Trading volume surged on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, after more than 4 million shares of Transjamaican Highway crossed the market and leading to 598 percent more shares than on Friday.
At the close of the market, trading ended with four securities changing hands compared to four on Friday and ended with the prices of one stock rising, three declining and none remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equities Index dipped 4.52 points to settle at 192.53, with the average PE Ratio ending at 12.5 based on the IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 4,211,063 shares for $42,648 compared to 602,952 units at US$128,445 on Friday.
The average trade for the day amounted to 1,052,766 units changing hands at US$10,662, in contrast to an average of 150,738 shares at US$32,111 on Friday. Trading ended, with an average of 199,964 units for the month to date at US$12,677 in contrast to 78,135 units at US$12,965. By comparison, September ended with an average of 84,017 units for US$10,590.
At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, Proven Investments lost 1.8 cents to end at 28 US cents with an exchange of29,580 stock units. Sygnus Credit Investments lost eight-tenths of a cent and closed the trading of 930 shares at 13.5 US cents and Transjamaican Highway shed 0.011 of a cent to close at 0.081 of a US cent with investors switching ownership of 4,180,389 units of the stock.
In the preference segment JMMB Group 6% traded 164 shares and gained 1 cent to close at US$1.18.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD index drops
Caribbean Flavours highlight of IC TOP 10
For the past week, activity in the Jamaican stock market was mostly stable following the Barita Investments and Tropical Battery successful public offers. Buying interest increased for Caribbean Flavours and Jamaican Teas stocks, both with pending stock splits.
Caribbean Flavours a Derrimon’s subsidiary
This week’s focus: Caribbean Flavours (CFF), a former IC TOP 10 listed stock, ten for one stock split becomes effective Tuesday. This stock is worth watching this week. After the split, the company will have just under one billion shares issued. Many investors foolishly position themselves to buy stocks after the split at a higher value than before. It is almost a certainty that the price of CFF will move higher after Tuesday’s split. The company reported a 42 percent rise in second-quarter revenues and an increased profit of 25 percent, with profit for the half-year up by 23 percent. The forecast for earnings per share is $1.15 for 2020 and $1.75 in 2021. The PE ratio at the current price of $19.65 the stock traded at on the Junior Market on Friday is 17 times the 2020 earnings and 11 times 2021 earnings.
For a fifth consecutive week, there were no changes in the companies on the IC TOP 10 listings, but that could change with some results set for release during the week. 
The markets moved moderately higher to close at their highest levels since mid-August for the. The Main Market closed the past week higher than the previous one, but the Junior Market closed the week lower than the prior one.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 281 to 726 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. The focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year profit, projected to recover from reduced profit for the 2020 financial year. 
With expected gains of 152 to 240 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Berger Paints, followed by JMMB Group and Carreras. Radio Jamaica is now down to the fifth spot with slightly lower earnings per share of 15 cents from 20 cents previously.
The local stock market’s targeted average PE ratio is 20 based on companies’ profits 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, indicating the potential gains. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.4 and the Junior Market 11.3, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 6.1 at just 54 percent to the overall Junior Market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.4 or 55 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 279 percent and 145 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication of potentially greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 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 the selection process 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.
Increased JSE USD market trading
The US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading on Friday, with the market declining after trading 48 percent more shares than on Thursday, resulting in the prices of more stocks rising than falling.
At the close of the market, trading ended with four securities changing hands compared to three on Thursday and ended with the prices of two stocks rising, one declining and one remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equities Index dipped 4.16 points to settle at 197.05, with the average PE Ratio ending at 13 based on the IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 602,952 shares, for US$128,445, compared to 408,238 units at US$6,204 on Thursday.
The average trade for the day amounted to 150,738 units changing hands at US$32,111, in contrast to an average of 136,079 shares at US$2,068 on Thursday. Trading ended, with an average of 78,135 units for the month to date at US$12,965, in contrast to 66,034 units at US$9,774 on Thursday. By comparison, September ended with an average of 84,017 units for US$10,590.
At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital Investment carved out a loss of 1.79 US cents in ending at 7.21 US cents, with 9,925 shares changing hands, Proven Investments gained 0.08 of a cent to end at 29.80 US cents with an exchange of 455,441 stock units. Sygnus Credit Investments closed the trading of 13,281 shares at 14.35 US cents and Transjamaican Highway added 0.02 of a cent to close at 0.092 of a US cent with investors switching ownership of 124,305 units of stock.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Modest gains for JSE USD market
Price rises and losses were even at the close of trading of the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s US dollar market on Wednesday. The market rose modestly after an exchange of 78 percent fewer shares than on Tuesday.
