The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading on Tuesday with the declining stocks overwhelming advancing ones, resulting in the market indices giving back a good portion of the gains enjoyed since last week into Monday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index lost 3,232.1 points to end at 410,407.49, the Main Index declined by 2,923.73 points to 374,207.74 and the JSE Financial Index lost 1.07 points to 97.00.
Trading ended with 38 securities changing hands, down from 40 on Monday and ended with the prices of 8 stocks rising, 19 stocks declining and 11 remaining unchanged. The average PE Ratio of the Main market ended at 15 based on IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 26,180,702 shares for $83,869,954 compared to 26,760,431 units at $93,968,080 on Monday.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 18.08 million shares for 69 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.24 million units for 12.4 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 2.38 million units for 9 percent market share.
An average at 688,966 units traded for the day at $2,207,104 for each security in compared to an average of 669,011 at $2,349,202 on Monday. An average of 427,315 units traded for the month to date at $2,918,945 for each security that traded, in contrast to 410,605 units at $2,968,326. In contrast, June ended with an average of 818,748 units at $7,498,308.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the Main market shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Berger Paints lost 48 cents to settle at $13 while exchanging 685 units, Gracekennedy dropped by 95 cents to close at $56 in trading 193,860 shares, Jamaica Producers Group carved out a loss $1 in ending at $22.5, with 33,095 units clearing the market. Kingston Wharves climbed 40 cents to close at $53.90 and clearing the market with 180 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 63 cents to end at $9.3 with 189,374 stock units changing hands, 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy jumped $14.99 to $169.99 and trading 626 units. NCB Financial Group declined by 48 cents to settle at $139 with 176,376 stock units changing hands, PanJam Investment lost $6.01 to close at $65 with investors switching ownership of 27,021 shares, Portland JSX carved out a gain of $1.03 to close at $8.35 while exchanging 6,029 shares. Proven Investments fell 41 cents to $33, with 14,000 stock units changing hands, Sagicor Group lost 55 cents in closing at $45.95, with 206,704 stock units passing through the market. Scotia Group climbed 84 cents to finish at $44.84 while exchanging 55,245 units and Wisynco Group fell 44 cents to close at $17.56 after 241,029 shares passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market adding on points
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,330.49 points to 413,639.59 on Monday and is now up 6,544 points since the close of the market on Tuesday last as the market continues to recover from a sell-off in the earlier part of the month.
At the end of trading on Monday, the Main Index added 1,176.24 points to end at 377,131.47 while the JSE Financial Index, gained just 0.48 points to close at 98.07.
Trading ended with 40 securities changing hands with the prices of 16 stocks rising, 16 declining and eight remained unchanged. The average PE Ratio of the Main market ended at 14.9 based on IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 26,760,431 shares for $93,968,080 compared to 11,975,814 units at $126,008,778 on Friday.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 10.79 million shares for 40.3 percent of total volume followed by JMMB Group 7.50% with 7.9 million units for 29.5 percent of the day’s trade, Pulse Investments with 2.73 million units for 10.2 percent market share. Jamaica Broilers Group chipped in with 1.85 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 1.8 million units with each accounting for 7 percent of total market share.
An average of 669,011 units traded for the day at $2,349,202 for each security, in comparison to an average of 292,093 at $3,073,385 on Friday. An average of 410,260 units traded for the month to date at $2,965,343, for each security that traded, in contrast to 391,200 units at $3,014,746. For comparative purposes, June ended with an average of 818,748 units at $7,498,308.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the Main market shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments declined by 39 cents in ending at $59.60 with investors switching ownership of 514 stock units, Jamaica Broilers Group fell 48 cents to $25.50 with 1,848,058 units passing through the market, Jamaica Producers Group gained 98 cents in ending at $23.50 with 1,299 shares changing hands. 
