Market activity ended on Friday, resulting in more stocks rising than falling at the close of trading, after trading 85 percent fewer shares, with 72 percent lower value than on Thursday at the close of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.
A total of 21 securities traded up from 20 on Thursday, with four stocks rising, six declining and 11 remaining unchanged. The Composite Index climbed 11.81 points to 1,450.00, the All T&T Index gained 6.08 points to close at 2,075.89 and the Cross-Listed Index rallied 2.51 points to settle at 109.25.
Overall, 453,136 shares traded for $3,627,650 versus 2,923,663 units at $12,996,516 on Thursday. An average of 21,578 units traded at $172,745 down from 146,183 shares at $649,826 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 65,404 units at $499,069 versus 74,607 units at $567,597. The average trade for March amounts to 36,197 units at $438,630.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s fell 5 cents to end at $46.10 in trading two shares, Angostura Holdings rallied $1.79 in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $22, with 11 units clearing the market, Ansa McAl ended unchanged at $57.50 in an exchange of 13 stock units. Ansa Merchant Bank increased $3 to close at $45 with the swapping of five stocks, Calypso Macro Investment Fund remained at $19, with 26 stock units changing hands, Clico Investment Fund finished at $29.50 in exchanging 6,916 units. First Citizens Group declined 1 cent to close at $51.99 after trading 1,223 stocks, FirstCaribbean International Bank finished at $5.95 while exchanging 1,128 shares, GraceKennedy shed 70 cents in ending at $5.30 after 47,965 stock units crossed the exchange. 
Guardian Holdings gained 15 cents in closing at $27.40 with 20 units crossing the market, JMMB Group lost 11 cents to end at $2.29 with 67,166 shares, Massy Holdings ended at $5.74 after exchanging 286,928 stocks. National Enterprises ended at $2.99 after trading 40 stock units, NCB Financial Group dropped 5 cents to close at $6.70 in switching ownership of 219 shares, One Caribbean Media finished at $4.13 after trading 3,051 units. Prestige Holdings ended unchanged at $6.90, with 25 stocks crossing the market, Republic Financial Holdings fell $1 to $141 with an exchange of 3,700 units, Scotiabank remained at $81 after an exchange of 1,731 stocks. Trinidad & Tobago NGL popped 63 cents to $20.62 in trading 7,251 shares, Unilever Caribbean finished at $16 after exchanging 11,648 stock units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $23.99 in switching ownership of 14,068 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks rally in Trinidad on Friday
Trading picks up for JSE USD Market
Trading picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Thursday, with the volume of shares changing hands rising 38 percent above that on Wednesday after funds passing through the market fell 42 percent and resulted in an even number of stocks rising than falling.
Compared to five on Wednesday, 10 securities were traded, with three rising, three declining and four ending unchanged. The JSE US Denominated Equities Index rallied 6.94 points to end at 223.52, up 14 percent for the year to date.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 8.7 uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending in August 2023.
Overall,1,319,482 shares traded, for US$45,994 versus 955,092 units at US$79,200 on Wednesday. Trading averaged 131,948 units at US$4,599, down from 191,018 shares at US$15,840 on Wednesday, with the month to date averaging 110,511 shares at US$4,707 compared to 103,366 units at US$4,743 on the previous day. March ended with an average of 59,258 units for US$6,669.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share declined 0.35 of a cent in ending at 7.6 US cents after trading 30,005 shares, Margaritaville ended at 16 US cents while exchanging 270 stock units, Productive Business Solutions increased 13.5 cents in closing at US$1.19 after exchanging 134 units. 
Proven Investments dropped 0.94 of a cent to close at 26 US cents, with 1,058 stocks crossing the exchange, Sterling Investments gained 0.15 of a cent to end at 2.15 US cents in trading 824 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share remained at 12.95 US cents with an exchange of 250,400 stocks. Transjamaican Highway climbed 0.14 of a cent in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of 1.1 US cents with 1,036,531 stock units clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share fell 1.9 cents to US$1.98 in trading 101 units, JMMB Group 5.75% finished at US$2.03 after 70 stocks crossed the market and JMMB Group 6% ended at 99.02 US cents in switching ownership of 89 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Solid gains for JSE Main Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market made solid gains in trading on Thursday, with the volume of shares trading rising 48 percent over Wednesday after funds flowing through the market fell modestly on a day when prices ended with nearly twice as many stocks falling as rising.
The All Jamaican Composite Index surged 4,390.35 points to 453,858.73, the JSE Main Index jumped 3,266.12 points to end at 399,282.06. The JSE Financial Index popped 0.47 points to settle at 95.13.
