Bank of Jamaica’s decision for banks to halt dividend payments hit the Jamaica Stock Estate Main Market hard on Monday. NCB Financial dropped to the lowest level in more than a year to $131 during the morning session as declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones two to one with the three largest financial companies stock suffering losses.
NCB Financial hits a new 52 weeks’ low of $31.
At the close of trading, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index plunged 11,964.17 points to 406,853.24, the JSE Market Index dived by 10,830.61 points to 370,763.04 and the JSE Financial Index fell by 3.79 points to 99.73.
The market closed with 45 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with prices of 10 stocks advancing, 23 declining, with 13 securities trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 40 securities accounting for 18,718,741 units valued at $83,219,012, in contrast to 15,595,657 units valued at $80,717,216 from 38 securities on Friday.
Trans Jamaican Highway led trading with 9.6 million shares for 51 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.2 million units for 12 percent of the volume traded and Pulse Investments with 1.7 million units for 9.1 percent market share. Sagicor Select Financial Fund is the other security trading more than one million units, ending with 1.5 million units.
The Market closed with an average of 467,969 units valued $2,080,475 for each security traded, in contrast to 410,412 units valued at an average of $2,124,137 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 996,058 units valued at $3,638,209 for each security changing hands, compared to 1,025,936 units valued at $3,731,907 for each security traded. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator│ At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven stocks closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 14.1, while the Main Market ended at 14.3 times 2020-21 earnings.
In the Main Market, Carreras fell 23 cents to close at $6.50, in transferring 44,100 shares, Eppley declined $1.50 to $13, in trading 17,619 units, Grace Kennedy shed 50 cents to end at $57.50, in swapping 4,773 stock units. Jamaica Broilers exchanged 149,658 shares at $26, after losing 99 cents, Jamaica Producers lost $1.49 to end at $19, with a transfer of 20,180 stock units, JMMB Group closed at $35, with a loss of $1 swapping 152,052 shares. 
Key Insurance gained 30 cents after exchanging 46,773 stock units and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.20, Mayberry Investments shed 35 cents to settle at $5.20, with a transfer of 202,000 shares. NCB Financial Group plunged $12 to end at $140, in trading 163,821 shares in reaction to the suspension of dividend payments by banks, mandated by Bank of Jamaica. PanJam Investment fell $1.85 to $75.50, with 1,760 units changing hands, Sagicor Group closed $3.37 lower in reaction to the suspension of dividends announced by Jamaica Central Bank and finished at $46, after trading 101,069 shares. Scotia Group also reacted negatively to the dividend suspension dropping $2 lower to end at $45, with 66,944 stock units crossing the exchange, Seprod fell $3.20 to $44.60, in transferring 2,255 units and Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $15.99, shedding 95 cents trading 23,433 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
This week’s focus: General Accident is set to do very well. Last year’s earnings grew 48 percent from an increase of 22 percent in gross premium income and a 25 percent increase in net premium. The company acquired majority shares in the Trinidad based
Uncertainties exist in the economy and financial markets accordingly, and it is not possible to determine the exact impact on company earnings for the rest of the year. Actual earnings could vary materially from IC Insider.com’s forecast. Looking beyond the immediate fallout or benefits for companies can be useful in guiding investment decisions for above-average gains in the period ahead.
The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 12.8 and the Junior Market a mere 9, based on current 2020-21 earnings. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a just 5.3 with the Main Market at a much higher level of 8.5.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns to March 2021. Forecasted earnings and PE ratio for the current fiscal year are in determining potential gains. The ranking of stocks is in order of likely increases, with the highest-ranked, being the most attractive. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis when new information is received that affects earnings significantly.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,331.58 points to close at 418,817, the JSE Market Index gained 1,205.42 points to close at 381,593.65 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.55 points to 103.52.
