JSE Main Market bounced on Friday

The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with gains to start the final month of 2023 positively but advancing stocks were overrun by those declining as the volume of stocks traded declined 62 percent and the value 44 percent lower than on Thursday, with 54 securities changing hands compared with 59 on Thursday and ended with 15 rising, 27 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
Trading slipped to a mere 6,383,376 shares being exchanged for just $32,170,003 down from 16,736,165 units at $57,402,800 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 118,211 shares at $595,741 versus 283,664 units at $972,929 on Thursday compared with November that  averaged 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.55 million shares for 55.7 percent of total volume followed by Palace Amusement that ended with 799,934 units for 12.5 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 559,854 units for 8.8 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,439.55 points to wrap-up trading at 351,375.40, the JSE Main Index rose 521.37 points to close at 315,669.00 and the JSE Financial Index advanced 0.17 points to finish at 68.57.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the 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, AS Bryden rallied 60 cents to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $30.10 with an exchange of 242 shares, Barita Investments rose 62 cents to $70.92, with 6,634 units changing hands, Caribbean Cement advanced $4.90 to end at $58.89 with stakeholders exchanging 18,748 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $3.50 to close at $39.50 after 221 stock units crossed the market, First Rock Real Estate gained 49 cents and ended at $7.99 with an exchange of 11 shares, GraceKennedy declined $1.05 to $74.75 and closed with an exchange of 102,295 stock units. Guardian Holdings lost $15 in closing at $405 in trading 375 stocks, Kingston Properties skidded 70 cents to end at $7 after a transfer of 308 units, Mayberry Investments fell 50 cents to close at $7.50, with 5,100 shares crossing the exchange. NCB Financial dropped $1.20 and ended at $68 with investors dealing in 21,192 units, 138 Student Living climbed 30 cents to $4.21 in an exchange of 293 stocks, Pan Jamaica increased 70 cents to close at $49.70 with shareholders swapping 10,324 stock units. Proven Investments shed $1.48 to end at $22.01 in an exchange of 15,848 shares, Sagicor Group popped 95 cents in closing at $41.95 with traders dealing in 175,260 units, Scotia Group gained $1.14 and ended at $33.99 after an exchange of 5,240 stocks. Seprod dipped $3.89 to $74, with 27,420 stock units crossing the market, Supreme Ventures rose 49 cents in closing at $26.99 in switching ownership of 11,913 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments fell 64 cents to end at $11.11 after exchanging 20,349 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $1 to close at $45, with 198 stocks clearing the market and JMMB Group 7% preference share lost 36 cents and ended at $2.04 with a transfer of 3,435 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.