The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market fell 10.8 percent to its lowest level since the start of the year at the end of trading on Wednesday. The volume of stocks traded rose 51 percent with a 43 percent lower value than at the close on Tuesday as 52 securities were exchanged compared to 56 on Tuesday, with 16 rising, 21 declining, and 15 ending unchanged.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dived 2,743.15 points to 404,678.93, to be down 7.7 per for the year to date, the JSE Main Index dropped 4,595.49 points to 353,218.99, with a 10.8 percent fall for the year and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.72 points to settle at 85.46.
Investors traded 15,124,626 shares costing $74,624,156 versus 10,035,795 units at $130,106,528 on Tuesday. The average trade for the day was 290,858 units at $1,435,080, compared to 179,211 shares at $2,323,331 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 856,824 units at $5,280,521, compared to 889,671 units at $5,503,694 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
138 Student Living led trading with 4.23 million shares for 28 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.76 million units for 24.9 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.85 million units for 18.9 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.24 million units for 8.2 percent of the day’s transactions.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.4 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with the financial year ending between November and August 2023.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rose $1.16 to $11.47, with 1,591 shares changing hands, Eppley fell $1 to close at $40 in trading 100 stocks, GraceKennedy shed $2 in closing at $94 with the swapping of 143,571 units. Guardian Holdings jumped $50.46 to end at $557.46, with 35 stock units crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers popped 50 cents to $28.50 while exchanging 19,549 shares, Jamaica Producers lost 87 cents to end at $20.13 after exchanging 20,436 stocks. JMMB Group climbed 50 cents in closing at $41.25 after 124,437 units changed hands, Massy Holdings dropped $10.84 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $75 after trading 1,464 stock units, 138 Student Living advanced 46 cents to $5.91 with 4,229,552 shares changing hands. Palace Amusement declined $70 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $690 after exchanging 74 stocks, Proven Investments dipped 50 cents to close at $31.50, with 7,052 stock units crossing the market, Scotia Group dropped $1.10 to $34 as investors exchanged 13,588 units. 
Seprod lost 45 cents to end at $69 in an exchange of 5,129 shares and Supreme Ventures declined 40 cents to $29.50 with investors transferring 48,546 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share increased 49 cents in closing at $7.49 after trading 10,940 stock units and JMMB Group 7% preference share dipped 50 cents to $2 with 30,116 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,541.98 points to 407,422.08, the JSE Main Index rose 619.64 points to 357,814.48 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.24 points to close at 86.18.
At the close, Berger Paints dipped $1.19 to $10.31 while exchanging 4,637 shares, Caribbean Cement popped $1 to close at $57 in trading 255,832 stocks, Eppley rose $2.50 in closing at $40 while trading 30 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $4.98 to $40 after a trade of 77 shares, First Rock Real Estate dropped 79 cents to $11.51 in switching ownership of 43,083 stock units, GraceKennedy rose $1 to $96 after exchanging 319,641 units and trading at an intraday 52 weels’ low of $70.10. Guardian Holdings dropped $18 in closing at $507 after trading 138 shares, Jamaica Broilers dropped 50 cents to close at $28, with an exchange of 18,239 stocks, Jamaica Producers rose 89 cents in ending at $21 with the swapping of 93,150 stock units after the price hit an intraday one year low of $18.04, Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped 40 cents to $16, with 6,128 units crossing the market, JMMB Group had trading in 464,838 but fell 75 cents at $40.75, Kingston Wharves declined $3.28 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $34.12, with 3,658 shares crossing the market, Massy Holdings jumped $8.84 in closing $85.84 after exchanging 1,210 stocks. Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 56 cents to $14.06 and exchanged 11,645 units, NCB Financial gained $1.98 in ending at $92.18 after trading 79,481, 
Palace Amusement added $10 to close at $760 with just four shares trading following trading at a one year intraday low of $665, PanJam Investment climbed $1 to end at $60 with an exchange of 255,259 stock units, Salada Foods fell 38 cents to close at $4.62 with 8,474 stocks changing hands. Scotia Group rallied $1.10 to $35.10, with an exchange of 1,113 shares and Supreme Ventures rose $1.10 to $29.90, with 107,110 units crossing the exchange.
