JSE Main Market closes with month end gains

Rising stocks outpaced those declining on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with trading in 63 stocks up from 60 securities on Thursday, with prices of 28 stocks rising, 14 declining and 18 ending unchanged even as the volume of stocks traded fell percent with the value 54 percent more than on Thursday, as the market added notable points in the last minute of trading to close out August.
The market closed with 10,194,467 shares being trading for $72,333,313 compared with 13,202,248 units at $46,987,343 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 169,908 shares at $1,205,555 compared with 209,559 stocks at $745,831 on Thursday and month to date, with an average of 290,511 stock units at $2,258,494 compared with 297,066 shares at $2,315,719 on the previous day and July that closed with an average of 602,415 stocks at $5,405,031.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.07 million shares for 30.1 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.65 million stocks for 16.2 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway 8% with 1.52 million units for 14.9 percent of stocks traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,859.34 points to 355,299.75, the JSE Main Index climbed 2,988.35 points to 312,499.25 and the JSE Financial Index remained at 64.95.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.3. 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 23 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments rallied 55 cents to close at $74, with 16,214 stock units crossing the market, Berger Paints slipped 48 cents to $6.36 with a transfer of 300 shares, Caribbean Cement climbed 50 cents to finish at $64.99 after trading of 5,368 stocks. Eppley sank $2.79 and ended at $35 with 788 units clearing the market, Guardian Holdings rose $20 in closing at $320 after the trading of 530 stocks, Jamaica Broilers rallied $1.71 to end at $34.50 after an exchange of 93,731 units. Key Insurance popped 44 cents to $2.79 with investors swapping 2,000 shares, Kingston Wharves advanced 90 cents to close at $28.90 in an exchange of 7,828 stock units, Lasco Distributors regained 50 cents to nearly erase the 54 cents lost on Thursday, with the price ending at $4.65 with investors trading 8,201 shares. Margaritaville rose $2.37 in closing at $14.37 with an exchange of just one unit, Massy Holdings dropped $1.75 and ended at $77 as 30 stocks passed through the market, Pan Jamaica gained $1.84 to finish at $50.74 in an exchange of 270,001 stock units. Proven Investments lost 45 cents to $16.10, with 4,833 shares changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund popped 60 cents in closing at $8.10 with investors trading 289,897 stocks, Seprod climbed $3 to  $86 in switching ownership of 13,313 units. Supreme Ventures dipped $1.10 and ended at $20.01, with 15,015 stocks crossing the exchange and Wisynco Group increased 50 cents to finish at $21.50 with traders dealing in 188,900 shares, following the report of full year earnings of $5.2 billion for earnings per share of $1.38, to be marginally up on earnings of $1.31 in 2023.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rallied $20.01 to end at $210 after trading 633 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.