JSE trading picks up a bit on Monday

Trading remained light on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with stocks worth less than $29 million trading, but higher than the $12 million traded, on Friday. The main and US dollar markets closed with just 25 securities changing hands, including one trading in the US dollar market, versus 20 on Friday. At the close, 7 stocks advanced and 11 declined.
Trading levels in the main market ended at 2,049,349 units valued at $29,749,255 compared to 827,534 units valued at $10,595,699 at the close on Friday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 42,110 units valued at US$11,227.
The All Jamaica Composite Index fell 82.35 points to close at 259,604.77 and the JSE Market Index lost 75.03 points to finish at 236,529.34. The JSE US dollar market index closed at 206.19 after falling 14.92 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
The main market ended trading with an average of 81,974 units valued at $1,189,970 per security traded, compared to an average of 43,554 units valued at $557,668 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 450,680 units with an average value of $6,196,124 compared with an average of 518,349 units with an average value of $6,907,416 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for April ended at 382,748 units with an average value of $5,254,387.
In market activity, Barita Investments rose 10 cents to close at $7.10 trading 27,000 shares Berger Paints fell 1 cent to close at $19 while exchanging 14,842 shares, Cable and Wireless lost 1 cent and closed at $1.37, with 292,756 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement dropped $2 to close at $28 with 5,536 units traded, Carreras closed at $83 with an exchange of 4,672 shares, Grace Kennedy lost just 1 cent and closed at $42.99, trading 12,006 units. Jamaica Broilers dropped by $1.43 and closed at $18.55, with 168,804 shares changing ownership, Jamaica Producers gained 49 cents and closed at $15.99, with an exchange of 57,385 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 4 cents to close at $7.54 in trading 6,808 shares. Kingston Wharves closed at $31.50, with 7,876 units trading, JMMB Group lost 49 cents and closed at $20.01, with 196,659 units being exchanged, NCB Financial Group closed at $72 with a rise of 1 cent, after trading 170,655 shares, 1834 Investments traded 288,189 shares and lost 35 cents to close at $1.45, 138 Student Living traded 1,150 shares at $4.49, PanJam Investment closed at $35.61 with 2,684 shares changing hands, Pulse Investments traded 54,400 units and gained 10 cents to close at $14.50 after trading at a record high of $16.50 during the day, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.65 after falling 5 cents and trading 30,413 shares, Sagicor Group closed with a loss of $1 at $32.50 with 32,993 shares changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 29 cents and closed at $11.29, while exchanging 2,701 units, Salada Foods lost 37 cents to close at $7.48, with 8,000 units trading, Scotia Group jumped $1.30 to close at $43.30 with 91,178 units changing hands, Seprod lost 50 cents to close at $34 in trading 1,500 units, Supreme Ventures eased 1 cent to close at $7.49 trading of 44,842 shares, Proven Investments closed at 29 US cents trading 42,110 ordinary shares and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share traded 526,200 units at $1.10.