The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed with a preholiday bounce on Thursday, ahead of the Labour day close, with the volume of stocks exchanged declining 40 percent and the value 24 percent lower than on Wednesday, following trading in 56 securities, down from 60 on Wednesday, with prices of 20 rising, 21 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 5,906,767 shares trading for $74,251,622, down from 9,854,027 stock units at $97,063,679 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 105,478 shares for $1,325,922, well below the 164,234 stock units at $1,617,728 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 242,467 units at $1,980,324, which is in line with 251,305 shares at $2,022,543 on the previous day and well below April that closed with an average of 1,417,136 stock units at $6,010,754.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.26 million shares for 38.2 percent of the total volume, followed by Sterling Investments, ending with 799,878 units for 13.5 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Energy with 756,312 stock units for 12.8 percent of the volume traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,295.56 points to 367,388.26, the JSE Main Index popped 214.37 points to wrap up trading at 319,910.42 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.28 points to settle at 67.63. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.8. 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 2025.
At the close, AS Bryden sank $1.97 to close at $28, with 5,920 shares changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Fund Property shed 46 cents to close at $45.44 after an exchange of 19 stock units, GraceKennedy climbed 50 cents to end at $72, with 661,208 shares crossing the market. Guardian Holdings fell $3.80 in closing at $360 with an exchange of 14 units, Jamaica Broilers popped 87 cents to close at $28.87 in trading 48,309 stock units, Jamaica Producers gained $1.50 to finish at $23.50 in an exchange of just one share. JMMB Group dropped 50 cents and ended at $20 with traders dealing in 24,306 stock units, 
Massy Holdings rose 60 cents to $77 as investors exchanged 124 stocks, NCB Financial advanced $2 to end at $44 in switching ownership of 81,141 stock units. Proven Investments rallied 77 cents in closing at $17.77 after the transferring of 5,308 stocks, Sagicor Real Estate Fund increased 40 cents to finish at $8.95 after 1,127 shares passed through the market, Seprod sank 75 cents to close at $83 in an exchange of 1,174 stock units and Supreme Ventures popped $2.34 to $19.64, with 5,833 units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share dipped $30 to finish at $211, with investors trading 1,367 shares and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% lost $109 and ended at $1101 after an exchange of 15 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.