The Main Market and Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined in trading on Thursday as the JSE USD market closed moderately higher as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands rising, over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 26 shares rising and 38 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index declined 1,213.73 points to 339,829.59, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 803.27 points to 366,350.22, the JSE Main Index dropped 910.30 points to 327,260.10. The Junior Market Index plunged 41.11 points to close at 3,757.91 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 1.38 points to 249.03.
At the close of trading, 31,075,461 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 15,867,211 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $91.08 million, up from $82.89, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 9,463 shares for US$5,112 compared to 288,604 units at US$12,293 on Wednesday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Transjamaican Highway with 8.84 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 6.67 million units, Wigton Windfarm with 5.58 million stock units and Radio Jamaica with 1.03 million shares.
In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 1.58 million shares followed by Lumber Depot with 1.15 million units and Future Energy with 807,980 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share dropped $123.29 to $1,150, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share increased $19.91 and ended at $115 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rallied $3 to $110.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.1 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9. times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, 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 navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading and prices drop on JSE Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with a 38 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 44 percent lower value than Tuesday with trading in 44 securities compared with 39 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 16 rising, 21 declining and seven closing unchanged.
The market closed after 3,622,295 shares were traded for $8,075,268 compared with 5,879,680 units at $14,528,099 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 82,325 shares at $183,529 compared with 150,761 units at $372,515 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 166,173 stock units at $390,666 compared to 172,623 stock units at $406,600 on the previous day and February with an average of 253,246 stock units at $637,481.
Tropical Battery led trading with 536,975 shares for 14.8 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 476,598 units for 13.2 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 382,069 units for 10.5 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dropped 8.87 points to wrap-up trading at 3,799.02.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.8, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging declined 5 cents and ended at $3.10 after a transfer of 31,398 stocks, Blue Power increased 7 cents to $3.05 as investors exchanged 100 units, Cargo Handlers sank $1.65 to $12.83 after 4,021 shares passed through the market. Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 15 cents to close at $2.35 in an exchange of 1,234 stock units, Caribbean Cream rose 20 cents to $3.89 with 587 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Flavours dipped 7 cents to $1.60 with investors trading 364,539 units. Dolphin Cove rose 28 cents to end at $19.78 with 1,829 stocks passing through the market, GWest Corporation lost 13 cents in closing at 85 cents with investors dealing in 24,029 stock units, Image Plus dipped 6 cents to close at $1.89, with investors trading 12,436 shares. ISP Finance fell $3.40 and ended at $28.10 with investors transferring 55 stocks, JFP Ltd skidded 7 cents to $1.32 in switching ownership of 184,500 units, Lasco Distributors shed 13 cents in closing at $4.42 with traders dealing in 36,123 stock units. 
Lasco Manufacturing rallied 20 cents to $5.45 in an exchange of 14,042 shares, Limners and Bards fell 9 cents to close at $1.54 with investors swapping 2,000 stocks, Lumber Depot climbed 8 cents and ended at $2.59 after an exchange of 109,000 units. Mailpac Group gained 12 cents to $2.12 in trading 103,424 stock units, Main Event fell 56 cents to $14 after an exchange of 14,972 shares, Medical Disposables declined 20 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.30 after exchanging 950 stocks. MFS Capital Partners sank 20 cents to $1.70 with 85,400 units clearing the market, Stationery and Office Supplies popped 5 cents and ended at $1.52 with an exchange of 236,344 stock units and Tropical Battery dipped 10 cents to $2.10 with 536,975 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main & USD markets rise Junior slips
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and the JSE USD market closed higher in trading on Wednesday as the Junior Market closed moderately lower as trading ended with the value and number of stocks changing hands falling, compared with the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 38 shares rising and 39 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 831.32 points to close at 341,043.32, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,037.70 points to end trading at 367,153.49, the JSE Main Index popped 969.26 points to close at 328,170.40. The Junior Market Index dipped 8.87 points to 3,799.02 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 2.01 points to end at 247.65.
