Trading on Thursday ended with the market index rising after trading 70 percent fewer shares than on Wednesday, resulting in four stocks rising, one declining and two ending unchanged as seven securities changed hands, compared to eight on Wednesday at the close of the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
JSE USD Equity Index gained 2.48 points to end at 204.13. The average PE Ratio ends at 13.7 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with 515,824 shares trading for US$142,671 shares down from 1,709,808 units at US$372,565 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 73,689 shares at US$20,382, down from 213,726 shares at US$46,571 on Wednesday. Trading month to date averages 70,045 units at US$14,464 close to 69,785 units at US$14,041 on Wednesday. February averaged 69,547 units for US$9,223.
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, First Rock Capital traded 471 stocks at 8.9 US cents, Margaritaville declined 0.1 of a cent to close at 9.9 US cents in trading 44,352 stock units, Proven Investments rose 0.1 of a cent to 25.1 US cents with 370,637 units crossing the exchange. 
Sterling Investments advanced 0.01 of a cent to end at 1.99 US cents while exchanging 10,733 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.2 of a cent to end at 14.2 US cents in an exchange of 15,433 stocks and Transjamaican Highway ended at 0.96 US cents in an exchange of 53,000 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% climbed 5 cents to US$2.05 with 21,198 stocks clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for JSE USD stocks on Wednesday
JSE Main Market climbs
Stocks trading on Wednesday ended with the market bouncing after Tuesday decline in the market indices, as investors put down 90 percent funds in trading 8 percent more shares than on Tuesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
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.
Overall, 51 securities traded, up from 50 on Tuesday and closed with prices of 19 stocks rising, 23 declining and nine remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.4 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with 11,146,482 shares trading for $193,454,160 compared to 10,353,699 units at $101,569,397 on Tuesday. Ciboney Group led trading with 17.6 percent of total volume for 1.96 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 14.1 percent for 1.57 million units, PanJam Investment with 9.8 percent for 1.10 million units and JMMB Group with 9.4 percent for an exchange of 1.05 million units.
Trading for the day averaged 218,558 units at $3,793,219, up from 207,074 shares at $2,031,388 on Tuesday. Month to date, trading averaged 240,236 units at $2,242,297, in contrast to 241,646 units at $2,141,408 on Tuesday.
February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments climbed $3 to $83.10 after exchanging 590,667 stock units, Berger Paints shed 46 cents to end at $13.01 in switching ownership of 2,664 stocks, Caribbean Cement advanced $1.51 to $66.01, with 26,035 units clearing the market, Eppley shed 86 cents to $31.87 with an exchange of 1,841 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $1.50 to $42 with 5,794 stocks changing hands, Grace Kennedy fell $1.08 to $87.42 after a transfer of 4,822 units, Jamaica Broilers lost 30 cents to close at $29 trading 174,370 shares. Jamaica Producers fell $1 to $21, with 109,300 stock units crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 23 cents to end at $18.98 after exchanging 34,463 units, JMMB Group lost 22 cents to close at $32.66 in trading 1,050,163 shares. Key Insurance gained 25 cents to end at $5.30 in exchanging 119,217 stocks, Mayberry Investments declined 44 cents to $5.19 with the swapping of 302 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities picked up 27 cents ending at $8.10 after a transfer of 107,392 stocks. 
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.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share gained 55 cents to close at $4.32 after exchanging just two stock units and Eppley 8.25% fell 59 cents to end at $6.41 in transferring 6 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big jump in trading volume & value
The volume of stocks trading on Wednesday, jumped 689 percent over on Tuesday as the value traded surged 919 percent, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, resulting in more stocks rising than falling.
At the close, 1,709,808 shares traded, for US$372,565 compared to 216,610 units at US$36,569 on Tuesday.
Eight securities traded, down from nine on Tuesday with prices of three stocks rising, two declining and three remaining unchanged.
