Rising stocks were in the ascendency at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with trading in 43 securities up from 39 on Friday, ending with prices of 16 rising, 12 declining and 15 closing unchanged, with the activity moving the market index marginally higher at the close following a 90 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, valued 167 percent more than Friday.
Trading ended with 8,027,745 shares traded for $21,682,237 compared with 4,230,099 stock units at $8,122,644 on Friday.
Trading averaged 186,692 shares at $504,238 compared to 108,464 units at $208,273 on Friday and trading for the month to date, averages 163,019 stock units at $346,929 compared to 161,282 stocks at $335,386 on the previous trading day and December that ended with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Express Catering led trading with 3.37 million shares for 42 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 1.43 million stocks for 17.8 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 1.05 million units for 13.1 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 7.42 points to end at 3,737.00, down 2.9 percent for the year so far.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power rose 20 cents to end at $3.15 in an exchange of 100 units, Caribbean Flavours added 10 cents in closing at $1.70 with investors transferring 80,000 stocks, Dolla Financial dropped 11 cents to $2.60 with 1,053,076 shares clearing the market. Dolphin Cove fell 50 cents and ended at $19 after a transfer of 37 stock units, EduFocal popped 12 cents to close at $1.49 with investors trading 132,596 shares, Express Catering increased 36 cents to $3.97 with an exchange of 3,374,968 stock units after the price hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $3.51. Fontana declined 19 cents in closing at $10.30 with 8,847 units crossing the market,
Jetcon Corporation gained 8 cents and ended at 91 cents while exchanging 464 stocks, KLE Group rallied 45 cents to end at $2.30 with traders dealing in 118,337 units. Knutsford Express advanced 39 cents to close at $12.39 in an exchange of 2,730 stocks, Lasco Distributors rose 15 cents to $4 with investors swapping just 475 shares, Limners and Bards traded at 52 weeks low of $1.29 after the price slipped 2 cents with 191,035 shares changing hands and Spur Tree Spices advanced 7 cents and ended at $2.41 after 4,150 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on the JSE USD Market
More than a quarter million dollars passed through the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Monday, with the volume of stocks exchanged declining 51 percent after the value surged 1,550 percent more than on Friday, resulting in trading in seven securities, the same as on Friday with the price of three rising, two declining and two ending unchanged.
The market closed with trading in 317,598 shares for US$259,958 compared to 649,338 units at US$15,760 on Friday.
Trading averaged 45,371 units at US$37,137 versus 92,763 shares at US$2,251 on Friday, with a month to date average of 40,118 shares at US$4,417 compared with 39,670 units at US$1,624 on the previous day and December that ended with an average of 28,010 units for US$1,403.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased 3.41 points to close at 240.73.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.1. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share skidded 0.09 of a cent to end at 4.01 US cents after 8,899 units passed through the market, Proven Investments ended at 13 US cents after an exchange of 2,523 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 0.27 of one cent to close at 8.99 US cents, with 63,572 stock units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.02 cent to 1.85 US cents clearing the market with 35,945 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB US8.5% preference share rose 3 US cents to US$1.03 in trading 206,359 stocks, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share ended at US$11.50 while exchanging 100 units and Sygnus Credit Investments E 8.5% popped 25 US cents and ended at US$10.25 with investors trading 200 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading volume surges on the JSE markets
The market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed mixed in trading on Monday as the Junior Market JSE USD market edged moderately higher and the Main Market major indices recorded declines and gains after trading ended with the volume of stocks exchanged surging, with the value traded falling from that on Friday and resulting in 38 shares rising and 32 declining.
At the close of trading on Monday, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 934.48 points to end at 333,128.32, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 577.72 points to 357,171.52, the JSE Main Index shed 1,065.68 points to close at 320,309.99. The Junior Market Index popped 7.42 points to 3,737.00 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 3.41 points to end the day at 240.73.
At the close of trading, 36,430,685 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 12,488,845 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $67.96 million, down from $97.58 million on Friday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 317,598 shares for US$259,958 compared to 649,338 units at US$15,760 on Friday.
