Big leap in Main Market trading

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market surged on Thursday, with the volume of shares traded leaping 509 percent over Wednesday’s level, with the value jumping 187 percent to $1.76 billion as market activity led to rising stocks exceeding those declining by a wide margin. 
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 2,001.01 points to 432,586.16, the JSE Main Index fell 1,679.51 to end at 384,196.7 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 1.01 points to 92.96.
Trading ended with 59 securities up from 57 on Wednesday, with 35 rising, nine declining and 15 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.4. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending to August 2022.
Overall, 206,926,996 shares were exchanged for $1,764,565,530 versus 33,966,132 units at $614,323,672 on Wednesday. Sagicor Real Estate Fund led trading with 191.92 million shares for 92.7 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 6.29 million units for 3 percent of the day’s trade, Sterling Investments had 1.99 million units trading accounting for 1 percent market share and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 ended with 1.25 million units changing hands for 0.6 percent market share.
Trading averaged 3,507,237 units at $29,907,890, compared to 595,897 shares at $10,777,608 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 664,218 units at $7,665,831,compared to 474,898 units at $6,184,700 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments lost $3.05 to $87.95 in exchanging 159,587 shares, Caribbean Cement popped $2 to close trading at $69.50, with 23,377 stocks crossing the market, Carreras climbed 31 cents to $8.94 with the swapping of 169,951 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund increased $2.60 to end at $40.70 after exchanging 1,000 stock units, GraceKennedy gained 40 cents in closing at $103.90 while 663,633 stocks changed hands, Guardian Holdings rallied $5 in ending at $555 after exchanging 383 stock units. Jamaica Producers rose $1.42 to $22.95 in trading 7,208 units, JMMB Group advanced 49 cents to end at $42.99 with 165,509 shares passing through the market, Key Insurance gained 45 cents in ending at $4.60 with 9,515 units changing hands. Kingston Wharves rallied 92 cents to close at $39.95 in switching ownership of 6,468 stock units, Massy Holdings dropped $1.96 to $100 after 34,806 stocks crossed the exchange, NCB Financial rose $2.31 to end at $115.81 in an exchange of 42,712 shares. Palace Amusement advanced $30 to close at $1020, with ten shares clearing the market, PanJam Investment climbed 90 cents to $66.99 with an exchange of 5,669 stocks, Portland JSX gained 51 cents in closing at $9 and trading 206 units. Proven Investments shed 40 cents to close at $35.60, with 74,242 stock units changing hands, Salada Foods popped 36 cents in closing at $6.58, with 5,579 stocks crossing the market, Seprod declined $1.45 to $56.50 in switching ownership of 9,564 units and Victoria Mutual Investments climbed 49 cents in ending at $6.60 in an exchange of 55,871 shares.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference share advanced 92 cents to end at $10.16 with the swapping of 112 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.