Big rise for JSE Main Market

Market activity ended on Friday with the volume of shares rising 20 percent more and the value 15 percent higher than on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks beat out those declining leading the market indices to make a sharp turn higher at the close.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 4,451.26 points to 448,534.65, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,102.47 points to close trading at 396,802.02 and the  JSE Financial Index slipped 0.17 points to end at 96.47.
A total of 59 securities traded versus 58 on Thursday, with 28 rising, 17 declining and 14 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 are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
A total of 12,877,557 shares were exchanged for $136,432,061 up from 10,750,192 units at $118,283,579 on Thursday. Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund led trading with 16.4 percent of total volume in transferring 2.11 million shares followed by QWI Investments with 14.6 percent for 1.87 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 12 percent for 1.55 million units, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share accounted for 9.6 percent with 1.24 million units and Transjamaican Highway, 1.07 million units with 8.3 percent market share.
Trading averages 218,264 units at $2,312,408, up from 185,348 shares at $2,039,372 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 238,836 units at $2,520,773, compared to 245,893 units at $2,592,246 previously. January closed with an average of 235,328 units at $2,397,571.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with a bid higher than its last selling price and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rallied $2.50 to close at $93 in trading 3,172 shares, Caribbean Cement rose $4.95 to end at $75 with a transfer of 135,496 stock units, Caribbean Producers fell $2.05 to $17.85 with 325,734 units clearing the market. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed 98 cents ending at $42 after exchanging 34 stocks, First Rock Capital lost 30 cents in closing at $11.72 with 7,582 stock units changing hands, GraceKennedy rose $1.90 to $103.50 after a transfer of 82,660 shares. Guardian Holdings climbed $40 to close at $575 with the swapping of 3,638 units, Jamaica Producers lost 81 cents and closed at $22.19 in switching ownership of 69,771 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 95 cents after ending at $17.95 with 116,988 stock units crossing the market. JMMB Group shed $1.01 to end at $41.99 with the swapping of 455,271 stocks, Margaritaville rose $1.05 to close at $25 in exchanging 662 units, Massy Holdings dropped $50 ending at a low since listing of $2,050 after 8,308 shares crossed the market. Mayberry Investments shed $1.09 to settle at $6.11 with 8,258 stocks changing hands, Portland JSX fell $2.08 to end at $6.92 in switching ownership of 10,001 shares, Proven Investments popped 99 cents to $33 with 8,854 units traded. Sagicor Group climbed $1 to $54 in an exchange of 35,143 stock units, Scotia Group advanced $1.60 to $37.60 with 25,221 units crossing the exchange, Seprod rallied $3.10 to $62.10 with the swapping of 24,328 shares. Supreme Ventures gained 30 cents after ending at $18 with 247,772 stock units clearing the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $2.70 in closing at $18.20 with an exchange of 780 stocks and Wisynco Group popped $2.25 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $20 in trading 703,826 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share gained 30 cents after closing at $6.90 in switching ownership of 900 stock units and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share lost 70 cents to end at $2.30 with an exchange of 34,582 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.