On Wednesday, trading ended with 56 securities compared to 54, with 13 rising, 25 declining, and 18 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending to the end of August 2023.
A total of 31,300,525 shares were traded for $141,657,125 versus 21,128,299 units at $143,846,313 on Wednesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 9.86 million shares for 31.5 percent of total volume as the stock traded at a record high of $1.78 but finished down at $1.74, for a closing record high. 
Wigton Windfarm ended trading 6.96 million units for 22.2 percent of the day’s trade. Pulse Investments ended with 5.99 million units for 19.1 percent market share, while Sagicor Select Financial Fund traded 3.09 million units with 9.9 percent market share.
Trading for the day averaged 558,938 shares at $2,529,592, compared to 391,265 units at $2,663,821 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 714,323 units at $6,007,688 down from 752,826 units at $6,869,517 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of trading, Caribbean Cement declined 98 cents to $72.02 while exchanging 4,431 shares, Caribbean Producers rallied 88 cents to $18.78 after trading 417,301 stock units, Jamaica Broilers climbed $1.88 to $28.88, with 82,692 stocks clearing the market. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose $1.47 in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $21.97 after trading 202,238 units, JMMB Group lost $1.20 to end at $49.50, with 159,692 stock units crossing the market, Kingston Properties fell 80 cents to $8.20 in trading 29,256 stocks. 
Mayberry Jamaican Equities dropped 73 cents to close at $9.20 with the swapping of 10,221 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy shed $3.75 in closing at $98, with 750 units crossing the market, Palace Amusement shed $20 to end at $976 in switching ownership of three units. Sagicor Group fell 46 cents to $57 in an exchange of 13,595 stocks, Scotia Group lost $1.95 to close at $35.70 with an exchange of 41,510 stock units, Seprod dropped 90 cents in ending at $61.90 after 5,229 shares changed hands. Supreme Ventures declined $1 in closing at $25 after exchanging 452,575 units and Wisynco Group popped 68 cents to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $21.68, with 113,372 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading picks up on Trinidad Stock Exchange
Market activity on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange ended on Thursday and resulted in a 226 percent jump in the number of shares traded at a marginally higher value than on Wednesday as trading closed with more stocks declining than rising at the close of trading.
A total of 20 securities traded, up from 18 on Wednesday, with four stocks rising, eight declining and eight remaining unchanged and resulted in the Composite Index rallying 0.26 points to 1,438.19, the All T&T Index rising 5.57 points to 2,069.81 and the Cross-Listed Index shed 0.76 points to settle at 106.74.
A total of 2,923,663 shares were traded for $12,996,516 compared to 896,735 units at $12,132,467 on Wednesday. An average of 146,183 units traded at $649,826 compared to 49,819 shares at $674,026 on Wednesday, with trading month to date averaging 74,607 units at $567,597 versus 56,713 units at $547,040. The average trade for March amounts to 36,197 units at $438,630.
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, Agostini’s ended trading unchanged at $46.15 with an exchange of 125 shares, Calypso Macro Investment Fund remained at $19, with 153 stock units crossing the market, Clico Investment Fund finished at $29.50 in trading 34,385 stocks. First Citizens Group remained at $52 in exchanging 1,243 units, FirstCaribbean International Bank finished at $5.95 in an exchange of 55 stock units, and GraceKennedy ended at $6 after 776,054 stocks changed hands. Guardian Holdings declined 1 cent to $27.25 after an exchange of 2,441 units, Guardian Media lost 2 cents in closing at $3.10, with 2,604 shares changing hands, JMMB Group shed 10 cents to $2.40 after 1,880,345 shares crossed the market. 
Massy Holdings popped 24 cents to $5.74 after exchanging 101,262 units, National Enterprises fell 1 cent to close at $2.99 while trading 4,400 stocks, National Flour Mills remained at $1.60 with the swapping of 6,316 stock units. NCB Financial Group jumped 64 cents in closing at $6.75 in trading 9,793 stock units, One Caribbean Media gained 13 cents to $4.13 in switching ownership of 4,525 shares, Republic Financial Holdings climbed $1 after ending at $142, with 2,552 stocks clearing the market. Scotiabank dropped 10 cents to $81 after exchanging 1,313 units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 66 cents to $19.99, with 6,315 stocks crossing the exchange. Trinidad Cement declined 8 cents in closing at $3.52 in switching ownership of 600 shares. Unilever Caribbean ended unchanged at $16 in trading 89,091 stock units and West Indian Tobacco fell 1 cent to $23.99 after exchanging 91 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big Gains for JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Wednesday, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with the volume of shares trading declining 83 percent and the value plunging 87 percent below Tuesday’s levels but ending with rising stocks exceeding those declining by a ratio of two to one.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 5,549.32 points to settle at 449,468.38, the JSE Main Index rose 3,609.16 points to end at 396,015.94 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.53 points to settle at 94.66.
