Stocks rising and declining share the honours with 20 each, at the close of trading on Monday leaving to the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market to close above Friday’s close with the volume of shares traded falling 51 percent and values down 9 percent to Friday.
Several stocks posted strong gains leading the market into positive for the year to date, for only the second time since the start of the year, with January 5th being the only other day the market recorded gains over the 2020 close. The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 4,304.98 points to 436,954.70 at the close, the Main Index advanced 3,840.76 points to 398,369.57, but the JSE Financial Index slipped 037 points to 100.35.
Investors traded 49 Securities, up from 47 on Friday and closed with 20 rising, 20 declining and 9 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.4 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Traders exchanged 18,062,183 shares for $101,989,445 compared to 35,675,257 units at $112,526,954 on Friday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 45 percent of total volume, after an exchange of 8.12 million shares followed by Pulse Investments with 21.4 percent for 3.86 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund 7.9 percent for 1.42 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 6.1 percent market share for 1.11 million units.
JSE Main Market recorded gains in 2021 for only the second time for the year when the market closed on Monday.
Trading for the day averaged 368,616 units at $2,081,417, compared to 759,048 shares at $2,394,191 on Friday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments slipped 33 cents to $81.17, after exchanging 26,461 shares, Berger Paints closed 30 cents higher at $14.20, with 17,723 units changing hands. Caribbean Cement advanced $5 to $70, after the stock surged to $75 in early trading, with the switching of 125,524 stocks, Ciboney Group lost 22 cents to finish at $1.22, with 38,183 shares clearing the market, Eppley advanced $3.40 to $28.40, with the swapping of 24,498 units. First Rock Jamaica lost 30 cents to end at $15 trading 3,126 stocks, Grace Kennedy climbed $4.50 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $89, with 194,627 shares changing hands. The stock traded upto $95 in response to a strong rise in profit, the company reported for 2020, Jamaica Broilers lost 26 cents to close at $28.74, with an exchange of 24,329 units. Jamaica Producers gained 25 cents to end at $20.45 in swapping 196,833 stocks, Key Insurance rose 76 cents to $4.77 trading 154,642 stock units, Kingston Properties rose $1.41 to $7.25, with 700 units crossing the exchange. Mayberry Investments ended 40 cents higher at $5.69, transferring 7,352 shares, NCB Financial fell 67 cents to $143.33 with an exchanging of 88,291 stock units, 1834 Investments fell 25 cents to 95 cents trading 2,120 units, 138 Student Living shed 70 cents to end at $5.30 while exchanging 1,700 stock units. 
Palace Amusement dropped $49 to $801, with 683 shares crossing the market, PanJam Investments rose $1 to $65, in an exchange of 13,660 stocks, Portland JSX ended $1.40 higher at $8.50, with the swapping of 2,000 units, Proven Investments climbed $3.40 to $39.40 trading 361 stock units. Sagicor Group declined $2 to finish at $50.10, in switching ownership of 81,964 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 69 cents to close at $8.99 after 7,200 shares crossed the market, Salada Foods fell $3 to $41 in exchanging 6,514 stocks. Scotia Group declined $1.50 to $41 trading 271,291 units, Seprod gained 50 cents to close at $69.50, with the swapping of 34,072 shares, Supreme Ventures lost 50 cents to finish at $16.40 in switching ownership of 13,711 units and Wisynco Group lost 29 cents to close at $16, in transferring 134,237 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading ended with 36 securities changing hands compared to 37 on Friday and closed with the prices of 13 rising, 14 declining and two ending unchanged.
At the close, Access Financial lost 15 cents to close at $23.15 trading 6,220 shares, Cargo Handlers gained 10 cents to end at $8.71, with 2,016 stocks changing hands, Caribbean Assurance Brokers picked up 5 cents to settle at $1.85 after 13,440 shares cleared the market. Caribbean Flavours shed 21 cents to finish at $1.90, with 77,359 units crossing the market, Caribbean Producers ended 44 cents lower at $2.95 in an exchange of 165,544 stocks. Consolidated Bakeries fell 20 cents to $1.31 in trading 10,100 stock units, Derrimon Trading lost 7 cents to close at $2.51 after a transferring of 2,724,910 units, Elite Diagnostics gained 20 cents to finish at $3, with an exchange of 98,020 shares. Everything Fresh gained 9 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.21, trading 461,735 stock units, Fosrich fell 74 cents to $4.65 in an exchange of 84,486 shares, General Accident declined 44 cents to $5.50 with the swapping of 15,900 units. Honey Bun lost 7 cents to end at $5.12, with 9,230 units crossing the market, Indies Pharma rose 39 cents to $3.40 with the swapping of 664,045 shares, ISP Finance closed 29 cents lower at $25 trading 1,500 units. 
