Stocks slipped at the close of trading activity on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, as the magnitude of rising prices were dwarfed by the value of those falling following a mere 4 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 19 percent greater value than on Tuesday as the number of securities participating in trading fell to 39 compared with 43 on Tuesday, with the market closing with prices of 12 rising, 17 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed on Wednesday with 9,936,988 shares being traded at $23,043,491 compared to 10,370,207 units at $19,439,494 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 254,795 shares at $590,859 compared to 241,168 units at $452,081 on Tuesday with trading for the month to date, averaging 197,562 units at $422,437 compared to 172,197 stock units at $347,796 on the previous day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Limners and Bards led trading with 4.30 million shares for 43.3 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy with 1.92 million units for 19.4 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 1.54 million units for 15.5 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index fell 9.15 points to lock up trading at 3,707.61.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of trading, AMG Packaging fell 40 cents to finish at $3.05 with an exchange of 2,616 stocks, Blue Power popped 24 cents to $3.07 with 838,189 units crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 11 cents in closing at $3.62 after investors exchanged 80,415 shares. Caribbean Cream shed 8 cents and ended at $4.37 with 21,982 stock units changing hands, Dolphin Cove dropped 50 cents to end at $23 after 57,000 shares passed through the market, Image Plus traded 104,275 shares and lost 5 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.85,
Indies Pharma increased 15 cents to close at $2.65, with investors exchanging 4,000 units. ISP Finance sank $1.99 to $24.01 with 50 stocks clearing the market, Jamaican Teas climbed 10 cents to close at $2.50 in switching ownership of 2,584 stock units, Knutsford Express rose 16 cents in closing at $11.41 with investors transferring 27,019 shares. Lumber Depot slipped 11 cents to finish at $2.68 after an exchange of 7,245 stocks, Main Event lost 50 cents and ended at $12.50 with investors swapping 8,468 units and Paramount Trading dipped 19 cents to end at $1.15 and closed after an exchange of 8,293 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
BOJ CD rates inched higher
Rates on Bank of Jamaica certificate of deposits (CDs) closed higher to end at an average of 10.02 percent in Wednesday’s public auction of $37 billion.
The highest rate cleared at 10.325 percent which was only partially filled with 334 successful bids out of a total of 373 covering $444.283 billion that the central bank received for the auction.
Today’s average rate was slightly above the 9.98 percent in last week’s auction. This week’s auction will result in the total amount of 30 days CD’s that the Bank of Jamaica holds falling to $125.5 billion from $128.5 billion in the previous week.
Trading rose on Jamaica Stock Exchange
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose at the close of trading on Wednesday, with the Junior Market declining by a few points and the JSE USD market suffered a big percentage fall as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling, with the value of stocks traded jumping sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 27 shares rising and 42 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,324.21 points to 331,987.60, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,046.83 points to 357,718.29, the JSE Main Index gained 1,447.87 points to close trading at 319,363.28. The Junior Market Index slipped 9.15 points to end the day at 3,707.61 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 9.12 points or 4 percent to conclude trading at 221.76.
At the close of trading, 18,375,177 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 17,868,565 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $85.87 million, above the $69.07 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 552,161 shares for US$14,011 up from 1,188,623 units at US$36,705 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.43 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.68 million stocks and Scotia Group with 360,975 units, ahead of second quarter results due Thursday.
In the Junior Market, Limners and Bards led trading with 4.30 million shares followed by Future Energy with 1.92 million stocks and Dolla Financial with 1.54 million units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share advanced $90 in closing at $1,200.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.1 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Stocks closed lower on Trinidad Exchange
Stocks closed lower on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday, after a 59 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded valued at 114 percent more than on Tuesday resulting in 16 securities trading down from 20 on Tuesday and ending with prices of four stocks rising, eight declining and four remaining firm.
The market closed with trading of 82,230 shares for $2,125,118 up from 51,735 stock units at $993,208 on Tuesday.
An average of 5,139 shares were traded at $132,820 compared with 2,587 units at $49,660 on Tuesday, with trading month to date averaging 4,721 shares at $78,313 compared with 4,561 units at $57,545 on the previous day and an average for May of 15,629 shares at $129,694.
