Gains for JSE Main Market

Trading activity changed markedly on Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with the market returning to more normal levels, with the absence of a lumpy trade as was the case on Tuesday and ended with a 35 percent fall in volume and an 83 percent drop in value compared with that on Tuesday, with trading 59 securities up from 56 on Tuesday, with 23 rising, 18 declining and 18 ending unchanged and leading to gains in the market indices.
A total of 22,105,112 shares were traded for $190,093,496, compared to 33,792,800 units at $1,151,873,370 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 374,612 shares at $3,221,802 compared with 603,443  stocks at $20,569,167 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date ended with an average of 359,561 units at $5,518,438 compared with 358,731 units at $5,645,075 on the previous day. May closed with an average of 226,361 units at $1,362,447.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 8.11 million shares for 36.7 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.38 million units for 19.8 percent of the day’s trade, Kingston Wharves ended with 3.01 million units for 13.6 percent market share, Carreras with 1.26 million units for 5.7 percent of the total and Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 1.25 million units for 5.7 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 2,113.23 points to end at 367,304.17, the JSE Main Index popped 902.81 points to 329,758.18 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.11 points to end at 72.78.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints advanced 71 cents in closing at $8 with 1,120 shares clearing the market, Eppley gained 30 cents to land at $36.50 with shareholders swapping 576 stocks, First Rock Real Estate rallied 55 cents and ended at $9.80 after an exchange of 16,986 stock units, GraceKennedy increased 50 cents to close at $77 as investors exchanged 85,921 units. Jamaica Broilers climbed 40 cents to end at $37.70 as 46,997 stock units passed through the market, Jamaica Producers rose 50 cents in closing at $20.50 with stakeholders trading 889,716 units, Kingston Wharves fell 95 cents to $29, with 3,005,614 stocks changing hands, Massy Holdings declined $1 and ended at $100 after an exchange of 4,001 shares. Mayberry Investments dipped 30 cents to $8.20 in trading 12,349 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped $10.99 to end at $71 with investors transferring 2,479 shares, NCB Financial dropped 52 cents to end at $66.98 with a transfer of 223,094 units, Pan Jamaica increased $3.45 to $53.95 in switching ownership of 33,947 stock units, Proven Investments climbed 48 cents to $25.78 in an exchange of 7,723 stocks. Pulse Investments rallied 47 cents in closing at $2.52 after trading in 136,273 stock units, Sagicor Group fell 49 cents to close at $50.01 after 6,044 shares changed hands, Seprod popped 45 cents to end at $75.50 in trading 3,898 units and Supreme Ventures rose 60 cents and ended at $28.47 after 98,942 units crossed the exchange.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share lost $50 to close at $1200 in an exchange of 131 stock units, Eppley 7.25% preference share dipped $2.81 to $16.19 with one stock changing hands. Eppley 7.50% preference share lost $1.08 in closing at $6.09 after a transfer of 1,000 shares, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $10.57 to close at $50 with an exchange of 8 stock units and JMMB Group 7.25% due 2024 preference share declined 31 cents to $1.74, with 133,290 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.