33 Jamaican stocks rose on Friday

The Jamaica Stock Exchange enjoyed a day of modest gains on Friday, as 52 securities changed hands in the overall market, ending with 33 stocks rising and 10 falling, including 19 stocks gaining and 2 declining, in the junior market while 14 securities ended at new 52 weeks’ closing highs.
All major market indices rose moderately compared with the sharp increase for the past 7 trading days. The all All Jamaica Composite Index gaining 253.10 points to close at 240,292.56, the JSE Market Index climbed 226.32 points to finish at 219,238.80 and the JSE combined index grew 897.61 points, to close at 233,711.14. The movement of the main market, for the year to date, resulted to gains of 14.3 percent, for the all Jamaica Composite Index.
At the close, 7,100,472 units valued at $124,253,097 changed hands, compared to 10,580,009 units valued at $124,588,506 changing hands on Thursday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 1,530,168 units, valued at $11,104,756.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 198,939 shares compared to an average of 324,708 units on Thursday. For the month to date, an average of 250,588 shares traded, versus an average of units 302,236 units up to the prior trading day. January ended with an average of 592,602 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments gained 80 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.50, with 35,000 units changing hands, Berger Paints lost 13 cents to close at $11.07 with trades of 28,948 shares, Cable and Wireless traded 289,624 units at $1.15, Caribbean Cement declined 49 cents in closing at $33.01 with an exchange of 52,713 shares. Carreras slid 75 cents to $66 with 364,096 units changing hands, 1834 Investments traded 10,000 shares at $1.40, Grace Kennedy advanced 51 cents to $40.50 trading 120,777 units. Jamaica Broilers added 1 cent to close at $15.50 with an exchange of 25,069 shares, Jamaica Producers traded 28,163 units, rising $1 to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $18, JMMB Group gained 50 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $17.50 with 41,805 units traded. Kingston Properties exchanged 10,000 shares at $9.50, Kingston Wharves added 1 cent to end at $33 with trades of 28,964 units, Margaritaville Turks, traded 52,250 units, adding 4 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of 33 US cents, National Commercial Bank recovered $3.88 to close at $64.90, after swapping 28,057 shares. 138 Student Living closed trading with an exchange of 9,205 units at $4.50, Pan Jamaican gained 95 cents to close at $30 with 95,450 shares traded, Portland JSX advanced 90 cents, closing at $10 after trading 4,800 units, Pulse Investments gained 78 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.10, trading 17,000 units. Radio Jamaica closed at $1.36, gaining 16 cents trading 105,008 shares, Sagicor Group lost 50 cents to close at $32.50 with 32,656 shares changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate fund closed at $10.20 for a loss of 30 cents with trades of 3,002,738 units, Scotia Group ended trading with a loss of $1 to close at $40, having traded 777,834 shares. Scotia Investments lost 50 cents, after trading 12,000 units and closed at $35, Supreme Ventures gained 20 cents with 23,824 shares traded and closed at $5.70, Proven Investments traded 194,000 ordinary shares, adding 3 cents to close at a 52 weeks high of 29 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share traded 177,438 units at $1.10.