Gains for JSE Main Market on Friday

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped on Friday, to close April on a positive note but a little lower than March close. Trading ended with a 61 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with the value 31 percent more than on Thursday, following trading in 60 securities compared to 57 on Thursday and ending with prices of 25 rising, 18 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
A total of 15,514,547 shares were traded for $64,737,290 compared to 9,660,257 units at $49,441,575 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 258,576 shares at $1,078,955 compared with 169,478 shares at $867,396 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410, compared with 264,916 units at $1,429,746 on the previous day. trading in March closed with an average of 356,137 units at $3,015,416.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.02 million shares for 45.2 percent of total volume, Transjamaican Highway followed with 3.05 million units for 19.6 percent of the day’s trade, 138 Student Living with 1.85 million units for 11.9 percent market share and Radio Jamaica with 1.48 million units for 9.6 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 3,118.34 points to finish at 380,322.58, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,293.26 points to 338,081.79 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.45 points to 77.62.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.8 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last selling prices of stocks and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement declined $1 in closing at $57, with 1,108 shares crossing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund gained $3.39 to end at $43.99, with 1,241 stocks changing hands, First Rock Real Estate advanced 84 cents to $10.84 in switching owners for 48,315 units, Jamaica Broilers rallied 63 cents to $37, with 37,561 stock units clearing the market. Jamaica Stock Exchange increased 55 cents to close at $14.20 with a transfer of 66,110 shares, Kingston Properties rose 35 cents to end at $7.85 and closed after trading in 324,099 units, Kingston Wharves popped 98 cents after ending at $33.73 after investors traded 39,783 stocks, Margaritaville climbed 38 cents to $19 as 320 stock units passed through the market. Pan Jamaica Group dropped $1.94 in closing at $54.50 after an exchange of 60,692 shares, Radio Jamaica jumped 50 cents to end at $2.25 after 1,483,903 stocks changed hands, Sagicor Group climbed $2.97 to $52 with the swapping of 218,681 stock units, Seprod fell $2 in closing at $73 as investors exchanged 15,401 units. Supreme Ventures dipped $1.46 to $28 in an exchange of 67,158 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied $1.50 to close at $10.89 after a transfer of 3,947 shares and Wisynco Group popped 56 cents to end at $17.45 with 236,080 stocks crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share rose 90 cents to $19.50 after trading in 704 units, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $30.34 to end at $128.95 with an exchange of 1,820 stocks, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share rose 67 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.19 with investors transferring 1,112 shares. 138 Student Living preference share shed 65 cents in ending at $88, with 50 units crossing the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share lost $9 in closing at $95 after exchanging 10 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.