Radio Jamaica dominated trading on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday with nearly 95 million shares accounting for 87 percent of total volume on a day when the market declined marginally after the volume of shares exchanged soared 873 percent and the value rose 63 percent higher than on Wednesday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 48.69 points to 430,693.51, the JSE Main Index declined 53.00 points to 392,618.43 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.09 points to settle at 98.64.
Trading ended with 48 securities, down from 51 on Wednesday and closed with prices of 21 stocks rising, 14 declining and 13 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.6 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with 108,504,798 shares trading for $315,828,525 compared to 11,146,482 units at $193,454,160 on Wednesday. Radio Jamaica led trading with 87.4 percent of total volume for 94.78 million shares, followed by Carreras with 4.7 percent for 5.09 million units, Wigton Windfarm 2.2 percent for 2.43 million units, Transjamaican Highway with 1.4 percent for 1.48 million units and Sagicor Group 1.1 percent for 1.20 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 2,260,517 units at $6,579,761, compared to 218,558 shares at $3,793,219 on Wednesday. Trading month to date averaged 350,058 units at $2,478,082 in contrast to 240,236 units at $2,242,297 on Wednesday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has thirteen stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose 90 cents to $84 with an exchange of 117,814 shares, Caribbean Cement shed 51 cents to close at $65.50 trading 194 units, Eppley advanced $1.12 to $32.99 in the swapping of 3,486 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund finished $1.49 higher at $43.49 in an exchange of 590 units. Grace Kennedy rose 83 cents to $88.25, with 174,402 stock units crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers gained 41 cents to settle at $29.41 in transferring 14,968 shares, JMMB Group picked up 24 cents to close at $32.90 with 376,901 stocks changing hands. Key Insurance lost 32 cents at $4.98 after exchanging 33,711 units, Margaritaville fell $2 to $35, with 200 shares clearing the market, Mayberry Investments gained 31 cents to close at $5.50, with a transfer of 1,200 stock units. NCB Financial shed 49 cents to $137.52 with the swapping of 23,902 shares, 138 Student Living gained 49 cents to close at $5.99, with 16,768 stocks crossing the market, PanJam Investment rose 99 cents to $66 trading 51,313 units. Proven Investments advanced $1.50 to $35.50 in an exchange of 122,469 stock units, Sagicor Group rose $1.75 to $49.75 in exchanging 1,195,665 shares,
Scotia Group ended 74 cents lower at $40.51 with the swapping of 14,908 stock units, Seprod rose $1 to $73 with 45,709 units changing hands. Sterling Investments gained 21 cents to settle at $2.91in the transfer of 24,212 stocks and Wisynco Group shed 62 cents to close at $15.38, with 28,391 stocks changing hands.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% dropped 16 cents in closing at $1.25 in an exchange of 1,130 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
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.
February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with lower offers.
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.
Junior Market stocks kept above the 2,900 mark of the market index only slipping below that level just one day during the week, as the market continues to consolidate in the move higher. Main Market stocks made attempts to break clear of the consolidation zone but the market is awaiting some strong profit results to move prices and that will not come until late April.
The Main Market has a number in the list that have put out record profits or show signs of strong earnings in 2021, with the stocks clearly undervalued, these include, JMMB Group, Jamaica Broilers,
This week’s focus:
The local stock market’s targeted average PE ratio is 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results, up to the second quarter of 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 15 and the Junior Market 10, based on ICInsider.com’s projected 2021-22 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.5 at just 55 percent of the market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 7.4 or 49 percent of the PE of that market.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
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.
Trading for the day averaged 239,375 units at $1,671,585, compared to an average of 165,916 shares at $1,037,466 on Wednesday. The average trade month to date ends at 256,266 units at $2,210,133, in contrast to 257,553 units at $2,251,139 on Wednesday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
138 Student Living gained 24 cents in ending at $5.40, after clearing the market with 15,702 shares, Pan Jam Investment declined by $1 to $66 with the swapping of 794 units, Proven Investments advanced $1.50 to $34.50 in exchanging 72,037 stock units. Pulse Investments shed 28 cents to close at $4.14 after trading 496,531 units, Scotia Group dropped $3.59 to close at $40.11, with 29,893 stocks crossing the market, Seprod shed $1 to end at $72 in exchanging 17,660 stock units and Wisynco Group lost 49 cents to close at $15.03, with 216,294 units clearing the market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,779.81 points to 433,804.38, the Main Index fell 2,520.23 points to 395,489.77 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.86 points to settle at 99.09.
Trading averaged 165,916 units at $1,037,466, compared to 175,488 shares at $1,731,775 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averaged 257,553 units at $2,251,139, in contrast to 265,470 units at $2,355,997 on Tuesday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose $1.11 to $8.32, with 476 stocks clearing the market, Salada Foods climbed $2.80 to $44.50 in trading 2,804 units. Scotia Group gained 70 cents to end at $43.70, with 41,169 stocks crossing the market, Seprod closed 99 cents higher at $73 in switching ownership of 4,342 units and Wisynco Group declined 20 cents to $15.52 after exchanging 140,490 units.

The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,301.07 points to 436,584.19, the JSE Main Index advanced 2,049.07 points to end at 398,010.00 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.72 points to 99.95.
Trading averaged 175,488 units at $1,731,775, down from 211,498 shares at $1,978,267 on Monday. Month to date trading averaged 265,470 units at $2,355,997, versus 273,584 units at $2,412,290 on Monday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 99 cents to $7.21, after clearing the market with 820 stocks, Salada Foods shed 80 cents to end at $41.70 with 23,847 stocks crossing the exchange, Scotia Group fell $1 to $43, transferring 293,556 shares. Seprod advanced $1.31 to $72.01 with investors switching ownership of 26,824 stock units and Supreme Ventures lost 41 cents to close at $15 after trading 127,248 stocks.