The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped at the close of trading on Tuesday, after a big jump in the volume of stocks traded, with a 179 percent jump after a 94 percent rise in value compared with trading on Monday following trading in 43 securities compared with 45 on Monday and ending with prices of 16 rising, 18 declining and nine closing unchanged as the market closed with two stocks hitting intraday 52 weeks’ Low and one closing at a 52 weeks’ low.
Investors traded 10,678,936 shares at $24,677,448, up from 3,833,833 units for $12,740,526 on Monday.
Trading on Tuesday averaged 248,347 shares for $573,894 versus 85,196 shares at $283,123 on Monday. Trading for the month to date averaged 293,751 units at $731,795 compared with 296,509 units at $741,385 on the previous day. June ended with an average of 319,230 units at $854,456.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 2.26 million shares for 21.2 percent of total volume, followed by Dolla Financial with 2.26 million units for 21.1 percent of the day’s trade, Paramount Trading closed with 1.95 million units for 18.3 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices with 1.44 million units for 13.5 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 5.62 points to 3,912.36, but the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator is reflecting more negative signs, with three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 11. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are calculated using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
At the close, AMG Packaging increased 16 cents to $2.66 in an exchange of just 444 shares, Blue Power fell 37 cents to close at $2.62, with stakeholders exchanging 16,428 stock units, Cargo Handlers rose $2.98 to $20.98, with 1,221 stocks changing hands, Caribbean Cream dropped 40 cents in closing at $4.08, with the passage of 2,611 units through the market. Caribbean Flavours rallied 10 cents to $1.33, with 8,001 stocks clearing the market, Dolla Financial climbed 21 cents in closing at $2.40 while exchanging 2,255,034 stock units, Everything Fresh popped 8 cents and ended at $1.47 after a transfer of 9,001 units, 
Fontana gained 8 cents to end at $11 with a transfer of 120,687 shares. Future Energy Source advanced 15 cents to $3.95, with 147,491 stocks being traded, Honey Bun declined 43 cents to close at $6.06, with 37,303 shares crossing the exchange, Image Plus Consultants lost 18 cents and ended at $2.30 in trading 154,518 units, Iron Rock Insurance dipped 50 cents in closing at $2 in an exchange of 24,721 shares. Medical Disposables shed 76 cents to end at $4.30 after an exchange of 15,440 stock units, MFS Capital Partners dipped 18 cents to close at $2.40 with 143,773 shares crossing the market, 
Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 10 cents to $27.98 with an exchange of 92,464 stocks and Tropical Battery increased 19 cents in closing at $2.04 after trading 323,285 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main and Junior Markets fell and JSE USD rose
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped on Tuesday but the USD Market closed moderately higher at the end of trading with the volume and value of stocks traded increasing over Monday trades.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 1,264.67 points to 341,903.42, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 114.21 points to 365,552.78, the JSE Main Index fell 1,300.23 points to 328,046.78, while the Junior Market Index slipped 5.61 points to 3,912.36 and the JSE USD Market Index added 3.25 points to settle at 248.02.
Trading of Preference shares with notable price changes are Productive Business 10.50% preference share shed $150 to end at $1,100, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $297 to close at $2,803, 138 Student Living preference share fell $15.39 to $87.24 and Transjamaican Highway 8% preference shares rallied 60 cents to $3.
At the close, investors exchanged 25,471,611 shares, in all three markets, compared with 20,410,245 stocks on Monday. The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main Markets was $192.9 million, up from $143.54 million on Monday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 329,260 shares for US$12,513 up from 199,644 units at US$11,531 on Monday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 18.2 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.2 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and 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 reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
JSE USD trading dips as market index rises
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining a solid 66 percent, with a 62 percent lower value than on Friday, resulting in the trading of six securities, compared to nine on Friday, with three rising, one declining and two ending unchanged.
A total of 199,644 shares were traded at US$11,531 compared with 584,142 units at US$30,721 on Friday.
