Market activity ended on Monday and resulted in an equal number of stocks rising than falling at the close of trading, after trading 10 percent more shares, with a 34 percent higher value than on Friday, as the market indices inched up higher at the close of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.
Twenty securities traded against 18 on Friday, with rising and declining stocks ending with five each and 10 ended unchanged.
The Composite Index rallied 3.05 points to 1,521.20, the All T&T Index rose 5.80 points to 2,129.86 and the Cross-Listed Index popped 0.01 points to settle at 121.92. Overall 598,828 shares traded for $9,609,505 compared to 543,618 units at $7,179,353 on Friday.
An average of 29,941 units traded at $480,475 compared to 30,201 shares at $398,853 on Friday, with trading month to date averaging 74,359 units at $597,974 versus 86,697 units at $630,612 previously. The average trade for January amounts to 39,943 units at $369,498.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Agostini’s ended trading 77 shares at $46, Angostura Holdings declined 50 cents to $19.50 with 4,425 units crossing the market, Ansa McAl lost 25 cents to end at $58.75 after 85 stock units switched hands. inemaOne finished at $4 after exchanging 851 stocks, Clico Investment Fund advanced 50 cents in closing at $30 after trading 6,607 stock units, First Citizens Group rallied 25 cents to $64, with 343 stocks changing hands. 
GraceKennedy ended unchanged at $6.20, with 72,065 shares clearing the market, Guardian Holdings fell 25 cents to close at $29.75 while exchanging 7,635 units, JMMB Group gained 15 cents in closing at $2.50 in trading 424 units. Massy Holdings ended at $106 with the swapping of 26,169 shares, National Enterprises finished at $3.25 after exchanging 1,513 stock units, NCB Financial Group remained at $8 with 341,230 stocks changing hands. One Caribbean Media shed 5 cents to $4.15 with an exchange of 45 stock units, Point Lisas remained at $3.27 in exchanging 65,000 units, Republic Financial Holdings dropped 14 cents in ending at $142.86 after an exchange of 16,765 stocks. Scotiabank finished at $72.01, with 439 shares crossing the exchange, Trinidad & Tobago NGL climbed 47 cents to end at $19.97 in switching ownership of 15,454 shares, Trinidad Cement rose 5 cents in closing at $3.80 with an exchange of 38,019 units. Unilever Caribbean ended unchanged at $16 in exchange of 600 stock units and West Indian Tobacco finished at $26.06 trading 1,082 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trinidad stocks inched higher on Monday
Profit climbs 24% in Q2 at Wisynco
Revenues at Wisynco Group jumped 19 percent for the quarter to December to $9.5 billion above the $8 billion for the similar quarter of the previous year while for the half year revenues were up 17 percent to $18.7 billion from $16 billion in 2020.
Wisynco traded at $20 on Friday after the posting of results.
“We have seen a continued recovery in our Revenues with all Channels increasing at vibrant levels. Exports as well for the quarter were up 103 percent over the same quarter of the prior year. Our increased efforts and focus have resulted in improved results in this area and we have noticed wider consumer acceptance for our products in these important export markets.” William Mahfood, Chairman and Andrew Mahfood, Chief Executive Officer stated in their joint report to shareholders. “Exports have moved from 3 percent of overall sales to 5 percent,” the chairman informed ICInsider.com.
Gross Profit climbed 24.3 percent for the quarter to $3.3 billion from $2.7 billion in the same quarter of the previous year while it grew 18.6 percent from $5.6 billion to $6.6 billion. Improvement in gross margin from 33.3 percent for the 2020 December quarter to 34.8 percent helped to swell the gross profit and helped to drive net profit for the quarter as well as a smaller rise in margins from 34.6 percent to 35.2 percent contributed to improved numbers for the half year and bodes well for the second half. Selling, Distribution expenses grew at a slower pace than sales revenues at 17.6 percent to $1.74 billion for the quarter and 11.4 percent for the six months to $3.39 billion from $3 billion in 2020. Administrative expenses for the quarter rose by 6 percent to $357 million from $337 million in 2020 and for the year to date, they rose 6.4 percent from $691 million to $735 million in the prior year.
