Trading dropped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Monday, with a 98 percent decline in the volume and value of stocks that changed hand compared with Friday, resulting in trading in four securities, 
down from seven on Friday with prices of two rising and two declining.
The market closed with an exchange of only 3,378 shares for US$273 compared to 181,904 units at US$17,375 on Friday.
Trading averaged 845 units at US$68 versus 25,986 shares at US$2,482 on Friday, with a month to date average of 38,346 shares at US$2,570 compared with 39,846 units at US$2,670 on the previous day and May that ended with an average of 32,077 units for US$3,201.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased 0.30 points to close at 218.66.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 7.9. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending and or around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville popped 0.9 of a cent to close at 8.9 US cents after 895 stock units were traded, Sterling Investments slipped 0.11 of a cent to 1.48 US cents with investors trading just 2 units, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.02 of a cent to end at 7.8 US cents with investors exchanging 2,476 shares and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.03 of a cent to finish at 2 US cents with investors swapping 5 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Puny JSE USD trading
Big ICTOP10 price movements
The past week saw the return to trading of shares in iCreate and Edufocal, with the former enjoying a bounce in price from 43 cents to close at 60 cents, with the latter falling from 85 cents to 65 cents following the release of the 2023 audited accounts that were highly negative for the stock, with the company posting a big annual loss.
In a week when the Junior Market fell 1.72 percent and the Main Market was down 0.97 percent the ICTOP10 stocks ended with declining stocks outnumbering those rising. JSE Main Market had two winners and three losers of note and just two winners and four losers of note in the Junior Market.
The Junior Market ICTOP10 Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 7 percent to close at $3.80, followed by Lumber Depot with a rise of 4 percent to $2.76. Consolidated Bakeries suffered a big 28 percent fall to $1.55 but had no bids at the close of the market, Caribbean Cream dropped 11 percent to $3.56, Dolla Financial fell 8 percent to $2.30 and Stationery and Office Supplies lost 6 percent to close at $1.59.
In the Main Market, Guardian Holdings was the only stock with note-worthy gains, with an increase of 4 percent to $360. Berger Paints lost 11 percent in closing at $8, JMMB Group fell 8 percent to $22.25 and Margaritaville dipped 6 percent to close at $13.60.
There are no new additions to the ICTOP10 for the week.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 13.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.4, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.4.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 303 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 230 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 103, with an average of 29 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 12 stocks, or 26 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 45, averaging 20, well above the market’s average. The average PE for the top half of the market is 17, possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks currently.
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 2025 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, resulting 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.
Stocks closed lower on JSE USD Market
US dollar-denominated stocks closed lower at the end of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks exchanged surging 187 percent with a 59 percent lower value than on Thursday, resulting in trading in seven securities, similar to that on Thursday with prices of one rising and six declining.
The market closed with an exchange of 181,904 shares for US$17,375 compared to 63,388 units at US$42,622 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 25,986 units at US$2,482 compared to 9,055 shares at US$6,089 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 39,846 shares at US$2,670 compared with 40,889 units at US$2,684 on the previous day and May that ended with an average of 32,077 units for US$3,201.
The US Denominated Equities Index slipped 0.75 points to close at 218.37.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 7.9. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share skidded 0.5 of a cent and ended at 4 US cents, with 72,261 shares changing hands, Margaritaville fell 1 cent to 8 US cents in an exchange of 1,652 units, Proven Investments slipped 0.5 of a cent to end at 12.5 US cents after just 90 stocks passed through the market.
Sygnus Credit Investments popped 0.8 of a cent in closing at 7.82 US cents after an exchange of 1,000 stock units and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.03 of a cent to finish at 1.97 US cents with 104,147 shares clearing the market.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% shed 10 cents to close at US$1.85 with investors swapping 1,892 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% dipped 5 cents to US$10.05 with 862 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks fall on JSEUSD Market
US dollar denominated stocks traded lower on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with a 65 percent decline in the volume of stocks exchanged with 42 percent less value than on Monday, resulting from trading in eight securities, compared to seven on Monday with prices of two rising, four declining and two ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 184,675 shares for US$7,820 compared to 533,385 units at US$13,379 on Monday.
Trading averaged 23,084 units at US$978 compared with 76,198 shares at US$1,911 on Monday, with a month to date average of 44,320 shares at US$2,462 compared to 46,616 units at US$2,623 on the previous day and May with an average of 32,077 units for US$3,201.