The Composite Index dipped 2.45 points to 1,131.35, the All T&T Index shed 6.74 points to close trading at 1,705.10, the SME Index remained at 86.99 and the Cross-Listed Index rose 0.30 points to 72.41.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Agostini’s remained at $68.75 with traders dealing in 360 stocks, Ansa McAl climbed $1.55 to $63.55 after a transfer of 8 units, First Citizens ended at $44.30 with 4,136 shares being traded. FirstCaribbean International Bank popped 43 cents and ended at $6.93 after closing with an exchange of 260 stock units, Guardian Holdings skidded $1.15 to end at $15.60 with investors transferring 820 shares, JMMB Group gained 4 cents in closing at $1.25 after the exchange of 12,936 units. Massy Holdings fell 14 cents to $4.04 in trading 23,491 stocks, National Enterprises declined 14 cents to end at $3.50 with 10,255 stock units clearing the market, National Flour Mills rose 1 cent in closing at $2.25 in an exchange of 88 shares.
One Caribbean Media shed 3 cents and ended at $3.65 with investors dealing in just 2 stocks, Republic Financial sank $5 to close at $110 after 13,919 units passed through the market, Scotiabank dipped 75 cents to finish at $65.24, with 1,304 stock units changing hands. Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 49 cents to $6.93 in an exchange of 964 shares, Trinidad Cement ended at $2.60 with investors trading 8,903 stocks, Unilever Caribbean slipped 20 cents and ended at $11.71 in switching ownership of 986 units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $10, with 3,798 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on JSE USD market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended trading on Tuesday, with a 971 percent jump in the volume of stocks changing hands with Transjamaican Highway controlling the bulk of trading, as the value traded jumping 50 percent over Monday, resulting in activity 10 securities, compared to eight on Monday with prices of four rising, one declining and five ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 1,188,623 shares for US$36,705 compared to 110,971 units at US$24,393 on Monday.
Trading averaged 118,862 units at US$3,671 compared to 13,871 shares at US$3,049 on Monday, with a month to date average of 72,200 shares at US$3,394 up from May with an average of 32,077 units for US$3,201.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased 0.03 points to end trading at 230.88.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.5. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price and projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
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, AS Bryden ended at 22 US cents after trading of 2,442 stocks, Margaritaville dropped 0.03 of a cent to 9.98 US cents, with 86 units crossing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy remained at 61 US cents after a transfer of 898 shares. Productive Business Solutions ended at US$1.50, with 155 stock units crossing the exchange, 
Proven Investments advanced 0.09 of a cent in closing at 13.08 US cents with investors dealing in 4,585 shares, Sterling Investments remained at 1.6 US cents after exchanging 3,200 stocks and Transjamaican Highway popped 0.12 cent in closing at 2.15 US cents after an exchange of 1,169,220 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share gained 1 cent to end at US$1.29 with 8,000 stock units clearing the market, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share rose 45 cents to end at US$11.45 as investors exchanged 8 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% ended at US$10.30 in trading 29 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market drops on lower volume
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market traded lower on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining by 51 percent after a 31 percent lower valuation than on Monday, with trading in 62 securities compared with 61 on Monday, with prices of 23 stocks rising, 23 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 6,312,177 shares being traded for $49,633,997 that is lower than the 12,947,498 units for $71,846,878 on Monday.
Trading averaged 101,809 shares at $800,548 down from 212,254 units at $1,177,818 on Monday and month to date, an average of 156,583 units at $987,649 and May with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.74 million shares for 27.6 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 840,062 units for 13.3 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 with 736,302 stock units for 11.7 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 1,399.25 points to end the day at 358,765.12, the JSE Main Index dropped 3,498.91 points to conclude trading at 317,915.41 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.91 points to wrap up trading at 68.14.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.9. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped 50 cents to close at $62.50 with traders dealing in 2,860 shares, Eppley fell $1 to $39 in clearing the market with 107 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped 65 cents and ended at $38.75 with investors trading 15,896 shares. Guardian Holdings lost $10 to finish at $360, with 1,014 stock units crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers rose $1.99 to end at $33.49 while 828 shares were traded, Jamaica Producers advanced $1.10 in closing at $23.10 with an exchange of just one stock unit. JMMB Group shed 40 cents to $24.60 as investors traded 60,448 stocks, Kingston Wharves popped 52 cents and ended at $27.45 with a transfer of 422 units, Margaritaville rallied $1.16 to finish at $16.15 with investors swapping 2,598 shares. 
