Investors hit the bulk of prices of stocks trading and leading the market into decline, with advancing stocks vastly outnumbered by those declining on Monday after an exchange of 77 percent more shares valued 126 percent more than on Friday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,805.24 points to 431,621.60, the JSE Main Index retreated 1,581.94 points to 393,571.93 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.58 points to close at 98.88.
Trading ended with 49 securities compared to 45 on Friday and closed with prices of 12 stocks rising, 27 declining and 10 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.8 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with 13,714,211 shares trading for $103,241,108 up from 7,739,040 units at $45,618,469 on Friday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 24.8 percent of total volume for 3.4 million shares followed by Jamaica Stock Exchange, 22.1 percent with 3.03 million, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund ended with 16.9 percent for 2.32 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 10.9 percent after 1.50 million units changed hands.
Trading for the day averaged 279,882 units at $2,106,961, down from an average of 171,979 shares at $1,013,744 on Friday. 
Trading month to date averaged 338,137 units at $2,423,642, in contrast to 341,423 units at $2,407,074 on Friday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints lost 30 cents to close at $13.20, with 569 stocks changing hands, Caribbean Cement climbed $3.05 to $68 in trading 2,151 shares, Eppley fell 90 cents to $32.10 in crossing the exchange with 3,457 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 82 cents to $46.49 after transferring 8,634 units. First Rock Capital shed 72 cents to close at $16 after 69,545 shares crossed the market, Jamaica Producers shed 22 cents to $23 trading 14,217 stock units, JMMB Group advanced $1.10 to $32.60 in an exchange of 46,776 stocks. Key Insurance lost 23 cents at $5.05 trading 25 units, Mayberry Investments gained 24 cents to settle at $5.74 with the swapping of 17,516 stocks. NCB Financial declined $1.50 to $138.50 in an exchange of 26,177 shares, Palace Amusement climbed $20 to $700 trading 156 stock units, Pan Jam Investment fell $1 to $65 after clearing the market of 188,074 shares. Proven Investments shed 90 cents to settle at $34 in switching ownership of 64,707 stocks, Sagicor Group fell 48 cents to $49.50 with an exchange of 16,194 stocks, Sagicor Real Estate Fund declined $1.10 to end at $7.20 with the swapping of 5,522 shares. 
Salada Foods lost 50 to finish at $44 with 63,894 stock units crossing the market, Seprod advanced $2.10 to $71.10 with 6,110 units changing hands. Supreme Ventures lost 30 cents to end at $15 with the swapping of 47,761 shares and Wisynco Group rose 40 cents to $15.70 with an exchange of 19,151 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.75% preference share fell 41 cents to $7.11 in exchanging 100 stocks and JMMB Group 7.25% gained 20 cents in ending at $1.45 with 15 stock units switching owners.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
TOP 10 stocks had a few changes during the past week, with Berger Paints back in the Main Market TOP10, replacing Sterling Investments that entered the list last week, while in the Junior Market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers returns to the TOP 10 as General Accident moved out.
Caribbean Producers is another that will definitely benefit from pick up in the tourist trade later in the year. Expect also companies such as Knutsford Express, Express Catering and Stationery and Office Supplies to be on that list.
This week’s focus: Future Energy Source Company Initial Public Offer of 500 million shares at 80 cents per share opens on Wednesday, with pretax earnings for the fiscal year to March this year around 7 cents per shares. The shares should be snapped up quickly by investors, with the company having long-term prospects for strong growth.
The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.5 at just 55 percent of the market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 7.4 or 50 percent of the PE of that market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,733.33 points to 433,426.84, the Main Index rose 2,535.44 points to 395,153.87 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.82 points to settle at 99.46.
Month to date trading averaged 341,423 units at $2,407,074, in contrast to 350,058 units at $2,478,082 on Thursday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660. 