JSE USD Equity Index gained 0.40 points to end at 201.65. The average PE Ratio ends at 13.7 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Trading averaged 213,726 units at US$46,571, up from 24,068 shares at US$4,063 on Tuesday. The average trade month to date is 69,785 units, at US$14,041 in contrast to 56,990 units at US$11,150 on Tuesday. February ended with an average of 69,547 units for US$9,223.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital ended at 8.9 US cents in exchanging 112 shares, Margaritaville finished at 10 US cents, with 1,992 units changing hands, Proven Investments climbed 0.02 cents to 25 US cents after exchanging 1,325,417 units. 
Sterling Investments dipped 0.01 cent to 1.98 US cents swapping 3,000 units, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 14 US cents trading 40,000 units and Transjamaican Highway carved out a gain of 0.07 cents to close at 0.96 US cents in an exchange of 322,789 units.
In the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share rose 4 cents to US$2 after exchanging 196 shares and JMMB Group 5.75% dropped 3 US cents to end at US$2 with 16,302 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling stocks dominate JSE main market
The market lost more grounds at the close of trading for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, ending with more stocks declining than advancing, with the value of traded stocks climbing 114 percent after 29 percent more shares traded than on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
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.
A total 50 securities traded up from 48 on Monday and closed with 12 stocks rising, 22 declining and 16 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Traders exchanged 10,353,699 shares for $101,569,397, up from 8,031,792 units at $47,508,810 on Monday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 19.9 percent of total volume for 2.06 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway 18.3 percent, with 1.89 million units, Ciboney with 17.4 percent for 1.80 million units and QWI Investments with 13.6 percent for 1.41 million units changing hands.
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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped $5.50 to close at $64.50 with 531,292 shares changing hands, Eppley gained $2.60 to $32.73 trading 4,342 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $1.49 to end at $40.50 after exchanging 9,365 units. First Rock Capital lost 30 cents to settle at $16.70, with 13,941 stock units clearing the market, Grace Kennedy rose $1.52 in closing at $88.50 in transferring 232,611 shares, Jamaica Broilers shed 50 cents to finish at $29.30 with the swapping of 99,686 units. Jamaica Producers gained 20 cents to close at $22 after exchanging 286 stock units, JMMB Group gained 28 cents to end at $32.88 with 62,422 shares changing hands. 
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.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Broadened trading on JSE USD market
Trading spread to nine stocks at the close of the JSE US market on Tuesday, up from five on Monday, leading the market to a mild gain at the close JSE USD Equity Index gained 2.01 points to end at 201.25 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market.
Trading ended with nine securities changing hands, compared to five on Monday, with prices of two rising, four declining and three remaining unchanged. The average PE Ratio ends at 13.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed after trading 58 fewer shares than on Monday with an exchange of 216,610 shares, for US$36,569, down from 520,461 units at US$80,702 on Monday.
Trading averaged 24,068 units at US$4,063, in contrast to 104,092 shares at US$16,140 on Monday. Trading averaged 56,990 units for the month to date at US$11,150 in contrast to 60,648 units at US$11,937 on Monday. February ended with an average of 69,547 units for US$9,223.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital traded 3,939 shares at 8.9 US cents, Margaritaville settled at 10 US cents after trading at 52 weeks’ intraday low of 9 cents and exchanging 968 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose 1 US cents to US$1.10, with 500 shares changing hands. 
Proven Investments lost 0.01 of a cent to 24.98 US cents, with 10,059 units changing hands, Sterling Investments fell 0.01 of one cent to close at 1.99 US cents after exchanging 25,128 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments remained at 14 US cents in trading23,991 shares and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.01 of a cent to close at 0.89 US cents with an exchange of134,525 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% gained 1 cent to close at US$2.03 in switching ownership of 10,000 units and JMMB Group 6% fell 8 cents to US$1.02 in trading7,500 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for JSE USD market
Trading on Monday ended with the market rising after trading 45 percent more shares than on Friday, on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulting in more stocks rising than falling.
