Palace Amusement, Lasco Financial and Caribbean Flavours are back in the TOP 10 for this week, out goes Salada Foods, ForsRich and Caribbean Producers.
Salada Foods rose to $15 from $13.10 at the close of the previous week, as investors continued to react good half year results. Caribbean Flavours stock price dropped to $10 by the end of the week and that was enough to make its return to the top list. Lasco Financial just reentered the list as the price fell to $.20 by week end. 
IC Insider.com upgraded 2019 earnings for Palace based on sensitivity that the company’s patronage and revenues have to employment data. Economic growth and increasing employment that Jamaica is enjoying bode well for continuation of an elevated level of profitability, even after totally discounting the exceptional increase for the current year that ends in June, based substantially on the success of the Black Panther movie.
Radio Jamaica, stock price fell from $1.35 to $1.02 on Friday with the stock moving back up in the list.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 6 compared to an average 
PE for the overall main market of 10, based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is 7 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 13.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 40 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 46 percent to the market.
Palace & Lasco Financial back in TOP 10
Broilers pushes JSE volume again – Thursday
Jamaica Broilers traded the most shares for second day running on Thursday.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange was dominated by the trading for the second running in Jamaica Broilers shares which accounted for 79 percent of the volume traded to end with 22.76 million units up from 11.53 million on Tuesday.
The market again closed with a high level of trading, as 28,791,979 units valued at $527,232,319 changed hands up from 13,526,719 shares valued at $293,683,413 that traded on Tuesday. The other larger trades were Supreme Ventures with 3,202,706 units accounting for 11.12 percent of the volume traded and JMMB Group 7.50% preference shares with 724,379 units.
At the end of market activities, 28 securities traded, compared to 31 on Monday, in the main and US dollar markets as 15 stocks rose, 4 declined and 12 traded firm. At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 78.81 points to 325,657.17. and the JSE Index declined 71.81 points to close at 296,710.48.
Stocks with major price changes are, Jamaica Broilers down $2.34 to close at $19.26, Sagicor Group losing $1.50 to end at $36.50, 
Salada Foods gaining 10 cents to closed at an all-time high of $15, Scotia Group dropping $1.38 to $49.25 and Seprod falling $1 to end at $35.
Trading resulted in an average of 1,107,384 units valued at an average of $20,278,166 compared to 500,990 units valued at an average of $10,877,163 for each security traded on Tuesday. The average for the month to date is 276,670 shares with a value of $12,655,026, previously 290,955 shares with a value of $12,157,032. In contrast, April closed with an average of 708,206 shares with a value of $6,395,518 for each security traded.
In the US dollar market, JMMB Group 5.75% US preference share finished trading at US$2.06, with 21,300 units. The JSE USD Equities Index closed unchanged at 173.22.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 1 closing with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – JSE main market index slips again – Thursday.
JSE main market index slips again – Thursday
The JSE main market slipped slightly at the close of trading on Tuesday with advancing stocks being outnumbered by a wide margin with declining prices, for the second day.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 78.81 points to 325,657.17 and the JSE Index declined 71.81 points to close at 296,710.48. as 26 securities changed hands, resulting in 6 advancing, 13 declining and 7 remaining firm. Salada Foods closed trading at a new high of $15.
Market activity resulted in 28,791,979 units valued at $527,232,319 versus 13,526,719 units valued at $293,683,413 trading on Tuesday.
In market activity, Carreras rose 7 cents and finished at $10.60, with 202,080 shares, Caribbean Cement settled at $37.50, with 23,652 shares, Ciboney Group lost 1 cent and ended trading at 12 cents, with 425,941 shares, Grace Kennedy declined 75 cents to $47.75, with 32,133 stock units trading, Jamaica Broilers finished trading at $19.26, with 22,755,531 units changing hands but dropped $2.34 in the process. Jamaica Producers gave up 14 cents in closing at $16.56, with 4,000 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange inched up by 1 cent and ended at $7.50, with 25,570 shares, JMMB Group concluded trading at $27.50 after inching down 10 cents as 959 stock units changed hands, Kingston Wharves settled at $48.70, with 3,570 units. Mayberry Investments ended trading at $6.01, falling 9 cents with 95,320 shares, NCB Financial Group traded at $95, with 342,566 shares, 1834 Investments finished trading at $1.08, with 116,281 units trading, 138 Student Living ended trading at $5.10, with 10,000 shares, PanJam Investment ended at $45.20, with 35,105 units. 