The US Denominated Equities Index fell 0.93 points to conclude trading at 218.98.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages eight. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or 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, AS Bryden ended at 22 US cents, with 17,673 stocks changing hands, First Rock Real Estate USD share dipped 0.22 of one cent in closing at 4.5 US cents with an exchange of 264 units, Margaritaville advanced 1 cent to 9 US cents after 2,015 shares passed through the market. 
Proven Investments remained at 13 US cents with investors trading 1,993 stock units, Sterling Investments fell 0.14 of a cent to 1.46 US cents with trading of 11,000 shares and Transjamaican Highway slipped 0.05 of a cent to close at 1.95 US cents in trading 151,584 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share popped 1 cent to US$1.27, with 130 stocks crossing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% sank 90 cent to finish at US$10.10 with a transfer of 16 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless
Nice price movements in ICTOP10
The listing of Omni Industries on the Junior Market on Tuesday, was the highlight of the Jamaica Stock Exchange during the past week, following a successful offer of share to the public. The market closed with gains in the Main and Junior Market indices, leading to just four stocks rising in the ICTOP10 Main Market and only two in the Junior Market, with gains ranging from three to 12 percent and five with losses in the Junior Market TOP10 and six in the Main Market.
Omni Industries that was never in the TOP10 closed at $1.12, after the price hit a record high of $1.42 on Wednesday, sits in the last quartile of the overall Junior Market, with a fairly healthy PE of 14.
Lasco Financial, last week’s new listing to the Junior Market ICTOP10 climbed 12 percent to $1.70 and dropped out of the listing. Caribbean Cream rallied 7 percent to $4. Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 8% to close at $3.55, followed by Access Financial, Lumber Depot and tTech falling by 5 percent each to close at $19, $2.65 and $2.35 respectively.
In the Main Market, Berger Paints, General Accident and Palace Amusement rose 8 percent to close at $8.95, $7 and $1.15 respectively. Margaritaville fell 8 percent to close at $14.50, Key Insurance fell 6 percent to $2.24 and JMMB Group dipped 5 percent to $24.25.
The Junior Market listed AMG Packaging is the the only new addition to the ICTOP10 for the week, coming in at $3.30.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 14 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.7, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.4.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 295 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 212 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 103, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 12 stocks, or 26 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 45, averaging 20, well above the market’s average. The average PE for the top half of the market is 17, possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks currently.
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 2025 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, resulting 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.
Gains for JSEUSD stocks
Stocks gained at the close on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Friday, following trading in seven securities, up from four on Thursday with prices of three rising, one declining and three ending unchanged with a 92 percent decline in the volume of stocks that were exchanged with a 59 percent lower value than Thursday.
The market closed with an exchange of 36,637 shares for US$5,319 compared to 456,359 units at US$13,103 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 5,234 units at US$760 down sharply from 114,090 shares at US$3,276 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 43,526 shares at US$2,697 compared with 47,993 units at US$2,923 on the previous day and May with an average of 32,077 units for US$3,201.
The US Denominated Equities Index climbed 2.16 points to settle at 2212.02
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 7.9. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville ended at 8 US cents after 2,775 shares were traded, Productive Business Solutions remained at US$1.275 in switching ownership of 144 stocks, 
Proven Investments ended at 13 US cents with 32,830 shares crossing the market. Sygnus Credit Investments fell 0.4 of a cent in closing at 8 US cents with investors trading 243 stocks, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share gained 2.19 cents to end at 10.99 US cents after 87 shares passed through the market and Transjamaican Highway popped 0.08 of a cent to close at 2.09 US cents in an exchange of 200 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% rallied 1 cent to US$1.71 with investors transferring 358 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading dives on JSE USD Market
Stocks closed lower on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Tuesday, with a 39 percent fall in the volume of stocks exchanged after a 95 percent drop in value from Monday’s level, resulting in trading in three securities, compared to nine on Monday with prices of all three declining.
The market closed with an exchange of 89,247 shares for US$3,105 compared to 147,490 units at US$59,542 on Monday.
Trading averaged 29,749 units at US$1,035 versus 16,388 shares at US$6,616 on Monday, with a month to date average of 45,143 shares at US$2,837 compared with 46,086 units at US$2,947 on the previous day and May that ended with an average of 32,077 units for US$3,201.
