JSE indices rise in soft market – Tuesday

Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Tuesday with advancing stocks just edging out declining ones and leading the market indices to a mild increase. At the close trading volume and values rose sharply compared to the prior day.
The All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 169.10 points to close at 258,452.06, the JSE Market Index gained 154.07 points to 235,479.10 but the JSE US dollar market index lost 14.16 points to 186.29.
At the close of trading, 23 securities changed hands with 1 trading in the US dollar market, leading to 11 stocks advancing and 9 declining. Trading in the main market ended with 11,853,174 units valued at $109,266,700 changing hands compared to 5,146,243 units valued at just $51,796,808 at the close on Monday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 146,047 units valued at US$34,731.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 515,355 units valued at $4,750,726 for every security traded compared to an average of 197,932 units valued at $1,992,185 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 187,966 units with an average value of $4,045,663 compared with an average of 147,042 units with an average value of $3,957,530 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
In market activity, Berger Paints closed at $18.75, with a loss of 25 cents exchanging 1,220 shares, Cable and Wireless gained 4 cents to close at $1.20, with 129,607 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Cement closed at $27, with gains of 65 cents trading 2,000 shares, Grace Kennedy gained 10 cents and closed at $41, with trades of 51,742 units, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 20,471 shares at $18, Jamaica Producers closed at $14.50, with gains of 40 cents trading 38,624 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 10,113,600 shares and closed 29 cents higher at $7.29, JMMB Group lost $1 to close at $19.50 trading 34,065 units, Mayberry Investments gained 5 cents to close at $4.55, with trades of 150,000 units, NCB Financial Group lost 27 cents to close at $71.23, after exchanging 67,138 shares, 1834 Investments closed at $1.30, with trades of 23,966 shares, 138 Student Living traded 1 cent lower to close at $4.48, with an exchange of 1,420 units. PanJam Investment closed at $34, after adding $1 in trading 28,130 shares, Pulse Investments gained 90 cents, closing at $17 trading 14,585 shares, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.65, losing 1 cent and exchanging 413,162 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $34.21, with a loss of 4 cents trading 46,714 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 30 cents higher to close at $11 with 10,821 shares exchanged. Salada Foods lost $1, closing at $10 with 500 units changing hands, Scotia Group closed at $43.85, with gains of $1.25 exchanging 559,823 shares, Scotia Investments gained 50 cents to close at $37, trading 12,970 units, Seprod closed at $29.49, losing 1 cent and trading 4,257 shares while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.50, with 120,059 shares changing hands. Proven Investments lost 0.02 US cents exchanging 146,047 ordinary shares to close at 24 US cents and JMMB 7.5% preference share closed at $1.95, losing 5 cents with trades of 8,300 units.