Trading averaged 33,274 shares at US$1,922 compared with 64,905 units at US$3,413 on Friday, with a month to date average of 93,076 shares at US$2,910 compared to 97,248 units at US$2,979 on the previous trading day. June ended with an average of 60,969 units at US$3,967.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 5.89 points to finish at 244.77.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.8. The PE ratio is calculated based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share remained at 4 US cents, with investors trading 1,300 shares, Productive Business Solutions ended at US$1.80, with nine stocks crossing the market, Proven Investments gained 0.8 of a cent to close at 14.8 US cents in trading 8,284 units. Sygnus Credit Investments increased 2.95 cents and ended at 10.95 US cents one stock crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway advanced 0.09 of a cent in closing at 1.64 US cents with 189,500 stocks changing hands.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share fell 30 cents to close at US$12.50 with a transfer of 550 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Three day rally for JSE Main Market
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Monday, with the major market indices jumping for a third consecutive day even as the volume of stocks traded declined marginally by 6 percent and the value climbed 16 percent more than on Friday, with trading in 56 securities compared with 58 on Friday, resulting in the prices of 16rising, 21 falling and 19 ending unchanged.
A total of 16,376,768 shares were traded for $130,799,765 compared to 17,423,772 units at $113,062,974 on Friday.
Trading averaged 292,442 shares at $2,335,710 compared to 300,410 shares at $1,949,362 on Friday and month to date, an average of 307,066 units at $2,129,655, compared to 308,048 units at $2,115,819 on the previous trading day. June closed with an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581, including trading in bonds.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.29 million shares for 38.4 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 1.93 million units for 11.8 percent of the day’s trade, Carreras was next with 1.55 million units for 9.5 percent market share, Wigton Windfarm closed with 1.48 million units for 9.1 percent of the day’s trades and QWI Investments with 1.26 million units for 7.7 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index gained 2,921.07 points to finish at 365,438.57, the JSE Main Index popped 1,479.39 points to 329,347.01 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.25 points to 73.02.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dipped $1.50 to $74.50 after trading 9,979 shares, Caribbean Cement jumped $7.46 in closing at $57.49, with 169,426 units crossing the market, Caribbean Producers climbed 70 cents to close at $11.47, with 81,091 stocks crossing the exchange, Guardian Holdings shed $25 and ended at $430 after it closed with an exchange of 261 stock units, 
Jamaica Producers increased 50 cents to end at $20.50 after a transfer of 25,601 units, Key Insurance lost 43 cents and ended at $2.51, with stakeholders exchanging 39,760 stock units, Kingston Wharves fell 55 cents to end at $29.25 after an exchange of 531 shares, Massy Holdings dropped 50 cents in closing at $98 after exchanging 12,898 stocks, Mayberry Investments advanced 33 cents to close at $8.49 while exchanging 591 stock units, NCB Financial declined 99 cents to $74 with investors transferring 809,369 units, Seprod dipped $1.10 and ended at $73 after 1,514 shares crossed the market, Supreme Ventures popped 50 cents in closing at $27.99 with a transfer of 5,700 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments rallied $1.20 to $12.37 in an exchange of 84,056 stocks and Victoria Mutual Investments declined 37 cents to end at $3 in trading 319,190 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share gained $272.50 to close at $1,250 as investors exchanged four shares,
Jamaica Public Service 7% dropped $8.80 to close at $61.20 with 403 stock units clearing the market, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share shed $2 after it ended at $100 in switching ownership of 571 units and Transjamaican Highway 8% fell 65 cents to $2.40 with shareholders swapping 436 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market slide on reduced volume
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 58 percent and the value 48 percent lower than on Friday, following trading in 45 securities trading compared with 46 on Friday and ending with prices of 12 rising, 25 falling and eight closing unchanged.
Investors traded 3,833,833 shares for $12,740,526, down from 9,067,320 units at $24,359,252 on Friday.
