ gained 90 percent and should exceed 100 percent this coming week and Caribbean Cream is up 67 percent ahead of second quarter results due in two weeks. Another TOP 15 stock this year, Caribbean Cement, surged on Friday to close at $120 after trading at a record high of $146.12, just short of IC Insde.com forecast in April this year in the report, captioned “Carib Cement Q1 profit triples” that the stock that last traded at $75 on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange is projected to get to $150 in the next twelve months.
While the Jamaican stock markets continued to bounce around, the past week saw clearer signs of the upward momentum returning, with the Barita Investments APO issue out of the way. Bank of Jamaica’s raise its overnight rate to 1.5 percent from 0.50 percent and the tightening of the financial market continued with CD rates averaging 2.59 percent during the past week.
Elsewhere, in the Junior Market, AMG Packaging fell from $2.10 to $1.70, Stationery and Office Supplies rose from $5.76 from $6.49, Access Financial rose from $18.75 to $20, General Accident rose from $5.15 last week to $5.45, Medical Disposables rose from $4.46 to $5.15, Caribbean Assurance fell from $1.80 to $1.66 and Caribbean Cream moved up to $7 from $6.60 last week. In the Main Market, Caribbean Producers rose from $4.65 to $5.50 on Friday.
The top three Main Market stocks are Caribbean Producers, Berger Paints, followed by Guardian Holdings, with expected gains of 216 to 336 percent for the three, versus last weeks’ 208 to 263 percent.
The top three stocks in the Junior Market are Elite Diagnostic, followed by General Accident and Lasco Financial. All three have the potential to gain between 217 and 300 percent, from 250 percent and 307 percent last week.
This past week, the average gains projected for the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks moved from 214 percent to 203 percent and Main Market stocks moved from 166 percent to 180 percent.
The Junior Market closed the week with an average PE 12.7 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings and currently trades well below the target of 20 and the historical average of 17 for the period to March this year, based on 2020 earnings. The TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 6.7, with a 53 percent discount to that market’s PE. The overall Junior Market can gain 57 percent to March next year, based on an average PE of 20 and 34 percent based on an average PE of 17.
The JSE Main Market ended the week with an overall PE of 15.7, a little distance from 19 the market ended at in March, suggesting a 27 percent rise at a PE of 19 and 21 percent at a PE of 20 from now to March 2022. The Main Market TOP 10 trades at a PE of 7.6, with a 49 percent discount to the PE of that market, well off the potential of 20.
ICTOP10 is not intended to be a selection of the best stocks in the market but the most likely to be the biggest winners within fifteen months. ICInsider.com ranks stocks to separate the bigger winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potentially huge gains, helping to keep out emotional attachments to stocks that often result in the making of costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on possible increases for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios 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 per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
October off to bright start for JSE USD market
October started on a positive note, with trading picking up sharply on Friday, over Thursday and most prices rising as the volume of shares changing hands surged 1,564 percent with the value jumping 2,501 percent over Thursday’s trades, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market.
As was the case on Thursday, trading ended with seven securities changing hands, with prices of four rising, one declining and two ending unchanged.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index popped 0.60 points to end at 196.20.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.4 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings forecast.
Overall, 919,720 shares traded for US$207,226, compared to 55,270 units at US$7,967 on Thursday. Trading averaged 131,389 units at US$29,604 versus 7,896 shares at US$1,138 on Thursday. September ended with an average of 853,681 units for US$132,197.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling prices and two ended with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital remained at 7 US cents with an exchange of 11,968 shares, 
Margaritaville popped 0.6 of a cent to 11 US cents after trading 1,000 units, Proven Investments rose 0.7 of one cent to close at 24.7 US cents after trading 884,152 stocks. Sterling Investments remained at 2.09 US cents, 781 stock units crossing the exchange, Sygnus Credit Investments US$ share rose 0.01 of a cent to 13 US cents, 21,761 stocks changing hands and Transjamaican Highway rallied 0.01 of one cent to 0.97 US cents after trading 50 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% lost 2 cents to end at US$1.02 in switching ownership of 8 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
