West Indies Petroleum ended trading at a new high of $3.45 on a day when market activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, resulting in solid gains in the market indices as the market continued a solid start for the new year. Trading ended with an exchange of 58 securities compared with 64 on Monday, with prices of 16 rising, 24 declining and 18 ending unchanged. The market closed with a 12 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, following a 41 percent jump in value compared to Monday.
The market closed with 15,161,289 shares being traded at $89,302,685 compared to 13,515,579 stock units at $63,554,888 on Monday.
Trading averaged 261,402 shares worth $1,539,701, up from 211,181 stock units at $993,045 on Monday and month to date, an average of 213,606 units at $1,201,871, well above 191,068 shares with an average of $1,042,568 on the prior day, but below the average for December of 395,435 stock units at $4,321,753.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 8.63 million shares for 56.9 percent of the total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund, with 1.96 million stocks for 12.9 percent of the day’s trade and Innovative Energy with 1.10 million units for 7.3 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 5,349.05 points to close at 368,854.95, the JSE Main Index surged 5,611.49 points to 320,883.19 and the JSE Financial Index advanced 1.53 points to 63.78. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.6. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2026.
At the close, Barita Investments fell $1 to $70, following trading in 4,204 shares, before the company announced the acquisition of JN Fund Managers, in a move that should boost profit. Caribbean Cement slipped 90 cents to close at $104.60 with investors dealing in 13,729 units, GraceKennedy sank $3.49 in closing at $69.01, with 59,641 stocks crossing the market. Jamaica Producers rose $1.68 and ended at $23.88, with investors exchanging 206 shares, JMMB Group declined 95 cents to end at $17.05, with 9,525 stock units changing hands, Proven Investments sank $1.29 to finish at $14.21 in trading 1,815 shares. Seprod dipped $5.71 to $78.20 after 6,847 stock units passed through the market, Supreme Ventures increased 50 cents to finish at $15.99 with investors swapping 28,385 units, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 41 cents and ended at $12 after closing with trading in 7,919 stocks and West Indies Petroleum popped 86 cents to close at a record $3.45 in an exchange of 5,973 units, with the stock jumping an incredible 590 percent since listing and now trades at a PE ratio of 69. 
At the close of the market, there was buying interest for over 20 million shares, ranging from 45 cents to a high of $3.45.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% skidded 92 cents to end at $39.08, with 25 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% shed $200 in closing at $2,300 as investors exchanged 30 shares. 138 Student Living preference share rallied $36 to $250, with trading of 71 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% dropped $3.94 to close at $100.01, with investors trading 52,087 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.