The US Denominated Equities Index dipped 2.99 points to cease trading at 220.10.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages nine. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or 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, Margaritaville slipped 0.88 of one cent to close at 8 US cents as investors traded 23,880 stocks, Sterling Investments lost 0.07 of a cent in closing at 1.47 US cents after 27,852 units passed through the market and Transjamaican Highway declined 0.1 of a cent to close at 2.02 US cents with a transfer of 37,515 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Surge in trading on the JSE USD Market
Following a session of increased trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, the market closed with a 636 percent surge in the volume of stocks that were exchanged leading to a 2,773 percent jump in value over that on Friday and resulting in trading of nine securities, compared to eight on Friday with prices of five rising, two declining and two ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 147,490 shares for US$59,542 up sharply from 20,041 units at US$2,072 on Friday.
Trading averaged 16,388 units at US$6,616 versus 2,505 shares at US$259 on Friday, with a month to date average of 46,086 shares at US$2,947 compared with 52,768 units at US$2,122 on the previous day and May that ended with an average of 32,077 units for US$3,201.
The US Denominated Equities Index skidded 0.97 points to close trading at 223.09.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.2. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and three with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden slipped 0.49 of a cent and ended at 22 US cents with traders dealing in 227 shares, Margaritaville gained 0.38 of one cent to 8.88 US cents, with 13,240 stocks changing hands, Productive Business Solutions ended at US$1.275 with investors swapping 3 shares. Proven Investments popped 0.08 of a cent to 13.08 US cents after 4,240 stock units crossed the market, Sterling Investments ended at 1.54 US cents as investors exchanged 4 shares, 
Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 0.4 of a cent to end at 8.4 US cents and closed with the trading of 100,447 units and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.07 of a cent in closing at 2.12 US cents in switching ownership of 7,747 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share lost 1 cent to end at US$1.28 after trading 19,242 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% climbed 70 cents to close at US$11 with 2,340 shares clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Price volatility low in ICTOP10
Volatility was low in ICTOP10 in the past week with the highest price change coming in at 6 percent, following moderate declines in the Junior Market and the Main Market
The Junior Market ICTOP10, Iron Rock Insurance climbed just 4 percent to $2.18. Caribbean Cream fell 6 percent to $3.75 followed by Access Financial, down 5 percent to $20.
In the Main Market, Margaritaville and Palace Amusement rose by 6 percent to close at $15.95 and $1.06 respectively and Key Insurance fell 4 percent to $2.39. Of note is that Berger Paints fell 3 percent to close at $8.26, trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $10.10 on Friday as the stock closed with a big gap between buyers and sellers.
Lasco Financial was the only new addition to the ICTOP10 for the week replacing Edufocal that was suspended from trading during the week for not meeting the financial statement filing.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 14.1 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.8, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.6.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 292 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 209 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 103, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 11 stocks, or 24 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 47, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The average PE in the top half of the market is 17 and is possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks, currently.
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 2025 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, resulting 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 plunged on the JSE USD market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market closed on Friday after a sharp 92 percent drop in the volume of stocks that changed hands, with a 73 percent lower value than on Thursday, resulting in trading in eight securities, compared to seven on Thursday with prices of one rising, four declining and three ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 20,041 shares for US$2,072 compared to 238,919 units at US$7,681 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 2,505 units at US$259 versus 34,131 shares at US$1,097 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 52,768 shares at US$2,122 compared with 65,334 units at US$2,587 on the previous day and May that ended with an average of 32,077 units for US$3,201.
The US Denominated Equities Index shed 0.14 points to cease trading at 224.05.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.1. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with a bid higher than the last selling price and none with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, AS Bryden ended at 22.49 US cents, with 832 stock units crossing the market, First Rock Real Estate USD share shed 0.26 of a cent and ended at 4.74 US cents with investors dealing in 997 shares, Margaritaville lost 0.38 of one cent to end at 8.5 US cents, with 24 units clearing the market. 
Productive Business Solutions remained at US$1.275 with an exchange of 369 stocks, Sterling Investments sank 0.01 of a cent to 1.54 US cents, with 8,010 shares crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments skidded 1 cent to finish at 8 US cents in switching ownership of 126 stocks and Transjamaican Highway remained at 2.05 US cents, with 9,583 stocks crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% climbed 25 cents to close at US$10.30 with investors transferring 100 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.