Friday’s record JSE close marks 18 since July

The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market closed the week with all five days ending at record closing levels, with the All Jamaica Composite Index hitting a record high of just over 375,307 points on Wednesday.
Friday’s close is the 6th straight consecutive record close and brings to 30, the number record close for the year. Since the start of July, there are 18 record closing days for the main market as a strong bullish period takes hold, with the lowest interest rates in Jamaica’s recorded history. The continued record move by the market, is a strong indication that business and consumer confidence levels are at record high levels currently.
The market closed with the All Jamaica Composite Index advancing 1,396.32 points to end with a record close at 369,459.43 and the JSE Index climbing 1,272.20 points to end at a record close of 336,619.31.
Market activities resulted in 31 securities trading, including 3 in the US dollar market compared to 34 securities trading on Thursday. At the end of trading, the prices of 10 stocks rose, 7 declined and 12 closed trading, unchanged. Trading in the main market ended with 1,557,605 units valued $98,845,806, compared to 11,417,998 units valued $164,582,968, on Thursday.
The day’s volume was led by, 138 Student Living with 8,345,833 units and 72.21 percent of main market volume, followed by Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 1,197,863 shares, accounting for 10.36 percent of the volume traded, Scotia Group closed with 559,697 units and just 4.8 percent of the day’s volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 412,772 units valued at over $3,530,207, in contrast to 422,889 shares valued at $6,095,665 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 709,910 shares at $ $6,787,180, compared to 886,497 shares at $5,831,552 traded on the immediately preceding trading day. August closed, with an average of 224,564 shares valued at $4,310,285, for each security traded.
In the main market activity, Grace Kennedy gained 50 cents and ended at $59, trading 71,700 shares, JMMB Group dropped $2 to end at $29 trading just 2,700 shares, Kingston Wharves jumped $4 and finished at a record high of $68.50, while exchanging a mere 315 stock units. NCB Financial Group ended trading 44,597 shares at $115 after rising $1, Proven Investments added 40 cents trading 1,425 stock units at $26.40. Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 40 cents to settle at $11.45, trading 1,197,863 shares, Scotia Group jumped $4.50 to $59.50, in exchanging 559,697 units, Seprod rose $1.50 and ended trading 400 stock units to close of $45 and Supreme Ventures gained $1 to a record close of $16.50, after trading 75,153 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 2,250 units valued US$398. Trading ended withJMMB Group 6 % preference share completed trading at $1.06 with an exchange of 20,374 stock units, Proven Investments exchanging 2,400 shares to close at 23 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments trading 123,819 shares at 11 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index closed unchanged at 170.32.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 closing with a lower offer.