Trading dived on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 92 percent with a 57 percent lower value than on Friday, resulting in an exchange of nine securities, down from 10 on Friday with prices of four rising, two declining and three ending unchanged.
The market closed following an exchange of 172,833 shares valued at US$26,689, down considerably from 2,139,002 stocks at US$61,591 on Friday. Trading averaged 19,204 shares at US$2,965 down from 213,900 stocks at US$6,159 on Friday, with a month to date average of 87,831 stock units at US$3,566 compared with 122,145 stocks at US$3,866 on the previous trading day and December with an average of 229,957 units for US$7,451.
The US Denominated Equities Index rose 1.11 points to close trading at 235.70. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ending with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
The PE Ratio, one of the best known measures used to determine appropriate stock values, averages 7.1. The PE ratio is calculated based on last traded prices divided by projected earnings, computed by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the market, First Rock Real Estate USD share rallied 0.2 of a cent to 2.4 US cents with investors trading 3,470 stock units, Margaritaville remained at 6.78 US cents after a transfer of 530 shares, Proven Investments slipped 0.5 of a cent to close at 11.5 US cents, with 26,549 stocks clearing the market. Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 7 US cents in trading 16,971 units, 
Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share rose 0.03 of a cent to end at 5.9 US cents after an exchange of 232 stocks and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.07 of a cent in closing at 2.8 US cents with investors trading 123,117 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preferred share slipped 10 cents to US$10.80 with an exchange of 50 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments US 8% remained at US$9.50 with 1,858 units changing hands and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% popped 50 cents in closing at US$10 with investors dealing in 56 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The week’s movement resulted in just two stocks rising and 8 falling, with five suffering big losses in the Junior Market ICTOP10. The performance of the Main Market ICTOP10 was in sharp contrast to the Junior Market, as five stocks gained and only two declined. The All JSE TOP10, compiled from all listed ordinary stocks on the JSE, had two changes. Key Insurance returns to the All JSETOP10 following a week’s absence and Access Financial returns, replacing JMMB Group and Pulse Investments, with earnings for both revised downward, following the release of September results.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10, Iron Rock Insurance was the only stock with a noteable gain, with the price rising 19 percent to $4.29. Lumber Depot dropped 22 percent to $2.08, Caribbean Flavours dived 14 percent to end trading at $1.20, Caribbean Assurance shed 13 percent to end at 2.51 and Express Catering fell 11 percent to $3.01.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at just 5.6, well below the market average of 14.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.5, more than half of the market, with an average of 13.
The market closed with an exchange of 2,139,002 shares valued at US$61,591 compared to 59,603 stocks at US$7,997 on Thursday. Trading averaged 213,900 shares at US$6,159 compared to 7,450 stocks at US$1,000 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 122,145 units at US$3,866 compared to December that ended with an average of 229,957 units for US$7,451.
Proven Investments ended at 12 US cents as investors exchanged 1,441 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments remained at 7 US cents with 2,806 shares clearing the market and Transjamaican Highway slipped 0.25 of one cent to close at 2.73 US cents after an exchange of 2,133,089 stock units.
Sterling Investments rose 0.03 of a cent to finish at 1.75 US cents in an exchange of 3,060 units, Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 0.01 of a cent and ended at 7 US cents with traders dealing in 17,355 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share popped 1.49 cents to close at 5.87 US cents in an exchange of 267 units and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.01 of one cent to 2.98 US cents with 24,623 shares clearing the market.
Sterling Investments ended at 1.72 US cents after an exchange of 1,500 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments shed 0.01 of one cent to finish at 6.99 US cents with 2,500 units being traded. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share dropped 1.48 cents and ended at 4.38 US cents with traders dealing in 40,328 stocks and Transjamaican Highway popped 0.14 of one cent to 2.99 US cents in switching ownership of 874,163 stock units.
The JSE Composite Index rose 10,029 points for a 3.11 percent gain for the week and 1.8 percent for the year to date, as the market takes on a more bullish tone, ahead of the close for the year.
After dropping out of the Junior Market ICTOP10 last week, Image Plus returns, replacing Knutsford Express.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 12 stocks, 25 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 33 with an average of 22 and a PE of 18 for half of the market with the highest PEs.
The market closed with an exchange of 598,456 shares for US$39,389, up from 32,183 stocks at US$2,895 on Monday. Trading averaged 54,405 shares at US$3,581, well above the 4,598 stocks at US$414 on Monday, with the month to date averaging 262,778 units at US$8,484 slightly down from 280,547 stocks at US$8,902 on the previous day compared to November that ended with an average of 186,934 units for US$9,182.
Proven Investments ended at 11.1 US cents with 273,896 shares clearing the market, Sterling Investments rose 0.12 of a cent to close at 1.72 US cents as investors traded 65,201 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments remained at 7 US cents in trading 99 stocks, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share stayed at 5.88 US cents after an exchange of 711 units and Transjamaican Highway slipped 0.11 of a cent and ended at 2.75 US cents with investors trading 157,067 shares.
The market closed with an exchange of 32,183 shares for US$2,895, a sharp drop from 566,050 stock units at US$37,617 on Friday. Trading averaged 4,598 shares at US$414 compared to 56,605 stocks at US$3,762 on Friday, with a month to date average of 280,547 stock units at US$8,902 compared with 296,380 stocks at US$9,389 on the previous day and November that ended with an average of 186,934 units for US$9,182.
Sterling Investments rose 0.2 of a cent to end at 1.6 US cents with an exchange of 6 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share ended at 5.88 US cents after 5,016 stocks were traded and Transjamaican Highway slipped 0.01 of one cent to end at 2.86 US cents in an exchange of 18,029 shares.
The week’s movement resulted in just one stock rising and seven falling in the Junior Market ICTOP10. In contrast to the Junior Market, only two stocks declined the Main Market TOP10 and six gained. The All JSE TOP10, compiled from all listed ordinary stocks on the JSE, has Guardian Holdings with the potential to rise 433 percent taking back the number one spot from Pulse Investments that held it last week and ended with the price jumping sharply, reducing its potential gains to 335 percent from 500 percent last week. Caribbean Cream replaced NCB Financial in the All JSE TOP10.
In Main Market ICTOP10 activity, Pulse Investments recovering from a sharp fall in the previous week, jumped a solid 38 percent to $1.38, Key Insurance gained 8 percent after ending at $2.15, 138 Student Living gained 6 percent to close at $4.27 followed by Margaritaville and Scotia Group up 4 percent to $12.50 and $53.89 respectively. Berger Paints fell 10 percent to $7.01.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 13 stocks, 21 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 31 with an average of 21 and a PE of 18 for half of the market with the highest PEs.
Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 7 US cents with a transfer of 186 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share ended at 5.88 US cents with investors swapping 284 units and Transjamaican Highway popped 0.04 of one cent to 2.87 US cents after an exchange of 402,232 stocks.