Trading averaged 85,196 shares at $283,123 compared to 197,116 units at $529,549 on Friday with a month to date, average of 296,509 units for $741,385 compared with 310,851 stocks at $772,488 on the previous day. June closed with an average of 319,230 units at $854,456.
Dolla Financial led trading with 1.08 million shares for 28.1 percent of total volume, Derrimon Trading followed with 318,827 units for 8.3 percent of trading and General Accident with 310,353 units for 8.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 11.07 points to end at 3,917.98.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined 60 cents to end at $24.40, with 54 shares crossing the market, AMG Packaging fell 16 cents to $2.50 with a transfer of 187 stocks, Cargo Handlers rose $3 to $18, with 1,000 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Flavours dipped 11 cents in closing at $1.23 in switching ownership of 377 units. Consolidated Bakeries lost 15 cents to close at $2.65 as investors exchanged 4,915 shares, Dolla Financial rallied 11 cents to end at $2.19, with stakeholders trading 1,076,387 stocks, Dolphin Cove climbed $1 and ended at $16 while exchanging 4,882 units, Elite Diagnostic increased 44 cents to $1.99 after 6,621 stock units passed through the market. Everything Fresh shed 13 cents to close at $1.39, with 5,996 stocks clearing the market, Fontana dropped 8 cents in closing at $10.92, with 94,540 stock units crossing the market, ISP Finance fell $3.59 to end at $20.95 with investors transferring 8 units, 
Knutsford Express gained 14 cents to close at $10.65 after trading 15,618 shares, Lasco Financial popped 10 cents in closing at $2.40 with a transfer of 13,075 units. Limbers and Bards traded 99,326 shares and slipped 1 cent in close at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.02, Lumber Depot popped 8 cents and ended at $2.15 with an exchange of 76,657 stock units, Main Event dropped $1.40 to $14.57 with 44,151 stocks being traded, Medical Disposables gained 68 cents in ending at $5.06 with shareholders swapping 2,283 shares. Paramount Trading lost 10 cents in closing at $1.80 with 9,000 units crossing the exchange, Regency Petroleum dipped 14 cents to $2.75 and closed with 232,612 stocks changing hands, Spur Tree Spices dipped 9 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low.$1.99 in trading 84,580 shares.
Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 45 cents to close at $27.88 after exchanging 69,739 stock units and Tropical Battery shed 11 cents in closing at $1.85 after an exchange of 89,941 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main & JSE USD Markets rally Juniors fall
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped sharply on Monday and the USD Market closed moderately higher at the end of trading but the Junior Market could not hold on to early morning gains and slipped lower to close out the day, following a decline in the volume of stocks traded at an increased value compared to Friday.
The JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,279.08 points in ending at 343,168.10, while the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,921.07 points to 365,438.57, the JSE Main Index popped 1,479.39 points to 329,347.0, the Junior Market Index slipped 11.07 points to end at 3,917.98 and the JSE USD Market Index added 5.89 points to settle at 244.77.
Preference shares with notable price movements are Productive 10.50% preference share that jumped $272.50 to $1250, Jamaica Public Service 7% dropping $8.80 to close at $61.20, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share shedding $2 and to end at $100 and Transjamaican Highway 8% fell that fell 65 cents to $2.40.
At the close, investors exchanged 20,410,245 shares, in all three markets, compared with 26,925,878 stocks on Friday. The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main Markets was $143.54 million, up from $133.9 million on Friday.
Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 199,644 shares for US$11,531 from 584,142 units at US$30,721 on Friday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 18.1 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.2 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and 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 reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Jamaica Broilers aced 2023 profit
Jamaica Broilers (JBG) recently released full year results to April, with a big jump in earnings, from ongoing operations following the write off of $1 billion relating to the closure of the Haitian operations, with group revenues rising 23 percent from continuing operations and profit after tax rising a solid 56 percent to $5.4 billion from $3.44 billion in 2022.