Pulse Investments rose 18 cents and finished at $1.78, with 50,000 shares trading, Radio Jamaica rose 1 cents and settled at $1.31, with 150,000 shares, Sagicor Group dropped $1.50 and ended trading at $36.50, with 81,902 stock units and Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading 25 cents higher at $14.75, with 25,793 stock units. Salada Foods traded 10 cents higher to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $15, with 13,000 units. Scotia Group fell $138 to close at $49.25, trading only 763 shares, Seprod concluded trading with a loss of $1 to end at $35, with 7,688 stock units, Supreme Ventures settled for a 40 cents loss to close at $12.60, with 3,202,706 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments fell 7 cents, ending trading at $4.10, with 77,137 shares and Wisynco Group traded at $9.80, after falling by 20 cents with 360,903 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% ended at $2, with 25,000 shares and JMMB Group 7.5% finished with a loss of 5 cents to end at $1, as 724,379 stock units changed hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “Broilers pushes JSE volume again – Thursday.”
JSE main market volume jumps – Tuesday
Jamaica Broilers closed with 11.5M shares trading on Tuesday.
Jamaica Broilers accounted for 85 percent of the 13,526,719 shares valued at $293,683,413 that traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose on Tuesday.
The volume was built from Jamaica Broilers traded 11,507,048 units, followed by PanJam Investment with 839,895 units or just 6.2 percent of the day’s volume while Supreme Ventures traded 306,420 units on a day of light trading, for the majority of securities changing hands.
At the end of market activities, 31 securities traded, compared to 23 on Monday, in the main and US dollar markets as 15 stocks rose, 4 declined and 12 traded firm. At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Indexfalling 1,074.92 points to 325,735.98. and the JSE Index declined 979.37 points to close at 296,782.29.
Stocks with major price changes are, NCB Financial gaining $1 to end at $95, PanJam Investment rising 95 cents to $45.20, Salada Foods gaining $1.90 to closed at an all-time high of $14.90 and Scotia Group jumping $2.63 to $50.63.
Trading resulted in an average of 237,406 units valued at an average of $3,289,689 for each security traded. In contrast to 87,342 units for an average of $2,131,859 on Monday. The average for the month to date is 276,670 shares with a value of $12,250,176, previously 279,765 shares with a value of $13,009,983. In contrast, April closed with an average of 708,206 shares with a value of $6,395,518 for each security traded.
In the US dollar market, JMMB Group 5.75% US preference share finished trading at US$2.06, with 5,000 units. The JSE USD Equities Index closed unchanged at 173.22.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 2 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 closing with lower offers.
For more details of market activities see – JSE main market index down again – Tuesday.
JSE main market index down again – Tuesday
Stocks declined again in trading on the main market on Tuesday, even as advancing stocks outnumbered declining ones by a wide margin.
At the close the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,074.92 points to 325,735.98 and the JSE Index fell 979.37 points to 296,782.29 as 27 securities changed hands, resulting in 15 advancing, 4 declining and 8 remaining firm.
Market activity resulted in 13,526,719 units valued at over $293,683,413 compared with 6,884,784 units valued at $95,400,967 trading on Monday.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed at $12.20, with 3,600 shares, Berger Paints gained 50 cents and ended at $20.50, with 1,194 stock units, Carreras rose 3 cents and concluded trading at $10.53, with 46,980 units, 
Caribbean Cement finished trading at $37.50, with 4,490 shares, Ciboney Group settled at 13 cents trading 100,000 shares. Grace Kennedy fell 32 cents trading 9,823 shares at $48.50, Jamaica Broilers lost 40 cents to end at $21.60, with 11,507,048 stock units changing hands, Jamaica Producers rose 19 cents in trading 3,167 units at $16.70, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $7.49, with 1,260 shares. JMMB Group ended at $27.60, with 166,847 shares after rising by 60 cents, Mayberry Investments eased just 1 cents, settling at $6.10, with 14,104 units, NCB Financial Group rose by $1 and ended trading at $95, with 55,030 shares, 1834 Investments traded 100 shares, gaining 1 cent to end at $1.08. PanJam Investment closed with a rise of 95 cents at $45.20, exchanging 839,895 stock units, Portland JSX ended at $10, with 129 units, Radio Jamaica lost 5 cents and finished at $1.30, with 68,950 shares, Sagicor Group gained 49 cents to settle at $38, with 84,700 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished 60 cents higher at $14.50, with 6,700 units. 