At the close of trading, 15,867,211 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 29,117,170 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $82.89 million, down from $107.24 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 288,604 shares for US$12,293 compared to 407,861 units at US$34,259 on Tuesday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm with 3.25 million shares followed by Radio Jamaica with 2.80 million units, Transjamaican Highway was next with 2.66 million stock units and QWI Investments with 1.02 million shares.
In the Junior Market, Tropical Battery led trading with 536,975 shares followed by Fosrich with 476,598 units and Future Energy with 382,069 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $3 in closing at $48, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $1 to $219 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share shed $24.90 to end at $95.09.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.2 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.8. times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, 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 navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading climbs for Junior Market as prices soften
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with a 127 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a value that is 136 percent more than Monday and ended with trading in 39 securities compared with 46 on Monday and ending with prices of 10 rising, 20 declining and nine closing unchanged.
The market closed trading of 5,879,680 shares for $14,528,099 compared with 2,593,168 units at $6,159,361 on Monday.
Trading averaged 150,761 shares at $372,515, compared with 56,373 units at $133,899 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 172,623 units at $406,600 compared to 174,223 stock units at $409,094 on the previous day and February with an average of 253,246 units at $637,481.
One Great Studio led trading with 1.20 million shares for 20.4 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 846,479 units for 14.4 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 477,340 units for 8.1 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index sank 10.77 points to settle at 3,807.89.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging fell 6 cents and ended at $3.15 after trading 864 shares, Blue Power lost 18 cents to close at $2.98 with 3,342 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 13 cents to close at $2.20 with an exchange of 6,201 shares. Caribbean Cream sank 19 cents to end at $3.69, with 2,534 stock units crossing the market, Derrimon Trading skidded 12 cents in closing at $1.88 with investors swapping 32,795 shares, Dolphin Cove declined 39 cents to $19.50 after an exchange of just 300 stock units. Express Catering climbed 11 cents to $3.98 with investors transferring 28,786 stocks, Fontana shed 25 cents and ended at $9.08 in an exchange of 199,893 units, Fosrich dipped 7 cents in closing at $2.08, after 846,479 stocks crossed the market. Jetcon Corporation fell 13 cents to end at 85 cents with investors trading 11,282 units, 
Lasco Distributors popped 5 cents to $4.55, with 384,895 shares crossing the exchange, Lasco Manufacturing declined 5 cents to $5.25 with a transfer of 436,904 stock units. Lumber Depot shed 17 cents to close at $2.51 while exchanging 8,317 shares, Mailpac Group lost 10 cents and ended at $2 after closing with an exchange of 279,293 stock units, Main Event increased 7 cents to end at $14.56 after a transfer of 2,989 units. ONE on ONE Educational skidded 9 cents in closing at 88 cents after 20,408 stocks passed through the market, Stationery and Office Supplies sank 8 cents to $1.47 with investors dealing in 473,453 shares and Tropical Battery gained 5 cents and ended at $2.20 in switching ownership of 430,554 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
All JSE markets fall on Tuesday
Stocks fell across the three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with the Main Market taking the brunt of the fall in trading on Tuesday, with trading resulted in the number and the value of stocks changing hands rising over the previous trading day and resulting in prices of just 24 shares rising and 43 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 2,958.91 points to close at 340,212.00, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,346.63 points to 366,115.79, the JSE Main Index skidded 3,054.43 points to end the day at 327,201.14. The Junior Market Index dipped 10.77 points to 3,807.89 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 2.77 points to lock up trading at 245.64.
At the close of trading, 29,117,170 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 23,367,913 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $107.24 million, up from $49.61, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 407,861 shares for US$34,259 compared to 172,660 units at US$45,981 on Monday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm with 11.46 million shares followed by Sygnus Credit Investments with 2.46 million units, Transjamaican Highway chipped in with 2.27 million stock units, Ciboney Group accounted for 1.19 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund closed with 1.19 million shares and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund delivered 1.0 million units.
In the Junior Market, One Great Studio led trading with 1.20 million shares followed by Fosrich with 846,479 units and Spur Tree Spices with 477,340 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $3 and ended at $45, 138 Student Living preference share increased $32.70 in closing at $218, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share climbed $4.99 to $119.99 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% popped $5 to end at $107.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.4 on 2022-23 earnings and 14. times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, 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 navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Steady trading on the JSE Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with little change in the volume and value of stocks traded, compared with trading on Friday and ended with trading in 46 securities the same as 46 on Friday and ending with prices of 16 rising, 16 declining and 14 closing unchanged.