Jamaica Broilers announced a new acquisition last week
Profit after tax rose a solid 39 percent to $4.3 billion from $3 billion in 2022 after factoring in the above one time write off of the Haitian operation.
Segment results. The group has two main operating segments split between Jamaica and The USA, with results showing revenues in the Jamaican operations jumping 30 percent to $59 billion from $45 billion and the USA climbing 11 percent from $29 billion to $32.5 billion. The Jamaican segment delivered profit of $7.57 billion, up a significant 56 percent from $4.8 billion in 2022, with the USA market delivering $3.8 billion, up a robust 55 percent, compared with $2.45 billion in 2022.
A sharp rebound in the local economy buoyed by a strong recovery in the tourism sector over last year would have contributed a significant part of the local rebound. However, reports are that the company’s main competitor, Caribbean Broilers, had challenges during the period that saw JBG filling the gap and therefore enjoying above average growth and, if correct, could revert to lower levels in the new fiscal year.
Earnings per share reported by the audited results came in at $4.43, after the write off of the Haitian operations, excluding the write off, earnings were a much more attractive $5.35 per share, with just over $7 projected by ICInsider.com for the current year, making it a compelling buy at current prices. The PE is an appealing 6.5 times last fiscal year’s earnings from ongoing operation and just 5 times this year’s earnings at the last traded price of $35 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The stock price has a premium of 66 percent over the Net asset value of $21.43 to Friday’s stock price, with the manufacturing sector at 100 percent, which suggest the extent of a potential rise.
Profit margin rose from 24 percent in 2022 to 26 percent in 2023, increasing gross profit by 30 percent to $23.4 billion from $18 billion in 2022.
Christopher Levy – Jamaica Broilers President and Chief Executive.
Administrative and other expenses rose 9.6 percent, well below the gains in gross profit to $12.4 billion and distribution expenses increased by 17.3 percent to $2.67 billion. Finance cost jumped a sharp 70 percent to $1.85 billion from $1.1 billion. In comparison, finance income swung around by $670 million from $593 million that, mainly was debt forgiveness in 2022, to a loss of $177 million, representing loss on foreign exchange but other income comprising a potpourri of items, some of which may be nonrecurring, moved from $393 million in 2022 to $439 million. Taxation rose 35 percent from $1 billion to $1.37 billion.
The operations generated $9 billion in gross cash flow, up from $6 billion in 2022, that ended at $1.4 billion after working capital needs, compared with $2.2 billion in 2022, as inventories of finished goods and livestock consumed all of the funds generated. The group paid $783 million in dividends net of tax from $463 million in 2022, including $503 million or 42 cents per share paid in March this year and 36 cents or $432 million in November 2022. The payout amounts to 17.6 percent of reported profit, below the expected 20 percent the company indicated it would pay in the past.
The group incurred $8.3 billion in the acquisition of fixed assets well up on the $2.9 billion in 2022 and borrowed $11 billion net of repayment to fund the purchases. Current assets ended the period at $50.7 billion, up from $40 billion in 2022. Receivables amounted to $6 billion, inventories rose to $18.8 billion from $15.6 billion in 2022, farm animals were valued at $21 billion, up from $15 billion in 2022 and cash and bank balances stood at $4.8 billion, up from $3.9 billion. Current liabilities ended the year at $34 million compared with $27 billion the year before. Net current assets ended the period at $16.5 billion versus $13 billion in 2022.
At the end of April, shareholders’ equity amounts to $25.3 billion, with 2022 ending with $21 billion. Long term borrowings ended at $16 billion and short term at $17 billion, up from $10.3 billion and $13.6 billion, respectively, in 2022.
The stock gets an ICInsider.com BUYRATED seal of approval, but investors need to note a few things. Capital spend is impressive and bodes well for continued growth, however, the company is primarily involved in the agricultural business, that can be fickle and several factors could play a role in derailing its fortunes.