Wata is one of Wisynco best-known brands
Profit before Taxation surged 84.6 percent for the quarter to $1.5 billion, over the $836 million in the comparative quarter for the prior year and includes an exchange gain of $280 million compared to an exchange loss of $26 million for the 2020 quarter. Profit before taxation for the half year jumped 51.6 percent to $2.8 billion compared to $1.9 billion in the prior year.
After provision for taxes, Wisynco recorded net profits attributable to stockholders of $1.2 billion, or 31c per share for the quarter, 74 percent greater than the $688 million earned for the prior year and the six months net profit rose from $1.54 billion to $2.13 billion, with 57 cents in earnings per share.
Cash inflows from operations were $2.9 billion, up from $2.45 billion in 2020.
Shareholders’ Equity stood at $17 billion, with borrowings at $1.9 billion. Current Assets ended the quarter at $16 billion up from $13 billion the previous year and Current Liabilities stood at $5.6 billion compared to $4.6 billion at the end of 2020. Cash funds and short term investments ended the period at $9.6 billion up from $6.9 billion in 2020, Mahfood points to this amount and suggests that it is not contributing much to profits. The conclusion is that the company will be on the watch for viable acquisitions to provide a better rate of return.
True Juice orange juice bottled and distributed by Wisynco.
The board declared an interim dividend of 20c per share, up from the 10 cents per share interim dividend declared in January 2021. The dividend will be paid on March 1, to shareholders on record on February 15. The stock trades ex-dividend February 14, 2022.
“We started to see a better turnaround in the operations from the middle of last year,” William Mahfood advised ICInsider.com. He felt that improved service to customers and increased attention paid to the cost were contributing factors as well. Mahfood indicated that January was a strong month for the group and hopes that it will carry through for the rest of the quarter. Although only around 10 percent of revenues go directly into the hotel sector, there is evidence of a strong rebound in tourism in the sector that is contributing to the resurgence in sales.
ICInsider.com projection is for earnings of $1.30 for the current year ending in June and $1.75 for the next fiscal year. The stock climbed from $17.75 before the release of the results after the market closed on Thursday to $20 at the close on Friday for a PE ratio of 15 and 11 times next year’s earnings.
More changes for ICTOP10 listings
The Junior Market closed at record highs on each of the last seven days, fueled by an upsurge in trading, with several days ending with all listed securities trading driving the volume and value traded upwards to levels not seen in months and resulting in several stocks reaching new 52 weeks’ highs.
The Main Market showed some bullishness this past week with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 6,525.97 points to the highest level since late October last year. More than two thirds of the gains came on Friday helped by gains by heavyweights, Sagicor Group putting on $1, Scotia Group popping $1.60 and Wisynco jumping $2.25 after reporting strong increased profit for the December quarter.
The Junior Market Index is up a remarkable 16.3 percent for the year to Friday that is more than half of all of the 2021 gains, with the average rise in prices even greater at 19 percent. That quick upward movement is equivalent to an annualized gain of 194 percent and may result in investors questioning its sustainability.
Spur Tree Spices seems to have reached a peak for now but the previously last listed Junior Market stock, Future Energy, gained new life and sprinted to an all-time high of $4.50, no doubt driven by investors’ views that the increased price of gasoline will drive up sales and margins. While sales will rise in dollar terms margin may not. The party was not only for the gasoline supplier, Fontana in the TOP10 for the week ending the 21st of January at $7.40 hit new record highs this week up to $12.49 for an increase of 69 percent in a matter of weeks.
Two high performing stocks pulled back this week Dolphin Cove hit a record high of $30 during the week but pulled back to $22 on Friday while former ICTOP10 listed Caribbean Producers hit a record high of $25.99 earlier in the week, pulled back to $16 on Thursday before closing the week at $17.85. December results should be out for this stock during the coming week and will have benefitted from the resurgence in tourist arrivals.
Medical Disposables gained 12 percent this past week to end at $7.55 and exited the Junior Market TOP10 listing, with Elite Diagnostic having traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.40 two weeks ago and ended the previous week at $3.73, suffered more losses this past week and is back to the TOP10. In the Main Market, Scotia Group rose nine percent to $37.50 and was replaced in the TOP10 by Jamaica Broilers.
