Main Market rallies into month end

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 93 percent and the value 88 percent more than on Wednesday, with trading in 60 securities compared with 63 on Wednesday, with prices of 26 stocks rising, 16 declining and 18 ending unchanged.
The market closed after 15,645,101 shares were traded for $167,372,295 compared with 8,091,866 units at $89,053,515, on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 260,752 shares at $2,789,538 compared to 130,514 units at $1,436,347 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 846,359 units at $2,376,538, in comparison with 878,131 units at $2,354,246 on the previous day and February that closed with an average of 387,306 units at $3,375,928.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.06 million shares for 25.9 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.67 million units for 17 percent of the day’s trade, Radio Jamaica added 2.42 million stock units for 15.5 percent market share, Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 1.85 million units for 11.8 percent of trading and Sagicor Group with 1.08 million units for 6.9 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,274.96 points to 368,584.26, the JSE Main Index popped 787.45 points to end at 327,798.70 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.62 points to wrap up trading for March at 70.25.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden dropped $4.50 in closing at $35 with investors dealing in 11,552 shares, Barita Investments climbed $4.85 to close at $74.90, with 649,603 stocks crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cement increased $5.50 and ended at $61.50 with investors swapping 78,540 shares. Eppley shed $6.19 to close at $34.21 with an exchange of 5,242 stock units, First Rock Real Estate popped 50 cents to end at $10.50 after trading 50,319 shares, GraceKennedy advanced 79 cents in closing at $73.94 after an exchange of 19,656 stock units. Guardian Holdings fell $6 to $360 in switching ownership of 136 stocks, Jamaica Broilers rose 84 cents to end at $33.99 after a transfer of 24,561 units, Jamaica Producers rallied 48 cents to close at $23.98, with 162,049 stocks changing hands. JMMB Group gained $1.50 and ended at $26.50 with investors trading 105,451 shares, Kingston Properties popped 40 cents to $8.40 with 185,028 stock units clearing the market, Kingston Wharves advanced 40 cents and ended at $30.40 after an exchange of 4,749 units. Massy Holdings rose $1 in closing at $90 in trading 10 shares, Mayberry Group gained 40 cents to end at $7.60 after an exchange of 32,888 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities climbed 87 cents to close at $10.77 after 15,476 stocks passed through the market. NCB Financial increased 95 cents to $65.95 in an exchange of 277,782 stock units, Pan Jamaica skidded $1 and ended at $49 with 177,822 shares crossing the market, Sagicor Group rallied $1 to end at $41 while exchanging 1,083,084 stock units. Scotia Group rose 49 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $47.44 with traders dealing in 38,043 stocks, Seprod climbed 44 cents to close at $84.99 in an exchange of 55,720 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance increased $1.65 to $12.66 with investors trading 9,204 shares and Wisynco Group popped 50 cents to end at $21, with 48,442 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share advanced $1.17 in closing at $6.25 as investors exchanged 25 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $5.99 and ended at $42.01 with a transfer of 25 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.