The Market closed with an average of 410,412 units valued at $2,124,137 for each security traded, in contrast to 418,093 units valued at $3,884,360 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 1,025,936 units valued at $3,731,907 for each security changing hands, compared to 1,060,899 units valued at $3,829,348 for each security traded. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 37 cents to end at $20.63 after 11,170 shares passed through the market, JMMB Group dropped $1.44 and closed at $36, after exchanging 213,331 stock units, Mayberry Investments gained 32 cents trading 22,096 stock units and closed at $5.55.NCB Financial Group rose $2 to end at $152, with 47,023 units changing hands, PanJam Investment traded 1,465 and fell $2.35 to close at $77.35, Proven Investments jumped $2.79 to close at $38.79 after 9,478 shares changed hands. Pulse Investments lost 35 cents in exchanging 3,858,682 stock units at $2.05, Salada Foods dropped $2.90 to $26, in exchanging 5,901 units. Sagicor Group traded 38,531 and lost 38 cents to end at $49.37 and Scotia Group rose $2 after transferring 21,667 stock units to finish at $47.
The JSE Market Index fell by 3,337.15 points to 380,388.23 and the JSE Financial Index slid 1.32 points to 102.97.
IC bid-offer Indicator│ At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven securities closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 14.1, while the Main Market ended at 14.3 times 2020-21 earnings.
Key Insurance gained 90 cents to finish at a record $4.90, with 57,241 units changing hands. Mayberry Investments gained 47 cents trading 6,101 stock units and closed at $5.87, NCB Financial Group sustained a loss of $4.93 to end at $150, in swapping 24,481 units, Salada Foods bounced $1.95 to $28.90, having gained in exchanging 100 units. Seprod rose 50 cents after transferring 8,376 stock units to finish at $48, Stanley Motta traded 500 units at $4.70, after picking up 33 cents, Sygnus Credit Investments added 50 cents to end at $17, with 25,122 stock units changing hands and Wisynco Group ended the day at $17.50, with a loss of $1.18 with 63,156 shares crossing the exchange.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 1,972.21 points to 421,131.86, the JSE Market Index fell 1,936.13 points to 383,725.38 and the JSE Financial Index slid 0.40 points to 104.29. The Main Market has gone seven days without closing with gains in the Indices.
The Market closed with an average of 3,226,882 units valued at $5,139,593 for each security traded, in contrast to 867,914 units valued at an average of $1,806,657 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 1,105,053 units valued at $3,825,298 for each security changing hands, compared to 960,218 units valued at $3,728,658 for each security traded. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 98 cents to end at $21.98, in trading 81,638 shares, JMMB Group ended at $37.99, with gains of $1.05 and the exchanging 213,440 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined by $29 to $147, in swapping 100 units. NCB Financial Group closed $1.92 higher to $154.93, after transferring 142,312 shares, PanJam Investment gained 58 cents and ended at $74.78, trading 6,709 stock units, Proven Investments closed 50 cents lower to $36, in exchanging 563 shares. Salada Foods fell by $2.05 to $26.95 trading 151 units, Scotia Group lost 41 cents to finish at $45.01, with an exchange of 6,276 stock units, Seprod closed with a loss of 49 cents in transferring 12,903 stock units to finish at $47.50 and Sygnus Credit Investments picked up 50 cents to end at $16.50, with 54,861 shares changing hands.
At the close of the market, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 421.48 points to 423,104.07, the JSE Market Index fell 411.64 points to 385,661.51 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.57 points to close at 104.69.
The Market closed with an average of 867,914 units valued $1,806,657 for each security traded, in contrast to 755,502 units valued at an average of $1,774,456 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 960,218 units valued at $3,728,658 for each security changing hands, compared to 966,799 units valued at $3,877,090 for each security traded. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
Jamaica Producers fell by $2.78 to $16.22, after swapping 200,696 shares, JMMB Group shed 46 cents to finish at $36.94, with 30,709 shares changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped to $176, with a loss of $4.58 trading a mere 30 units. NCB Financial Group declined $1.99 to $153.01, in transferring 13,994 stock units, 138 Student Living picked up 30 cents exchanging 30,500 shares and closed at $7, PanJam Investment ended the day at $74.20, after losing $3.55 after swapping 8,643 stock units. Proven Investments closed $1.99 lower to $36.50, with a transfer of 1,404 units, Scotia Group gained 41 cents to finish at $45.42, with an exchange of 14,792 units, Seprod added $2 to close at $47.99, in trading 52,988 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $16, with a loss of $1 after exchanging 171,557 shares.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 2,223.70 points to 423,525.55, the JSE Market Index fell by 1,987.23 points to 386,073.15 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.49 points to 105.26.
Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
138 Student Living ended at $6.70, after a losing 30 cents swapping 1,276 units, PanJam Investment rose $1.75 to $77.75, with 126,281 shares changing hands. Proven Investments added 39 cents to finish at $38.49, with a transfer of 2,300 units, Sagicor Group closed at $50, after picking up $1 trading 39,750 shares, Salada Foods gained $1 swapping only I unit at $29. Scotia Group shed 80 cents to finish at $45.01, with an exchange of 61,455 shares, Seprod rose 99 cents to $45.99 trading 5,496 units, Supreme Ventures lost 48 cents transferring 509,318 shares to end at $15. Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $17, with gains of $2 swapping 24,526 stock units and Wisynco Group climbed $2.80 to $18.80, ending with 348,655 shares changing hands.
the Main Market, Berger Paints leads the pact, followed by Radio Jamaica and Sygnus Credit Investments with projected gains of 180 to 186 percent.
The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 13 and the Junior Market a mere 9, based on current 2020/21 earnings. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a just 5.4 with the Main Market at a much higher level of 8.2.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns to March 2021. Forecasted earnings and PE ratio for the current fiscal year are in determining potential gains. The ranking of stocks is in order of likely increases, with the highest-ranked, being the most attractive. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis as new information is received that can result in changes in and out of the list.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 2,030.54 points to 425,749.25, the JSE Market Index fell 1,694.44 points to 388,060.38 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.25 points to 105.75.
IC bid-offer Indicator│ At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five stocks closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 14.1, while the Main Market ended at 14.5 times 2020/21 earnings.
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy jumped by $30.58 after transferring 494 units to end at $180.58, NCB Financial Group shed 50 cents to close at $155, with an exchange of 105,674 shares, Proven Investments picked up $1.01 to finish at $38.10, in swapping 2,500 units. Sagicor Group closed at $49, with a loss of 75 cents with 434,646 shares crossing the exchange, Salada Foods lost 50 cents after swapping 7,102 units at $28, Scotia Group fell by $2.08 to $45.81, with a transfer of 34,866 stock units. Seprod dropped $1 to close at $45, in trading 8,911 units, Stanley Motta picked up 41 cents to finish at $5.03, in exchanging 6,000 units, Supreme Ventures ended at $15.48, with a loss of $1.52 and the swapping of 47,463 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $15, after losing $2.45 trading 57,900 shares and Wisynco Group ended the exchanging of 341,913 stock units at $16, with a loss of $1.10.
The Market closed with an average of 3,336,907 units valued at $6,733,425 for each security traded, in contrast to 1,216,630 units valued at an average of $3,485,017 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 1,022,515 units valued at $4,256,393 for each security changing hands, compared to 779,477 units valued at $3,967,296 for each security traded. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
Kingston Wharves picked up 42 cents and closed at $44, with 26,422 units changing hands. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy sustained a loss of $33 in swapping 499 units and closed at $150, NCB Financial Group fell 50 cents to $155.50 trading 35,964 units, PanJam Investment shed 85 cents to close at $75.98, with an exchange of 9,929 stock units. Portland JSX picked up 80 cents in trading only one stock unit to end at $8.90, Sagicor Group finished at $49.75, with a loss of 77 cents in exchanging 86,774 shares, Salada Foods closed at $28.50, after losing $4.95 in exchanging 10,299 units. Scotia Group gained 39 cents swapping 50,079 shares and closed at $47.89, Seprod climbed $2 to $46, with 18,441 units crossing the exchange, Stanley Motta slipped 38 cents to $4.62, in swapping 4,200 stock units and Victoria Mutual Investments ended at $7.50, with a loss of 30 cents while transferring 420,041 shares.