At the close, Berger Paints rose $1.27 to $11.50 while exchanging 11,543 shares, Caribbean Cement dipped $3.75 to close at $56 in trading 74,233 stocks, Carreras shed 39 cents to end at $9 with 245,669 stock units clearing the market. Eppley declined 50 cents in closing at $38.50 while trading 4,523 units, First Rock Real Estate climbed 79 cents to $12.30 in switching ownership of 872 stock units, GraceKennedy fell $1.50 to end at $95 after exchanging 123,366 units. Guardian Holdings gained $5 in closing at $525 after trading 1,064 shares, Jamaica Broilers dropped 58 cents to close at $28.50 as investors exchanged 40,218 stocks, Jamaica Producers lost 89 cents in ending at $20.11 with the swapping of 27,940 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 90 cents to $16.40, with 4,956 units crossing the market, Margaritaville declined $1.40 to close at $28, with three shares crossing the market, Massy Holdings shed $10 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $77 after exchanging 6,120 stocks. Mayberry Investments dipped 65 cents after ending at $9.25 and exchanging 11,645 units, PanJam Investment dropped $1 to end at $59 with an exchange of 39,863 stock units, Proven Investments fell 96 cents to $32.04 with 29,368 stocks changing hands. Sagicor Group lost $4 in closing at $50, with 74,306 shares changing hands, Stanley Motta dropped 38 cents to end at $4.60 after a transfer of 114,461 stocks, 
Supreme Ventures declined 46 cents to $28.80, with 107,110 units crossing the exchange and Sygnus Real Estate Finance dipped 55 cents to $9.75 with investors transferring 2,801 stock units.
The disclosure that Dolla Financial corresponded with Access Financial to explore merger talks, put new life into the former TOP10 stock, with increased buying in the stock this past week. Trading picked up with 115,359 units being exchanged during the week, up from 38,162 units the previous week, with the stock moving from $25 at the end of last week to $27.50 this past week.
The Junior Market ICTOP10 welcomed Consolidated Bakeries, with projected earnings per share of 22 cents, with the company appearing to be breaking the old practice of limited revenue growth and small profits. See the latest profile of the company with full reporting and its prospects for the current year. General Accident says goodbye to the ICTOP10 following the recovery in the price. There were no changes in the Main 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 emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
Trading ended with 289,860,735 shares for $2,467,647,684 compared with 358,301,804 units for $1,351,391,586 on Thursday.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
Seprod lost 45 cents to end at $69.05 after a transfer of 23,137 stock units and Supreme Ventures dipped 73 cents to $29.26 in an exchange of 2,529,457 units.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with the financial year ending between November and August 2023.
Scotia Group advanced 50 cents to close at $34.50 with the swapping of 6,510 stock units, Seprod rallied 45 cents to end at $69.50 with investors transferring 1,119 stock units. Supreme Ventures climbed $1.01 to $29.99 with an exchange of 91,949 units and Victoria Mutual Investments gained 65 cents in closing at $5.66 after 78,171 shares changed hands.
At the close, Caribbean Cement increased $1 to $60 with the swapping of 4,491 shares, Eppley rose $1.05 to $41 trading 770 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $6.45 to $44.85 in switching ownership of 4,000 stock units. GraceKennedy dropped $2.50 in closing at $95.50 in trading 326,540 units, Guardian Holdings gained $28.90 to close at $550, with seven stock units crossing the market, JMMB Group shed 75 cents to close at $41.25 as investors exchanged 330,814 shares. Margaritaville lost 44 cents in ending at $29.50 after trading 85 stocks, Massy Holdings dipped $2 to $85 with a transfer of 760 units, Mayberry Investments rallied $2.42 in closing at $9.93 in an exchange of 49,286 shares. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell $6.05 to end at $65.78 after a transfer of 266 units, NCB Financial declined $1 to end at $94, with 26,489 crossing the exchange, Palace Amusement fell $3.37 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $750 with 38 stock units clearing the market. PanJam Investment advanced $1.95 in closing at $62 after exchanging 1,145,510 stocks, Portland JSX popped $1.45 to $10.80 with an exchange of 1,155 shares, Proven Investments fell 50 cents to $32 after exchanging 3,023 units.
Sagicor Group shed $2.50 in closing at $52 with 1,036,762 stock units changing hands, Scotia Group dipped $1.05 to $34 after exchanging 70,141 units, Seprod lost 94 cents to end at $69.05, with 9,590 stock units crossing the market. Supreme Ventures increased 43 cents to $28.98 with investors transferring 101,987 stocks and Sygnus Real Estate Finance dropped 64 cents to close at $10.30 while trading 2,606 shares.
