Increased trading pushes Main Market higher

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with a 194 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded rising valued 41 percent more than on Tuesday, with trading in 52 securities compared with 55 on Tuesday, with prices of 20 stocks rising, just 10 declining and 22 ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 29,083,191 shares for $83,058,622 up from 9,890,713 units at $58,907,474 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 559,292 shares at $1,597,281 compared to 179,831 units at $1,071,045 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 240,532 units at $1,544,517 compared with 221,971 units at $1,541,445 on the previous day and December with an average of 264,266 units at $3,755,946.
JMMB 9.5% preference share led trading with 16.97 million shares for 58.3 percent of total volume that was followed by Transjamaican Highway with 7.14 million units for 24.5 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 2.23 million units for 7.7 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index gained 1,716.13 points to settle at 357,434.77, the JSE Main Index rallied 944.29 points to finish at 320,606.67 and the JSE Financial Index declined 0.16 points to culminate at 68.84.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.99 to $51.26 with 35,226 stocks changing hands, Guardian Holdings lost $5 to close at $370 with investors dealing in 3,316 shares, Jamaica Producers climbed $1.93 in closing at $23.58 with 8,446 units clearing the market. JMMB Group popped 50 cents to $24.50 in an exchange of 22,800 stocks, Mayberry Group dipped 57 cents and ended at $6.51after 7,596 units passed through the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities sank 43 cents to end at $9.10 with an exchange of 3,000 shares. Pan Jamaica advanced 54 cents in closing at $49.99 and closed with an exchange of 15,228 stocks, Sagicor Group rose $2.40 to end at $43.40 with a transfer of 12,372 stocks, Salada Foods rallied 64 cents and ended at $3.86 with 1,082 shares crossing the exchange. Scotia Group gained 49 cents to close at $40 in switching ownership of 257,885 units, Seprod climbed $2.50 to $86.80 with investors trading 54,910 stocks and Wisynco Group rose 33 cents and ended at $20.53 after a transfer of 32,169 stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share skidded 72 cents to close at $192.28 with investors swapping 5 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments c10.5% gained $14.99 in closing at a record high of $114.99 after an exchange of 51,300 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.