Main Market trading was dominated by JMMB 9.5% preference share led trading with 18.65 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.92 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund was next with 1.16 million stock units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.12 million shares.
In the Junior Market, Express Catering led trading with 3.37 million shares followed by JFP Ltd with 1.43 million units and Dolla Financial with 1.05 million stock units.
At the close of the market, some of the major Main Market stocks that rose are Caribbean Cement rose $1.68 to close at $53, Jamaica Producers climbed $1.70 to close at $23.70, Margaritaville increased $1.55 in closing at $17.05and Scotia Group gained $2 in closing at $41.
The major declining Main Market stocks include AS Bryden fell $1 to $40, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund skidded $1.45 and ended at $38.55, Guardian Holdings sank $17 in closing at $372, NCB Financial declined $2.78 to $65.21.
On a day of limited price movement in the Junior Market, the major stocks with gains are Express Catering increased 36 cents to $3.97 KLE Group rallied 45 cents to end at $2.30.and Knutsford Express advanced 39 cents to close at $12.39, with the major losing stock being Dolphin Cove fell 50 cents and ended at $19.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share lost $30 in closing at $90.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9 times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information 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.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Express Catering pops into ICTOP10
Paramount Trading dropped out of ICInsider.com following an earnings downgrade to 12 cents per share, with half year results continuing to fall coming from a fall off in revenues. Express Catering joins the ICInsider.com TOP 10 following an earnings upgrade to 55 cents per share and the stock price closing down at $3.61 on Friday in a week that the Main and Junior markets fell one percent during the week but there were some stocks with relatively sizable price changes.
There was just one stock with a notable gain in the Junior Market TOP 10 and four with sizable losses while in the Main Market, only one stock rose with a gain of three percent and 7 declined, with sizable moves by five. Junior Market listed Access Financial, rose 11 percent to $22.68 but Caribbean Cream fell a hefty 23 percent to close at $3.41 followed by a 7 percent fall by Jamaican Teas to $2.40, while Lasco Distributors lost 6 percent to close a $3.85 and Paramount Trading fell 4 percent to $1.54.
The Main Market General Accident dropped 17 percent to $4.75, followed by a 12 percent fall in Margaritaville to $15.50, 138 Student Living fell 11 percent to $3.50, while Key Insurance is down 6 percent to $2.19 and Caribbean Producers slipped 5 percent to $8.60.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.3, well below the market average of 13.6 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2, just over half of the market, with an average of 13.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 311 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 185 percent over the same time frame.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 31 and 21 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market, there are 13 stocks, or 27 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 50, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes 
some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings 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 are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
TOP 10 Stocks, Daily Trading, Jamaican Stocks, Junior Market, Jamaican Stock Exchange,
Jamaica’s remittances exceed US$3B in 2023
Jamaica had total remittance Inflows of US$268 million in November last year, down 3.4 percent from US$277 million in November 2022, Jamaica’s central bank data show.
For the 11 months to November 2023, remittance inflows to the country amounted to US$3.064 billion, a decline of 1.6 percent compared to 2022 for the same period. The decline is just US$50 million short of the US$3.114 billion for the same period in 2022. The full 2023 outcome could fall short of US$3.4 billion based on the trend for the year to date and would be down on the US$3.44 billion that obtained in 2022.
Steady JSE USD Market trades
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with a 315 percent rise in the volume of stocks exchanged after 4 percent fewer dollars changed hands than on Thursday, resulting in trading in seven securities, compared to six on Thursday with prices of three rising, two declining and two ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 649,338 shares for US$15,760 compared to 156,654 units at US$16,462 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 92,763 units at US$2,251 versus 26,109 shares at US$2,744 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 39,670 shares at US$1,624 compared with 34,714 units at US$1,565 on the previous day and December with an average of 28,010 units for US$1,403.