Kingston Wharves shed 50 cents in closing at $53.50 and clearing the market with 580 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell $5 to end at $155 after exchanging 5 shares, PanJam Investment dropped $2.99 to settle at $71.01 with an exchange of 1,687 stock units. Portland JSX declined by 68 cents to close at $7.32 with investors switching ownership of 3,415 units, Proven Investments climbed $1.71 to close at $33.41, with 15,980 units crossing the exchange, Sagicor Group carved out a gain of 50 cents to settle at $46.50, with 29,145 shares changing hands. Scotia Group, after rising 49 cents and ended at $44 in exchanging 10,050 stock units and Wisynco Group climbed 50 cents to close at $18, with investors switching ownership of 16,104 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Another IC Top 10 stock with big jump
A few weeks ago General Accident jumped the IC Insider.com Junior Market TOP 10, gaining 75 percent since late May. This past week, yet another IC top 10 listed stock made big gains, after the company posted a strong increase in its first-quarter profit.
Caribbean Cream posts big gains in profit in Q1.
Elsewhere, poor full-year profit results of $58 million versus $113 million in 2019, from Medical Disposables, hit with a big inventory write-off, resulted in a revised downward projection for the 2021 fiscal year results. Lumber Depot earnings for fiscal 2021, was revised to 12 cents per share, following released audited accounts, showing a profit of just 3 cents per share or $22 million for the nine months to April.
This week’s focus: Caribbean Cream posted a 31 percent rise in profit to $27 million, for earnings per share of 7 cents, saw investors responding strongly to them in driving the stock 28.5 percent higher at its recent peak on Friday, closed the week at $3.25, for an increase of 16 percent. The stock traded down to $2.47 at the beginning of July, those who bought at that price are laughing all the way to the bank with a nice 31 percent gain so far and the month is yet to end.
The company reported a 4 percent rise in sales, with cost kept to 2019 levels, even with a big hike in depreciation charges, while sales and market expenses declined. IC Insider.com is projecting 60 cents per share earnings for the current year as the company enjoys increase sales and lower raw material input cost with the price of milk solids falling on the world market, recently. 
There are just about six offers on the stock exchange board at the close on Friday with the lowest offer at $4.30 and the only large visible offer for 500,000 shares at $6.
The top three stocks in each market saw little change in the rankings, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 268 to 679 percent by March 2021 are Caribbean Producers, followed by Lasco Financial and Caribbean Cream in the third position. Lasco Financial came out with lousy audited profit to March but the results included a big $650 million loss provision for impaired loans. Excluding this provision, the profit would have spiked nicely for the year. Investors should watch the current year for early signs of profit recovery. Caribbean Cream’s latest results demonstrate how powerful recovery situations can be for investors.
The top three stocks in the Main Market, with expected gains of 189 to 210 percent are Radio Jamaica followed by Berger Paints and JMMB Group that reported decent full-year March results.
During the early summer months, the local market tends to move sideways as trading recedes from more robust levels. Investors should keep their eyes on the market less they miss good opportunities, as is the case in the near 75 percent rise in the price of General Accident since May 7 and Caribbean Cream. No doubt, there will be others before summer ends.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on the profits of companies reporting full year’s results from now to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15 and the Junior Market at just 11, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising and narrowing the gap on the Main Market as investors seem to see better profit opportunities in this sector. 
The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a mere 5.9 at just 54 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at 8.5 or 56 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the IC TOP 10 stocks is 272 percent, for the Junior Market and 144 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication that there is the potential to make greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver some of the best returns up to March 2021. The projected gain for each company’s stock is computed, by using the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. The ranking of stocks is in order of likely increases, with the highest-ranked, being the most attractive. 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. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
JSE Main Market jumps 10,000 points
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index jumped nearly 10,000 points for the week after the index gained 2,255.06 points Friday to close at 412,309.10 to be up 9,656 points for the week, but is still well off from the nearly 420,735 points close for June.
The Main Index gained 1,812.5 points to 375,955.23 while the JSE Financial Index rose 0.63 points to 97.59.
