Bulls displayed their power into the New Year, pushing the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange higher for the year to date and 1.6 percent for the past week. The Junior Market slipped by a mere 10 points for the week and dipped 0.5 percent for the year to date.
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.
Guardian Holdings with the potential to gain 433 percent continues to hold the number one spot with 138 Student Living at number 2 in the All JSE ICTOP10 for a seventh week. Elite Diagnostics holds the number one spot in the Junior Market TOP10 followed by AMG Packaging and Caribbean Cream.
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.
JMMB Group and Pulse Investments both fell from the Main Market ICTOP10 and were replaced by Lasco Distributors and Caribbean Producers. There are no changes to the Junior Market ICTOP10 listing.
In Main Market ICTOP10 activity, Margaritaville rallied 14 percent to $14.20, Key Insurance gained 13 percent after ending at $2.44, Berger Paints gained 10 percent to close at $8.55 and could go higher in the coming weeks with limited supplies on offer under $12 and also has limited buying interest, QWI Investments rose 8 percent to 86 cents and seems poised to move higher this coming week, with stock on offer being limited below $1and Scotia Group rose 4 percent to $54.50. Pulse Investments dropped 8 percent to $1.08.
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 Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 271 percent by May 2025 based on earnings forecast for 2024, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 180 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, there are 18 stocks with the highest values representing 35 percent of the Main Market have PEs between 15 to 108, with an average of 28 and 22 excluding the highest PE ratios and a PE of 25 for the top half of the market with the highest values and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 15 stocks, 31 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 32 with an average of 20 and a PE of 18 for half of the market with the highest PEs.
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
The market closed following the trading of 19,423,907 shares for $93,678,407 up from 10,333,431 units at $51,358,952 on Thursday. Trading averaged 318,425 shares at $1,535,712 up from 169,401 stocks at $841,950 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 243,913 stock units with a value of $1,188,831, compared with an average of 967,720 stocks at $18,390,902 in December.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.8. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Massy Holdings dropped $3.05 to $84 with a transfer of 485 units, NCB Financial shed 37 cents to finish at $50.53 with investors swapping 130,892 stocks, Pan Jamaica rose $5.46 and ended at $57.96 with 2,731 shares passing through the market. Sagicor Group declined $1.40 to $40 with investors trading 10,183 units and Wisynco Group gained 40 cents to close at $21.90 with an exchange of 19,119 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The Main Market closed after an exchange of 10,333,431 shares for $51,358,952 compared with 31,201,756 stock units valued at $215,989,231 on Tuesday. Trading ended with an average of 169,401 shares at $841,950 compared to 480,027 stocks at $3,322,911 on Tuesday and December with an average of 967,720 stock units at $18,390,902.
At the close, AS Bryden gained 69 cents to end at $30.69 in an exchange of 3,516 stocks, Berger Paints popped 75 cents to close at $8.45 after dealing in 29,235 units, Caribbean Cement fell 95 cents to $91.05 after the trading of 18,353 stock units. Caribbean Producers rallied 54 cents to $8.90 with 4,583 stocks crossing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $8 and ended at $37 with investors dealing in 3,400 units, First Rock Real Estate lost 55 cents to finish at $9.45 with 189,166 stocks passing through the market. Jamaica Broilers climbed $4.25 and ended at $42.20 after a transfer of 19,768 shares, JMMB Group dipped $1.17 to $21.18 with investors trading 28,529 stock units, Kingston Wharves sank $1.15 to end at $33.10 after an exchange of 3,366 shares. Lasco Manufacturing increased 48 cents to close at $7.98 with investors trading 111,705 stocks, Margaritaville advanced 76 cents to close at $14.10 with a mere 44 units changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 55 cents to finish at $11.82 after the trading of 5,852 stock units.
Pan Jamaica skidded $6.50 and ended at $52.50 as investors traded 33,164 shares, Sagicor Group climbed $1.40 to $41.40 with a transfer of 143,083 stocks Scotia Group popped 51 cents to end at $54.50 with 5,213 units crossing the changing owners, Seprod sank $5.23 to $87.17 with 222 stocks switching owners, Supreme Ventures slipped $2.25 to finish at $24.25 with 14,565 shares clearing the exchange and Wisynco Group dropped 49 cents to close at $21.50 with an exchange of 23,748 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The three top performing stocks are 
the Junior Market listed Blue Power with a gain of 111 percent.
Pulse investments was the worst performing stock in market with a fall of 45 percent followed by the big loss maker RJR Group down 35 percent, Eppley chipped with a fall of 31 percent, 
The market closed with 31,201,756 shares traded for $215,989,231 versus 40,210,672 stock units at $156,530,284 on Monday. Trading ended with an average of 480,027 shares at $3,322,911 compared to 628,292 stocks at $2,445,786 on Monday. For month to date, trading ended with an average of 967,720 units at $18,390,902 compared to 995,214 shares at $19,240,355 on the Monday and November with an average of 286,669 stock units at $2,555,172.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 15.4. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
NCB Financial advanced 99 cents in closing at $51 with investors trading 248,922 stock units, Pan Jamaica popped $1 to end at $59 after a transfer of 25,066 stocks, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rallied 35 cents to close at $8.40 with trading of 4,732 units. Salada Foods rose 50 cents to $4 with 177,471 shares crossing the market, Scotia Group climbed $3.29 to close at $53.99 as investors exchanged 17,018 stocks, Seprod increased $8.40 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $92.40 in switching ownership of 102,565 units. Supreme Ventures advanced $3 in closing at $26.50 after an exchange of 2,065,841 stock units and Wisynco Group gained 64 cents to finish at $21.99 with investors swapping 47,051 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $1.45 and ended at $43.95 with 21 stocks crossing the exchange. Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $453.85 to $2,650 with investors dealing in 400 units and 138 Student Living preference share shed $62 to end at $195 after an exchange of 209 stock units.
