Trading on the Main Market of Jamaica Stock exchange closed with a rise in the market indices as the volume and value of stock trading declined below Friday’s levels.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,805.56 points to close at 536,338.30, the JSE Market Index gained 2,384.71 points to 488,257.67, but the JSE Financial Index lost 0.01 point to 132.16.
The market closed, with 42 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 18 advancing, 15 declining and 9 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 40 securities accounting for 19,925,654 units valued at $93,234,047 in contrast to 25,935,878 units valued at $106,383,024 from 41 securities on Friday.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 7.4 million shares for 37.3 percent of total volume. Wigton Windfarm followed with 4.95 million units for 25 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Manufacturing and Distribution Fund closed with 2.2 million shares changing hands with 11.2 percent of the market’s volume. Other stocks trading more than one million units are Wisynco Group with 1.3 million units and JMMB 7.5% preference share close with 1 million trading at a 52 weeks’ low of 65 cents.
The Market closed with an average of 498,141 units valued at $2,330,851 for each security traded, in contrast to 632,582 units valued at an average of $2,594,708 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 669,236 units valued at $2,542,170 for each security changing hands, compared to 684,825 units valued at $2,563,408 for each security traded. Trading in January resulted in an average of 626,134 units valued at $3,511,981 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows twelve stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.8, while the Main Market ended at 19.1 times the 2019 earnings.
In the prime market, Berger Paints closed at $17, with gains of 49 cents after exchanging 11,000 shares, Caribbean Cement lost 75 cents to end at $70, in transferring 57,763 shares, Grace Kennedy gained $2.50 to settle at $70.50, with 11,298 shares changing hands. Jamaica Producers closed $1.50 lower to $24.50 in swapping 13,023 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose $1.97 to $32, trading 21,606 shares, JMMB Group ended at $45.55, after gaining $1.85 exchanging 249,600 shares. Kingston Wharves climbed $4.60 to $61.60, in transferring 10,534 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 70 cents trading 23,070 shares and closed at $9.70, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy nosedived to $150, after falling $30 with an exchange of 1,325 units. NCB Financial added $2 to settle at $187, in swapping 25,640 shares, 
PanJam Investment closed 34 cents higher at $99.37, with 21,924 shares changing hands, Proven Investments ended at $48, with gains of 75 cents trading 10,828 shares. Pulse Investments lost 60 cents to end at $11.50, in transferring 273,348 shares, Sagicor Group closed $2.17 higher to $69.69 while exchanging 16,358 shares, Seprod settled at $46, after a loss of 50 cents in transferring 27,670 shares, Stanley Motta lost 74 cents to close at $5.01 trading 18,913 units. Supreme Ventures advanced by $1.47 to $23.17, with 11,455 shares changing hands and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 40 cents to close at $10, with an exchange of 275,878 shares. In the preference segment, Productivity Business Solution lost $5 to close at $100, with 1,001,825 shares crossing the exchange.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 1,597 units valued at over US$330. The market index rose 1.73 points to close at 230.63. Proven Investments gained half of 1 cent to close at 31 US cents after transferring 500 units and Sygnus Credit Investments exchanged 1,097 units at 16 US cents.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