The market closed trading of 2,593,168 shares for $6,159,361 compared with 2,586,840 units at $6,170,873 on Friday.
Trading averaged 56,373 shares at $133,899, compared with 56,236 units at $134,149 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 174,223 units at $409,094 compared to 185,355 stocks at $435,088 on the previous trading day and February with an average of 253,246 units at $637,481.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 976,508 shares for 37.7 percent of total volume that was followed by Fosrich with 370,030 units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and Image Plus with 156,521 units for 6 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 9.91 points to close at 3,818.66.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging lost 6 cents to $3.21 after a transfer of 11,622 units, Cargo Handlers popped 48 cents to close at $14.48 with 41 stocks passing through the market, Derrimon Trading advanced 10 cents in closing at $2 as investors exchanged 6,667 shares. Dolphin Cove skidded 6 cents to end at $19.89 in trading 1,680 stock units, Everything Fresh rose 6 cents to $1.60 after an exchanging of 3,087 shares, Image Plus rallied 6 cents to $1.95 with investors transferring 156,521 stock units. ISP Finance increased 95 cents to end at $31.50 in an exchange of 567 stocks, Jamaican Teas climbed 13 cents in closing at $2.53, with trading of 7,384 units, JFP Ltd gained 6 cents and ended at $1.38 with an exchange of 32,474 stocks. Lasco Distributors sank 9 cents to close at $4.50 after an exchange of 45,448 units, Lasco Manufacturing popped 8 cents to $5.30 with investors trading 3,742 shares, Limners and Bards dipped 17 cents to end at $1.63 in switching ownership of 20 stock units. 
Mailpac Group increased 8 cents in closing at $2.10 with traders dealing in 45,105 shares, Main Event fell 9 cents and ended at $14.49 in an exchange of 293 stock units, MFS Capital Partners climbed 10 cents to $1.90 with investors dealing in 5,001 stocks. ONE on ONE Educational rose 11 cents to end at 97 cents, with 57,648 units crossing the market, Regency Petroleum shed 6 cents to end at $2.16 while exchanging 28,514 stocks, Spur Tree Spices declined 14 cents in closing at $2.36 with a transfer of 976,508 shares. Tropical Battery dropped 10 cents to close at $2.15 after 63,054 units crossed the exchange and tTech gained 37 cents and ended at $2.43, with one stock unit changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market up as others slipped
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose on Monday as the Junior Market JSE USD market closed moderately lower as trading ended, with the value and volume of stocks traded dropping sharply compared to the previous trading day and resulting in prices of 31 shares rising and 37 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,282.72 points to 343,170.91, the All Jamaican Composite Index gained 1,665.47 points to end trading at 369,462.42, the JSE Main Index increased 1,460.26 points to conclude trading at 330,255.57. The Junior Market Index lost 9.91 points to cease trading at 3,818.66 and the JSE USD Market Index lost 0.78 points to wrap up trading at 248.41.
At the close of trading, 23,367,913 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down marginally from 23,484,571 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $49.61 million, down from $77.55, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 172,660 shares for US$45,981 compared to 262,328 units at US$19,513 on Friday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm with 10.78 million shares being traded followed by QWI Investments with 4.83 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.99 million stock units.
In the Junior Market, Spur Tree Spices led trading with 976,508 shares followed by Fosrich with 370,030 stock units and Image Plus with 156,521 units.
In the preference segment, Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% lost $4.20 to end at $102.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.5 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.1 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, 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 navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Solid gains for some ICTOP10 stocks
The main and Junior Markets are up nearly 10 percent and 5 percent since the lows reached in September and December respectively and they are expected to continue to rally in the weeks and months ahead, with the Junior Market now showing bullish signals that are B indicators of a solid bull market ahead.
The ICTOP10 ended the past weeks, with a 9 percent jump in the price of ISP Finance to $30.55 and an 8 percent fall in Stationery & Office Supplies to $1.56.
