JSE Main Market recovers some lost grounds

Traders held off trading on Wednesday, as prices of several stocks rose appreciably as they left the volume of shares trading to fall 35 percent less than on Tuesday, with the value dropping 40 percent at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks were edged out by those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 2,785.64 points to 441,162.35, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,394.62 points to end at 398,792.32 and the JSE Financial Index increased 0.70 points to settle at 98.04.
A total of 54 securities traded versus 55 on Tuesday, with 16 rising, 18 declining and 20 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.2. 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.
Just 5,449,840 shares traded for $26,843,381, down from 8,445,006 units at $45,087,324 on Tuesday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 2.26 million shares for 41.5 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 903,992 units for 16.6 percent of the day’s trade and Ciboney Group with 438,378 units for 8 percent market share.
Trading averaged 100,923 units at $497,100, against 153,546 shares at $819,770 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 141,026 units at $1,001,827, compared to 160,536 units at $1,247,370 previously traded. December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments spiked $3.87 to close at $96.87 in an exchange of 5,145 shares, Caribbean Cement popped 89 cents to $72.99 trading 52,388 units, Eppley climbed 50 cents to $36 after 970 stocks crossed the exchange. Guardian Holdings advanced $1.50 to end at $525 in exchanging 3,089 stock units, Jamaica Broilers declined 97 cents in closing at $29, with 3,174 shares clearing the market, Jamaica Producers dropped 50 cents in ending at $22.50 after trading 7,883 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 50 cents to close at $17 with the swapping of 28,789 units, JMMB Group fell 38 cents to end at $39 with 20,280 stock units changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed 35 cents to $9 trading 9,677 shares. NCB Financial rallied $3.49 in closing at $128.49 after exchanging 8,481 stock units, Palace Amusement gained $20 to end at $995 while 26 units changed hands, Sagicor Group climbed $1 to $54 in switching ownership of 9,100 stocks. Salada Foods lost 41 cents in closing at $6.57, with 12,580 units crossing the market, Scotia Group climbed 49 cents to close at $35.49 exchanging 16,850 shares, Seprod shed $3.30 to $62.10 12,582 after stock units crossed the market. Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $2.48 to end at $15.52 after trading 500 stocks and Wisynco Group declined 45 cents to close at $17.35 with an exchange of 57,334 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% lost 69 cents in closing at $2.62 in an exchange of 500 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.