The main market finally pierced the resistance point around the 460,000 points level at the close of trading, with the All Jamaican Composite Index spiking a strong 5,539.89 points to end trading at 461,772.99, the first close above this point since March 10 last year after 29 stocks recorded gains at the close of market activity on Thursday, but ii it sustainable in the short run?
Securities trading surged to 53 from 48 on Wednesday, with 29 rising, 18 declining and six ending unchanged. At the close, the JSE Main Index advanced 3,640.24 points to end at 427,170.49 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.76 points to 105.74.
The PE Ratio, which measures an appropriate relative value of each stock, on Thursday averages 16.9 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings forecast.
A total of 10,251,097 shares traded for $190,490,762 versus 11,255,918 units at $208,802,786 on Wednesday. Scotia Group led trading with 20 percent of the volume after exchanging 2.04 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 13.3 percent for 1.36 million units, Transjamaican Highway 11.2 percent, with 1.14 million units and Sygnus Credit Investments 11.1 percent with 1.10 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 193,417 units at $3,594,165, compared to 234,498 shares at $4,350,058 on Wednesday. Trading month to date averages 231,890 units at $4,146,046, in contrast to 237,958 units at $4,233,099 on Wednesday. May closed with an average of 439,937 units at $4,698,961.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rallied $2.92 to $93.92 trading 5,699 units, Eppley lost 23 cents to close at $37.75 with 608 stocks crossing the market, Grace Kennedy finished $2.72 higher at $94.22 in exchanging 225,975 shares, Guardian Holdings dropped $5.10 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $744.90 in transferring 30,017 units. Jamaica Broilers rose $1 to $34 with the swapping of 21,498 stocks, Jamaica Producers closed $1 higher at $23 after exchanging 564 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 20 cents to finish at $17.40 with an exchange of 11,259 stock units. JMMB Group picked up 30 cents to close at $32.50 in switching ownership of 516,634 shares, Kingston Properties spiked $2.25 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $11.75 in an exchange of 870 units, Margaritaville gained 25 cents in closing at $14.with the swapping of 48,810 stocks, NCB Financial rose $1.01 to $148 in transferring 35,830 shares, Palace Amusement popped $27.92 to $1,171.92 with an exchange of 109 units. PanJam Investment rose 99 cents to $68 with 1,970 stock units clearing the market, Proven Investments shed 50 cents to close at $35.50 with 14,872 units crossing the market, Sagicor Group rallied $1.25 to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $54 after trading 156,877 stocks, Salada Foods gained 20 cents to end at $8 in trading 38,865 units. 
Scotia Group shed $1 in ending at $40 after an exchange of 2,042,868 shares, Seprod shed 95 cents to close at $74 with 17,290 units changing hands, Stanley Motta rose 45 cents to $6.45 with 100 stock units crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments climbed 30 cents to $15.30 in exchanging 1,103,967 shares and Wisynco Group gained 60 cents to close at $15.95 with a transfer of 33,016 stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference share shed $1.90 to end at $6 after 200 shares crossed the market, Eppley 8.25% rose 97 cents to $7.93 in trading 1,240 units and JMMB Group 7.25% gained 31 cents to end at $2.31 with 132 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