Lasco Distributors shed 26 cents to $3.61 after an exchange of 17,214 units, Lasco Financial ended 14 cents lower at $2.51, with 314,948 stock units crossing the exchange. Lasco Manufacturing lost 28 cents to $4.33, finishing with 118,342 units changing hands, Medical Disposables added 20 cents to close at $4.50, with an exchange of 4,700 stock units, Paramount Trading rose 18 cents to $1.50, with the swapping of 2,242 units and SSL Venture gained 5 cents to end at 70 cents trading 78,600 shares.
The market should move higher during the coming week following record breaking results by 
Trading for the day averaged 759,048 units at $2,394,191, Thursday ended with an average of 338,795 shares at $1,351,229. Trading month to date averaged 419,015 units at $2,509,660 for each security, in contrast to 399,667 units at $2,516,231 on Thursday. January closed with an average of 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Sagicor Real Estate Fund picked up 48 cents to close at $8.30, after 155,883 shares crossed the market, Salada Foods climbed $3.50 to $44, exchanging 97 stocks. Scotia Group lost 50 cents in ending at $42.50 trading 34,852 units, Seprod shed 54 cents to $69, with the swapping of 8,011 shares, Stanley Motta gained 35 cents to settle at $5.35, with 50 units clearing the market. Sterling Investments ended 36 cents higher at $3 in an exchange of 33,207 stock units and Supreme Ventures climbed $1.60 to $16.90 with 138,316 units changing hands.
Trading ended with 37 securities changing hands compared to 41 on Thursday, with 17 stocks rising, 11 declining and nine ending unchanged. The market closed with Everything Fresh, Fosrich and iCreate, ending at 52 weeks’ highs.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Lasco Manufacturing lost 9 cents in closing at $4.61, with 26,997 units changing hands, Limners and Bards rose 25 cents to $2.75, after trading 167,072 stock units, Mailpac Group lost 6 cents in closing at $3.56 with an exchange of 694,920 shares. Medical Disposables gained 10 cents to close at $4.30 after transferring 183,901 units, Paramount Trading lost 17 cents to end at $1.32 with the swapping of 5,800 units, SSL Venture rose 10 cents to 65 cents trading 916,152 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies shed 30 cents in closing at $4, with 57,150 stock units crossing the exchange.
Trading ended with 41 securities against 39 on Wednesday, with 13 rising, 16 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling price and five with lower offers.
Lumber Depot climbed 8 cents to $2.55 with 193,170 stock units traded, Main Event shed 25 cents to close at $3.05 with a transfer of 2,111 stocks, Paramount Trading gained 17 cents to finish at $1.49 with 35,500 units passing through the market. Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 23 cents to $4.30 with 15,000 stocks changing hands and tTech shed 55 cents to end at $4.35 with 2,095 shares crossing the exchange.
The All Jamaican Composite Index inched 3.97 points up to 430,240.96 the Main Index rose 15.10 points to 392,402.29, and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.14 points to settle at 99.94.
Trading for the day averaged 338,795 units at $1,351,229, compared to an average of 626,545 shares at $3,374,266 on Wednesday. Trading month to date averages 399,667 units at $2,516,231, versus 403,340 units at $2,586,520 on Wednesday. Trading in January averaged 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Portland JSX declined $1.20 to $7.10 in trading 8,000 stocks, Proven Investments closed $1.20 lower at $36 after exchanging 4,285 units, Sagicor Group gained 29 cents to close at $51.60, with the swapping of 4,089 shares. Salada Foods dropped $1 to $40.50 with a transfer of 2,182 shares, Scotia Group gained 50 cents to end at $43, with 15,411 stock units crossing the exchange. Sterling Investments shed 36 cents to $2.64 in exchanging 62,320 stocks, Supreme Ventures dropped 60 cents to close at $15.30, after a transfer of 527,323 units and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 54 cents to close at $14.95 in trading 14,288 shares.