Jamaican Main Market stocks are back to highs not seen since January 2023, nearly two years ago as bullish trading pushed the index that measures just Jamaican based stocks climbed 27,055.36 points since November 22, to the penultimate day of the year, with the market breaking solidly out of an upward sloping channel starting in July and flashing bullish signal since, with the market recording higher highs and higher lows since September following the cut in Bank of Jamaica over nigh rate in August.
The market closed with 40,210,672 shares trading for $156,530,284 down moderately from 43,842,677 stock units at $162,667,778 on Friday. Trading averaged 628,292 shares at $2,445,786 compared to 707,140 stocks at $2,623,674 on Friday and for the month to date, an average of 995,214 units at $19,240,355 down from 1,016,778 shares at $20,227,364 on Friday and November with an average of 286,669 stock units at $2,555,172.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.8. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Mayberry Jamaican Equities rallied $1.70 to finish at $13 after an exchange of 3,321,203 units, Pan Jamaica shed $3 to end at $58 with investors dealing in 6,001 stocks, Sagicor Group rose $1.99 to close at $40 in an exchange of 288,319 stock units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund sank 35 cents to $8.05 with traders dealing in 182,085 shares, Scotia Group dipped $1.80 and ended at $50.70 as investors exchanged 59,018 stocks, Seprod slipped 50 cents to finish at $84 in switching ownership of 13,728 units. Supreme Ventures fell 50 cents to close at $23.50 after an exchange of 103,816 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance dipped 39 cents to end at $9.61 with 6,513 shares clearing the market and Wisynco Group lost 65 cents in closing at $21.35 with investors swapping 216,930 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $2.50 to $42.50 with a transfer of 91 units, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% gained $672.85 to finish at $3103.85 crossing the exchange 220 stocks, 138 Student Living preference share popped $2.02 and ended at $257 after trading of 4 shares and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share advanced $48 to end at $1120 with an exchange of 40 stocks.
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 43,842,677 shares trading for $162,667,778 compared to 15,371,742 stock units at $192,090,145 on Tuesday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 4,047.53 points to end at 382,134.59, the JSE Main Index increased 1,586.90 points to 331,480.08 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.41 points to finish at 67.64. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
Mayberry Jamaican Equities climbed $1.25 in closing at $11.30 after an exchange of 197,888 stocks, Pan Jamaica rose $4 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $61 with investors trading 121,445 units, Proven Investments gained $1 to finish at $19.50 after a transfer of 40,102 stock units. Sagicor Group increased 90 cents and ended at $38.01 with traders dealing in 18,558 shares, Scotia Group fell $2.41 to $52.50 crossing the exchange 106,437 units after the price hit a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $57.94 before it ran out of steam, Seprod dipped 50 cents to close at $84.50 with 2,559 stocks changing hands. Supreme Ventures rallied $1.60 to end at $24 after an exchange of 1,024,563 stock units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance sank 88 cents in closing at $10 with 3,392 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Following the huge trade in Sagicor Group on Monday, trading returned to more sedate levels, with the volume of stocks traded declining 96 percent and the value 99 percent lower than on Monday, following trading in 63 securities compared with 64 on Monday, with prices of 26 stocks rising, 17 declining and 20 ending unchanged.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 3,683.43 points to wrap up trading at 378,087.06, the JSE Main Index climbed 4,705.60 points to conclude trading at 329,893.18 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.58 points to 67.23. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 17 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
Jamaica Producers dropped $1.99 to $22.01 with 6,437 units crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 90 cents to close at $12 after an exchange of 5,009 stock units, Margaritaville climbed 48 cents to end at $12.50 with 82 shares crossing the market. Massy Holdings increased $5.50 in closing at $87.50 with investors dealing in just 18 units, Mayberry Group gained 49 cents and ended at $7.99 with 6,439 stocks crossing the exchange, Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 85 cents to finish at $10.05 after a transfer of 41,325 stock units. Pan Jamaica rallied $5 and ended at $57 as investors exchanged 116,269 shares, Sagicor Group slipped 89 cents to $37.11 in trading 29,649 units, Scotia Group gained $2.76 in closing at $54.91 with 1,112,346 stocks clearing the market and Wisynco Group climbed 55 cents to end at $21.75 in an exchange of 125,383 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The market closed with trading of 429,821,047 shares at a value of $15,801,536,064 compared with 35,253,440 units at $575,934,190 on Friday.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed 94 cents to $12.90 with 970 stocks passing through the market, Margaritaville sank 48 cents to close at $12.02 after an exchange of 398 stock units, Pan Jamaica increased 55 cents to end at $52 with 139,586 shares clearing the market and Scotia Group skidded $1.74 in closing at $52.15 with an exchange of 27,523 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated