The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading on Wednesday with a significant surge in the value of stocks crossing through the market and a sharp rise in the market index as investors exchanged an increased volume of shares.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 4,752.87 points to 417,477.58, the JSE Market Index climbed 4,332.12 points to 380,725.82 and the JSE Financial Index gained 2.18 points to 99.84. The PE ratio of the market ended at 14.7, with the Main Market ending at 15.0 times ICInsider.com projected 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with 42 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with prices of 16 stocks advancing, 19 declining and seven securities trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 37 securities accounting for 19,992,087 units valued at $1,058,928,831, in contrast to 16,817,335 units valued at $94,091,208 from 40 securities on Tuesday.
NCB Financial Group led trading with 7 million shares for 35 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 5.95 million units for 30 percent of the day’s trade and Trans Jamaican Highway with 2.06 million units for 10.3 percent market share.
The securities trading on Tuesday resulted in an average of 540,327 units for $28,619,698, in contrast to 420,433 units at an average of $2,352,280 at the close, Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 418,319 units at $6,613,270, compared to 409,897 units with an average of $4,965,016 on Tuesday. Trading in May resulted in an average of 475,543 units valued at $3,077,280 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator│ At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows fifteen stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five stocks closing with lower offers.
In the Main Market, Barita Investments gave up $1 and closed at $49 after trading 5,985 units, Berger Paints gained 40 cents, transferring 22,661 stock units to end at $12.44, Caribbean Cement closed $1.37 lower at $49.60, with 2,717 units changing hands. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund added 59 cents in swapping 540 units to end at $41.10, First Rock Capital fell $1.64 to $14.11, trading 4,097 units, Grace Kennedy shed 49 cents exchanging 24,545 stock units and closed at $57.50. 
Jamaica Broilers lost $1.40 and ended at $26.60, after transferring 43,707 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange picked up 40 cents in with 3,890 units changing hands and closed at $23.40, JMMB Group finished at $33.15, with a loss of 37 cents after exchanging 31,008 shares. Kingston Wharves fell $4 to $53, with 18,686 stock units crossing the exchange, Mayberry Jamaican Investments closed at $9.50, after shedding 50 cents transferring 55,006 shares, Palace Amusement closed $100 higher at $1,800 trading 68 units. Sagicor Group gained $1.30 to settle at $46.30, with exchanging 6,596 units, Salada Foods closed $2.99 higher at $29.50, in swapping 2,208 units, Scotia Group climbed $2.50 to $46.50, with a transfer of 6,266 units and Seprod advanced by $2.99 to $52.99, in trading 22,244 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
