Modest gains for JSE main market – Thursday

The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market inched higher at the close of trading on Thursday, with advancing stocks outpacing declining ones by a good margin.
The market ended, with 39 securities trading in the main and US dollar markets, leading to 19 securities advancing, 12 declining and 8 trading firm, compared to 35 securities trading on Wednesday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index put on 457.63 points to close at 579,616.77, the JSE Index gained 415.87 points to end at 527,695.85 and the JSE Financial Index eased 0.15 point to end at 143.75.
Market activity ended with 112,036,085 units valued at $229,695,201, in contrast to 44,288,838 units valued at $313,609,087 crossed the main market on Wednesday.
Wigton Windfarm was the leading trade with 94.7 million units accounting for 85 percent of total volume, Sagicor Select Fund followed with 11.98 million shares accounting for 10 percent of the day’s trade and Ciboney Group with 1 million shares for one percent of the main market’s volume. Eppley 7.5% preference share lost 70 cents to settle at a 52 weeks’ low of $5.20 with 34,903 shares changing hands.
Trading closed with an average of 3,028,002 units valued at an average of $6,207,978 for each security traded in contrast to an average of 1,302,613 units and $9,223,797 for each security traded on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 2,084,261 units valued at $12,234,013 and previously, 2,014,144 units valued at $12,716,617. July closed with an average of 1,297,718 shares at $17,985,644 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8  stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with a lower offer.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments dropped $4.50 to end at $70.50 in trading 28,203 shares, Berger Paints shed 80 cents to close at $18 trading 31,140 shares, Caribbean Cement climbed $3.50 to settle at $81 with 8,006 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy gained 99 cents to settle at $71 with an exchange of 52,092 shares, Jamaica Broilers rose $1 to settle at $35 trading 60,206 shares, JMMB Group gained 46 cents to end at $52.95 with 179,254 stock units trading. Jamaica Producers dropped $3 to settle at $26 with 935,562 shares crossing the exchange, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained $2.49 to end at $32.49, trading 115,664 shares, NCB Financial climbed $4 to settle at $211 with 64,250 shares changing hands, 138 Student Living lost 50 cents trading 10,150 shares at $4. Proven Investments jumped $5 to end at $40, in trading just 100 shares, Sagicor Group gained 50 cents to close at $75.50 with 166,393 stock units trading, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 75 cents to settle at $11.25 with 2,870 shares changing hands, Scotia Group gained $1 to end at $56, trading 23,023 shares. Seprod climbed $3.99 to settle at $54 with 38,026 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures lost $1.50 to end at $26, in trading 131,509 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments shed 63 cents to settle at $22.85 with 38,850 shares changing hands and Wisynco Group gained 51 cents to end at $24.51, trading 220,153 shares.
Trading in the US securities market resulted in 40,536 units valued US$5,537 changing hands. Proven Investments closed at 26 US cents with an exchange of 296 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments ended trading 40,240 shares to close at 13 US cents, leading the JSE USD Equities Index to rise 0.54 points to close at 193.71.