Market activity dropped sharply on Thursday, with the volume of shares trading declining 55 percent and valued 85 percent than on Wednesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks doubled those falling.
All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 7,875.42 points to 451,018.18, the JSE Main Index added 6,575.09 points to end at 396,617.25 and the JSE Financial Index increased 1.50 points to 93.95.
Trading ended with 55 active securities down from 59 on Wednesday, with 27 rising,13 declining, and 15 unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.8. 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 on or before the close of August 2023.
Overall, 11,479,146 shares traded for $63,066,105 versus 25,782,899 units at $428,646,320 on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.66 million shares for 23.2 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group’s 7.5% preference share, 2.44 million units for 21.3 percent of the day’s trade. Transjamaican Highway ended with 2.28 million units for 19.8 percent market share and Pulse Investments ended with 1.07 million units changing hands for 9.4 percent market share.
Trading averages 208,712 units at $1,146,656, compared to 436,998 shares at $7,265,192 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 657,986 units at $6,869,869, compared to 693,901 units at $7,327,393 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Barita Investments fell 35 cents at the close, ending at $90 with the swapping of 10,223 shares, Berger Paints popped 50 cents to end at $12 while exchanging 79 stocks, Eppley climbed $1.95 to $42 after trading 15 units. GraceKennedy lost $8 to close at $105 in exchanging 188,487 stock units, Guardian Holdingsgained $12 in closing at $540 after 563 shares crossed the market, Jamaica Broilers shed 49 cents in closing at $28.50 with an exchange of 3,572 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped $1.79 in ending at $22.20, with 20,702 stocks changing hands, JMMB Group advanced $1.25 to $46.10 after 73,132 units changed hands, Kingston Properties rose 30 cents to $7.80 in switching ownership of 33,576 stocks. Kingston Wharves rose $7.89 to close at $41.89, trading 8,742 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rallied 74 cents to end at $12.25 in an exchange of 159,712 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped $4 in closing at $115 in trading 12 shares. NCB Financial declined $1.50 to close at $110.50, with 21,377 shares crossing the market, Palace Amusement declined $1 to $999 in exchange of 91 units, Proven Investments climbed $1.32 to $37.82 with 9,589 stocks changing hands. 
Sagicor Group rallied $2.35 to end at $57.35 with 19,646 stock units crossing the exchange, Seprod rose $2.48 in closing at $61.98 with 7,955 shares clearing the market, Supreme Ventures advanced $2.50 to $27.50 187,127 stocks crossing the market and Wisynco Group gained 45 cents to close at $23.45 trading 132,559 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
