Jamaican stock market gained 8% in January
Main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with gains in the indices on Friday with light trading volumes. Market activities closed with 43 securities changing hands in all market segments, 15 of which gained in the combined markets and 19 declined. At the end of the January trading accounted for $2.45 billion with the combined market index rising 8 percent, since the start of the year.
Two stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs one at a 52 weeks’ low and one traded at intraday highs as 3,047,233 units valued at only $19,756,390 changed hands in all markets. The junior market accounted for 1,176,492 units changed hands, valued at $6,265,417.
The JSE Market Index fell sharply by 2,439.44 points to 159,591.63 the all Jamaica Composite Index closed with a big decline of 2,726.20 points to end at 177,308.95 and the JSE combined index dropped 3,176.12 points to close at 169,880.83.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading was 19 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
At the end of the market activities, Berger Paints lost 5 cents to end at $3.70 as 106,008 units traded, Cable and Wireless ended with 1,116,925 units changing hands to close 1 cent lower at $1.59, Caribbean Cement climbed $1.65 to close at $26.65, with 9,011 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy fell 49 cents and closed at $83, with 1,378 units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers gained 39 cents to $14.49 with 37,753 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers gained 3 cents to $29.15 with 100,420 units trading, JMMB Group traded 47,742 units but fell by 10 cents to end at $10.90, Kingston Wharves traded 9,700 units to close with the loss of 5 cents at $11.09. Mayberry Investments had 20,000 shares changing hands and fell 16 cents to $4.35, National Commercial Bank traded only 1,200 shares but rose $1.10 to close at $41.10 after the banking group released interim results to December, last year with a 12 percent increase in aftertax profit to $2.4 billion, up from $2.1 billion. Pan 
Jamaican Investment gained $1.50 with just 100 units changing hands to close at $98, Pulse Investments traded 29,583 shares with a rise of 25 cents to close at $3.25. Sagicor Group lost 55 cents to close at $22.90 with 40,900 units changing hands, Scotia Group had 9,70 shares changing hands to close with a rise of 30 cents at $31, Scotia Investments had 150,000 shares trading to close with a loss of $2 at $28. Supreme Ventures closed at $6.20 and gained of 20 cents with 105,730 units changing hands, JMMB 7.5% preference share traded 75,000 units at $2.10 after slipping 15 cents and 138 Student Living preference share traded at a 52 weeks’ low of $4.90 while trading 1,000 shares with a loss of 10 cents.