Major price changes for ICTOP10
The past week was one of contrast, with the Main Market rising and the Junior Market declining moderately, as the ICOP10 stocks recorded mixed results ranging from increases of 21 percent and losses of as much as 12 percent, at the same time, Transjamacian Highway that ended last week at $2.78, came under selling pressure on Friday and closed at $2.50 after reaching a record high of $2.88 on Monday and continues to a great buy, especially with the price pulling back.
Guardian Holdings jumped 21 percent during the week
For the week, 5 Junior Market TOP10 stocks declined and just two rose, while the Main Market ended with 5 rising and 4 declining. Image Plus closed at a record high on Friday and dropped out of the TOP10 along with Iron Rock Insurance. Everything Fresh and Elite Diagnostic replaced them, with the latter dropping to a record low of $1.55. There were no changes to the listing for the Main Market TOP10.
In the Junior Market, Image Plus having listed in January this year and never got the usual big IPO bounce, now seems to be just coming into its own, with a 20 percent jump to close the week at $2.50 after the price hit a record high of $2.60 on Friday and was followed by Caribbean Cream, up 10 percent to $4.49 as declining stocks dominated the week with iCreate dropping 12 percent to $1, followed by Dolla Financial shedding 9 percent to $2.08, with Dolphin Cove and OneonOne falling 8 percent to $15 and $1 respectively.
Guardian Holdings jumped 21 percent to $455, following changes in NCB Financial top management team, while Caribbean Producers rose 8 percent to $10.77, Sygnus Credit 
Investments fell 12 percent to $11.17 and Caribbean Cement slipped 9 percent to $50.03.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 6, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 256 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 14 most highly valued Main Market stocks representing 30 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 98, with an average of 30 and 20 excluding the highest PE ratios, with a PE of 23 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.6 compared with the market at 11.1. There are 9 stocks representing 19 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 41, averaging 21 that are well above the average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently and projected to rise by 264 percent to May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and gradually reducing the supply of several of them that are attractively priced as the market moves through the summer months, the start of the stock market year when new results will be coming to the market for investors to assess and determine what to do.
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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2024 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.
More gains for JSE Main Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed higher for a second consecutive day on Friday, with the volume of stocks changing hands climbing 42 percent and the value 41 percent lower than on Thursday, with 58 securities trading compared with 52 on Thursday, with 26 rising, 19 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 17,423,772 shares were exchanged for $113,062,974 versus 12,158,165 units at $187,080,964 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 300,410 shares at $1,949,362 compared with 233,811 units at $3,597,711 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 308,048 stocks at $2,115,819, compared with 308,619 units at $2,128,260 on the previous day. Trading in June closed with an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581, including trading in bonds.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 5.75 million shares for 33.3 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 2.57 million units for 14.9 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 2.53 million units for 14.6 percent market share, QWI Investments controlled 1.46 million units for 8.4 percent of the market and Wigton Windfarm with 1.40 million units for 8.1 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 91.12 points to 362,517.50, the JSE Main Index rose 906.61 points to 327,867.62 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.08 points to 72.77.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rallied $1.50 and ended at $76 after trading 57,195 shares, First Rock Real Estate fell $1.45 in closing at $9, with 3,400 stock units clearing the market, Guardian Holdings climbed $4 to $455 as investors exchanged 849 units, Jamaica Broilers gained 47 cents to end at $35 with a transfer of 22,072 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped $1.21 to close at $10.22 in an exchange of 36,696 stock units, JMMB Group dropped 30 cents in closing at $28.90 in trading 28,280 stocks, Kingston Wharves popped 31 cents and ended at $29.80 after an exchange of 21,223 shares, Margaritaville advanced 40 cents to $15 after an exchange of 54 units. 
