Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones almost two to one on a day of subdued trading on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended trading on Thursday with the market rising after an exchange of 26 percent more shares but at 14 percent lower value than on Wednesday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 1,444.54 points to 427,013.70, the Main Index rose 1,182.10 points to 389,430.69, and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.45 points to settle at 99.24.
Trading ended with 44 securities changing hands, down from 47 on Wednesday and closed with 21 rising, 12 declining and 11 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averaged 16.6 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with trading of 12,425,485 shares for $61,762,267 compared to 9,831,136 units at $72,026,838 on Wednesday. QWI Investments led trading with 27.8 percent of total volume, after an exchange of 3.46 million shares with the stock trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.02, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 27.2 percent for 3.38 million units and Pulse Investments with 22.7 percent of the day’s trade for 2.82 million units.
Trading for the day averaged 282,397 units at $1,403,688, compared to 209,173 shares at $1,532,486 on Wednesday. The month to date averaged 445,935 units at $2,598,567, down from 498,459 units at $2,982,324 on Wednesday. Trading in January closed with an average of 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments fell $1.02 to $80.98 trading 126,472 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined by $3.80 to $43, with 1,000 stocks crossing the market, First Rock Capital rose 54 cents to $13.75, with 52,061 stock units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers climbed $3.20 to $29.20 in exchanging 47,488 shares, JMMB Group gained 50 cents in closing at $32.50 trading 34,987 stock units, Kingston Properties lost 25 cents to settle at $7, with 6,600 shares crossing the market. Kingston Wharves finished 50 cents higher at $47, with an exchange of 3,643 stock units, Margaritaville rose 43 cents to $43.42, with a transfer of just 8 stock units, NCB Financial Group gained 50 cents to end at $137.50, with 21,786 units clearing the market. Palace Amusement advanced $250 to $1,100, with a transfer of 50 stock units, Pan Jam Investment closed $2.30 higher at $66.30, after 4,779 shares crossed the market, Sagicor Group climbed $3 to $52, with investors switching ownership of 84,688 stock units. 
Salada Foods closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $46, with a gain of $3.25 in exchanging 23,970 stocks, Scotia Group shed 70 cents in closing at $43, with 23,045 shares crossing the market, Seprod dropped $2.50 to finish at $71, with an exchange of 11,519 stock units. Sygnus Credit Investments shed 77 cents to close at $14.75, in switching ownership of 217,838 shares and Victoria Mutual Investments gained 40 cents to close at $5.85, after transferring 2,355 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.75% preference share shed 51 cents in closing at $6.59, after 1,719 stock units cleared the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index fell by 1,979.75 points to 425,569.16, the Main Index dropped 1,835.84 points to 388,248.59 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.54 points to 98.79.
The month to date averaged 498,459 units at $2,982,324 or each security, in contrast to 649,530 units at $3,739,461 on the prior trading day. Trading in January averaged 311,275 units at $1,432, 133.
Pan Jam Investment fell by $1 to $64, in switching ownership of 821 units, Pulse Investments lost 28 cents at $4.70, with an exchange of 1,857,207 stock units, Sagicor Group declined by $3 to $49, with 61,577 shares crossing the market. Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 25 cents to close at $8.25, with a transfer of 3,826 stocks. Salada Foods advanced by $5.75 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $42.75, in switching ownership of 17,465 units. Seprod climbed $2.98 to $73.50, with an exchange of 9,932 units, Stanley Motta gained 29 cents to end at $5.35 trading 1,000 shares and Wisynco Group rose 30 cents to $16.55, with the swapping of 521,881 shares.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 4,248.43 points to 427,548.91 the Main Index climbed 3,864.20 points to 390,084.43 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.84 points to settle at 99.33.
Trading for the day averaged 442,912 units at $1,499,332 for each security, down from 856,148 shares at $5,979,591 on Monday. The month to date averaged 649,530 units at $3,739,461. Trading in January averaged 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Pulse Investments picked up 38 cents to end at $4.98, after an exchange of 3,233,145 shares, Salada Foods fell $1 to $37, with 48,187 shares changing hands, Scotia Group gained 78 cents to close at $43.78 in trading 7,334 stock units. Seprod jumped $6.52 to a record closing high of $70.52 after 3,980 shares crossed the market after trading at a record high of $83.99 earlier in the trading session and Supreme Ventures ended 30 cents lower at $16.70, in transferring 13,037 stocks.
Trading ended with 45 securities changing hands compared to 44 on Friday and closed with rising stocks outnumbered declining ones by 62 percent leaving prices of 12 stocks rising, 28 declining and five remaining unchanged. Ciboney traded at a 52 weeks’ high of 26 cents and Palace Amusement fell to a 52 weeks’ low of $950.