Lasco Distributors jumped 15 percent to $3.73 ahead of third quarter results due out shortly and General Accident moved up 7 percent to $6.50, while Honey Bun and Jetcon Corporation both rose 5 percent in the week. AMG Packaging rose 3 percent to end at $3.70 and so did Caribbean Assurance Brokers that closed at $3.10.
Guardian Holdings climbed 5 percent to close at $575, JMMB Group held on to a 2 percent rise for the week and traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $44.61 on Friday but closed at $41.99. Pan Jam Investment and Radio Jamaica settled with a 5 percent rise for the week, while Proven Investment lost 8 percent to close at US$0.21 and Sygnus Credit Investments slipped 4 percent to $15.23.
The sharp price movements in the Junior Market over the recent past weeks reduced the potential gains markedly, with the average increase projected for the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now at 104 percent versus 114 percent last week and is now lower than the Main Market at 128 percent.
The top three stocks are Caribbean Assurance Brokers followed by Lasco Financial and Lasco Distributors to gain between 114 and 126 percent, compared to 128 and 148 percent, previously.
The potential gains for Main Market stocks moved from 131 percent to this weeks’ 128 percent, with the top three being JMMB Group followed by Guardian Holdings and Sygnus Credit Investments all projected to gain between 165 and 186 percent from 155 and 193 percent last week.
After trading at a big discount to the Main Market for two years, the average PE for both the JSE primary markets has virtually merged just below 17 times 2021 earnings.
The Junior Market closed the week, with an average PE of 16.8 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings and is currently below the target of 20 and now virtually at the average of 17 that was achieved at the end of March last year. The TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of a mere 9.8, with a 42 percent discount to that market’s average. That means there is a lot of room for the TOP10 stocks to run between now and the end of March.
The Junior Market can gain 19 percent to March this year, based on an average PE of 20 that would take the index to 4,700 points. About a third of Junior Market stocks with positive earnings are trading at or above this level, averaging around 23.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market is 16.4 just 16 percent less than the PE of 19 at the end of March and 22 percent below the target of 20 to March this year. The Main Market TOP 10 average PE is 8.9 representing a 46 percent discount to the market and well below the potential of 20. A total of 14 stocks or 30 percent of the market trade at or above a PE of 19, with most over 20, for an average roundabout 25, suggesting that the accepted multiple is between 20 and 25 times current year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. 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 stocks moved higher on Friday
Trading on Friday, ended with the volume of shares trading falling 65 percent, with a 29 percent lower value than on Thursday, at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, resulting in more stocks rising than falling.
Trading ended with six securities changing hands, compared to seven on Thursday with prices of four rising, two declining. The JSE US Denominated Equities Index gained 6.68 points to end at 204.79.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.3. The PE ratio calculation uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with the financial year up to August 2022.
A total of 82,839 shares traded for US$12,251, down from 239,208 units at US$17,234 on Thursday. Trading averaged 13,807 units at US$2,042, compared to 34,173 shares at US$2,462 on the previous day and the month to date averages 49,137 shares at US$2,612 compared to 59,737 units at US$2,783 on Thursday. January ended with an average of 91,572 units for US$7,142.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ended with the bid higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share rallied half of a cent after ending at 7 US cents in an exchange of 27,000 shares, Margaritaville added 3 cents to close at 18 US cents in trading 118 stock units, Productive Business Solutions rose 16 cents to US$1.16 trading 1,703 stocks. Proven Investments fell 0.8 of a cent in closing at 21.2 US cents after an exchange of 33,587 units, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share dipped 0.1 of a cent to 12.85 US cents, with 9,000 units crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.05 of a cent to 0.88 of one US cent with an exchange of 11,431 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big rise for JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Friday with the volume of shares rising 20 percent more and the value 15 percent higher than on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks beat out those declining leading the market indices to make a sharp turn higher at the close.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 4,451.26 points to 448,534.65, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,102.47 points to close trading at 396,802.02 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.17 points to end at 96.47.
