Jamaica Stock Exchange main market hit new records at the close on Friday, with the All Jamaica Composite Index hitting a 4th consecutive all-time high of 272,863.82 after surging 2,443.17 points and the JSE Market Index jumping 2,226.01 points to it 6 consecutive record at 248,609.84.
NCB Financial Group jumped sharply by $11.99, to be the major contributor to the market movement, to close at an all-time high of $94.99, with 23,437 shares traded. There has been very limited supply for the group’s stock in the market and trading closed with less than 7,000 shares on offer.
The JSE US dollar market index gained 0.41 points to close at 188.84 with 2 securities trading in the US dollar market and one losing value.
NCB Financial Group’s shares jumped $11.99 on Friday.
At the close of trading, 20 securities changed hands in the main market leading to 11 stocks advancing and 7 declining. The main market ended with 2,489,517 units valued at $21,640,002 changing hands compared to 3,104,799 units valued at $66,312,076 at the close on Thursday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 726,081 units valued at US$174,757 bringing the total of all trades to J$44,008,929.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 124,476 units valued at $1,082,000 for each security traded compared to an average of 119,415 units valued at $2,550,464. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at $163,620 units with an average value of $2,047,849 compared with an average of 183,191 units with an average value of $2,530,773 on the previous trading day. 
The average volume and value for July ended at 160,668 units with an average value of $2,691,438.
In market activity, fresh from the news that Barita Investments is considering an offer to purchase the majority of its shares, the priced climbed $1.15 higher to close at $8 trading just 650 units. Attendant with the announcement, offers that were posted up to Thursday were withdrawn. Other securities trading on Friday along with the volume and the last price traded, include: Berger Paints adding 2 cents at $19 exchanging 29,575 shares, Cable and Wireless gained 5 cents to close at $1.05, with 134,938 shares trading, Carreras fell $1, to $109 with 29,460 shares, Grace Kennedy lost 10 cents exchanging 11,034 shares at $41. Jamaica Broilers lost 50 cents, closing at $18 trading 1,834 shares, Jamaica Producers traded 80 cents lower at $15.10 with 5,582 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange added 2 cents, to $6.47 trading 20,072 shares, 
JMMB Group eased 1 cent to $19.99, with 19,321 shares. 1834 Investments closed at $1.40, losing 1 cent with 20,720 shares, Proven Investments added 29 cents to close at $25.01 in exchanging 300,000 shares, Pulse Investments dropped 70 cents to end at $1.50, with 321,745 shares. Sagicor Group gained 25 cents, climbing to $32 trading 5,820 shares, Salada Foods gained 69 cents to close at $9.30, with 1,300 shares, Scotia Group closed at $44 with 63,020 shares, Sterling Investments closed at $14.05, with gains of 5 cents and 100 units, Supreme Ventures gained 17 cents, closing at $7.85 with 264,190 shares traded. Proven Investments US ordinary shares closed at 24 US cents, with 725,299 units, Margaritaville Turks US ordinary shares exchanged 782 units at 36 US cents, after slipping a fraction, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.11 with 1,232,719 units traded and Proven 8.25% preference share closed at $5, with gains of 2 cents trading 4,000 units.
