The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market climbed on Thursday after activity in 55 securities, down from 58 on Wednesday, with moderate changes in the volume and value of stocks traded and ending with prices of 18 stock rising, 25 declining and 12 ending unchanged with Pan Jamaica ending as the largest price mover for the day.
The market closed with 5,814,614 shares trading for $81,101,642, a slight drop from 5,929,915 stocks for $87,528,704 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 105,720 shares for $1,474,575 in contrast with 102,240 stocks at $1,509,116 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 238,272 stock units for $1,338,762, falling from 256,318 shares valued at $1,320,272 on the previous day and June with an average of 183,242 stock units at $1,532,211.
On a day of limited trading, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund led trading with 1.24 million shares for 21.4 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway which ended with 1.23 million units for 21.1 percent of the day’s trade and GraceKennedy with 602,706 stocks for 10.4 percent of the volume traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 3,048.96 points to close trading at 356,036.30, the JSE Main Index rose 2,158.39 points to end at 309,024.13 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.61 points to wrap up trading at 62.85. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 15 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.5. 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.
At the close of the market, Caribbean Cement skidded $1 to $83 after trading 1,186 shares, Guardian Holdings declined $1 to $308 with traders exchanging 693 stocks, Jamaica Broilers fell $1.49 in closing at $24.35 with 336,135 units changing hands. Kingston Wharves rallied $1.40 to finish at $32.40 after investors exchanged 2,066 shares, Mayberry Group declined 37 cents and ended at $7.21 with just 5 stock units clearing the market, NCB Financial shed $1.43 to close at a 52 week closing low of $35 with investors trading 310,805 shares. Pan Jamaica rose $2.74 to $50.04 with 2,962 stocks crossing the exchange,
Sagicor Group sank 95 cents in closing at $40 with a transfer of 3,594 units, Seprod dropped $2 to end at $79 as 10,756 stock units crossed the market and Supreme Ventures gained 70 cents to finish at $20.30 with traders switching ownership of 8,358 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $2.50 and ended at $40 with 430 units passing through the market, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% slipped $5 to close at $2,650 after an exchange of 1 unit. 138 Student Living preference share dropped $27.98 to $195 in trading 958 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% lost 70 cents to finish at $105.30 and closed with a mere one share changing hands.Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.