Stocks climbed into the New Year after winners beat losers on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 93 percent, with a 92 percent lower value compared to trading on Wednesday, with trading in 59 securities compared with 60 on Wednesday, with prices of 27 rising, 23 declining and nine ending firm.
The market closed with an exchange of 9,985,799 shares for $64,681,027 compared to 138,255,200 stock units at $802,340,940 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 169,251 shares at $1,096,289, down from 2,304,253 units at $13,372,349 on Wednesday, compared to December, averaging 395,435 stock units at $4,321,753.
Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund led trading with 2.66 million shares for 26.6 percent of the total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway, which ended with 1.92 million stocks for 19.2 percent of the day’s trade and Supreme Ventures with 1.61 million units for 16.1 percent of the volume traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,885.78 points to close at 367,200.16, the JSE Main Index advanced 1,497.05 points to 319,483.93 and the JSE Financial Index skidded 0.19 points to end at 64.25. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.9. 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 2026.
At the close of the first day trading in 2026, Barita Investments shed $5.90 in closing at a 52 weeks low of $69.85 after an exchange of 2,504 shares, Caribbean Cement sank $1.50 to end at $106, after the trading of 5,487 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 40 cents to close at $47.15 with an exchange of 555 units. First Rock Real Estate dropped 87 cents to finish at $10.09, with 3,963 shares crossing the exchange, Guardian Holdings rose $2.40 and ended at $344.90 with traders dealing in 103 stock units, JMMB Group lost 75 cents to end at $19.20 in an exchange of 87,839 shares. Kingston Wharves rallied $4.49 in closing at $36.49 with investors trading 1,991 stock units, Mayberry Group skidded 90 cents to $7, after 18,733 stocks passed through the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities sank 49 cents to close at $8.51 as investors exchanged 143 units. NCB Financial popped $3.75 and ended at $39.75 after it closed with 125,392 shares changing hands, Pan Jamaica dropped $6 to end at $45 with investors swapping 775 stock units, Proven Investments increased $2.24 to finish at $15.99, with an exchange of 3,579 stocks. 
Sagicor Group fell 48 cents and ended at $41, with 83,824 units crossing the market, Seprod shed 78 cents to $83.20 after trading of 8,205 stocks, Supreme Ventures dipped $3.07 to end at $16.49 after a transfer of 1,605,332 units. Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 72 cents in closing at $12.40 with investors trading 25,837 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained $1.15 to close at $13 in switching ownership of 1,930 stock units, West Indian Petroleum rose 64 cents to finish at a record high of $1.95 after an exchange of only one share and Wisynco Group advanced 46 cents and ended at $19.96 with a transfer of 83,839 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% jumped $3.63 to $39.90, with 8 stocks crossing the exchange, 138 Student Living preferred share increased $2.99 to finish at $249.99, with 18 units changing hands. Productive Business Solutions 10.5% climbed $85 to close at $1,145, with investors dealing in 13 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments 10% fell $4 to end at $106, with 45 shares clearing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rallied $1.95 in closing at $103.95 in an exchange of just one unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.