Trading ended with 41 securities changing hands with the prices of 12 stocks rising, 16 declining and 13 remaining unchanged. The average PE Ratio of the market ended at 14.9 based on IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 11,975,814 shares for $126,008,778 compared to 14,547,430 units at $117,545,736 on Thursday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 5.08 million shares for 42.4 percent of total volume, followed by Wisynco Group with 2.83 million units for 24 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 1.36 million units for 11 percent market share.
An average of 292,093 units traded at $3,073,385 for each security on Friday, compared to an average of 354,815 at $2,866,969 on Thursday. An average of 391,200 units changed hands for the month to date at $3,010,746 for each security, versus 399,294 units at $3,005,630 on Thursday. 
The market closed in June with an average of 818,748 units at $7,498,308.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the Main market shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments jumped $4.98 to close at $59.99 with investors swapping 10,388 shares, Berger Paints rose $1.58 to $13.48 with 80 shares clearing the market, Caribbean Cement climbed $2.35 to end at $49.50 while exchanging 1,433 stock units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $7.40 to close at $39.10 with an exchange of 1,200 units, Jamaica Broilers Group gained 88 cents to end at $25.98 in exchanging 2,466 units. Jamaica Producers Group shed 98 cents to settle at $22.52 trading 20,657 shares, JMMB Group fell 30 cents after closing at $31.15 in trading 559,448 units, Kingston Wharves carved out a gain of $1.50 to settle at $54 with an exchange of 58,527 units. Mayberry Investments dropped 62 cents in ending at $5.37 after 6,535 stock units changed hands, 
Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 55 cents to close at $9.69 with 10,925 stock units clearing the market, NCB Financial declined by 50 cents to settle at $139.50 with investors swapping 239,825 stock units. 138 Student Living fell 50 cents to end at $6 after exchanging 9,111 stock units, PanJam Investment jumped $4 to $74 with 2,830 units crossing the market, Proven Investments declined $1.30 to close at $31.70 trading 400 shares, Scotia Group lost 98 cents to settle at $43.51 in the trading of 44,367 shares. Seprod fell $1 in ending at $52 while exchanging 61,292 stock units, Victoria Mutual Investments dropped by 30 cents to settle at $7.20 in trading 51 stock units and Wisynco Group declined by 70 cents to $17.50 with investors switching ownership of 2,832,882 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
NCB Financial spikes main market
Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed higher for the third time this week to end up 7,400 points higher than at the close of last week on the back of moderate trading levels after NCB Financial bounced from declines to a recent 52 weeks’ low of $130 on July 7, to close at $140.
NCB Financial Montego Bay branch
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,431.82 points to 410,054.04, and the Main Index rose 1,234.14 points to 374,142.73, while the JSE Financial Index inched up by 0.33 points to 96.96.
Trading ended with 41 securities changing hands, down from 42 on Wednesday and closes with the prices of 20 stocks rising, the prices of 18 declining and three remaining unchanged.
The average PE Ratio of the Main Market ended at 15 based on IC Insider.com’s forecasted 2020-21 earnings. The market closed with an exchange of 14,547,430 shares for $117,545,736 compared to 8,833,133 units at $194,889,167 on Wednesday.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 8.5 million shares for 58.5 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.4 million units for 16.5 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 549,697 units for 4 percent market share.
The average trade for the day ended at 354,815 units at $2,866,969 in contrast to an average of 210,408 at $4,640,489 on Wednesday. An average of 399,294 units traded for the month to date at $3,005,630 for each security, in contrast to 403,250 units at $3,017,962. In contrast, June ended with an average of 818,748 units at $7,498,308.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the Main market shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments declined by $1.59 in closing at $55.01, with 583 units changing hands, Berger Paints lost 92 cents to end at $11.90 in an exchange of 29,478 units. First Rock Capital dropped 75 cents to close at $13.25, in trading 1,000 units, Jamaica Producers Group rose 99 cents to end at $23.50, with 1,189 units clearing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 39 cents to finished at $21.50 in an exchange of 42,315 stock units. JMMB Group rose 35 cents after closing at $31.45, with 311,065 shares changing hands, Key Insurance gained 40 cents to $5.50 in clearing the market with 21,043 stock units, Kingston Properties dropped by $1.69 to $6.11 after 2,383 shares crossed the exchange. Kingston Wharves rose $2.50 in ending at $52.50 and trading 14,251 stock units, Mayberry Investments climbed 67 cents to $5.99 in trading of 100 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined by $11 to close at $160 in an exchange of 100 stock units. 