A total of 6,129,079 shares were exchanged for $50,321,427 versus 7,396,135 units at $31,788,226 on Monday. Trading averaged 111,438 units at $914,935, compared to 125,358 shares at $538,783 on Monday, with the month to date, averaging 160,435 units at $1,135,635, compared to 165,265 units at $1,157,389 on the previous trading day. July averaged173,643 units at $1,683,017.
At the close, Caribbean Cement declined 80 cents to close at $59, with 13,474 shares crossing the exchange, GraceKennedy rallied $2.50 to $98 after exchanging 84,925 units, Guardian Holdings advanced $16.10 in ending at $521.10, with 60 stock units changing hands. JMMB Group shed 50 cents in closing at $42, with 144,349 stocks crossing the market, Margaritaville gained $5.74 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $29.94 after exchanging 100 stock units, Massy Holdings fell $2 to end at $87 and closed with 781 shares changing hands. Mayberry Investments lost $2.44 to close at $7.51, with 98,300 stocks clearing the market, NCB Financial increased $1 in closing at $95 after exchanging 101,809 units, Palace Amusement dropped $66.62 after ending at $753.37 in trading 196 shares. PanJam Investment fell 95 cents to $60.05 in an exchange of 814 stocks, Portland JSX shed $1.65 in ending at $9.35 while exchanging 245 units, Scotia Group declined $1.45 to close at $35.05 after transferring 5,742 stock units and Wisynco traded 54,729 shares and gained 30 cents in closing at $17.70.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rose 78 cents to end at $50.10 after trading 21 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $38.80 in closing at $126.20 with an exchange of 373 shares.
Overall, 7,396,135 shares were exchanged for $31,788,226 versus 4,959,941 units at $65,424,573 on Friday. Trading averaged 125,358 units at $538,783 compared to 88,570 shares at $1,168,2961 on Friday and month to date, an average of 165,265 units at $1,157,389, compared to 169,983 units at $1,230,531 on the previous trading day. July averaged 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
At the close, Barita Investments fell 98 cents to $86.30 after exchanging 3,282 shares, Caribbean Cement dropped $2.70 to close at $59.80 after an exchange of 8,073 shares, Eppley jumped $1.32 in closing at $39.39, with 313 stocks crossing the market. First Rock traded 24,359 shares after rising 55 cents to $12.45. GraceKennedy dropped $3.25 to end at $95.50, with 23,610 units changing hands, Guardian Holdings fell $1 to close at $505 after trading 292 stock units, Jamaica Broilers rose 35 cents to $29 after exchanging 5,664 stocks. Jamaica Producers fell 60 cents in closing at $20.15, with an exchange of 1,365 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell $2.26 to $16.70 after an exchange of 3,389 shares, Massy Holdings shed $1.10 in ending at $89, with 2,130 units crossing the exchange, Margaritaville climbed $2.20 to $24.20, with just two stocks changing hands. Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 40 cents to close at $14.10 after trading 11,321 stock units. MPC Carib Energy fell $13.17 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $71.83 after trading 185 shares, NCB Financial lost $2 to end at $94 with an exchange of 92,031 shares, PanJam Investment shed $3 in closing at $61 in an exchange of 8,350 units. 
Portland JSX jumped $2.49 to $11 in switching ownership of a mere four stocks, Scotia Group popped $2.43 to end at $36.50 with the swapping of 327 stock units, Seprod rose $1.92 to $69.99, with 4,631 stocks crossing the market, Supreme Ventures climbed $1.38 to close at $28.53 in exchanging 16,826 shares and Wisynco dropped $1.52 in closing at $10.21, in trading 87,422 stocks.
Investors reacted the first chance they had and drove the prices of both stocks higher on Friday.
The Main Market ended the week with 138 Student Living jumping 23 percent to $5 and is likely to rise further, with the company posting solid results after the market closed, with earnings of 21 cents for the June quarter and 58 cents per share for the nine months to June. Berger Paints rose 8 percent to $11.93, VM Investments popped 4 percent to $5.20 and Guardian Holdings reversed most of the previous week’s gain by dropping a sharp 22 percent from $650 to $506.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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 emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.