A total of 59 securities traded versus 58 on Thursday, with 28 rising, 17 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.4. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
A total of 12,877,557 shares were exchanged for $136,432,061 up from 10,750,192 units at $118,283,579 on Thursday. Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund led trading with 16.4 percent of total volume in transferring 2.11 million shares followed by QWI Investments with 14.6 percent for 1.87 million units, 
Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 12 percent for 1.55 million units, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share accounted for 9.6 percent with 1.24 million units and Transjamaican Highway, 1.07 million units with 8.3 percent market share.
Trading averages 218,264 units at $2,312,408, up from 185,348 shares at $2,039,372 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 238,836 units at $2,520,773, compared to 245,893 units at $2,592,246 previously. January closed with an average of 235,328 units at $2,397,571.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with a bid higher than its last selling price and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rallied $2.50 to close at $93 in trading 3,172 shares, Caribbean Cement rose $4.95 to end at $75 with a transfer of 135,496 stock units, Caribbean Producers fell $2.05 to $17.85 with 325,734 units clearing the market. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed 98 cents ending at $42 after exchanging 34 stocks, First Rock Capital lost 30 cents in closing at $11.72 with 7,582 stock units changing hands, GraceKennedy rose $1.90 to $103.50 after a transfer of 82,660 shares. Guardian Holdings climbed $40 to close at $575 with the swapping of 3,638 units, Jamaica Producers lost 81 cents and closed at $22.19 in switching ownership of 69,771 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 95 cents after ending at $17.95 with 116,988 stock units crossing the market. JMMB Group shed $1.01 to end at $41.99 with the swapping of 455,271 stocks, Margaritaville rose $1.05 to close at $25 in exchanging 662 units, Massy Holdings dropped $50 ending at a low since listing of $2,050 after 8,308 shares crossed the market. 
Mayberry Investments shed $1.09 to settle at $6.11 with 8,258 stocks changing hands, Portland JSX fell $2.08 to end at $6.92 in switching ownership of 10,001 shares, Proven Investments popped 99 cents to $33 with 8,854 units traded. Sagicor Group climbed $1 to $54 in an exchange of 35,143 stock units, Scotia Group advanced $1.60 to $37.60 with 25,221 units crossing the exchange, Seprod rallied $3.10 to $62.10 with the swapping of 24,328 shares. Supreme Ventures gained 30 cents after ending at $18 with 247,772 stock units clearing the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $2.70 in closing at $18.20 with an exchange of 780 stocks and Wisynco Group popped $2.25 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $20 in trading 703,826 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share gained 30 cents after closing at $6.90 in switching ownership of 900 stock units and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share lost 70 cents to end at $2.30 with an exchange of 34,582 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
New record high for Junior Market
Trading closed on Friday the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market with all listed stocks trading and the Market Index advanced 11.13 points to end at a record close of 3,985.87 after trading as high as 4,051.04 points in early market activity that ended with the volume of stocks traded, declining 45 percent and the value slipping by 48 percent from that on Thursday.
New record high for the JSE Junior Market.
Market activity led to 43 securities trading the same as Thursday and ended with 17 rising, 21 declining and five closing unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 16.8. The PE ratio of each stock shown in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
A total of 13,918,050 shares traded for $49,116,813 compared to 25,209,060 units at $93,838,592 on Thursday. Future Energy Source led trading with 20 percent of total volume for an exchange of 2.79 million shares followed by Consolidated Bakeries with 13.6 percent for 1.90 million units, Derrimon Trading with 10.9 percent after trading 1.52 million units, Lumber Depot contributed 10.3 percent with 1.43 million units and Spur Tree Spices with 10.1 percent after trading 1.41 million units.