NCB Financial Group rose $1 to $140 after trading 231,287 stock units, 138 Student Living added 50 cents to end at $6.50 with investors switching ownership of 500 shares, Proven Investments increased $1 to $33 with 7,091 stock units changing hands. Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 74 cents to settle at $8.49 after 338 shares changed hands, Salada Foods ended rising $2.98 to settle at $30.98 with investors swapping 25 shares, Seprod rose $1 in closing at $53, with 51,568 units clearing the market. Sterling Investments shed 35 cents to settle at $2.50 in trading 39,166 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments increased 48 cents to close at $16.35, with 12,806 stock units changing hands and Victoria Mutual Investments rose 30 cents to end at $7.50 with an exchange of 106,100 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE main market makes big gains
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market stocks push the major market indices sharply higher on Wednesday even as trading levels dipped from Tuesday strong showing.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 5,003.2 points to 408,622.22, the JSE Main 
Index climbed 4,591.19 points to 372,908.59 while the JSE Financial Index rose 1.76 points to 96.63.
Trading ended with 42 securities changing hands with the prices of 14 stocks rising, the prices of 16 declining, with 12 remaining unchanged.
The average PE Ratio of the Main Market ended at 15.5 based on IC Insider.com’s forecasted 2020-21 earnings. The market closed with an exchange of 8,833,133 shares for $194,889,167 compared to 32,897,914 units at $307,628,403 on Tuesday.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.91 million shares for 21.7 percent of total volume followed by PanJam Investment with 1.65 million units for 18.6 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.14 million units for 13 percent market share.
The average trade for the day ended at 210,313 units at $4,640,218 in contrast to an average of 765,068 at $7,154,149 on Tuesday. 
An average of 403,249 units traded for the month to date, at $3,017,962 for each security that traded, in contrast to 422,580 units at $2,855,323. In contrast, trading in June resulted in an average of 818,748 units at $7,498,308.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the Main market shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital rose 52 cents to close at $14 after exchanging 3,525 shares, Grace Kennedy lost $1 to close at $57 with 158,158 shares crossing the exchange, Jamaica Broilers Group lost $2 to settle at $25 in trading 15,205 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped 39 cents to settle at $21.89 with investors switching ownership of 6,025 stock units, JMMB Group rose 40 cents in closing at $31.10 with 874,837 units passing through the market, 
Mayberry Investments shed 48 cents after closing at $5.32 trading 85,491 stock units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy jumped $11 to end at $171 as 117 shares cleared the market, NCB Financial Group fell 99 cents to end at $139 with 120,380 units changing hands, PanJam Investment increased by $1.90 to settle at $70 trading 1,646,674 stock units. Portland JSX declined by 99 cents in closing at $8 and exchanging 46,312 shares, Scotia Group gained $1.48 to close at $44.48 after trading 4,300 stock units, Seprod dropped $1 to end at $52 with an exchange of 242,788 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments fell 43 cents to close at $15.87 in an exchange of 8,366 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market cedes 78% of Monday’s gains
Trading jumped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, but the market failed to hold on to all the gains on Monday and gave back 78 percent of it as declining stocks had the better hand over those rising.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 3,476.55 points to close at 403,619.02, the Main Index dived 3,207.50 points to 368,317.40 and the JSE Financial Index lost 1.36 to end at 94.87.
