Winners were outnumbered by losers on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday and yet, the market indices recorded solid gains after trading in 60 securities, just above the 59 changing hands on Wednesday, with 20 rising, 26 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 13,903,304 shares trading for $88,827,373, with five companies accounting for 11.54 million shares. Thursday’s volume jumped by 15 percent over 12,124,104 stocks on Wednesday, with the value falling 15 percent from $104,342,325.
Trading averaged 231,722 shares at $1,480,456, contrasting with 205,493 stock units at $1,768,514 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 274,845 units at $2,579,183 after falling from 277,336 shares at $2,642,632 on the previous day and above January with an average of 271,336 stock units at $2,043,022.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.69 million shares for 26.6 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Energy with 2.98 million stocks for 21.4 percent of the day’s trade, Radio Jamaica closed with 2.0 million stock units for 14.4 percent of the volume traded, Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 1.82 million shares for 13.1 percent of the volume traded and Lasco Distributors with 1.05 million stocks for 7.6 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,117.90 points to 401,734.12, the JSE Main Index rose 1,047.52 points to end at 343,861.81 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.72 points to close at 63.35. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Main Market ended with an average PE Ratio of 17.4. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings that are compiled by ICInsider.com for companies with fiscal year ending around August 2026.
At the close of the market, Berger Paints gained 48 cents and ended at $5.79 with 610 shares crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cement fell 50 cents to $110 after a transfer of 9,909 stock units, Carreras sank $1 to finish at $21 in trading 310,283 shares. Eppley declined $1.95 to $32 with 30,143 stocks crossing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost 50 cents in closing at $46 with investors dealing in 563 units, First Rock Real Estate dipped $1.69 to close at $8.31 with 450 stocks passing through the market. GraceKennedy sank $2.50 to $70 in switching ownership of 74,970 shares, Guardian Holdings dropped $2.50 in closing at $366.50 with 11,450 stock units clearing the market, Jamaica Producers shed 66 cents to finish at $23.64 with investors trading 250,655 shares. 
JMMB Group shed 65 cents to $17.35 after an exchange of 445,874 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing rose 50 cents to close at $6.79 with 127,046 stock units changing hands, Margaritaville rallied $1.01 to end at $12.82 with an exchange of 398 stocks. Mayberry Group slipped 50 cents to $6 with 7,583 units crossing the market, NCB Financial sank 50 cents to end at $42.50 with traders dealing in 113,889 shares, Sagicor Group increased 95 cents in closing at $40 in an exchange of 4,399 stock units and Scotia Group climbed 61 cents and ended at $49.99 with investors trading 39,106 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $7.95 to close at $42.95 after an exchange of 122 units and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% gained $2 to finish at $109 after traders swapped 1,500 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.