Low trading activity hits JSE Main Market

In stock market activity on Tuesday, investors traded 44 percent fewer shares valued 49 percent less than on Monday with just 5,625,284 shares trading for a mere $35,183,198 compared to 10,081,649 units at $68,340,342 on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
Trading activity led to a nice rise in the All Jamaican Composite Index that climbed 2,013.60 points to settle at 449,734.73. The Main Index gained 1,725.03 points to 426,387.55 and The JSE Financial Index inched 0.10 points higher to 106.79.
At the close, 54 securities traded compared to 51 on Monday, with prices of 23 rising, 19 declining and 12 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.3.
The market closed Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 28.3 percent of total volume for an exchange of 1.59 million shares, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 11.5 percent for 646,723 units and Transjamaican Highway with 11.3 percent for 636,420 units.
Trading averaged 104,172 units at $651,541, compared to 197,679 shares at $1,340,007 on Monday. trading month to date averages 295,768 units at $3,467,257, in contrast to 330,371 units at $3,975,781 on Monday. April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Berger Paints rose 81 cents to $13.52 in trading 187 shares, Caribbean Cement shed 98 cents to $89, with 3,663 shares changing hands. Carreras fell 25 cents to $9.59 in trading 86,427 stock units, Eppley closed 54 cents higher at $34.74 with 36,375 stocks changing hands. First Rock Capital gained 27 cents to settle at $16.38 in switching ownership of 4,250 units, Key Insurance finished 44 cents lower at $6.05 with the swapping of 207,507 shares, Kingston Wharves rose 69 cents to $44.50 in exchanging 3,490 stocks. Margaritaville advanced $1 to $15.50 after the transfer of 3,281 units, Mayberry Investments lost 25 cents to end at $5.70, with 1,219 stocks clearing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy closed $2 higher at $127 with investors switching ownership of 117 stock units. NCB Financial Group advanced $1.50 to $141.50 with 10,070 units crossing the market, Palace Amusement climbed $51 to close at $907 after exchanging 6 stock units, PanJam Investment rose 90 cents to end at $64.90 in an exchange of 5,450 units. Portland JSX jumped $2.64 to close at $9.75 after clearing the market of 100 stocks, Salada Foods declined $1.80 at $7.20 in the transferring of 170,698 stock units, Scotia Group rose 99 cents to $41.50, trading 35,174 stocks, Seprod climbed $6.88 to $77.88 after 12,090 stock units switched owners. Stanley Motta shed 30 cents to close at $5.85 with 1,392 units changing hands, Sterling Investments gained 23 cents to end at $2.98 in switching ownership of 20,900 stocks, Supreme Ventures rose $2.64 to a 52 weeks’ high of $19.95 in exchanging 113,998 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments lost 24 cents in ending at $14.65 with the swapping of 15,776 stock units and Wisynco Group lost 50 cents at $15.50 in an exchange of 107,145 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.5% preference shares rose 85 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $11.60 in exchange of 210 units, JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028, fell 20 cents to $2.80 in transferring 19,000 shares and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share gained 49 cents to end at $110 with 21 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.