Trading ended with 43 securities changing hands with the prices of 14 stocks rising, 22 declining and the prices of seven closing unchanged. The average PE Ratio of the Main Market ended at 15.5 based on IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 32,897,914 shares for $306,628,403 compared to 10,952,085 units at $38,235,878 on Monday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 21.9 million shares for 67 percent of total volume after the company reported a 30 percent jump in 2020 fiscal year profits. Grace Kennedy followed with 2.73 million units for 8.3 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2 million units for 6 percent market share. Other stocks trading more than a million shares are Carreras with 1.37 million units and Sterling Investments with 1.2 million stock units.
The average trade for the day ended at 765,068 units at $7,154,149 in contrast to an average of 262,942 at $911,881 on Monday. An average of 422,580 units traded for the month to date for $2,855,323 for each security that traded, in contrast to 383,412 units at $2,363,701. 
The average trade for the previous month ended at 856,725 units at $7,148,772.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the Main market shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, Caribbean Cement gave up $2.50 in closing at $47 after exchanging 21,426 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund gained 50 cents to settle at $46.50 in trading 28,053 shares. First Rock Capital lost 42 cents in ending at $13.48 with 16,076 stock units changing hands, Jamaica Broilers Group shed 50 cents to end at $27 with an exchange of 9,852 shares, Jamaica Producers Group dropped by $1.24 after closing at $22.51 in trading 14,633 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange carved out a loss of 45 cents and ended at $21.50 while exchanging 252,070 shares, Kingston Wharves lost $1 to settle at $50, with an exchange of 2,310 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities incurred a loss of 39 cents, to close at $9 in trading 101,406 stock units. 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy carved out a loss $12, in closing at $160 with an exchange of 1,000 stock units, NCB Financial Group jumped $4.99 to settle at $139.99 with investors swapping 613,214 stock units, 138 Student Living lost 90 cents to settle at $6 trading 1,226 units. Palace Amusement fell $40 in closing at $1,750 with an exchange of a mere five units, PanJam Investment lost $4.90 to close at $68.10 with an exchange of 2,913 stock units, Proven Investments fell 99 cents in ending at $32.01 after trading 4,518 shares. Sagicor Group shed $1.49 to $46 with an exchange of 263,100 stock units, after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $34. Salada Foods gained $3 to close at $28 with 190 stock units changing hands and Seprod jumped $2.80 to end at $53 trading 45,530 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market starts week up
The Jamaica Stock Exchange bounced on Monday with a two to one advance ratio, as the value of stock trading fell sharply to just $38 million with a marginally lower volume than on Friday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 4,442.47 points to 407,095.57. The Main Index climbed 4,127.75 points to 371,524.90, and the JSE Financial Index added 0.81 points to end at 96.23.
Trading ended with 42 securities changing hands with the prices of 21 stocks rising, 11 declining and ten stocks closing unchanged. The average PE Ratio of the Main Market ended at 15.6 based on IC Insider.com’s forecasted 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 11,043,546 shares accounting for $38,298,986 compared to 11,791,921 units at $121,937,846 on Friday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.52 million shares for 68.7 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 797543 units for 7.3 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 774949 units for 7.1 percent market share.
An average of 262,942 units traded at $911,881 in contrast to an average of 280,760 at $2,903,282 on Friday. 
The average volume for the month to date amounts to 383,412 units at $2,363,701 in contrast to 452,787 units at $2,546,266. In contrast, the average for June ended at 856,725 units valued at $7,148,772 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the Main market shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Caribbean Cement climbed $3.23 to $49.50, in exchanging 4,074 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $2 to end at $46 in trading 8,475 stock units, First Rock Capital gained 70 cents to close at $13.90 in trading 3,405 units. Grace Kennedy climbed 59 cents in ending at $57.99 with an exchange of 48,350 units, Jamaica Broilers jumped $2.95, to $27.50 with investors swapping 20,308 stock units, 
Jamaica Producers gained 75 cents in ending at $23.75 trading 17,269 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed 41 cents closing at $21.95, after exchanging 58,999 stock units, Kingston Properties rose 30 cents to end at $7.80 in exchange of 461 units, Kingston Wharves shed $2.49 to settle at $51 with 5,294 stock units changing hands. Mayberry Jamaican Equities added 29 cents to close at $9.39 after trading 12,599 units, PanJam Investment jumped $4 to settle at $73 after 16,618 units changed hands, Sagicor Group rose $1.49 to end at $47.49 with 54,732 units crossing the exchange. Scotia Group lost $1.78 to settle at $42.72 in trading 8,093 units and Seprod fell $1.55 after closing at $50.20 and exchanging 30,666 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
NCB is out of IC Top 10
After entering IC Insider.com Main Market TOP 10 last week, NCB Financial Group is out of the top 10 and replaced by Victoria Mutual Investments. These two stocks are the only movement in and out of the TOP 10 for the week. There is no change to the Junior Market TOP 10.