Trading for the day averaged 856,148 units at $5,979,591 for each security, compared to an average of 272,282 shares at $4,886,953 on Friday. Trading in January with an average of 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Salada Foods rose $1 to close at $38, in exchanging 42,886 stock units, Scotia Group shed 79 cents to finish at $43, with 24,748 shares changing hands. Seprod gained 50 cents to settle at $64 after 6,678 stock units crossed the market, Supreme Ventures lost 49 cents to end at $17 trading 38,797 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments slipped 30 cents to $15.70, after transferring 85,391 shares.
While the Junior Market had a new addition, the Main Market TOP10 continued with the same stocks as the week before but Grace Kennedy price rose from $68 to $73.45 with the stock moving from 5th spot to 7th.
In this regard, based on 2020 release of results, interim financials are expected this week, from Access Financial, Barita Investments, Iron Rock Insurance, NCB Financial, the Lasco group of companies and Jamaican Teas.
The local stock market’s targeted average PE ratio is 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results, from now to the second quarter in 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 18.9 and the Junior Market 14.8, based on ICInsider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 7.8 at just 53 percent of the market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 9.1 or 48 percent of the PE of that market.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 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.
The market closed with 11,980,396 shares, 30 percent more than Thursday and 168 percent more in value at $215,025,944, up from 9,368,496 units at $83,242,802 on Thursday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,827.24 points to 425,254.53, the JSE Main Index rose 2,558.50 to 387,937.83 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.56 points to close at 99.32.
Pan Jam Investment declined by $3 to $67, with 134,726 stocks crossing the market, Sagicor Group advanced by $3.01 to $52 after trading 598,948 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 95 cents to $8 in exchanging 19,000 shares. Salada Foods climbed $3 to $37, in swapping of 80,784 units, Scotia Group rose 79 cents to close at $43.79, in an exchange of 28,402 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments shed 30 cents in closing at $16, with 34,889 units crossing the market and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 30 cents to end at $5.55, with the swapping of 62,867 stocks.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 3,030.64 points to 422,427.29, the Main Index advanced by 2,742.58 points to 385,379.33 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.83 points to settle at 98.76.
Trading for the day averaged 234,212 units at $2,081,070 for each security, compared to an average of 135,516 shares at $991,633 on Wednesday. The month to date averaged 313,511 units at $1,254,396, in contrast to 317,481 units at $1,213,011 on Wednesday. Trading in December averaged 455,206 units at $7,774,631.
Salada Foods rose $1 to end at $34, with 130,075 shares changing hands, Scotia Group gained 50 cents to end at $43 trading 47,495 stock units and Wisynco Group rose 50 cents to $16.50, with an exchange of 190,585 stocks.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 8.73 points to settle at 419,396.65, the Main Index slipped 12.43 points to 382,636.75 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.37 points to settle at 97.93.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 41 percent of total volume for 2.45 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 22.7 percent for 1.35 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 9 percent market share, with 533,829 units changing hands.
Pan Jam Investment advanced by $2 to $68, with 4,690 stocks changing hands, Scotia Group declined $1.50 to end at $42.50 trading 28,644 shares. Supreme Ventures rose 34 cents to close at $17.25 and finishing with an exchange of 31,430 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments ended 30 cents higher at $16.40, after crossing the market with 10,730 stocks.
Trading averaged 252,025 units at $1,384,475 for each security, compared to an average of 683,391 shares at $1,732,445 on Monday. The month to date averaged 328,085 units at $1,225,912, in contrast to 333,020 units at $1,215,624 on Monday. Trading in December averaged 455,206 units at $7,774,631.
Sagicor Group rose 85 cents to $47.50, with 156,219 units crossing the market, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 70 cents to close at $8.95 trading 500 stocks, Salada Foods fell $3 to $33, with 966 stock units changing hands. Scotia Group fell 50 cents to $44 after the transferring of 20,375 units and Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $16.10, with a loss of $1.80 136,520 stock units changing hands.
Trading in December averaged 455,206 units at $7,774,631.
Sagicor Real Estate Fund shed 70 cents to settle at $8.25 trading 4,399 stock units, Salada Foods rose $1 to close at $36, in an exchange of 84 shares, Supreme Ventures shed 65 cents to $16.80, with 15,186 stocks crossing the market. Sygnus Credit Investments slipped 49 cents to $17.90 after transferring 18,380 stock units and Wisynco Group lost 33 cents in closing at $16 trading 84,310 shares.