At the close of the market, trading ended with four securities changing hands compared to two on Tuesday and ended, with the prices of two stocks each, rising and declining.
The JSE USD Equities Index carved out a gain of 2.06 points to settle at 198.50, with the average PE Ratio of 13.1 based on the IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 110,846 shares, accounting for US$15,976. On Tuesday, 503,852 units traded for US$140,501.
The average trade for the day amounted to 27,712 units changing hands at US$3,994, in contrast to an average of 251,926 shares at US$70,250 on Tuesday. Trading ended, with an average of
56,028 units for the month to date at US$10,875 in contrast to 62,690 units at US$12,494. By comparison, September ended with an average of 84,017 units for US$10,590.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital Investment lost four-tenths of a cent to settle at 8.6 US cents after trading 2,000 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments added 0.08 of a cent to close at 14.85 US cents with 5 stock units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway slipped 0.01 of a cent to 0.9 of a US cent, with 95,000 stocks passing through the market.
In the preference segment of the market, JMMB Group 6% increased 3 US cents to settle at US$1.08, with investors exchanging 13,841 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
All JSE USD market stocks rose
The US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading on Tuesday, with the market rising after traded 92 percent more shares than on Monday, resulting in all stocks rising.
At the close of the market, trading ended with two securities changing hands compared to four on Monday and ended with all the prices of the two stocks rising.
The JSE USD Equities Index gained 2.11 points to settle at 196.44, with the average PE Ratio ending at 13.1 based on the IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 503,852 shares, for US$140,501 compared to 263,000 units at US$3,752 on Monday.
The average trade for the day amounted to 251,926 units changing hands at US$70,250, in contrast to an average of 65,750 shares at US$938 on Monday. Trading ended, with an average of 62,690 units for the month to date at US$12,494 in contrast to 37,459 units at US$4,793. By comparison, September ended with an average of 84,017 units for US$10,590.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows one stock ended with the bid to buy stocks, higher than the last selling price and none with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Proven Investments rose 0.01 of a cent and settled at 28 US cents finishing at 500,000 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments gained half a cent to end at 13.5 US cents in exchanging 3,852 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
USD stock volume rises value falls
The US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Monday, with eight percent more shares changing hands than on Friday, but a sharply reduced value the market and resulting in an even number of stocks rising than falling.
At the close of the market, trading ended with four securities changing hands compared to four on Friday and ended with the price of one stock rising, one stock declining and two remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equities Index the US Denominated Equities Index carved out a loss 1.63 points to settle at 194.33, with the average PE Ratio ending at 13.1 based on the IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 263,000 shares, accounting for US$3,752 compared to 242,822 units at US$45,184 on Friday.
The average trade for the day amounted to 65,750 units changing hands at US$938 each, in contrast to an average of 60,706 shares at US$11,296 on Friday. Trading ended, with an average of 37,459 units for the month to date at US$4,793 in contrast to 27,171 units at US$6,195. By comparison, September ended with an average of 84,017 units for US$10,590.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and none with lower offers.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital Investment remained at 9 US cents after an exchange of 1,000 shares, Sterling Investments lost one-tenth of a cent and closed at 2 US cents with investors switching ownership of 100,000 units. Sygnus Credit Investments remained at 13 US cents, with 2,000 stocks crossing the exchange and Transjamaican Highway inched higher by 0.01 of a cent and ended at 0.091 of a US cent with the swapping 160,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Intriguing week for IC TOP 10
Activity in the Jamaican stock market for the past two weeks was mostly on Barita Investments following the successful public offer of new ordinary shares, Tropical Battery, with the listing after their IPO success. the prices of both rose above the public issue prices with Barita trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $98 and Tropical at $1.35.
For a fourth consecutive week, there were no changes in the companies on the IC TOP 10 listings. The markets moved moderately higher to close at their highest levels since mid-August for the junior Market. The Main Market closed at its highest level at the close of September since the beginning of July gave up all the gains on Wednesday and Tuesday to close back at mid-September level on Friday.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 297 to 764 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. The focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year profit to recover from reduced profit for the 2020 financial year. With expected gains of 204 to 228 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Berger Paints followed by Radio Jamaica and JMMB Group.
