Aggressive trading pushes Main Market to 5 months high

Aggressive trading on Thursday with prices of 27 stocks jumping, 15 declining and 16 ending unchanged following trading in 58 securities compared with 59 on Wednesday and closed after the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recorded a 64 percent surge in the volume of stocks traded at a marginally higher value than on Wednesday as investors pushed the market to the highest level since the first week in August.
At the close of the market, 54,718,064 shares were traded for $832,512,122 up from 33,345,989 units at $814,176,218 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 943,415 shares at $14,353,657 up from 565,186 stocks at $13,799,597 on Wednesday, Trading for the month to date, averages of 230,599 units at $3,167,213 up from 186,000 units at $2,467,306 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
Carreras led trading with 24.28 million shares for 44.4 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.82 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade, Wisynco Group ended with 4.36 million shares for 8 percent market share, Radio Jamaica closed with 3.71 million units for 6.8 percent of Main Market trading, NCB Financial contributed 3.06 million units for 5.6 percent of market activity and Scotia Group with 2.42 million units for 4.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index surged 6,057.90 points to end at 360,454.68, the JSE Main Index railed 3,911.29 points to end the day at 321,471.63 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.74 points to 69.39.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. 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 2024.
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, Barita Investments rose 65 cents to close at $71 in switching ownership of 23,528 shares, Caribbean Cement advanced $3.22 to end at $56.96, with 2,207,611 units clearing the market, Eppley popped $3.10 to close at $38.10 after a transfer of 100 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed $1 and ended at $39 with investors swapping 25 stock units, First Rock Real Estate gained $1.48 to end at $7.50, with 29,496 shares changing hands, Guardian Holdings declined $29 in closing at $373 after 520 stocks passed through the market. Jamaica Broilers fell 52 cents to $34.18 after an exchange of only 4,286 units, JMMB Group gained 40 cents to close at $25.40 after a transfer of 59,164 stocks, Kingston Wharves skidded 65 cents and ended at $26 as investors exchanged 2,009,244 shares. Mayberry Group climbed 48 cents to $8.88 after investors ended trading 25,701 stock units, NCB Financial rallied $2.40 to $67.50 after an exchange of 3,062,584 stocks, 138 Student Living lost 62 cents to at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.51, with 23,000 units crossing the market. Pan Jamaica popped $1.05 to end at $51.50 with traders dealing in 52,176 shares, Radio Jamaica rallied 35 cents to close at $1.70 while exchanging 3,708,301 stock units, Sagicor Group rose $4.48 and ended at $45.98 with investors dealing in 207,662 units. Salada Foods gained 52 cents to close $3.72 in an exchange of 114,055 stocks, Scotia Group dipped 38 cents to close at $38 with investors trading 2,423,400 shares, Seprod increased $3 to end at $80.49 in an exchange of 95,081 stocks. Supreme Ventures climbed $1.05 in closing at $27, with 1,016,463 units crossing the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $1.25 and ended at $10.25 in trading 10,104 stock units and Wisynco Group popped 49 cents to $21.49 after exchanging 4,360,933 shares.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share sank $17.10 in closing at $96.90 with investors transferring 50 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.