JSE main market ekes out modest rise – Thursday

Stocks closed slightly higher on the Jamaica Stock Exchange main market on Thursday than on Wednesday with the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index increasing 96.51 points to 325,799.33 and the JSE Index rising 87.93 points to 296,840.01.
At the close, 26 securities traded, compared to 26 on Wednesday and ended with the prices of 7 stocks rising, 11 falling and 8 trading firm, in the main and US dollar markets.
At the close of trading, JMMB Group fell 75 cents to $26.50, Kingston Wharves jumped $3.50 to $49.50, NCB Financial Group ended with the day’s highest volume with a loss of $1.50 to $95 and Scotia Group lost $1.49 to end at $50.50.
Main market activity ended with 6,955,242 units valued at $271,269,169 changing hands compared to 14,655,576 units valued at $227,353,346 on Wednesday. At the close of trading, NCB Financial Group ended with 2,259,648 units representing 32.49 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Ciboney Group with 1,630,930 units and 23.45 percent of the volume traded and Wisynco Group closed with 1,609,916 units, accounting for 23.15 percent of the overall volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 289,802 units valued at an average of $11,302,882 for each security traded. In contrast to 563,676 units for an average of $8,744,359 on Wednesday. The average for the month to date is 713,135 shares with a value of $5,603,629 and previously 735,222 shares with a value of $4,951,259. In contrast, March closed with an average of 626,526 units with an average value at $20,492,207 for each security traded.
Traded in the US dollar market ended with 14,950 units valued at $4,941 as Productivity Business increased 2 cents and ended at 58 US cents with 4,400 shares traded and Proven Investments rose 1 cent to 23 US cents trading 10,500 units. The Market rose 5.71 points to close at 177.88.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
For more details of market activities see – JSE main market volume remains elevated – Thursday.