Massy Holdings declined $9.89 to $80.01 after an exchange of 1,211 stock units, Pan Jamaica sank $1.60 in closing at $49.90 after 100 stocks passed through the market, Proven Investments skidded $1.28 to $20.01 with an exchange of 4,895 units. Sagicor Group slipped $2.10 to $39.90 with 49,442 shares crossing the market, Seprod sank 60 cents and ended at $79.40 in switching ownership of 2,870 stock units and Stanley Motta increased 33 cents in closing at $7.45 with investors transferring 1,000 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed $1.28 to finish at $7.48 after an exchange of 104 stocks, Eppley 7.75% preference share dipped 85 cents to end at $19.15 with investors dealing in 60,000 shares, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained 71 cents to close at $41.50 in an exchange of 125 stocks. 138 Student Living preference share lost $2.12 in closing at $187.88, with 1,345 units changing hands and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $11.10 to end at $113.50 with one stock unit crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market big second day drop
Junior Market trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with a 117 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with 74 percent greater value than Monday following trading in 43 securities compared to 45 on Monday and ending with prices of 11 rising, 17 declining and 15 closing unchanged.
The market closed on Tuesday with an exchange of 10,370,207 shares for $19,439,494 versus 4,783,133 units at $11,166,537 on Monday.
Trading averaged 241,168 shares at $452,081 compared to 106,292 units for $248,145 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 172,197 units at $347,796 compared to May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Limners and Bards led trading with 2.40 million shares for 23.1 percent of total volume followed by Everything Fresh with 1.49 million units for 14.4 percent of the day’s trade, Dolla Financial ended with 1.36 million units for 13.1 percent market share and Paramount Trading with 1.15 million units for 11.1 percent of total volume.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dropped 48.52 points to wrap up trading at 3,716.76.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose 25 cents and ended at $20, with just two shares crossing the exchange, Blue Power dipped 22 cents to $2.83 in trading 83,468 stocks, Caribbean Cream rallied 10 cents to end trading at $4.45 after an exchange of 4,109 shares. Derrimon Trading fell 28 cents to $1.93 with 8,717 stock units crossing the market, Dolphin Cove declined 50 cents to close at $23.50 with investors transferring 6,552 shares, Everything Fresh lost 11 cents to finish at $1.70 after 1,494,354 units passed through the market. Future Energy slipped 10 cents and ended at $3.25 with investors trading 844,623 stocks, Honey Bun popped 10 cents to $7.90, with 37,631 stock units changing hands, Indies Pharma sank 20 cents in closing at $2.50 with a transfer of 974 shares.
Jamaican Teas skidded 10 cents to finish trading of 9,300 stocks at $2.40, Knutsford Express shed 15 cents to end at $11.25 in an exchange of 10,011 stocks, Lasco Financial increased 9 cents to close at $1.60 with traders dealing in 60,937 stocks. Main Event climbed 40 cents to close at $13 in switching ownership of just one share, MFS Capital Partners gained 20 cents in closing at $1.37 as investors exchanged 520,355 stocks, Regency Petroleum rallied 11 cents to $2.22 after closing with an exchange of 3,089 units and tTech increased 21 cents to finish at $2.35 with an exchange of 5 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Remittance inflows to Jamaica slip
After a modest increase in total remittance inflows into Jamaica in February, remittances for March slipped from the same period last by 1.3 percent to US$297.5 million but was higher than the US$295 million in March 2022, data released by the country’s central bank show.
Remittance inflows which are major source of foreign for the country and remains fairly stable, slipped moderately for the three months to March this year, with total inflows down a mere 0.4 percent to US$797 million compared with US$801 million to March 2023. The decline in March albeit small, is a continuation of several months of decline since May 2023.