Trading averaged 323,676 shares at $1,142,251 in contrast to 586,257 shares at $2,182,293 on Thursday and the month to date, averaging 504,304 units at $1,973,892, compared to 564,984 units at $2,253,271 on Thursday. January closed with an average of 319,395 units at $1,181,136.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with the bid higher than its last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial fell 70 cents to $23.80 in trading 59,981 shares, Blue Power lost 10 cents to end at $3.15 in switching ownership of 50,202 stocks, CAC 2000 shed 25 cents in closing at $8 in an exchange of 3,709 units. Cargo Handlers advanced 59 cents to $7.50 with the swapping of 50,204 stock units, Caribbean Cream lost 22 cents to close at $5.03 with 30,165 stocks crossing the market, Dolphin Cove declined $2.50 to finish at $24.50 after trading 86,532 stock units. Everything Fresh lost 18 cents to end at $1.49 with an exchange of 397,962 units, Express Catering shed $1.05 to $6 with a transfer of 204,470 shares, Fosrich declined $2.94 to $12 after an exchange of 56,086 stocks. Future Energy Source popped 16 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.02 after the price hit $4.50 in early trading and ended with 2,786,003 stock units changing hands, Honey Bun climbed 30 cents to end at $10.10 with 34,307 shares clearing the market, Indies Pharma gained 10 cents to $2.97 in transferring 108,349 units. ISP Finance dipped 49 cents to close at $29.51 after exchanging 2,942 stock units, Jamaican Teas fell 15 cents to $4.35 in switching ownership of 962,859 stocks, KLE Group declined 15 cents in closing at $2.70 with the swapping of 46,937 units. 
Lasco Distributors rallied 12 cents to $3.73 in exchanging 95,588 shares, Lasco Manufacturing gained 34 cents in ending at $4.84 with 39,988 stocks crossing the exchange, Lumber Depot lost 10 cents to end at $3.69 in switching ownership of 1,431,448 stock units. Mailpac Group shed 10 cents to $3.24 in trading 265,779 shares, Medical Disposables fell 20 cents to close at $7.55 with an exchange of 4,300 units, SSL Venture gained 19 cents to end at $1.65 with a transfer of 22,023 stock units. Stationery and Office Supplies popped 20 cents to $5.90 with 146,469 shares changing hands and tTech rallied 27 cents to $4.38 in trading 105 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Rising stocks dominate in Trinidad
Investors changed course in trading activity on Friday on Thursday, pushing the majority of stocks with price changes upwards on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and resulting in nine stocks rising, two declining and seven remaining unchanged after trading 85 percent fewer shares, with 43 percent lower value than Thursday.
Trading ended with 18 securities changing hands compared to 16 on Thursday. The Composite Index rose 3.06 points to 1,518.15, the All T&T Index increased 3.65 points to end at 2,124.06 and the Cross-Listed Index advanced 0.34 points to settle at 121.91.
A total of 543,618 shares traded for $7,179,353 compared to 3,682,320 units at $12,609,856 on Thursday. An average of 30,201 units traded at $398,853 compared to 230,145 shares at $788,116 on previous day, with trading month to date averaging 86,697 units at $630,612 versus 105,529 units at $707,865. The average trade for January amounts to 39,943 units at $369,498.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
In trading, Agostini’s advanced $1 to $46 while exchanging 485 shares, Angostura Holdings increased 1 cent to end at $20 after exchanging 13,370 units, Ansa McAl climbed 25 cents to $59 in exchanging 5,406 stocks. Clico Investment Fund gained 50 cents to close at $29.50, with 30,273 stock units crossing the market, First Citizens Group rose 75 cents to end at $63.75 after trading 642 shares, FirstCaribbean International Bank lost 1 cent to end at $6.13 with 1,000 units changing hands. 
GraceKennedy popped 10 cents in closing at $6.20 in an exchange of 74,135 stocks, Guardian Holdings rallied 25 cents to $30 in trading 150 stock units, JMMB Group gained 5 cents to close at $2.35 after exchanging 27,237 stocks. Massy Holdings remained at $106 in switching ownership of 15,994 shares, National Flour Mills dropped 3 cents to $1.87, with 5,000 units changing hands, NCB Financial Group finished at $8 with 344,072 stock units clearing the market. Republic Financial Holdings ended unchanged at $143 after 1,061 stocks crossed the exchange, Scotiabank finished at $72.01 with the swapping of 604 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended unchanged at $19.50 with an exchange of 23,846 units. Trinidad Cement remained at $3.75 after trading 235 shares, Unilever Caribbean advanced 5 cents to end at $16 with an exchange of 90 stock units and West Indian Tobacco finished at $26.06 trading 18 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling stocks dominant on JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Thursday with the volume of shares traded declining 26 percent and theJ value 28 percent lower than on Wednesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as stocks declining had the upper hand on those rising but leaving the market indices with modest movements.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 128.30 points to 444,083.39, the JSE Main Index shed 748.16 points to end at 394,699.55 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.01 points to 96.64.