Trading ended with 54 securities down from 58 on Tuesday, with 32 rising, 16 declining and six ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.1. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
A total of 21,128,299 shares traded for $143,846,313 down from 122,573,847 units at $1,079,970,954 on Tuesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.28 million shares for 29.7 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 5.35 million units for 25.3 percent of the day’s trade, Pulse Investments, 3.64 million units for 17.2 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 1.08 million units changing hands for 5.1 percent market share.
Trading averages 391,265 units at $2,663,821, compared to 2,113,342 shares at $18,620,189 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 752,826 units at $6,869,517, compared to 866,339 units at $8,189,911 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints advanced $1.15 in closing at $12.17, with 27,094 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement gained 50 cents to end at $73 with the swapping of 4,998 stock units, Caribbean Producers popped $2.27 to close at $17.90 in switching ownership of 287,731 units. Eppley increased by $3.50 to $42.50, with 779 stocks clearing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $2.94 to $46.99, with 1,154 units crossing the market, First Rock Capital climbed 40 cents to $11.95, with 9,563 stock units crossing the market. GraceKennedy rose $1.40 to close at $105.40 in trading 316,548 shares, Guardian Holdings declined $8.98 to end at $540 after exchanging 1,449 stocks, Jamaica Broilers shed $1.71 in closing at $27, with 36,405 stock units crossing the exchange. Jamaica Producers fell 60 cents ending at $23 after trading 21,613 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied $1.50 to $20.50 while exchanging 142,989 shares, JMMB Group lost $3.30 in ending at $50.70 with an exchange of 410,936 stocks. Key Insurance gained 40 cents to end at $4.70 after trading 2,309 shares, Kingston Properties dropped 35 cents to $9 in an exchange of 1,150 stocks, Kingston Wharves advanced $1 in closing at $42 in exchanging 8,642 units. Massy Holdings shed $1 to $100 in exchanging 25,236 stock units, Mayberry Investments fell 94 cents in closing at $6.51 after 9,486 stock units changed hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities climbed 78 cents to close at $9.93 in an exchange of 222,201 units. 
Palace Amusement popped $16 to end at $996 in trading 101 shares, PanJam Investment dropped 55 cents after ending at $65.50 with an exchange of 13,817 stocks, Proven Investments rose $1.60 to $38, with 14,062 units changing hands. Pulse Investments increased 52 cents to end at $4.64, with 3,641,203 crossing the market shares, Sagicor Group rallied $3.46 in closing at $57.46, with 21,469 stock units clearing the market, Scotia Group increased $1.15 to close at $37.65 with the swapping of 49,050 stocks. Seprod popped $1.30 to $62.80 after an exchange of 32,016 shares, Supreme Ventures gained $3.38 ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $26 in trading 483,864 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 44 cents to $15.30 in exchanging 335,825 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined 40 cents to end at $15.60 while trading 18,992 stock units and Wisynco Group climbed $1.01 to close at $21 in exchanging 426,350 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference share lost $3.40 in closing at $13.10 in switching ownership of 1,000 stocks, Eppley 5% preference share advanced 50 cents to close at $19, with 200 shares crossing the market and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share dropped 50 cents to $2.90 after trading 13,333 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for JSE USD market
Trading ended on Wednesday, with the volume of shares changing hands declining just 9 percent, but the value exchange rose 120 percent higher than on Tuesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market and resulted in more stocks rising than falling.
A total of five securities traded, down from eight on Tuesday, with three rising, one declining and one ending unchanged.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index jumped 7.63 points to end at 216.58. The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.9. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending in August 2023.
A total of 955,092 shares traded, for US$79,200 compared to 1,052,626 units at US$36,044 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 191,018 units at US$15,840, compared to 131,578 shares at US$4,506 on Tuesday, with the month to date averaging 103,366 shares at US$4,743 versus 85,835 units at US$2,523 on the previous day. March ended with an average of 59,258 units for US$6,669.
