Trading dropped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 52 percent and the value 57 percent lower than on Thursday, resulting from trading in 57 securities, down from 61 on Thursday, with prices of 25 rising, 22 declining and 10 ending unchanged and pushing the market indices higher.
The market closed with only 5,920,137 shares trading for a mere $33,057,831 compared to 12,257,707 stocks with a value of $76,185,624 on Thursday.
Trading closed with an average of 103,862 shares at $579,962 compared to 200,946 stocks at $1,248,945 on Thursday and for the month to date, an average of 149,868 units worth $1,341,841, down from 154,891 shares at $1,425,034 on the previous day and May with an average of 245,284 stock units at $2,050,773.
Wigton Energy led trading with 2.74 million shares for 46.3 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway, with 1.15 million units for 19.4 percent of the day’s trade and Radio Jamaica with 415,940 stocks for 7 percent of the volume traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,206.10 points to settle at 362,704.98, the JSE Main Index gained 1,324.44 points to close at 313,828.14 and the JSE Financial Index advanced 0.24 points to 64.99. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
In closing out the week, AS Bryden fell 70 cents to close at $25.30 in an exchange of 5,438 shares, Caribbean Cement gained 50 cents to end at $81.50 with investors swapping 1,104 stocks, Caribbean Producers shed 97 cents to end at $8.02 after a transfer of 3,121 shares. Carreras popped 69 cents to $15.99 after trading of 288,615 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund sank 50 cents to finish at $36 as investors exchanged 6,608 units, GraceKennedy rallied $1.40 and ended at $73.50 in switching ownership of 10,511 shares. Jamaica Broilers rose 82 cents to $25.82 with investors trading 13,047 stock units, Jamaica Producers advanced 50 cents and ended at $23 after an exchange of 999 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange increased 40 cents to finish at $12.90 with a transfer of 42,714 units. JMMB Group declined 82 cents to close at $20.03, with 44,508 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves climbed 51 cents to end at $32.98, with investors trading 2,205 stocks, Massy Holdings popped $1.20 in closing at $77.50, with an exchange of 10,163 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 67 cents to $9.03 and closed with an exchange of 1,329 stock units, 
NCB Financial skidded 64 cents to close at $41.31 with 63,892 shares crossing the market. Pan Jamaica increased $1.29 and ended at $52 with an exchange of 13,529 stocks. Proven Investments climbed 45 cents to finish at $17.70, with 45 units crossing the market, Sagicor Group sank $1.18 to end at $40.01 after an exchange of 84,158 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund dipped $1.55 in closing at $7 after 11,871 shares passed through the market. Sterling Investments rose 43 cents to $3.30, with the swapping of 56,904 stock units and Supreme Ventures rallied 60 cents in closing at $19.65, with investors dealing in 35,764 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% advanced $1.14 and ended at $19.26, after trading at a 52 week intraday low of $15.40, with 3,910 stocks clearing the market. Jamaica Public Service 7% dropped $6.49 to end at $36.76 with traders dealing in 200 units, JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 gained 37 cents to finish at $2.92 in trading 16,141 stocks and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% popped $10 to close at $1160 with 113 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.