Salada Foods jumped $1.49 to a record high of $14.90, with 1,250 stock units, Scotia Group jumped $2.63 traded 62,337 units to close at $50.63, Seprod finished trading at $36, with 200 shares, Supreme Ventures gained 32 cents and ended at $13, with 306,420 shares. Victoria Mutual Investments concluded trading at $4.17, exchanging 101,057 stock units and Wisynco Group concluded trading at $10, after rising by 5 cents with 76,787 shares traded. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market 7.25% rose 5 cents and ended trading at $2.55, with 1,613 shares, Jamaica Money Market 7.5% closed trading at $2, with 2,271 stock units and JMMB Group 7.5% rose 4 cents to finish at $1.05, with 55,767 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market volume dives – Tuesday.”
Big JSE main market losses- Wednesday
Stocks declined sharply in trading on the main market on Wednesday, with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index dropping 2,542.85 points to 326,768.75 and the JSE Index diving 2,316.83 points to 297,723.25.
The main market closed with 7,688,997 units valued at $220,155,817 trading from 22 securities changing hands, resulting from 5 securities trading more than 1 million units each and in 8 rising, 11 falling and 3 trading firm.
In market activity, Barita Investments lost 50 cents and closed at $12.50, with 2,500 shares trading, Berger Paints rose 4 cents to end at $20.50, with 4,608 stock units, Carreras rose 14 cents and concluded trading at $10.54, with 59,203 units, Grace Kennedy ended trading at $48.20, after rising 15 cents with 15,911 shares, Jamaica Broilers jumped $1.10 to $21.70, trading a mere 634 stock units. 
Jamaica Producers lost 38 cents in finishing trading at $16.60, with 17,774 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $7, with 1,033,290 shares, JMMB Group fell 50 cents to $26.50, with 1,999,978 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves dropped $2.49 to $46.50, with 1,801,850 stock units. Mayberry Investments settled at $6.17, with 6,890 units traded after falling 8 cents, NCB Financial Group lost just 1 cent and ended trading at $94.98, with 41,620 shares, PanJam Investment dropped $1.64 and closed at $45.36, with 1,094,320 stock units, Proven Investments traded in the main market with a rise of $1.99 to $28.50 while trading just 100 shares, 
Pulse Investments fell 21 cents and concluded trading at $1.60, with 5,414 units. Radio Jamaica lost 1 cents and finished trading at $1.19, with 30,000 shares, Sagicor Group settled at $38.50, after rising 31 cents with 22,610 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 20 cents and finished at $14, with 1,535 units. Scotia Group dived $3.39 to $50.10, with 70,981 units, Supreme Ventures rose 20 cents and concluded trading at $12.70, with 1,012,460 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments ended at $4.18, with 262,618 shares and Wisynco Group concluded trading at $9.55, after falling 16 cents with 204,701 stock units.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market volume jumps – Wednesday.”
Sagicor Group & Wisynco back in TOP 10
Salada Foods reported earnings of 78 cents for the half year and is now no 2 on the TOP 10.
Sagicor Group fell out of TOP 10 of main market stocks in the previous week, is back, with the price falling from $42 to $38 and Salada Foods surges to the number 2 spot with half year results.
Wisynco joins the TOP 10 after a very long absence as the price dipped to $10 on Friday. The two new listings replaced Grace Kennedy and PanJam Investment, with the latter jumping to a new 52 weeks’ high of $46.01. In the Junior Market there was only one change with Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) climbing to a new record high of $7.50 after positing good first quarter results with earnings per share up 70 percent to 17 cents. Lasco Financial moved back into the TOP 10, replacing SOS that still have much more room to grow this year as profits should hit close to $1 per share for the year and investors could well see a stock split as a result of the rising profit and stock price.
Other changes of note, were the fall in price of Berger Paints to $20 from $22 at the end of the previous week, Caribbean Cement moved to $40.05 from $38.60 and Barita Investments rose to $11.50 from $10.49 as selling by investors dried up. 
Second quarter results may not be good enough to push the stock much higher but when the growth in other comprehensive income is factored in, the stocks is still extremely cheap.
On Thursday, a number of company results were released with some having the potential to help prices to move forward. On Friday, more results were released with Salada Foods and tTech posting good gains in profit. Salada earnings suggest full year results of $1.80 per share and pushed the stock to the number 2 choice in the TOP 10. Others will come on Monday and Tuesday, investors should be alert to news that they may provide that could impact prices in the short term.
