Main Market up 11,000 points in 4 days

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed higher on Tuesday for the fourth consecutive day, in the process clawed back 11,331 points of the 22,907.85 points lost from the start of February up to last Wednesday.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,598.69 points to close at 537,936.99, the JSE Market Index added 1,450.74 points to 489,708.41 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.69 points to 132.85.
The market closed with 46 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 20 advancing, 12 declining and 14 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 42 securities accounting for 17,938,463 units valued at $135,316,853 in contrast to 19,925,654 units valued at $93,234,047 from 40 securities on Monday.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund was the leading trade with 6.5 million shares for 36 percent of total volume. Wigton Windfarm followed with 5.6 million units for 31 percent of the day’s business and Sagicor Select Manufacturing and Distribution Fund ended with 1.7 million shares for 9 percent market share.
The Market closed with an average of 427,106 units valued at an average of $3,221,830 for each security traded, in contrast to 498,141 units valued at an average of $2,330,851 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 649,717 units valued at $2,601,640 for each security changing hands compared to 669,236 units valued at $2,542,170 for each security traded. Trading in January resulted in an average of 626,134 units valued at $3,511,981 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 20.1, while the Main Market ended at 19.4 times the 2019 earnings.
In the Main Market, Caribbean Cement gained 35 cents to settle at $70.35 trading 137,026 shares, Eppley climbed $1.50 to $15 after exchanging 30,750 units, Grace Kennedy shed $2.88 to end at $67.62, in transferring 132,940 shares. Jamaica Broilers rose to $35, with gains of $1.18 and swapping 83,011 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange ended at $31.50, after losing 50 cents trading 21,277 shares,  JMMB Group added 64 cents to close at $46.19, with 90,789 units changing hands. Kingston Wharves slid $1.60 to $60, with 4,200 units crossing the exchange, Mayberry Investments lost 40 cents to end at $7.30, in an exchange of 37,730 units, NCB Financial dropped $2.90 to settle at $184.10, in swapping 285,534 shares, 138 Student Living gained $1.03 to close at $5.38, with 177,412 shares traded. Pulse Investments closed $1.65 lower to $9.85, with 189,925 shares changing hands. Sagicor Group added 81 cents, in rising to $70.50 trading 116,624 shares, Salada Foods declined $3 to $32, in after swapping a mere 180 units, Seprod settled at $51, after gaining $5 trading 31,388 shares. Supreme Ventures dipped $1.07 to $22.10, in exchanging 130,454 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments closed $1.21 higher to $25.91, after trading 74,479 shares and Wisynco Group gained 30 cents to close at $22.80, with an exchange of 92,295 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 54,580 units valued US$31,202. The market index dipped 0.12 points to close at 230.51. JMMB Group 5.75% preference share gained 10 cents trading 10,268 to end at US$2.10, Proven Investments exchanged 19,996 units at 31 US cents, Sterling Investments transferred 3,138 shares at 2.7 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments exchanged 21,178 units at 16 US cents.