Trading on Thursday saw continued heightened of securities being active, but the volume and value of the overall trade dropped 30 percent and the value dipped 34 percent from Wednesday, but more than twice the stocks advanced than declined when trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 233.35 points to 433,000.56, the JSE Main Index rose 213.26 points to 394,522.77 and the JSE Financial Index inched 0.02 points higher to 99.20.
A total of 48 securities traded similar to Wednesday and closed with prices of 24 stocks rising, 11 declining and 13 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 15.4 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
The market closed with 8,394,618 shares trading for $43,010,092 compared to 12,050,050 units at $65,532,009 on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 32.1 percent of total volume in exchanging 2.7 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 11.7 percent for 979,870 units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund 10.2 percent, with 851,678 units changing hands.
Trading averaged 174,888 units at $896,044, compared to 251,043 shares at $1,365,250 on Wednesday. Month to date trading averaged 222,197 units at $1,122,189, in contrast to 238,773 units at $1,201,422 on Wednesday. March closed with an average of 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showss nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose 60 cents to $87, with 25,732 shares crossing the market, Berger Paints gained 23 cents in closing at $12.30, with 2,572 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Cement advanced $1.98 to $73.98 in trading 12,810 stocks. First Rock Capital shed 49 cents to $16, with a transfer of 3,540 shares, Grace Kennedy rose 80 cents to $88 after an exchange of 24,534 stocks. Jamaica Broilers gained 30 cents in ending at $29.30, trading 11,394 units, Jamaica Producers advanced $1.42 to $22 after 953 shares crossed the market, JMMB Group gained 20 cents to finish at $32.70 with the swapping of 28,273 units. Key Insurance shed 40 cents in ending at $5.50 after clearing the market with 351,114 stocks, Kingston Wharves closed 30 cents higher at $43.90 with a transfer of 12,116 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose 50 cents to $130 in switching ownership of 1,046 stock units.
NCB Financial declined $2.15 to $137.01 in exchanging 21,614 units, Palace Amusement climbed $47.99 to $797.99, with 59 stock units crossing the exchange, Proven Investments advanced $1.94 to $35.94, with 34,871 units changing hands. Sagicor Group advanced $1 to $51, with 149,134 stocks clearing the market. Scotia Group shed $1.01 to close at $40.75, with 22,768 stock units changing hands and Seprod fell 90 cents to $72.10 in trading 4,269 stocks.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference share lost 11 cents to close at $5.44, trading 153 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
