The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market Index crept higher on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 24 percent, and the value 27 percent more, compared to Wednesday, following trading in 60 securities, up from 59 on Wednesday, resulting in prices of 20 rising, 24 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 7,514,497 shares trading for $84,772,061 after jumping from 6,538,417 stock units at $77,664,984 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 125,242 shares at $1,412,868, from 110,821 stock units at $1,316,356 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 166,232 units at $1,856,937, down from 179,746 shares at $2,003,333 on the previous day and February with an average of 296,521 stock units at $2,650,049.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.69 million shares for 49.1 percent of the total volume, followed by QWI Investments, with 1.11 million units for 14.8 percent of the day’s trade and NCB Financial with 524,238 stocks for 7 percent of the volume traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index gained 584.54 points to close at 404,861.97, the JSE Main Index increased 89.31 points to 346,574.09 and the JSE Financial Index popped a mere 0.17 points to end at 63.42. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 20.4. The JSE Main and the 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 2026.
At the close of trading, Caribbean Cement sank $2.40 to $104 after an exchange of 12,367 shares, Caribbean Producers dipped 60 cents to $6 in trading 4,540 stock units, First Rock Real Estate lost $1.43 to close at $8.32 after an exchange of 3,000 shares. Jamaica Producers gained 88 cents to finish at $23.40 with a transfer of 4,071 stocks, Kingston Wharves rose 50 cents and ended at $36, following trading of 3,974 units, Massy Holdings slipped 50 cents in closing at $74 in an exchange of 206,502 stocks. 138 Student Living sank 42 cents to $3.04 with traders dealing in 10,919 shares, Pan Jamaica rallied $1 to end at $49 in switching ownership of 5,855 stock units, Portland JSX popped $1.84 in closing at $8.25 as investors exchanged 31 units. 
Proven Investments advanced 93 cents to close at $12.99 with 886 shares clearing the market, Seprod declined 99 cents to finish at $79 in an exchange of 2,006 units, Stanley Motta climbed 38 cents and ended at $5.71 with investors dealing in 5,470 stocks and Wisynco Group shed $1.40 to $21.60 after an exchange of 627,763 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share increased 45 cents to finish at $19 with trading of 1,900 shares, 138 Student Living preference share popped $32.36 and ended at $239.50 with 46 stock units changing hands and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% climbed $1.92 in closing at $109 with an exchange of a mere one stock.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.