JSE Main Market rises

Market activity ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 53 percent and the value dropping 82 percent lower than on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks exceeded those falling.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 2,855.20 points to close at 461,683.05, the JSE Main Index rose 2,101.59 points to 402,589.33 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.90 points to settle at 95.40.
Trading ended with 54 securities down from 57 on Thursday, with 24 rising, 21 declining and nine ending unchanged. Caribbean Cement closed trading at a 52 weeks’ low of $60 and Key Insurance traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $3.81, while Mayberry Investments closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $11.02.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.4. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Overall, 9,627,205 shares were exchanged for $89,895,589 down from 20,316,947 units at $488,632,009 on Thursday. Trading averages 178,282 units at $1,664,733, compared to 356,438 shares at $8,572,491 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 228,535 units at $4,080,209, compared to 242,886 units at $4,584,264 on the previous trading day. April closed with an average of 532,209 units at $5,709,319.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.52 million shares for 36.5 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.37 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and Mayberry Investments with 679,319 units for 7.1 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments popped 55 cents to close at $89.90 with an exchange of 4,192 shares, Berger Paints advanced $1.09, in closing at $12.29 in an exchange of  6,706 stocks, Caribbean Cement lost $2.99 to end at $61, with 153,079 units crossing the exchange. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund gained $5.20 in ending at $47.50, with 15 stock units changing hands, First Rock Capital rose 80 cents to $13.20 after trading 21,749 stocks, GraceKennedy dropped $3 to $107.50 with 182,889 stock units changing hands. Guardian Holdings climbed $15 in ending at $530, with 1,095 shares crossing the market, JMMB Group rose $1 to close at $47 after 139,940 units changed hands, Massy Holdings fell $1 in closing at $96 while exchanging 17,368 shares. Mayberry Investments rallied $2.22 to end at $11.02 in trading 679,319 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed 53 cents to end at $14.99, with 10,394 units clearing the market, 138 Student Living popped 60 cents to $5 after exchanging one stock unit. Palace Amusement advanced $169.02 to $1119.02 in trading five stocks, PanJam Investment declined 99 cents to $66.01 in trading 7,276 shares, Proven Investments increased $1.28 to close at $37.78 with the swapping of 22,311 stock units. Sagicor Group gained $2.99 to end at $57.99 in switching ownership of 118,389 units, Salada Foods climbed 33 cents in ending at $5.99 after exchanging 3,457 shares, Scotia Group declined $1.73 to close at $35.11 after 54,533 stocks changed hands. Seprod lost 64 cents to close at $71.85, trading 2,767 units, Stanley Motta rose 37 cents to $5.40, with 2,000 stock units changing hands, Supreme Ventures rallied 95 cents to $31.95 in trading 64,951 stocks and Wisynco Group fell $1.27 to close at $22.13, with 374,662 units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed 80 cents to $7.42 in an exchange of 450 stock units and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share dropped 60 cents to $2.85 while exchanging 7,071 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.