Main Market rises on depress volume

Trading activity dropped below normal levels on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, following a big rise in trading on Wednesday with the volume of stocks traded declining 89 percent and the value 84 percent lower than on Wednesday, with just 50 securities trading compared to 56 on Wednesday, with 16 rising, 19 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
A total of 3,815,209 shares were exchanged for $42,492,694 versus 34,822,128 units at $269,703,535 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 76,304 shares at $849,854 versus 621,824 shares at $4,816,135 on Wednesday. Trading month to date, averaged 240,504 units at $3,281,297 compared to 253,474 units at $3,473,354 on the preceding trading day. Trading in February averaged 183,599 units at $2,160,070.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.68 million shares for 44.1 percent of total volume followed by Palace Amusement with 235,004 units for 6.2 percent of the day’s trade and Supreme Ventures with 168,670 units for 4.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 496.57 points to 371,110.41, the JSE Main Index gained 303.85 points to close at 327,945.75 and the JSE Financial Index increased 0.17 points to close at 76.92.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.4 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and eight with lower offers.
At the close, GraceKennedy dipped 50 cents to $82 and closed with 76,020 shares changing hands, Guardian Holdings fell $25.50 to close at $484 after exchanging 303 stock units, Jamaica Broilers declined $3.64 in closing at $33.01, with 91,622 stocks crossing the market. Kingston Wharves shed $1.50 after ending at $30.50 while exchanging 16,694 units, NCB Financial rose 45 cents to end at $71.50 trading 13,327 stock units, 138 Student Living dropped 49 cents to $5.01 with an exchange of 2,274 stocks. PanJam Investment rallied $1.79 to end at $56.79 after investors exchanged 41,158 units, Portland JSX advanced $1 in closing at $11.50 after a transfer of 5 shares, Proven Investments lost 59 cents to close at $26 in trading 30,700 shares. Sagicor Group increased $1.15 to $49.90 with 1,931 units changing hands, Seprod climbed $2.97 to close at $67.97 as investors exchanged 3,420 stock units, Supreme Ventures gained 89 cents to end at $25.88 in switching ownership of 168,670 stocks and Wisynco Group declined 45 cents ending at $17 with a transfer of 25,835 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $34.50 in closing at yet another record high of $175.23 with just 46 units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.