The main market pulled back from record highs reached at the close of the previous week but is now sitting just below that level on Friday, as that market continues to grind its way slowly upwards ahead of the big breakout that is coming.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 6.2 compared to an average PE for the overall main market of 10 based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is 7.2 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 13.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 38 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 44 percent to the market.
Stocks to Watch this week include, Stationery and Office Supplies that should go higher based on the first quarter results that were released on Thursday. It should be interesting to see how investors treat with the lack of supply of 
Barita and Berger shares while Palace that jumped $300 on Friday could be pushed when the company’s third quarter results are released this coming week that should see very positive impact of the Black Panther movies now still being shown, although less frequently than previously, with Avengers seems to have taken over from it. NCB Financial pulled back to $95 during the past week and should be another interesting stock to watch as it is undervalued. Grace Kennedy posted decent first quarter results that should encourage more buying of the stock and PanJam Investment is very scarce. Increasing interest in Radio Jamaica pushed the price to $1.20 and is another that could move higher during the week.
Big gains for JSE main market – Friday
Palace jumped $300 back to $1,300 on small volume.
Trading activity was moderate on the main market on Friday, but the market gained much ground to recover a major portion of losses incurred since closing at record high on the previous Friday.
The main market closed with 3,690,667 units valued at $51,637,707 trading from 27 securities changing hands, resulting in 11 securities rising, 5 falling and 9 trading. There were three new intraday highs, with PanJam Investment closing at a new high of $46.01. Jamaica Broilers and Supreme Ventures traded at intraday highs of $22 and $13.50 respectively before pulling back by the close of trading.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,341.33 points to 330,728.92 and the JSE Index climbed 2,133.22 points to 301,331.41.
In market activity, Barita Investments rose by 50 cents and closed at $11.50, with 4,564 shares, changing hands, Berger Paints closed at $20 with 6,431 units trading, Carreras lost 20 cents and ended at $10.40, with 75,013 stock units, Caribbean Cement concluded trading at $40.05, after jumping $4.55 with 100,591 units, changing hands, Ciboney Group finished at 11 cents, with 402,832 shares, Grace Kennedy settled at $49, with 16,778 shares. Jamaica Broilers ended trading at $20.80, with 6,639 shares, after trading at an intraday high of $22. Jamaica Producers traded at $16.50, with 17,858 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 14 cents and finished trading at $6.86, with 25,000 units, JMMB Group jumped $1 to close at $28, with 69,179 shares. Kingston Properties ended at $6.65, with 4,600 shares, Kingston Wharves concluded trading at $48.61, with 9,370 shares, after declining 29 cents, Mayberry Investments lost 9 cents and finished at $6.21, with 39,950 stock units, NCB Financial Group ended down by $1.25 to $95, with 71,713 shares changing hands, Palace Amusement ended trading after posting a $300 jump to $1,300, with just 104 shares. 
PanJam Investment gained just 1 cent to trade at a 52 weeks’ high of $46.01, with 5,000 shares, Pulse Investments fell 3 cents and closed at $1.75, with 40,150 stock units, Radio Jamaica rose 11 cents and ended at $1.20, with 74,597 units, Sagicor Group lost 26 cents and concluded trading at $38.02, with 31,526 shares. Salada Foods rose 1 cents and finished at $11.26, with 5,000 shares, Scotia Group added just 1 cents to settle at $50.01, with 325,267 shares after dropping $3.98, Seprod rose just 1 cent and ended trading at $35.01, with 2,500 stock units, Supreme Ventures traded at an intraday record high of $13.50 but finished trading up 1 cent at $12.21, with 89,182 shares. Victoria Mutual Investments lost 9 cents to close at $4.30, with 723,173 shares and Wisynco Group fell 30 cents and ended at $10, with 1,214,450 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25%concluded trading at $2.10, with 324,200 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “Big recovery for JSE main market – Friday.”
JSE trading back to norm on Friday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market closed at a record on Friday as the market continues to gradually grind its way forward.
Trading activity declined in main market on Friday, but the market gained much ground to land at a new record close, as 4,887,322 units valued at $81,394,524 traded, compared with 39,156,142 units valued at $3,462,726,542 on Thursday.