The US Denominated Equities Index declined 3.74 points to close at 237.32.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.1. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD sharedipped 0.6 of one cent and ended at 4.1 US cents, with 2,744 stocks crossing the exchange, Margaritaville remained at 10 US cents in switching ownership of 179 units, 
Proven Investments ended trading of 4,364 shares at 13 US cents. Sterling Investments slipped 0.1 cent to end at 1.5 US cents, with 60,814 stock units crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 1.02 cent in closing at 8.72 US cents with an exchange of 72,020 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share popped 1.11 cents to 8.11 US cents with trading of 1,000 stocks and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.03 of a cent to close at 1.87 US cents after an exchange of 508,217 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market drops Friday
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 23 percent and the value rising three percent over trading on Thursday, with an exchange of 48 securities compared with 53 on the previous day and ended with prices of 13 stocks rising, 19 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
The market closed on Friday after 7,609,408 shares were traded for $89,452,687 versus 9,945,485 units at $87,264,668 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 158,529 shares at $1,863,598 compared to 187,651 units at $1,646,503 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 205,969 units at $1,634,096 in comparison with 209,088 units at $1,619,005 on the prior day and December with an average of 264,266 units at $3,755,946.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.47 million shares for 32.5 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.29 million units for 16.9 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaica Producers with 955,735 units for 12.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index sank 465.78 points to end at 356,593.80, the JSE Main Index dropped 723.40 points to 321,375.67 and the JSE Financial Index advanced 0.28 points to 69.37.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AS Bryden sank $2 in closing at $41, with 3,260 shares crossing the market, Barita Investments fell 82 cents to $70.48 with investors trading 2,921 stocks, Caribbean Cement lost $3.68 to close at $51.32 with 6,475 shares clearing the market. First Rock Real Estate skidded 36 cents and ended at $8.10 in an exchange of 1,814 stock units, GraceKennedy declined 80 cents to end at $76.40 with investors dealing in 12,908 shares, Jamaica Broilers shed 45 cents in closing at $33 in an exchange of 16,717 stocks. Jamaica Producers dropped $5 to $22, with 955,735 units changing hands, Kingston Properties popped 35 cents to end at $7.50 after an exchange of 2,520 stock units, Mayberry Group advanced 69 cents and ended at $8.25 as 443 shares passed through the market. 
Mayberry Jamaican Equities dipped 53 cents to close at $9 after exchanging 8,000 units, NCB Financial rose $1.89 to $67.99 in swapping 44,530 stocks, 138 Student Living lost 68 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.50 with traders dealing in 37,005 stock units. Pan Jamaica gained $4.45 in closing at $50 after a transfer of 460 shares, Seprod skidded $3.70 and ended at $82 in trading 94,382 stocks and Wisynco Group fell 50 cents to close at $20, with 165,509 units crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living climbed $24.28 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $192.28 after trading of three stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market trading drops, with most prices up
Trading dropped on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with a 43 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded at a 63 percent lower value than Thursday, 
with trading in 39 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 12 declining and 12 closing unchanged on a day mostly small price changes and a few of note.
The market closed on Friday with 4,230,099 shares trading at $8,122,644 from 7,401,497 units at $21,829,864 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 108,464 shares at $208,273, compared with 180,524 units for $532,436 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 161,282 stocks at $335,386 down from 165,048 shares at $344,449 on the previous day compared with December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.19 million shares for 28.1 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 910,630 units for 21.5 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies with 437,366 units for 10.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 2.31 points to end the day at 3,729.58.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 20 cents to end at $1.90 with investors transferring 1,274 stock units, Dolphin Cove gained $1.49 to close at $19.50 in an exchange of 4,349 shares, Elite Diagnostic popped 8 cents to $1.68 with investors dealing in 2,379 units. Express Catering shed 14 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.61, with 53,300 stocks crossing the exchange, 
Honey Bun rallied 13 cents and ended at $6.30 in trading 1,871 shares, Indies Pharma increased 26 cents to $2.94 after a transfer of 62,259 stocks. KLE Group climbed 51 cents to end at $1.85 in trading 217,136 units, Knutsford Express rose $1 $12, with 1,112 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Distributors lost 15 cents to close at $3.85 after an exchange of 42,502 shares. Lasco Manufacturing declined 9 cents and ended at $4.52 after an exchange of 11,540 stocks, Main Event advanced $1 to close trading at $16 with traders dealing in 60,755 units and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 8 cents to end at $1.59 after 437,366 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE markets fall to close out the week
All three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped at the close of trading on Friday as trading ended with a reduced volume of shares being exchanged, with a lower value than on Thursday, with a few stocks trading with sizable price movements on a day when prices of 27 stocks rose and 31 declined.