The United States of America continues to be Jamaica’s largest source of remittance flows in March 2024, accounting for 69.8 percent of total flows, down from 71.7 percent in March 2023. Other countries which contributed a notable share of remittances for the month were the United Kingdom, with 10.6 percent followed by Canada at 8.7 percent and the Cayman Islands with 6.7 percent, the report from Bank of Jamaica states.
Major Jamaica Stock Exchange markets drop
Trading pulled back from Monday’s level resulting in a decline in the Main Market and Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. At the same time, the JSE USD market closed a fraction higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands inching up, with a lower value than on the previous day, resulting in prices of 30 shares rising and 37 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 3,692.26 points to close at 330,663.38, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,399.25 points to end at 358,765.12, the JSE Main Index sank 3,498.91 points to close trading at 317,915.41. The Junior Market Index declined 48.52 points to lock up trading at 3,716.76 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 0.03 points to settle at 230.88.
At the close of trading, 17,868,565 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up marginally from 17,841,602 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $69.07 million, well below the $83.02 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,188,623 shares for US$36,705 compared to 110,971 units at US$24,393 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.74 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 840,062 stocks units and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 with 736,302 units.
In the Junior Market, Limners and Bards led trading with 2.40 million shares followed by Everything Fresh with 1.49 million units, Dolla Financial chipped in with 1.36 million shares and Paramount Trading with 1.15 million stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed $1.28 to finish at $7.48, Eppley 7.75% preference share dipped 85 cents to end at $19.15, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained 71 cents to close at $41.50. 138 Student Living preference share lost $2.12 to close at $187.88 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $11.10 to end at $113.50.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.1 on 2023-24 earnings and 1.3 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Heavy gains & losses on the Trinidad Exchange
Stocks ended trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with rising and declining stocks sharing the honours equally after trading in 20 securities down from 22 on Monday and ending with prices of eight stocks rising and declining, nine declining and three remaining firm resulting from a 63 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded valued 30 percent less than on Monday.
The market closed with trading of 51,735 shares for $993,208 compared to 139,847 stock units at $1,423,656 on Monday.
An average of 2,587 shares were traded at $49,660 compared to 6,357 units at $64,712 on Monday, with trading month to date averaging 4,561 shares at $57,545 compared to May with an average of 15,629 shares at $129,694.
The Composite Index shed 1.08 points to end trading at 1,133.80, the All T&T Index shed 1.48 points to 1,711.84, the SME Index remained unchanged at 86.99 and the Cross-Listed Index lost 0.09 points to wrap up trading at 72.11.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s slipped 3 cents to close at $68.75 after an exchange of 334 shares, Angostura Holdings fell $1.44 to $17.06 with 113 units crossing the market, Ansa McAl gained $2 to finish at a 52 weeks’ high of $62 as investors exchanged 661 shares. 
Calypso Macro Investment Fund rose 97 cents and ended at $24 after trading of 14 stock units, First Citizens Group rallied 5 cents in closing at $44.30 after 1,955 shares passed through the market, GraceKennedy dipped 1 cent to end at $3.87 with investors trading 126 units. Guardian Holdings increased $1.25 in closing at $16.75 with 141 stocks crossing the market, Guardian Media remained at $1.80 with traders dealing in 59 stock units, JMMB Group fell 7 cents to finish at $1.21 with 7,710 shares changing hands. Massy Holdings ended at $4.18 with investors transferring 2,269 stock units, National Enterprises declined 1 cent to close at $3.64 after an exchange of 295 stocks, National Flour Mills slipped 1 cent to end at $2.24 with investors dealing in 13 units. One Caribbean Media climbed 28 cents to $3.68 and closed with 670 stocks being traded, 
Prestige Holdings remained at $12.75 with an exchange of 3,989 units, Republic Financial dropped $1 in closing at $115 with 4,672 shares clearing the market. Scotiabank shed 1 cent and ended at $65.99 in an exchange of 1,011 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL popped 62 cents to finish at $7.42 with investors swapping 10,239 shares, Trinidad Cement advanced 3 cents to close at $2.60 after a transfer of 12,000 units. Unilever Caribbean rose 36 cents to $11.91 with 1,806 stocks crossing the exchange and West Indian Tobacco skidded 10 cents and ended at $10 with a transfer of 3,658 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
