Big Gains for JSE Main Market

Market activity ended on Wednesday, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with the volume of shares trading declining 83 percent and the value plunging 87 percent below Tuesday’s levels but ending with rising stocks exceeding those declining by a ratio of two to one.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 5,549.32 points to settle at 449,468.38, the JSE Main Index rose 3,609.16 points to end at 396,015.94 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.53 points to settle at 94.66.
Trading ended with 54 securities down from 58 on Tuesday, with 32 rising, 16 declining and six ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.1. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
A total of 21,128,299 shares traded for $143,846,313 down from 122,573,847 units at $1,079,970,954 on Tuesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.28 million shares for 29.7 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 5.35 million units for 25.3 percent of the day’s trade, Pulse Investments, 3.64 million units for 17.2 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 1.08 million units changing hands for 5.1 percent market share.
Trading averages 391,265 units at $2,663,821, compared to 2,113,342 shares at $18,620,189 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 752,826 units at $6,869,517, compared to 866,339 units at $8,189,911 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints advanced $1.15 in closing at $12.17, with 27,094 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement gained 50 cents to end at $73 with the swapping of 4,998 stock units, Caribbean Producers popped $2.27 to close at $17.90 in switching ownership of 287,731 units. Eppley increased by $3.50 to $42.50, with 779 stocks clearing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $2.94 to $46.99, with 1,154 units crossing the market, First Rock Capital climbed 40 cents to $11.95, with 9,563 stock units crossing the market. GraceKennedy rose $1.40 to close at $105.40 in trading 316,548 shares, Guardian Holdings declined $8.98 to end at $540 after exchanging 1,449 stocks, Jamaica Broilers shed $1.71 in closing at $27, with 36,405 stock units crossing the exchange. Jamaica Producers fell 60 cents ending at $23 after trading 21,613 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied $1.50 to $20.50 while exchanging 142,989 shares, JMMB Group lost $3.30 in ending at $50.70 with an exchange of 410,936 stocks. Key Insurance gained 40 cents to end at $4.70 after trading 2,309 shares, Kingston Properties dropped 35 cents to $9 in an exchange of 1,150 stocks, Kingston Wharves advanced $1 in closing at $42 in exchanging 8,642 units. Massy Holdings shed $1 to $100 in exchanging 25,236 stock units, Mayberry Investments fell 94 cents in closing at $6.51 after 9,486 stock units changed hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities climbed 78 cents to close at $9.93 in an exchange of 222,201 units. Palace Amusement popped $16 to end at $996 in trading 101 shares, PanJam Investment dropped 55 cents after ending at $65.50 with an exchange of 13,817 stocks, Proven Investments rose $1.60 to $38, with 14,062 units changing hands. Pulse Investments increased 52 cents to end at $4.64, with 3,641,203 crossing the market shares, Sagicor Group rallied $3.46 in closing at $57.46, with 21,469 stock units clearing the market, Scotia Group increased $1.15 to close at $37.65 with the swapping of 49,050 stocks. Seprod popped $1.30 to $62.80 after an exchange of 32,016 shares, Supreme Ventures gained $3.38 ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $26 in trading 483,864 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 44 cents to $15.30 in exchanging 335,825 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined 40 cents to end at $15.60 while trading 18,992 stock units and Wisynco Group climbed $1.01 to close at $21 in exchanging 426,350 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference share lost $3.40 in closing at $13.10 in switching ownership of 1,000 stocks, Eppley 5% preference share advanced 50 cents to close at $19, with 200 shares crossing the market and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share dropped 50 cents to $2.90 after trading 13,333 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.