This week’s focus: Jamaican Teas came in for increased buying during the past week after the company advised the Jamaica Stock Exchange that the board of directors will meet to determine a new record date for the sub-division of the Company’s shares, following the deferral at the Annual General meeting. The stock traded at $4.30 on September 29 and closed at $4.83 on Wednesday, with 161,040 units changing hands, with the offer at $4.50. The volume ballooned to over one million units on Thursday, with the price hitting $5.55 during the day. The company completed the 2020 fiscal year at the end of September.
The market’s targeted average PE ratio 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, indicating the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.1 and the Junior Market 11.2, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 6.1 at just 54 percent to the overall Junior Market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.2 or 54 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 283 percent, and 153 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, indicates potentially greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 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 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 USD market rises on increased volume
The US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading on Friday, with the market index rising after 333 percent more shares changing hands than on Thursday, resulting in an even number rising and falling stocks.
At the close of the market, trading ended with four securities changing hands compared to seven on Thursday and closed with the price of one stock rising, one declining and two remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equities Index climbed 3.40 points to settle at 195.96 and the average PE Ratio ending at 13.2 based on the IC Insider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 242,822 shares, for US$45,184 compared to 56,062 units at US$22,966 on Thursday.
The average trade for the day amounted to 60,706 units changing hands at US$11,296, in contrast to an average of 8,009 shares at US$3,281 on Thursday. Trading ended, with an average of 27,171 units for the month to date at US$6,195, in contrast to September with an average of
84,017 units at US$10,590.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows
two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Proven Investments gained 1.99 US cents exchanging 99,960 shares to end at 27.99 US cents, Sygnus Credit Investments closed at 13 US cents, with 52,796 shares crossing the exchange and Transjamaican Highway settled at 0.9 of a US cent in trading 80,066 shares.
In the preference segment of the market, JMMB Group 6% declined by 1 US cent to close at US$1.05, with 10,000 units changing hands,
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
More gains for JSE USD market
The US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading on Thursday, with the market rising after 88 percent fewer shares than on Wednesday, with only positive price movement for stocks.
At the close of the market, trading ended with seven securities changing hands compared to five on Wednesday and closed with the prices of two stocks rising, none declining and five ending unchanged.
The JSE USD Equities Index rose 2.66 points to settle at 192.56, with the average PE Ratio ending at 13 based on the IC Insider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 56,062 shares for US$22,966 compared to 458,934 units at US$36,108 on Wednesday.
The average trade for the day amounted to 8,009 units changing hands at US$3,281, in contrast to an average of 91,787 shares at US$7,222 on Wednesday. By comparison, September ended with an average of 84,017 units for US$10,590.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital Investment gained 1 US cent to end at 9 US cents, with 286 stock units crossing the market, Proven Investments remained at 26 US cents exchanging 220 stock units. Sygnus Credit Investments held at 13 US cents after trading 8,000 stock units and Transjamaican Highway remained at 0.9 of a US cent, in clearing the market with 32,105 shares.
In the preference segment of the market, JMMB Group 5.50% remained at US$2.30, with an exchange of just one stock unit, JMMB Group 5.75% closed at US$2.01 trading 5,450 units and JMMB Group 6% rose 1 US cent to close at US$1.06, with 10,000 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD market ends September positively
Trading picked up on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with demand rising after investors traded 25 times more shares than on Tuesday, resulting in an even number of stocks rising and falling and the market closing higher than the August close.
At the close of the market, trading ended with five securities changing hands compared to four on Tuesday and ended with the prices of one stock rising, one declining and three remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equities Index climbed 4.66 points to settle at 189.90, rising one percent over August. The average PE Ratio ended at 12.9 based on IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 458,934 shares, accounting for US$36,108 compared to 18,275 units at US$4,085 on Tuesday.
The average trade for the day amounted to 91,787 units changing hands at US$7,222, in contrast to an average of 4,569 shares at US$1,021 on Tuesday. Trading ended, with an average of 84,017 units for the month to date, for US$10,590 in contrast to 86,481 units at US$10,828 Tuesday. By comparison, August ended with an average of 83,402 units for US$7,526.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital Investment settled at 8 US cents, with 29,499 shares crossing the market, Proven Investments closed at 26 US cents in exchanging 749 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments settled at 13 US cents, with 34,906 units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.09 of a cent in ending at 0.90 of a US cent, with 381,000 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment of the market, JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$2.01 after exchanging 12,780 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.