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, First Rock Capital USD share advanced 0.05 of a cent in closing at 7.95 US cents with an exchange of 35 shares, Proven Investments gained 1.94 cents to 26.94 US cents, with 201,881 stocks clearing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share ended at 12.95 US cents after just four units crossed the exchange and Transjamaican Highway popped 0.03 of a cent ending at 0.96 of a US cent with 735,072 stock units changing hands.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% declined 6.98 cents to end at 99.02 US cents in trading 18,100 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading pull back for Trinidad Stock Exchange
Market activity ended on Wednesday, resulting in more stocks rising than falling at the close of trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, with 61 percent fewer shares changing hands with a moderately lower value than on Tuesday.
A total of 18 securities traded versus 20 on Tuesday, with seven stocks rising, five declining and six remaining unchanged. The Composite Index fell 11.12 points to end at 1,437.93, the All T&T Index slipped 1.54 points to 2,064.24 and the Cross-Listed Index fell 2.99 points to settle at 107.50.
A total of 896,735 shares traded for $12,132,467 versus 2,284,558 units at $13,136,974 on Tuesday. An average of 49,819 units traded at $674,026 compared to 114,228 shares at $656,849 on Tuesday, with trading month to date averaging 56,713 units at $547,040 versus 58,715 units at $510,173. The average trade for March amounts to 36,197 units at $438,630.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s shed 5 cents to end at $46.15 after the trading of 78 shares, Angostura Holdings gained 1 cent in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $20.21 with the swapping of 13 units, Ansa McAl remained at $57.50 after finishing trading 25 stocks. Calypso Macro Investment Fund rose 45 cents to $19 in switching ownership of three stock units, Clico Investment Fund climbed 50 cents to $29.50 while exchanging 67,151 stocks, First Citizens Group ended unchanged at $52 after 294 stock units crossed the market, 
GraceKennedy finished at $6 in trading 5,100 units, JMMB Group rallied 4 cents in closing at $2.50 after exchanging 38,500 shares, Massy Holdings declined 23 cents after ending at $5.50, with 97,474 tocks clearing the market. National Enterprises ended unchanged at $3 after trading 332,200 shares, National Flour Mills finished at $1.60 after 200 stock units passed through the exchange, NCB Financial Group lost 49 cents to end at 52 weeks’ low of $6.11, with 19,870 units changing hands. One Caribbean Media dropped 10 cents to $4 with an exchange of 1,000 units, Prestige Holdings popped 10 cents to $6.90 in trading 2,451 stock units, Scotiabank increased $2.11 in closing at $81.10 in exchanging 24,692 shares. Trinidad & Tobago NGL advanced 35 cents to $20.65 exchanging 92,659 stocks, Unilever Caribbean fell 15 cents to $16 in an exchange of 85,137 shares and West Indian Tobacco remained at $24 with 129,888 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
New ICTOP10 2022-3 is here
Earnings season is almost at an end except for a few companies with March year end that are to release results for the full year by the end of May that will impact the price of some ICTOP 10 stocks. Riches are abundant in several Main and Junior Markets stocks, but some patience may be warranted to get the most from them.
The ICTOP10 shows the benefit of ranking stocks based on their potential to grow and emphasizing those. Investors do not have to chase overpriced stocks based on some wish list of abundance fortunes is near. Sticking with undervalued stocks is the best formula for wealth creation.
The focus shifts to 2022/23 earnings as the reporting season ends. At the close of the past week, seven stocks from the previous Junior Market ICTOP10 carry over to the 2022/23 list and five for the Main Market. Dropping out of the Junior Market list are Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing and Iron Rock Insurance. Dropping from the Main Market for the coming period are Jamaica Broilers, 138 Student Living, Proven Investments, Pan Jamaica Investment and SygnusUS dollar share.
Heading the new list are Productivity Business Solutions, Guardian Holdings, Sygnus Credit Investments, Jamaica Stock Exchange and JMMB Group in the Main Market. At the same time, the Junior Market’s top five are Elite Diagnostic, Medical Disposables, Jetcon Corporation, Caribbean Cream and Access Financial Services. Most of the Junior Market companies suffered from fallout in the economy in 2020 and beyond due to the Covid19 and are recovering. Some of these could deliver above average gains.
The average PE for 2022-3 fiscal year is 13.1 for the Junior Market, down from 22.8 for the 2021/22 fiscal year and 13.5 for the Main and USD Markets compared to 16.6.
There were no changes to the ICTOP10 stocks in the Main and Junior Market in the past week based on 2021 and early 2022 earnings, but there were some notable performances. 
Lasco Manufacturing rose 14 percent to close the week at $5.70, AMG Packaging popped 13 percent to $3.15, while Caribbean Assurance Brokers put in a 9 percent rise to close the week at $2.40. Iron Rock Insurance and Tropical Battery added 6 percent to close at $3.60 and $2.62, respectively. In the Main Market, JMMB Group rose 7 percent to $45.95 and Jamaica Broilers lost 7 percent to end at $27.25.
