Grace Kennedy dominates Main Market trading

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 13 percent and the value 241 percent more than on Wednesday, with trading in 59 securities compared with 52 on Wednesday, with prices of 23 stocks rising, 15 declining and 21 ending unchanged.
The market closed with trading in 6,224,611 shares for $239,670,235 up from 5,507,605 stock units for $70,218,123 at the close on of the market on Wednesday with Grace Kennedy accounting for 2 million shares with a $150 million value and NCB Financial with 1.4 million shares for $72.44 million.
Trading averaged 105,502 shares at $4,062,207 compared with 105,915 stocks at $1,350,349 on Wednesday and trading for the month to date, with an average of 298,727 stocks at $2,547,859 versus 314,070 units at $2,427,608 on the previous day and July with an average of 602,415 shares at $5,405,031.
GraceKennedy led trading with 2.03 million shares for 32.6 percent of total volume followed by NCB Financial with 1.42 million units for 22.8 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 978,533 stock units for 15.7 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 417.06 points to finish at 349,798.04, the JSE Main Index dipped 273.76 points to end at 305,700.10 and the JSE Financial Index skidded 0.01 points to end the day at 64.32.
The Main Market closed with an average PE Ratio of 14.6 The JSE Main and 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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and eight with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints gained 45 cents and ended at $6.85 with investors trading 75 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $3.94 to $40.94 after a transfer of 29 shares, GraceKennedy climbed $1.90 to close at $74.90 in trading 2,028,137 units. JMMB Group increased 70 cents to finish at $21.70 with 37,359 stocks clearing the market, Kingston Wharves rose 50 cents to end at $27.50 with investors swapping 8,550 units, Lasco Manufacturing advanced 46 cents in closing at $7.08 in an exchange of 111,494 stocks. Massy Holdings skidded 50 cents to $75.50 with investors dealing in 126 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities sank 99 cents and ended at $9.01 in an exchange of 2,852 stock units, NCB Financial shed 80 cents to finish at $52 with investors trading 1,417,121 shares. Pan Jamaica rallied 79 cents to close at $49.79 with an exchange of 19,610 stock units, Proven Investments rose $2.35 in closing at $17.35 after 436 stocks changed hands, Salada Foods lost 65 cents to end at $3.20 as investors exchanged 5,757 units. Scotia Group rallied 96 cents in closing at $44.96 in trading 17,602 stocks and Seprod dipped $3.99 to $80.01 with 538 units crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share fell $2.66 to close at $15.14 with traders dealing in 10,245 shares. 138 Student Living preference share increased $31.50 to end at $210 in switching ownership of 59 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% climbed $8.12 to finish at $109.50, with 17 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.