Stocks bounced sharply in early trading on Friday on the Main Market Jamaica Stock Exchange with the All Jamaica Composite index rising to more than 437,454 points. just after 11:30 AM, but ended a bit lower at the close on Friday after an exchange of 300 percent more shares after 14 times more funds were exchanged than on Thursday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,075.26 points to end at 434,348.23, the Main Index rose 973.03 points to 396,423.72 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.50 points to settle at 104.13.
Trading involved 41 securities compared to 44 on Thursday and closed with the prices of 15 stocks rising, 18 declining and eight remaining unchanged. The average PE Ratio ended at 16.2 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Investors traded 26,035,964 shares for $1,185,955,996 compared to 8,368,235 units at $78,354,493 on Thursday. Barita Investments led trading with 46.5 percent of total volume, after exchanging 12.11 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 33.7 percent for 8.78 million units and Sterling Investments with 5.5 percent market share for 1.44 million units.
Trading averaged 635,024 units at $28,925,756 for each security, compared to an average of 190,187 shares at $1,780,784 on Thursday. The average trade for the month to date is 289,116 units at $7,973,059 for each security, in contrast to 179,176 units at $1,313,675. November averaged 623,120 units at $6,686,047.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments climbed $4.42 to settle at $90 trading 12,109,602 shares, Berger Paints rose $1.31 to close at $13.80, with 10,312 units passing through the market, Caribbean Cement fell $3 to $57, after exchanging 67,835 shares. Eppley shed 65 cents to close at $23 trading 100 units, First Rock Capital declined by 70 cents to $12.50, with investors swapping 2,709 units, Grace Kennedy climbed $4 to end at $64, with an exchange of 27,186 stock units. Jamaica Broilers lost 80 cents to close at $27.50, in the transfer of 47,405 shares, Jamaica Producers shed 75 cents to finish at $21.75 after an exchange of 2,013 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 45 cents in ending at $19.55 with 4,398 units crossing the market. JMMB Group advanced $2 to $35, with investors switching ownership of 565,948 shares, Key Insurance lost 49 cents to settle at $9.50 trading 47,411 stocks, Kingston Wharves rose $1 to $48, in exchanging 3,466 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced $1.08 to $8.23, with 6,518 units passing through the market, NCB Financial fell $1 to $145.50, after 24,142 stock units crossed the market, Pan Jam Investment advanced by $8 to $68 trading 2,114 units. Portland JSX rose $1 to close at $9 after transferring 4,218 stock units, Sagicor Group dropped $1.30 to $52, after exchanging 302,882 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund declined by $1.48 to $7.49, with investors swapping 52,140 units. 
Salada Foods climbed $2.98 to $28.98, with 50 stocks crossing the exchange, Scotia Group lost 50 cents to finish at $44.50 trading 734,994 shares, Seprod rose $1.98 to end at $65.99, clearing the market with 20,865 stock units. Sterling Investments shed 35 cents to end at $2.85 trading 1,439,187 shares, Supreme Ventures lost 69 cents to close at $17.11, with investors swapping 4,059 units, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 99 cents to settle at $16.99 after investors switched ownership of 278,419 shares and Wisynco Group lost 40 cents to end at $16.10, in exchanging 62,549 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.25% shed $1 to close at $6 trading 1,140 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