Trading ended with 58 securities up from 57 on Wednesday, with 19 rising, 28 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 16.5. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 10,750,192 shares were exchanged for $118,283,579 versus 14,616,612 units at $163,291,537 on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 42.8 percent of total volume with a transfer of 4.6 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 12.8 percent for 1.38 million units and Caribbean Producers, 10.6 percent with 1.14 million units changing hands.
Trading averages 185,348 units at $2,039,372, compared to 256,432 shares at $2,864,764 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 245,893 units at $2,592,246, down from 276,696 units at $2,873,533 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 235,328 units at $2,397,571.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments fell $2.50 to $90.50 after swapping of 10,004 shares, Berger Paints rose $1 to $13.50 in exchanging one stock unit, Caribbean Cement shed $1.45 to end at $70.05 with 22,242 units changing hands. Eppley lost 49 cents to settle at $34.50 with a transfer of 1,468 stocks, Guardian Holdings declined $25 in closing at $535after exchanging 799 stocks, Jamaica Broilers lost 50 cents to end at $27 in trading 37,827 shares. Jamaica Producers slipped 37 cents after ending at $23, with ownership of 24,322 units switched, JMMB Group rose $1.10 in closing at 52 weeks’ closing high of $43 after exchanging 286,808 shares, Kingston Wharves shed $1.15 to end at $40.30 after 16,595 stock units crossed the market. Margaritaville advanced $2.92 to $23.95 with the swapping of 6,611 units, Massy Holdings dropped $100 to close at $2,100 in trading 3,379 shares, Mayberry Investments advanced $1.64 to $7.20 with 4,205 stocks clearing the market. Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 43 cents to $8.95 in trading 26,825 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $5 to $120 in switching ownership of 2 stock units, NCB Financial fell 51 cents to $132.49 with the swapping of 279,319 shares. Palace Amusement rallied 52 cents to close at $930 in transferring 57 stocks, PanJam Investment popped 30 cents in closing at $65.80 after trading 7,461 units, Proven Investments declined 99 cents to end at $32.01 with 59,351 stock units changing hands. 
Sagicor Group advanced $1.25 to $53 with an exchange of 63,042 shares, Scotia Group rose 50 cents to $36 in trading 8,092 stocks, Seprod slipped 91 cents in closing at $59 with 10,603 stock units crossing the exchange. Supreme Ventures lost 30 cents to finish at $17.70 after exchanging 28,346 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 60 cents to end at $15.30 in switching ownership of 299,610 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined $1.50 to $15.50 in trading 12,100 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share fell 51 cents to close at $3 with an exchange of 1,623 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
New record close for JSE Junior Market
Trading remained elevated on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Thursday, with the volume and value of stocks traded falling moderately below Wednesday’s outturn as the market index, a measure of the value of the market, crossed the 4,000 points mark for the first time in the morning session before hanging to gains of 25.54 points to finish at a new closing high of 3,974.74 after hitting a record high of 4,041.54 shortly after trading opened.
As was the case on Wednesday, 43 securities traded, with 16 rising, 19 declining and eight, closing unchanged. At the close, Express Catering, Fontana and Future Energy Source traded at 52 weeks’ closing highs, while Everything Fresh traded at an intraday high of $1.84 before falling back at the close.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 16.9. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
A total of 25,209,060 shares traded for $93,838,592 compared to 26,221,431 units at $104,398,820 on Wednesday. Spur Tree Spices led trading with 14.45 million shares for 57.3 percent of total volume followed by Lumber Depot with 2.25 million units for 8.9 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy Source with 1.74 million units for 6.9 percent market share.