The main market closed with 26 securities changing hands, 11 securities rose, 5 declined and 10 traded firm, as the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index surged 3,775.73 points to end at a record high of 332,501.11 and the JSE Index jumped 3,440.11 points to a record close of 302,946.08.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed at $10.49, with 429 shares, Carreras concluded trading at $10.60, with a loss of 12 cents trading 581,969 units, Caribbean Cement jumped $1 and finished at $38.60, with 100,100 shares, 
Grace Kennedy ended trading at $49, with 40,820 shares, Jamaica Broilers traded at $20.49, with 1,570 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange last 5 cents and closed at $6.80, with 22,500 shares, JMMB Group fell 99 cent and ended at $26.01, with 124,624 shares, Kingston Properties concluded trading at $6.65, with 12,801 shares, Kingston Wharves gained 85 cents to finish at $48.90, with 7,735 stock units. Mayberry Investments lost 13 cents in settling at $6, with 23,702 units traded, NCB Financial Group climbed $1 and ended trading at $99.95, with 189,977 shares, 1834 Investments traded at $1.16, with 440,607 shares, PanJam Investment rose 55 cents and closed at $45, with 17,145 stock units. Portland JSX ended at $10, with 57,715 units, Radio Jamaica finished at $1.10, after rising 2 cents with 142,000 shares, Sagicor Group jumped $4 and settled at $42, with 53,733 shares and Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 50 cents to close at $15, with 12,628 shares, Scotia Group added 25 cents to trade at $50, with 506,317 units changing hands. 
Seprod finished trading at $35, with 3,100 shares, Sterling Investments closed at $13, with 2,025 shares trded, Supreme Ventures rose 35 cents nd ended at $12.20, with 14,890 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments concluded trading at $4.25,fter declining 5 cents with 497,877 stock units trading and Wisynco Group rose 13 cents and finished at $10.68, with 1,188,978 units. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market 7.5% traded unchanged at $2, with 1,280 stock units, JMMB Group 7.25% concluded trading at $1.50, with 1,100 shares, JMMB Group 7.5% finished at $1, with 841,700 stock units, changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “Record close for JSE main market – Friday.”
JSE majors close April on a record – Monday
Investors pushed the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange to record highs on Monday and closing April at a record high after ending with 6 closing record highs, during the month.
The market that enjoyed several record closes during the month ended on Monday with 29 securities changing hands, resulting in 12,309,558 units valued at $246,771,642 trading leading to a rise in the market indices.
The main market closed with 13 securities rising, 8 declining and 8 trading firm, as the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index surged by 2,366.31 points to a record close of 328,893.09 and the JSE Index climbed 2,155.97 points to record 299,658.77.
In market activity, Barita Investments lost 50 cents and closed at $9.50, with 42,960 shares traded, Berger Paints jumped 95 cents to end at $20, with 103,899 stock units crossing the exchange’s platform, Carreras finished at $10.60, with 2,041,313 shares, Caribbean Cement fell 50 cents and settled at $37.50, with just 500 shares trading, Grace Kennedy traded at $49, with 80,953 stock units.
Jamaica Broilers finished trading at $21, with 2,612,575 units, Jamaica Producers closed at $16.99, with 55,324 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 5 cents and ended at $6.80, with 44,641 shares, JMMB Group concluded trading at $26.87, with 44,847 shares after slipping 11 cents. Kingston Wharves jumped $1.95 to close at $50, with 2,346 units, Mayberry Investments gained 18 cents and ended trading at $6.20, with 5,000 shares, NCB Financial Group traded at $97, with 44,744 shares, 1834 Investments added just 1 cents and finished trading at $1.16, with 13,000 shares. PanJam Investment ended 25 cents higher at $44, with 25,274 units, Portland JSX lost 40 cents and concluded trading at $10, with 15,830 shares, Pulse Investments slipped 1 cent and finished at $1.78, with 9,000 shares, Radio Jamaica rose 2 cents and settled at $1.07, with 33,090 shares. Sagicor Group ended trading at $37.60, with 1,073,450 stock units and Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 30 to $15.30, with 17,936 stock units. 
Scotia Group finished trading at $50, with 608,581 shares traded, Seprod rose 76 cents and concluded trading at $34.99, with 2,700 stock units, Supreme Ventures gained 13 cents and settled at $11.70, with 1,089,028 shares. Victoria Mutual Investments gained 5 cents and ended trading at $4.25, with 194,155 shares, Wisynco Group traded with a gain of 16 cents at $10.85, with 1,382,174 shares. In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market 7.25% lost 5 cents and ended trading at $2.50, with 1,800 shares, Jamaica Money Market7.5% traded at $1.92, with 2,138 stock units, JMMBC 7.25% ended rose 10 cents to $2.10, with 50,000 shares, Proven Investments 8.25% rose 90 cent and closed at $5.90, with 712,300 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “JSE main market trades at record high – Monday.”