Trading ended with five securities changing hands, similar to Friday and ended with two rising and three trading unchanged. The JSE USD Equity Index gained 1.18 points to end at 198.38.
The average PE Ratio ends at 13.6 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
In total, 520,461 shares traded at US$80,702 compared to 358,713 units at US$24,581 on Friday.
Trading averaged 104,092 units at US$16,140, up from 71,743 shares at US$4,916 on Friday. Trading averaged 60,648 units for the month to date at US$11,937 in contrast to 57,790 units at US$11,661 on Friday. February ended with an average of 69,547 units for US$9,223.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital closed at 8.9 US cents while exchanging 19,012 shares, Margaritaville ended at 10 US cents with 6,500 stock units trading, Proven Investments gained 0.79 US cents in closing at 24.99 US cents in switching ownership of 220,030 units. Sygnus Credit Investments rose half a cent in closing at 14 US cents in 170,358 stock units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway stayed at 0.9 of one US cents in owners switching 104,561 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Fall in JSE major indices
Stocks lost ground in trading on Monday ended with the market indices slipping even as almost half the number of stocks traded gained with the volume was similar to that of Friday with a 62 percent fall in the values at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
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.
Trading ended with 48 securities compared to 50 on Friday and closed with prices of 22 stocks rising, 15 declining and 11 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.6 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Traders exchanged 8,031,792 shares for $47,508,810 compared to 8,079,230 units at $124,140,641 on Friday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 30.3 percent of the volume traded for 2.44 million shares, followed by Ciboney Group 25.6 percent, with 2.06 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 19.3 percent market share for 1.55 million units.
Trading averaged 167,329 units at $989,767, compared to 161,585 shares at $2,482,813 on Friday. Trading month to date averaged 244,001 units at $2,148,902, versus 249,365 units at $2,230,008 on Friday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rose 25 cents to $13.50, after 9,336 units crossed the market, Caribbean Cement climbed 60 cents to $70 after exchanging 17,986 stock units. Carreras ended 33 cents higher at $9 in switching ownership of 135,470 shares, Ciboney Group lost 23 cents to finish at 68 cents in trading 2,059,981 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $1.49 to $41.99 in the swapping of 3,383 units. First Rock Capital fell $1 to $17 in an exchange of 55,747 stocks, Jamaica Producers lost 20 cents to close at $21.80 trading 14,263 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 77 cents to $18.91 in transferring 45,899 stocks. Key Insurance ended 31 cents lower at $5.15 after clearing the market with 23,717 units, Margaritaville dropped $6.42 to end at $37, with 131 stocks crossing the exchange. NCB Financial declined $2 to $142 after trading 28,442 shares, Palace Amusement climbed $30 to $670, finishing with a transfer of 396 units, Proven Investments shed 50 cents to $34 with the swapping of 34,378 stocks. Sagicor Group advanced $1.50 to $50 in exchanging 217,335 stock units, Salada Foods rose 30 cents to $44.50, with 4,603 units changing hands. 
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.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.25% rose 50 cents to $7 in an exchange of 3,076 stocks and JMMB Group 7.25% gained 24 cents to close at $1.44 after exchanging 7,124 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Fall in JSE USD market index
Trading on Friday ended with the market declining after trading 49 percent more shares than on Thursday, on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with five securities changing hands, compared to six on Thursday, with prices of three stocks rising and two remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index lost 1.77 points to end at 197.20. The average PE Ratio ends at 13.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 358,713 shares for US$24,581 compared to 241,189 units at US$56,263 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 71,743 units at US$4,916, versus 40,198 shares at US$9,377 on Thursday. Trading month to date averaged 57,790 units at US$11,661 in contrast to 56,808 units at US$12,136 on Thursday. February ended with an average of 69,547 units for US$9,223.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stock ending with bids higher than its last selling price and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital advanced 0.41 of one cent to 8.91 US cents with the swapping of 55,463 shares, Proven Investments rose 0.3 of a cent to 24.2 US cents after exchanging 70,979 stock units, Sterling Investments rose 0.02 of a cent to 2 US cents trading 12,994 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments closed at 13.5 US cents with an exchange of 7,153 units and Transjamaican Highway ended at 0.9 US cents in trading 212,124 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks close week with a loss
Stocks ended higher at the close of trading on Friday after rising prices outnumbered declining ones with an exchange of 25 percent lower volume at a 65 percent jump in value over Thursday as the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed out the week down.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 429.52 points to close at 432,777.32, the JSE Main Index rose 365.83 points to 394,570.77 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.28 points to 99.30.