Massy Holdings declined 50 cents to end at $98.50, with 5,272 stock units crossing the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 40 cents to close at $11.90 and closed after 2,505 stocks changed hands, NCB Financial increased $2.49 to end at $74.99 in switching ownership of 709,089 units, 138 Student Living advanced 65 cents to close at $4.65 with an exchange of 111,931 shares. Pan Jamaica shed $1.35 in closing at $49 with stakeholders exchanging 50,625 shares, Proven Investments increased $1.25 to $23.25 in an exchange of 1,228 stocks, Scotia Group rose 70 cents to $33.75, with 204,253 units crossing the market, Seprod climbed $2.10 to $74.10 with investors transferring 3,139 stock units. Supreme Ventures rallied 49 cents to close at $27.49 after a transfer of 208,004 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 83 cents to end at $11.17 with shareholders swapping 146,619 units, Victoria Mutual Investments gained 37 cents in closing at $3.37, with 56,404 stocks changing hands and Wisynco Group popped 30 cents to end at $18 with 50,440 shares crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rallied 91 cents in closing at $6.12, as 3,056 units passed through the market, Jamaica Public Service 7% dipped $1 to $70 while exchanging 1,022 stocks. JMMB Group 7.25% due 2024 preference share fell 30 cents and ended at $1.70 with investors transferring 208,689 shares and 138 Student Living preference share rose $13.39 to close at $102.63 in trading one stock unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Winning Junior Market stocks outpace losers but..
Trading picked up on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 47 percent and the value 22 percent more than on Thursday, after trading took place in 46 securities up from 43 on Thursday and ended with 22 rising, 15 declining and nine closing unchanged.
Investors traded 9,067,320 shares for $24,359,252 compared with 6,180,875 units at $20,046,474 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 197,116 shares at $529,549 compared to 143,741 units at $466,197 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 310,851 units at $772,488 compared with 319,331 stock units at $790,601 on the previous day. June closed with an average of 319,230 units at $854,456.
Image Plus Consultants led trading with 2.23 million shares for 24.6 percent of total volume, followed by Dolla Financial with 1.89 million units for 20.8 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 1.24 million units for 13.7 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 33.95 points to finish at 3,929.05.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.1. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are calculated using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained 11 cents to close at $25 after a transfer of 2,704 shares, AMG Packaging rose by 17 cents to end at $2.66 in switching ownership of 62,300 stock units, CAC 2000 lost 24 cents and ended at $6.75 with investors trading 1,448 units, Cargo Handlers dived $6.10 to close at $15 as investors exchanged 2,120 stocks. Caribbean Cream rallied 29 cents in closing at $4.49 in an exchange of 1,052 shares, Caribbean Flavours popped 11 cents to $1.34 with 202 units changing hands, Dolphin Cove dropped $1.99 to end at $15, with just 1,578 stock units crossing the market, Elite Diagnostic fell 35 cents ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.55 after exchanging 46,823 stocks. Everything Fresh rose 12 cents in closing at $1.52 with stakeholders trading 6,742 units, 
Fontana increased 25 cents to close at $11 with investors trading 199,482 stocks, Future Energy Source dropped 19 cents to close at $3.80 after an exchange of 222,420 shares, General Accident advanced 30 cents in closing at $5 in trading 8,450 stock units. Honey Bun increased 35 cents and ended at $6.45 in an exchange of 4,530 shares, Image Plus Consultants gained 28 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.50 while exchanging 2,230,057 stock units, with the price hitting a record $2.60 before the close of trading. Jamaican Teas advanced 9 cents to end at $2.19 with shareholders swapping 106,129 stocks, KLE Group climbed 15 cents to $1.69, with just 55 units passing through the market. Paramount Trading popped 10 cents and ended at $1.90, with 100 units changing hands, Regency Petroleum rallied 14 cents to end at $2.89, with 121,401 shares crossing the market. 
Stationery and Office Supplies rose $1.43 to close at $27.43 after a transfer of 110,534 stock units, Tropical Battery shed 8 cents in closing at $1.96 after clearing the market with 216,424 stocks and tTech gained 43 cents and ended at $2.22 after closing with 2,000 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