Both markets continue to offer attractive gains for the TOP10 based on recent full year earnings up to March.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.3, well below the market average of 13.5, while the Junior Market PE for the Top 10 is at 6.3 versus the market at 13.1.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023. They are ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase 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 are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Slippage for JSE USD Market index
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Tuesday, ended with the volume of shares changing hands jumping 123 percent after 114 percent more funds chased stocks than was the case on Monday, resulting in more stocks rising than falling at the close.
A total of eight securities traded, compared to 11 on Monday with three rising, one declining and four ending unchanged with the JSE US Denominated Equities Index slipping 1.17 points to end at 208.95. At the close, 1,052,626 shares traded for US$36,044 up from 472,349 units at US$16,867 on Monday.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.9 using ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with current financial year ending, up to August 2023.
Trading averaged 131,578 units at US$4,506, compared to 42,941 shares at US$1,533 on Monday, with the month to date average of 85,835 shares at US$2,523 versus 64,309 units at US$1,591 on the previous day. March ended with an average of 59,258 units for US$6,669.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share ended at 7.9 US cents trading 26 shares, Margaritaville finished at 16 US cents, with just three stock units crossing the market, Proven Investments rallied 0.15 of a cent in ending at 25 US cents after exchanging 51,904 units. 
Sterling Investments ended unchanged at 2 US cents after 401,615 stocks changed hands, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share climbed 0.25 of a cent to close at 12.95 US cents while exchanging 71,465 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share dipped 1.96 cents to 13.04 US cents after trading 7,086 shares and Transjamaican Highway advanced 0.03 of a cent to 0.93 of a US cent in an exchange of 520,327 stocks.
In the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investments preference share remained at US$1.999 after an exchange of 200 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Another day of gains for JSE Main Market
Activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday, with the volume of shares trading surging 820 percent and the value 597 percent higher than on Monday as 122,573,847 shares were exchanged for $1,079,970,954 versus 13,325,302 units at $155,017,723 on Monday.
At close, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,252.31 points to close at 443,919.06, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,248.85 to 392,406.78 and the JSE Financial Index inched 0.17 points higher to settle at 94.13.
Trading ended with 58 securities compared to 56 on Monday, with 20 rising, 24 declining and 14 ending unchanged. Five stocks ended at 52 weeks’ closing high and one at an intraday high.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.7. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending to August 2023.
The leading trades for the day are Mayberry Jamaican Equities, with 100.18 million shares for 81.7 percent of total volume, after it traded at an intraday high of $10.90, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 5.75 million units for 4.7 percent of the day’s trade, after trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.54. Wigton Windfarm traded 3.45 million units for 2.8 percent market share, Pulse Investments followed, with 2.56 million units for 2.1 percent market share, QWI Investments with 2.52 million units for 2.1 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.01 million units for 1.6 percent market share.
Trading averages 2,113,342 units at $18,620,189, compared to 237,952 shares at $2,768,174 on Monday and month to date, an average of 866,339 units at $8,189,911, compared to 231,899 shares at $2,883,278 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints fell $1.16 to close at $11.02 with the swapping of 1,020 shares, Caribbean Cement shed $2.58 in ending at $72.50, after trading 20,827 stock units, Caribbean Producers popped 63 cents in closing at $15.63 in exchanging 986,419 stocks. Eppley declined $3.50 to $39, with 535 units clearing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost 45 cents to end at $44.05 with an exchange of 96 stocks, and First Rock Capital dropped 45 cents to end at $11.55 in trading 20,729 stock units. GraceKennedy gained 49 cents to end at $104 after trading 303,550 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange increased 50 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $19 in an exchange of 413,984 units after it traded as high as $21, JMMB Group rose $7.50 to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $54 after 351,182 stocks traded up to an intraday high of $61.24. 
NCB Financial dropped $3 to $110 in switching ownership of 72,323 shares, Palace Amusement shed $20 to close at $980 after exchanging three units, Proven Investments advanced 54 cents to end at $36.40 after trading 181,935 stock units. Sagicor Group fell $2 to $54 while exchanging 598,596 units, Seprod rallied $3.50 to $61.50, with 18,197 shares crossing the market, Supreme Ventures climbed $2.67 in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $22.62 after 122,878 stock units crossed the market. Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined 30 cents in closing at $16, with 1,200 stocks changing hands and Wisynco Group advanced 99 cents to $19.99 in exchanging 434,282 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share increased 40 cents to $3.40 after exchanging 2,540 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