Trading activated 50 securities, up from 45 on Thursday, with prices of 21 stocks rising, 18 declining and 11 remaining unchanged.
The PE Ratio averages 19.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Trading ended with 8,079,230 shares trading for $124,140,641 compared to 10,771,883 units at $75,221,344 on Thursday. Jamaica Producers led with 26.2 percent of the volume traded for 2.12 million shares, followed by Ciboney Group with 13.1 percent for an exchange of 1.06 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 11.3 percent market share for 914,005 units.
Trading for the day averaged 161,585 units at $2,482,813, compared to an average of 239,375 shares at $1,671,585 on Thursday. The average trade month to date ends at 249,365 units at $2,230,008, in contrast to 256,266 units at $2,210,133 on Thursday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rose 59 cents to $69.40 in trading 36,573 stock units, Ciboney Group gained 22 cents to close at 91 cents, exchanging 1,059,730 shares, as the stock resumes its climb after a recent selloff. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell 50 cents to $40.50, with a transfer of 200 units. First Rock Capital advanced $1.50 to a record close of $18 after an exchange of 26,211 units, Grace Kennedy declined by $2 to $86.97 in switching ownership of 162,703 shares, Jamaica Broilers lost 20 cents to close at $29.80 with the swapping of 86,849 stocks. JMMB Group shed 38 cents to end at $32.50 in transferring 56,545 stocks, Key Insurance closed 24 cents lower at $5.46 after exchanging 57,458 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 50 cents to settle at $8, clearing the market with 800 stocks. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $1 to $139 trading 35 shares, NCB Financial Group climbed $1.50 to $144 in exchange of 101,774 units, 138 Student Living climbed $1.59 to $6.99, with 60,264 units crossing the market, Palace Amusement advanced $10 to $640 with 57 shares crossing the market. PanJam Investment shed $2 to $64, with 1,407 stock units changing hands, Pulse Investments gained 26 cents in closing at $4.40 with an exchange of 390,929 units, Sagicor Group slipped 38 cents to $48.50 in switching ownership of 446,505 shares. 
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.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% jumped $202.69 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $1,700 trading just one share, JMMB Group C share 7.25% gained 28 cents to end at $2.14 with the swapping of 4,087 stock units and JMMB Group 7.25% declined 24 cents to $1.20 trading 230 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Proven buying Fidelity Bank Cayman
Proven Investments entered into an agreement with Fidelity Bank and Trust International to acquire all the shares of Fidelity Bank Cayman (FBCL), subject to receiving approval by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
The purchase price for the Shares will be determined in accordance with the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement.
“FBCL is a financial services company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and is licensed with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority under the Bank and Trust Companies Act as a Category A Bank to carry on banking business in the Cayman Islands.
“The proposed acquisition of the Shares is aligned with Proven’s strategy of regional growth through acquisitions in the regulated sector throughout the Caribbean and Latin American regions, with a view to increasing value to its shareholders,” advised Proven.
The acquisition, if completed will result in the second financial institution to be owned by the group in the Cayman Islands and the second bank within the Caribbean as the company continues to grow by acquisitions.
Proven acquired all the shares in International Financial Planning (Cayman) Limited, a licensed security dealer, in August 2018. In 2017, the majority shares in Bank of Saint Lucia International Limited were acquired. Proven could realise cost savings, with two entities owned within the same territory.
In January this year, Proven acquired 50.5 percent interest in Roberts Manufacturing Company, a Barbados based company.