At the close of the market on Friday, the Composite Index shed 465.78 points to end at 356,593.80. The JSE Main Index lost 723.40 points to conclude trading at 321,375.67. The Junior Market Index slipped 2.31 points to 3,729.58 and the JSE USD Market Index sank 3.74 points to lock up trading at 237.32.
At the close of trading, 12,488,845 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 17,340,719 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $97.58 million, down from $109.09 million on Thursday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 649,338 shares for US$15,760 compared to 156,654 units at US$16,462 on Thursday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Transjamaican Highway which led trading with 2.47 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.29 million units and Jamaica Producers with 955,735 units.
In the Junior Market, ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.19 million shares followed by EduFocal with 910,630 units and Stationery and Office Supplies with 437,366 units.
At the close of the market, some of the major Main Market stocks that rose are NCB Financial rose $1.89 to $67.99, Pan Jamaica gained $4.45 in closing at $50.
The major declining Main Market stocks include AS Bryden sank $2 in closing at $41, Caribbean Cement lost $3.68 to close at $51.32, Jamaica Producers dropped $5 to $22 and Seprod skidded $3.70 to $82.
On a day of limited price movement in the Junior Market, the major stocks with gains are Dolphin Cove gained $1.49 to $19.50, KLE Group climbed 51 cents to end at $1.85, Knutsford Express rose $1 in closing at $12 and Main Event advanced $1 to $16. No stocks ended with a major loss on Friday.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $24.28 to $192.28.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 2… on 2022-23 earnings and 1… times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information 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.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Rising stocks drive Trinidad Exchange higher
Stocks rising at the close of trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange surged on Friday, after an exchange of 15 securities compared with 13 on Thursday, with prices of 10 stocks rising, two declining and three remaining unchanged following a 559 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded valued 1,051 percent more than at the close on Thursday and leading to a sizable bounce in the major market indices.
The market closed with an exchange of 183,039 shares for $4,394,938, up from just 27,758 units at $381,991 on Thursday.
An average of 12,203 shares were traded at $292,996 up from 2,135 units at $29,384 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 9,682 shares at $130,089 compared with 9,492 stock units at $117,871 on the previous day and December with an average of 17,065 shares at $239,371.
The Composite Index popped 10.04 points to 1,207.89, the All T&T Index advanced 15.44 points to lock up trading at 1,816.43, the SME Index remained unchanged at 78.23 and the Cross-Listed Index advanced 0.60 points to cease trading at 77.91.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s popped 1 cent and ended at $68.50 with investors trading 1,109 stock units, Angostura Holdings climbed $1.54 to $21.64 following the passage through the market of 5,936 shares, Ansa McAl rose $2.98 in closing at $59.98 after investors traded 20 units. Ansa Merchant Bank advanced 25 cents to close at $43.25, with 42,137 stocks crossing the market, First Citizens Group rallied 99 cents to $51 with investors dealing in 6,491 shares, FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $7.05 in switching ownership of 2,985 stocks. Guardian Holdings gained 15 cents and ended at $18.15 with traders dealing in 31,760 units, JMMB Group rallied 6 cents in closing at $1.37 while exchanging 3,185 stock units, Massy Holdings remained at $4.44, with 68,185 shares crossing the market. 
National Enterprises dipped 5 cents to $3.75 with investors swapping 7,000 stocks, Republic Financial rose 50 cents to $122 with a transfer of 3,631 stocks, Scotiabank advanced 50 cents to $70 after 9,016 units passed through the exchange. Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $10.11 with investors trading 1,463 stocks, Trinidad Cement shed 15 cents and ended at $3 in an exchange of 100 shares and Unilever Caribbean popped 20 cents to close at $11.95 after 21 stock units hanged hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
