JSE Main Market ekes out meagre gains

The volume of stocks traded declined 39 percent with a 33 percent lower value than on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday, with 57 securities trading compared to 54 on Friday, with 14 rising, 29 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
A total of 6,759,817 shares were traded for $52,493,451 versus 11,090,416 units at $78,193,167 on Friday.
Trading averaged 118,593 shares at $920,938, down from 205,378 units at $1,448,022 on Friday and for the month to date, an average of 160,566 shares at $1,907,239, compared with 168,931 units at $2,103,810 on the prior trading day. September closed with an average of 533,719 units at $5,494,282.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.84 million shares for 56.9 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 929,375 units for 13.7 percent of the day’s trade and Pulse Investments with 327,684 units for 4.8 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 583.85 points to 409,738.63, the JSE Main Index rallied 449.27 points to 359,209.37 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.33 points to settle at 86.51.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments popped $1.02 in ending at $109.02 with 140,243 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Cement dropped $1 in closing at $58 after trading 193,211 units. Eppley climbed 8 5 cents to $40.45 as investors exchanged two stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $6 to$3 8.50, with 8,930 stocks crossing the market, First Rock Real Estate shed 50 cents to close at $13.90 with 3,330 units changing hands. GraceKennedy gained $1 in ending at $90 in trading 19,936 shares, Guardian Holdings increased $10 to $510 in exchanging 130 stock units, Jamaica Producers lost 84 cents to end at $20.10 and closed after 1,718 shares changed hands. Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped 49 cents in closing at $15.51 in an exchange of 2,520 stock units, Kingston Wharves fell 49 cents in closing at $38.01 with an exchange of 1,161 stocks, Massy Holdings slipped by $1 to $84 after trading 1,147 units. PanJam Investment dropped $1.99 in ending at $58 after switching ownership of 64 shares, Proven Investments shed 53 cents to close at $30.65, with 2,661 stock units changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund declined 40 cents to end at $7.75 after the exchange of 10,676 units. Scotia Group rallied $1.46 to end at $35.98 with a transfer of 49,137 stocks and Seprod rose 99 cents to $69.99 with the swapping of 1,573 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share advanced 96 cents to $7.38 after a transfer of 4,048 stock units, 138 Student Living preference share dipped $11.50 to close at $57.50 after exchanging 158 units,  Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share declined $52 to end at $1100 with investors transferring 152 shares and  Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $11.22 in closing at $107.78 while exchanging 120 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.