In the Main Market, 138 Student Living surged 24 percent to $3.75 followed by a 12 percent rise for Margaritaville to $15.99, as General Accident Insurance popped by 8 percent to $5.61 as demand rises for the stock but Kay declined 14 percent to $2.30.
On the surface, ISP Finance appears highly overpriced based on 2024 earnings of 57 cents per share, but the December quarter earnings were 25.2 cents per share or just over $1 per annum. With more profit to be generated in 2024 as profit grows, earnings should exceed that of 2024 by what is expected to be a wide margin and most likely justify the current price.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the TOP10 this past week.
For the full list of weekly percentage changes for the ICTOP10 stocks, check the attached charts for the weekly percentage price movements.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.4 over half of the market, with an average of 13.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 269 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 173 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 115, with an average of 36 and 25 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 29 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 11 stocks, or 23 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 43, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around 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.
Trading drops prices rise on Junior Market
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed higher on Friday after a 49 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, valued 37 percent less than on Thursday with trading in 46 securities compared with 44 on Thursday and ending with prices of 20 rising, 12 declining, leaving 14 unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 2,586,840 shares with a value of $6,170,873 compared with 5,070,780 units at $9,806,198 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 56,236 shares at $134,149 compared to 115,245 units at $222,868 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 185,355 units at $435,088 compared with 198,823 stock units at $466,478 on the previous day and February with an average of 253,246 units at $637,481.
Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 641,945 shares for 24.8 percent of total volume and was followed by Lasco Manufacturing with 308,644 units for 11.9 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 225,478 units for 8.7 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rose 20.08 points to end trading at 3,828.57.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13,, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years, closing around August 2024.
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 of trading, Access Financial popped $3.30 to end at $22 with investors swapping 496 units, AMG Packaging advanced 12 cents to $3.27 after a transfer of 554 stocks, Cargo Handlers dropped 48 cents to $14 with 756 shares clearing the market. Caribbean Cream rose 33 cents and ended at $3.90 with investors transferring 4,062 stock units, Everything Fresh shed 5 cents to close at $1.54 in an exchange of 565 shares, Fontana declined 7 cents to $9.33, with 45,998 stocks changing hands. Fosrich rallied 7 cents to end at $2.19 in trading 121,203 units, Honey Bun increased 5 cents in closing at $7.05 after an exchange of 4,130 stock units, ISP Finance climbed $2.05 and ended at $30.55, with investors dealing in 5,000 shares. 
Jamaican Teas fell 15 cents to $2.40, with 26,984 units changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing rose 7 cents to $5.22 with traders dealing in 308,644 stocks, Limners and Bards rallied 27 cents to $1.80 after an exchange of 800 stock units. Mailpac Group dipped 12 cents in closing at $2.02 with a transfer of 107,866 shares, MFS Capital Partners sank 17 cents to close at $1.80 after 40,051 stocks crossed the market, ONE on ONE Educational skidded 7 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of 86 cents in an exchange of 176,444 units and Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 21 cents to $1.56 after 641,945 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Investors push Jamaican stocks higher
All three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed high in trading on Friday with trading ending with the number and the value of stocks changing hands falling, compared with the previous trading day and resulting in prices of 39 shares rising and 30 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,883.78 points to 341,888.19, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,253.54 points to end at 367,796.95, the JSE Main Index gained 1,821.11 points to wrap up trading at 328,795.31. The Junior Market Index popped 20.08 points to culminate at 3,828.57 and the JSE USD Market Index advanced 5.05 points to finish at 249.19.
At the close of trading, 23,484,571 shares were exchanged in all three markets, compared with 29,437,556 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $77.55 million, down from $153.98 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 262,328 shares for US$19,513 compared to 771,589 units at US$17,159 on Thursday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm with 12.52 million shares followed by Radio Jamaica with 3.02 million units, Transjamaican Highway closed with 1.62 million units and Carreras finished trading with 1.02 million units.
In the Junior Market, Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 641,945 shares followed by Lasco Manufacturing with 308,644 stock units and JFP Ltd with 225,478 units.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.1 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, 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 navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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 for investors 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.