JSE Main Market jumps on Friday

More funds supported market activity on Friday but the volume of shares trading declined by 48 percent while the value climbed 23 percent higher than on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks exceeded those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,416.48 points to 453,205.08, the JSE Main Index soared 4,816.43 points in ending at 400,154.97 and the JSE Financial Index advanced 1.12 points to close at 96.28.
Trading ended with 60 securities up from 57 on Thursday, with 27 rising, 21 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 17. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 13,336,530 shares were exchanged for $229,123,211 versus 25,871,558 units at $185,994,733 on Thursday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 24.5 percent of total volume in transferring 3.27 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 20.2 percent for 2.69 million units, QWI Investments accounted for 11.7 percent for 1.56 million units and JMMB Group with 8.1 percent for 1.08 million units changing hands.
Trading averages 222,275 units at $3,818,720, versus 453,887 shares at $3,263,065 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 277,783 units at $2,967,730, compared to 285,039 units at $2,856,489 on Thursday. January closed with an average of 235,328 units at $2,397,571.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with the bid higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints dropped 56 cents ending at $12.44 in exchanging 139 units, Caribbean Cement fell 99 cents to close at $84 with a transfer of 71,819 stocks. Caribbean Producers shed 78 cents in closing at $18.98 after trading 558,563 stock units, Eppley declined $2.90 to end at $33.10 with 2,091 units clearing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $4.25 to end at $42.35 in switching ownership of 19 stocks. First Rock Capital rose $1.05 to close at $12.10 with 2,137 shares changing hands, GraceKennedy rallied $2.01 to end at $105.01 in switching ownership of 62,574 units, Guardian Holdings climbed $8.99 to $578.99 after 507 shares crossed the market. Jamaica Broilers advanced $3.45 to $30.50 with the swapping of 58,755 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 69 cents to end at $17.25 in trading 16,499 units, Key Insurance popped 43 cents to settle at $4.39 with an exchange of 28,000 stocks. Margaritaville fell 50 cents to $24.50 with 5,489 stock units changing hands, Massy Holdings climbed $53 to close at $2,000 in trading 11,152 shares, Mayberry Investments rallied 44 cents to finish at $7 in an exchange of 29,439 units. NCB Financial lost 50 cents to close at $128.50 with the swapping of 795,819 stock units, 138 Student Living advanced $1.69 to $7.35 after 6,027 shares crossed the exchange, PanJam Investment fell $1.79 to end at $66.25 in transferring 12,602 stock units, Portland JSX gained 80 cents to close at $8.70 with 301 shares crossing the market. Proven Investments lost 30 cents to end at $33.50 in trading 29,164 units, Sagicor Group fell $2.04 in closing at $53.11 in trading 40,318 stocks, Salada Foods slipped 30 cents to $7.30, with an exchange of 52,146 units. Scotia Group rose $2.99 to end at $38.99 with 97,722 units changing hands, Seprod gained 40 cents to close at $61.40 with a transfer of 4,664 shares, Stanley Motta rose 63 cents to $5.98 in switching ownership of 5,167 stock units and Wisynco Group popped $1.33 in closing at $19.83 with the swapping of 274,079 stocks.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference shares gained 80 cents to end at $7.75 with an exchange of 533 stock units, Eppley 7.25% preference share lost 38 cents ending at $20 in exchange of 389 units and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rallied $655.36 to close at a record high of $3,128.43 trading one share.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.