Trading averaged 586,257 shares at $2,182,293 down from 609,801 shares at $2,427,880 on Wednesday and the month to date, averaging 564,984 units at $2,253,271, compared to 554,222 units at $2,289,177 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 319,395 units at $1,181,136.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging popped 10 cents to close at $3.75 after 84,583 shares crossed the exchange, Blue Power gained 15 cents to end at $3.25 as 23,421 stock units were exchanged, Cargo Handlers shed 48 cents to end at $6.91 with an exchange of 7,224 stocks. Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 10 cents to $3.03 after exchanging 220,670 units, Dolphin Cove dropped $1.50 in closing at $27 while 432,645 units switched owners, Elite Diagnostic climbed 20 cents in closing at $3.50 with the swapping of 56,329 shares. Everything Fresh fell 14 cents to end at $1.67, with 853,549 stocks clearing the market, Express Catering rose 81 cents to close at $7.05 in an exchange of 577,925 stock units, Fontana increased 35 cents ending at a closing record high of $11.85 in trading 504,534 shares. Future Energy Source rallied 23 cents to a record high of $3.86, with 1,737,228 stocks changing hands, General Accident rose 39 cents to $6.49 trading 67,987 units, Honey Bun climbed 24 cents to $9.80 after 128,499 stock units changed hands. Indies Pharma declined 18 cents to close at $2.87, with 219,393 shares crossing the market, Iron Rock Insurance lost 15 cents to end at $3.15 in switching ownership of 46,452 stock units, ISP Finance increased 49 cents in closing at $30, with 995 stocks crossing the market.
Jamaican Teas popped 12 cents in closing at $4.50 after exchanging 684,209 units, Lasco Financial dropped 10 cents to $3.10 in an exchange of 27,100 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing shed 40 cents to close at $4.50 in switching ownership of 132,834 shares. Lumber Depot fell 11 cents after ending at $3.79 after 2,245,901 stock units changed hands, Main Event declined 48 cents to end at $4.02 with an exchange of 2,900 units, Medical Disposables lost 16 cents to close at $7.75 in trading 37,243 stock units. Paramount Trading shed 20 cents to $2.20 in an exchange of 192,268 shares, Spur Tree Spices gained 10 cents in closing at $3, with14,453,147 units crossing the market, SSL Venture rallied 35 cents to $1.46 while exchanging 56,574 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 20 cents to end at $5.70 after 8,714 shares passed through the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
More declines for Trinidad stocks
Price movements were mostly down at the close of trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday as the volume of shares exchanged surged 293 percent valued 38 percent more than on Wednesday.
The number of securities traded remained 16 as was the case on Wednesday, with two rising, six declining and eight remaining unchanged. The Composite Index slipped 1.40 points to 1,515.09, the All T&T Index declined 6.39 points to end at 2,120.41 and the Cross-Listed Index rose 0.55 points to settle at 121.57.
A total of 3,682,320 shares traded for $12,609,856 up from 937,553 units at $9,155,489 on Wednesday. An average of 230,145 units traded at $788,116 compared to 58,597 shares at $572,218 on the previous day, with trading month to date, averaging 105,529 units at $707,865 versus 53,059 units at $674,075. The average trade for January amounts to 39,943 units at $369,498.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Agostini’s lost $1 to end at $45, with100 shares changing hands, Angostura Holdings ended unchanged at $19.99 with the swapping of 64 units, Ansa McAl dropped 25 cents in closing at $58.75 after ownership of 550 stock units was shifted. Clico Investment Fund remained at $29, with 256 stocks crossing the market, First Citizens Group declined $1 to $63 trading 269 units, FirstCaribbean International Bank rose 14 cents to $6.14 after 100 stocks changed hands. 
GraceKennedy finished at $6.10 with an exchange of 48,271 shares, Guardian Holdings shed 25 cents to close at $29.75 after 7,980 stock units cleared the market, JMMB Group ended at $2.30 after exchanging 3,381,000 units. Massy Holdings remained at $106 while exchanging 18,240 stock units, NCB Financial Group finished at $8 in swapping 186,740 stocks, One Caribbean Media rallied 10 cents to $4.20 after exchanging 20,200 shares. Republic Financial Holdings finished at $143 in an exchange of 2,128 stock units, Scotiabank ended at $72.01 after trading at 475 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 49 cents to $19.50 with an exchange of 300 shares and West Indian Tobacco shed 54 cents to $26.06 in trading 15,647 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