Palace Amusement fell $19 to $680, with 443 units crossing the exchange, Proven Investments shed 60 cents in ending at $34.90 with 19,845 stock units clearing the market, Sagicor Group gained 23 cents to finish at $49.98 in transferring 321,790 units. Salada Foods rose $1.50 to $44.50 with the swapping of 10,915 shares, Scotia Group closed 74 cents higher at $41.25 with an exchange of 8,767 stock, Seprod dropped $4 to $69 in trading 94,793 units and Supreme Ventures finished 20 cents higher at $15.30 in switching ownership of 37,927 stock units.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 48.69 points to 430,693.51, the JSE Main Index declined 53.00 points to 392,618.43 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.09 points to settle at 98.64.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has thirteen stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Scotia Group ended 74 cents lower at $40.51 with the swapping of 14,908 stock units, Seprod rose $1 to $73 with 45,709 units changing hands. Sterling Investments gained 21 cents to settle at $2.91in the transfer of 24,212 stocks and Wisynco Group shed 62 cents to close at $15.38, with 28,391 stocks changing hands.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,009.51 points to 430,742.20, the Main Index rose 966.73 points to 392,671.43 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.38 points to settle at 98.73.
February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
NCB Financial declined $1.99 to $138.01 with 38,583 stock units changing hands, 138 Student Living dropped $1.38 to $5.50 in trading 1,050 units, PanJam Investment rose $1.31 to $65.01 with the swapping of 1,097,749 shares, Sagicor Group declined $2 to $48 in trading 60,966 stock units. Salada Foods fell $1.49 to $43 in exchanging 21,731 units, Seprod advanced $2 to $72 in switching ownership of 28,284 shares and Supreme Ventures lost 22 cents to close at $15.28 with 139,631 stocks changing hands.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,156.19 points to 429,732.69, the JSE Main Index declined 1,972.46 points to 391,704.70 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.57 points to 98.35.
Trading for the day averaged 207,074 units at $2,031,388, compared to 167,329 shares at $989,767 on Monday. Trading month to date averaged 241,646 units at $2,141,408, in contrast to 244,001 units at $ 2,148,902 on Monday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Mayberry Investments closed 46 cents higher at $5.63 in switching ownership of 2,770 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose $1 to close at $140 after clearing the market with 500 stock units. NCB Financial lost $2 in closing at $140 with the trading of 43,359 units, Palace Amusement climbed $29 to $699 after exchanging 52 shares, PanJam Investment shed 30 cents to settle at $63.70 with 1,670 units changing hands and Seprod fell $1.05 to $70 in an exchange of 32,241 shares.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 888.44 points to 431,888.88, the JSE Main Index fell 893.61 points to 393,677.16 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.38 points to 98.92.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with lower offers.
Scotia Group shed 75 cents to $41.25 trading 21,626 stock units, Seprod slid 95 cents to $71.05 after exchanging 15,843 shares, Sterling Investments gained 31 cents to close at $2.91 after 2,950 stock units crossed the market and Wisynco Group gained 49 cents to close at $15.99 with a transfer of 29,860 units.
The Main Market has a number in the list that have put out record profits or show signs of strong earnings in 2021, with the stocks clearly undervalued, these include, JMMB Group, Jamaica Broilers, 
This week’s focus:
The local stock market’s targeted average PE ratio is 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results, up to the second quarter of 2021. The Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below the market average, indicating strong gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15 and the Junior Market 10, based on ICInsider.com’s projected 2021-22 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.5 at just 55 percent of the market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 7.4 or 49 percent of the PE of that market.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in movements in and out of the lists weekly. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Salada Foods lost 30 cents to finish at $44.20 in swapping 1,782 stocks, Scotia Group rose $1.89 to $42, trading 63,546 shares. Sterling Investments fell 31 cents to $2.60 in an exchange of 6,721 stock units, Supreme Ventures gained 30 cents to finish at $15.40, with 50,715 units crossing the market and Wisynco Group closed 47 cents higher at $15.50, with 16,279 shares clearing the market.
Trading for the day averaged 239,375 units at $1,671,585, compared to an average of 165,916 shares at $1,037,466 on Wednesday. The average trade month to date ends at 256,266 units at $2,210,133, in contrast to 257,553 units at $2,251,139 on Wednesday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
138 Student Living gained 24 cents in ending at $5.40, after clearing the market with 15,702 shares, Pan Jam Investment declined by $1 to $66 with the swapping of 794 units, Proven Investments advanced $1.50 to $34.50 in exchanging 72,037 stock units. Pulse Investments shed 28 cents to close at $4.14 after trading 496,531 units, Scotia Group dropped $3.59 to close at $40.11, with 29,893 stocks crossing the market, Seprod shed $1 to end at $72 in exchanging 17,660 stock units and Wisynco Group lost 49 cents to close at $15.03, with 216,294 units clearing the market.