Gains for JSE Main Market

Trading remains buoyant on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with market activities accounting for 40 securities changing hands, compared to 39 listings trading on Monday.
A total of 42 securities traded in the Main and US dollar market, with prices of 18 advancing, 12 declining and 13 stocks holding firm.
The JSE Main Market activity ended, with 16,653,296 shares, valued $85,713,471 in contrast to 9,751,709 units for $42,684,443 on Monday.
At the close, JSE All Jamaican Composite Index gained 1,282.80 points to 561,025.26. The JSE Market Index gained 1,172.75 points to close at 511,004.61 and the JSE Financial Index advanced by 0.24 points to close at 138.17.
Sagicor Select – Financial Fund dominated trading, with 8.95 million shares for 54 percent of stock traded. Wigton Windfarm ended with 2.67 million units for 16 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select – Manufacturing & Distribution Fund ended with 1.67 million shares for 10 percent of market share.
The Market closed with an average of 416,332 units valued at an average of $2,142,837 for each security traded. In contrast to 250,044 units for an average of $1,094,473 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 492,094 units valued at $2,136,446 for each security changing hands, compared to 518,678 shares at $2,134,204 for each security crossing the exchange. Trading in December resulted in an average of 595,143 units for $9,344,514 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows twelve stocks ending, with bids higher than their last selling prices with three closing, with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.5, with the Main Market ending at 18.9 times the current year’s earnings.
In the prime market, Caribbean Cement dropped $4.50 to end at $80 in exchanging 44,797 stock units, Eppley lost $1 to close at $14, after trading 1,000 shares, Grace Kennedy fell $2 to end at $73 with 40,362 units crossing the exchange. Jamaica Broilers lost $1 to settle at $39.50, with 2,827 units changing hands, Jamaica Producers surged $3 to end at $27, with just one stock unit traded, Kingston Wharves shed $2.50 to end at $58.50 with 2,086 units changing hands. Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost $1 to end at $12 in trading 4,210 units, NCB Financial fell 50 cents in exchanging 38,025 to close at $200. Palace Amusement dropped by $110 to close at $2,790 after trading 75 units. Pan Jam Investment lost $1 with a transfer of 2,580 shares to end at $102. Proven Investments dropped 50 cents in exchanging 109,704 units to close at $46. Sagicor Group gained $3, trading 52,770 shares to end at $73, while Sagicor Property Fund lost 84 cents to end the day at $9.40 with 4,329 stock units changing hands. Salada Foods declined by $1.30 to close at $36.20 with 752 units crossing the exchange, and Seprod lost $1 to end at $51 with the transfer of 18,616 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 2,419,101 valued at US$758,577. The market index declined by 0.48 points to close at 225.96. Proven Investments held firm at 32 US cents with 2,178,000 stock units trading while Sygnus Credit Investments fell by 1.1 cents to trade 91,101 units at 14 US cents.