Although the Main and Junior Markets declined during the week, the top three stocks in each market saw little change in the rankings. Accordingly, the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 292 to 666 percent by March 2021 as Caribbean Producers, followed by Lasco Financial and Lumber Depot in the third position. 
In the Main Market, the top three stocks are Berger Paints, followed by Radio Jamaica and JMMB Group, with expected gains of 195 to 208 percent.
During the early summer months, the local market tends to move sideways as trading levels recede. Investors should not keep their eyes off the market as excellent opportunities can bypass them. A good case is the near 75 percent rise in the price of General Accident since May 7 when the stock traded at $4.02.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results for the financial year ending after the second quarter of 2020, up to the second quarter in 2021.
Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.2 and the Junior Market at just 10.6, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a mere 5.5 at just 52 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at 8.4 or 55 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the IC TOP 10 stocks is 293 percent, for the Junior Market and 146 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication that there is the potential to make greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver some of the best returns up to March 2021. The computation of projected gains is based on earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year for each stock. The ranking of stocks is in order of likely increases, with the highest-ranked, being the most attractive. 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. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Sellers continue to pressure JSE stocks
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange suffered the seventh day of losses in eight, since the start of the current month as investors take a standby approach to local stocks and cut the majority of prices at the close on Friday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,824.38 points to 402,653.10, the JSE Market Index declined by 2,597.16 points to 367,397.15 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.27 points to 95.42. The average PE Ratio of the Main Market ended at 15.4 based on IC Insider.com’s forecasted 2020-21 earnings.
Trading ended with 42 securities changing hands with the prices of 9 stocks rising, 20 declining and 13 closing unchanged. The market ended with an exchange of 11,791,921 shares accounting for $121,937,846 compared to 16,789,783 units at $102,277,280 on Thursday.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.68 million shares for 31 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.66 million units for 22.6 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 1.10 million units for 9.3 percent market share.
The average trade for the day ended at 280,760 units at $2,903,282 in contrast to an average of 399,757 at $2,435,173 on Thursday. An average of 1,048,185 units at $3,935,208 each traded for July to date in contrast to 483,377 units at $2,494,914 for each security. In contrast, June closed with an average of 818,748 units valued at $7,498,303 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the Main market shows ten stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments dropped $1.50 to $57, in trading 952 units, Caribbean Cement fell $2.73 to $46.27 after exchanging 3,529 stock units, Grace Kennedy shed 59 cents to close at $57.40 with investors transferring 325,257 shares. 
Jamaica Broilers ended $2.05 lower at $24.55, in trading 44,629 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 49 cents to close at $23, in exchanging 472,748 shares, JMMB Group shed 50 cents to end at $30.50, with a transfer of 69,230 stock units. Kingston Wharves finished 51 cents lower at $53.49, after trading 57,716 stock units, PanJam Investment climbed $2.50 to settle at $69, with 142,724 shares changing hands, Sagicor Group gained 50 cents in transferring 550,086 shares and ended at $46. Scotia Group closed $1.75 higher at $44.50 as investors traded 376,531 shares, Seprod dipped 75 cents to $51.75, with an exchange of 13,000 units and Sterling Investments ended at $2.45, having lost 40 cents trading 100,159 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