Trading for the day averaged 626,545 units at $3,374,266, compared to 440,155 shares at $4,160,882 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averaged 403,340 units at $2,586,520 for each security, in contrast to 389,008 units at $2,535,940 on the prior trading day. Trading in January closed with an average of 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Palace Amusement fell $199.90 to a 52 weeks’ low of $800, with 380 stocks crossing the market, Sagicor Group gained 31 cents to end at $51.31, in an exchange of 12,316 stocks, Salada Foods rose $1.51 to $41.50, with the swapping of 4,036 shares. Scotia Group closed 75 cents higher at $42.50, with 267,313 stock units crossing the exchange, Seprod advanced $1.54 to $69.54 trading 26,590 shares, Stanley Motta lost 35 cents to close at $5 in exchanging 31,207 units. Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 99 cents to $15.49 after transferring 70,560 stock units and Wisynco Group rose 90 cents to $16.45, with investors switching ownership of 73,639 shares.
The Junior Market Index rose 10.75 points to close at 2,918.23 to be up 10.4 percent for the year to date. Early in the morning session, the index hit a 2,949.48 points level that is higher than the close on February 21, last year.
Trading averaged 173,371 units at $458,568 in contrast to 328,973 at $1,043,523 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averages 363,591 units at $903,906, down from 376,123 units at $933,244 on Tuesday. January closed with an average of 232,651 units at $569,885.
Lasco Distributors climbed 22 cents to $3.87 with a transfer of 136,000 shares, Lasco Financial rose 10 cents to $2.60 with an exchange of 19,750 units, Lasco Manufacturing fell 12 cents to $4.26 with 282,351 units changing hands. Mailpac Group gained 13 cents to finish at $3.62 with 480,450 stock units passing through the market, Main Event fell 27 cents to $3.30, trading 9 shares, Stationery and Office Supplies increased by 18 cents to settle at $4.53 with a transfer of 300 stock units and tTech advanced 20 cents to close at $4.90 with 4,201 shares crossing the exchange.
Trading ended with stocks playing hopscotch, one day up one day down, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with the market declining after almost the same number of stocks rose as fell. The value of trading climbed 202 percent, with only 23 percent more shares exchanged than on Monday.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 24.1 percent of total volume, after an exchange of 4.88 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund 16.9 percent with 3.41 million units, Wigton Windfarm 11.3 percent for 2.29 million units. QWI Investments ended with 9.8 percent of the day’s trade for 1.99 million units, Ciboney Group 7.1 percent for 1.44 million units, Sagicor Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 6 percent for 1.22 million units and Grace Kennedy with 5.2 percent market share for 1.05 million units.
138 Student Living rose 45 cents to $6.50 after exchanging 8,916 units, PanJam Investment shed 50 cents to end at $65, in switching ownership of 43,014 shares, Proven Investments lost 33 cents to $37.20 trading 11,441 stock units, Sagicor Group fell 70 cents to $51 with 20,215 stocks clearing the market. Salada Foods advanced $2.99 to $39.99, with the swapping of 40,380 units, Scotia Group declined by $1.25 to $41.75, after exchanging 132,995 shares, Seprod shed $1 in closing at $68 with 3,164 stock units changing hands. Sygnus Credit Investments fell $1.10 to $14.50, in exchanging 51,037 units and Wisynco Group shed 95 cents to close at $15.55, with 94,561 shares changing hands.
Trading averaged 328,973 units at $1,043,523 well upon 150,842 at $445,771 on Monday. The month to date averaged 376,123 units at $933,244, close to the 379,631 units at $925,038 on Monday. Trading in January averaged 232,651 units at $569,885.
Jetcon Corporation gained 13 cents to 79 cents, with 145,898 shares changing hands, KLE Group picked up 17 cents at $1.33 after a transfer of 749 stock units, Lasco Distributors gained 5 cents to end at $3.65, in swapping 28,720 stocks. Lasco Financial lost 20 cents to close at $2.50, trading 135,748 units, Lasco Manufacturing shed 35 cents to end at $4.38, with an exchange of 33,412 shares, Mailpac Group lost 15 cents to close at $3.49, in trading 665,514 units. Main Event shed 42 cents to end at $3.03 after crossing the market with 14,500 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies ended 18 cents lower at $4.35 in the transfer of 25,000 stock units.
