Fresh from its successful APO earlier this month that was oversubscribed, Barita Investments, accounted for 61 percent of the volume on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday as investors exchanged 14.9 million shares with the last traded price of $77 per share, up 48 percent from the highest APO offer price of $52.
Barita Investments headquarters
Word on the street is that a Trinidadian based financial Institution who bought into the recent public issue may have bought additional shares in the market over the past three days.
At the close of trading, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 987.26 points to 408,238.98 and is at its highest level since August 3 when it closed at 412,296.65. The Main Index gained 887.88 points to 372,604.36 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.27 points to settle at 97.34.
Trading ended with 42 securities changing hands compared to 46 on Thursday and closed with the prices of 17 stocks rising, 13 declining and 12 remaining unchanged. The average PE Ratio of the market ended at 15.8 based on IC Insider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 24,341,786 shares for $1,198,275,855 compared to 13,141,814 units at $242,747,146 on Thursday. Barita Investments led trading with 61.2 percent of total volume after 14.89 million shares changed hands, followed by Pulse Investments with 11.6 percent or 2.82 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 10.2 percent for 2.49 million units and Transjamaican Highway closing with 8.4 percent and 2.04 million shares.
Trading ended with an average of 579,566 units changing hands at $28,530,378 for each security, compare to an average of 285,692 shares at $5,277,112 on Thursday. The average trade for the month to date ended at 266,157 units at $3,152,375 for each security, in contrast to 248,972 units at $1,760,892. Trading month to date compares adversely to August’s average of 497,441 units at $3,201,918 .
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the market shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments dipped $1 to $77 after exchanging 14,885,457 shares, Caribbean Cement gained $3.21 to close at $48.71, with 4,000 stock units changing hands. Eppley closed at $23.50, after losing 50 cents and clearing the market with 3,069 units, First Rock Capital shed 30 cents to end at $13, with 500 units passing through the market, Jamaica Producers Group settled at $21, having gained $1 trading 163,769 shares.
JMMB Group closed at $29.50, with gains of 44 cents after exchanging 29,044 shares, Mayberry Investments rose 51 cents to $6, in trading 176,019 shares, NCB Financial Group shed 90 cents to finish at $132.10, with 5,816 stock units crossing the market. 138 Student Living lost 35 cents and end at $4.50, in trading 24,749 shares, Palace Amusement climbed $320 to end at $1,620 after exchanging just two units, PanJam Investment climbed $3.50 to $69.50, after 1,158 units changed hands, Portland JSX lost 50 cents to close at $7.50, in trading 89,998 shares. Proven Investments gained 45 cents to end at $38.45, with investors swapping 1,326 units, Pulse Investments fell to $4.60, after losing 38 cents and transferring 2,821,362 shares, Seprod rose 75 cents to close at $56, with an exchange of 5,490 stock units. Supreme Ventures gained 65 cents to settle at $14.50, with 442,677 shares crossing the exchange and Sygnus Credit Investments climbed $1.15 to settle at $18.50, after exchanging 38,902 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
