Jamaica Stock Exchange.
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange suffered a sharp increase in the number of stocks declining, with the leading indices enjoying marginal gains on Monday, following the tumultuous dive on Friday.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 424.97 points to close at 553,085.25, the JSE Market Index gained 346.27 points to 503,682.78, and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.30 points to 136.33.
The market closed with 47 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 10 advancing, 24 declining and 12 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 38 securities accounting for 12,661,713 units valued at $111,971,239 in contrast to 28,514,298 units valued at $143,131,830 from 38 securities on Friday.
Wigton Windfarm dominated trading with 4.1 million shares for 33 percent of total volume. Sagicor Select Financial Fund followed with 2.6 million units for 21 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution with 1.4 million shares for 11 percent of the market’s volume.
The Market closed with an average of 301,469 units valued at an average of $2,665,982 for each security traded, in contrast to 750,376 units valued at an average of $3,766,627 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 439,042 units valued at 2,218,333 for each security changing hands, compared to 457,502 units valued at $2,149,464 for each security traded. Trading in December resulted in an average of 595,143 units valued at $9,344,514 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.5, while the Main Market ended at 18.7 times the 2019 earnings.
In the prime market, Barita Investments lost 35 cents, in ending at $73.50 and trading 9,963 units, Berger Paints settled at $16.51, after losing 49 cents exchanging 2,300 shares, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.50 to end at $73.50, with 108,257 stock units changing hands. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund closed $4.49 lower to $36.01 after transferring just 1,577 shares, Grace Kennedy gained $1 trading 319,335 units to end at $77, Jamaica Broilers closed at $39.40, with gains of 40 cents in swapping 42,036 stock units. Jamaica Producers Group dropped $1.06, falling to $26.40 with an exchange of 2,336 shares, JMMB Group closed $2.39 lower at $46 in trading 468,667 units. Kingston Wharves ended at $58.50, after losing $2.40 exchanging 12,340 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy settled at $215, having gained $5 with 100 units trading. 
NCB Financial Group declined $3.50 to $195, after falling $3.50 transferring 44,755 shares, Pulse Investments added 44 cents to close at $6.89, with 361,956 units changing hands, Sagicor Group lost 40 cents to end at $69.60 in swapping 68,386 shares. Salada Foods gained $2 to close at $32, with an exchange of 10,716 units, Scotia Group rose $3.94 to $55, after trading 17,152 shares, Seprod lost 90 cents to close at $50, with 26,085 units changing hands. Sygnus Credit Investments lost 50 cents to settle at $26.50 in swapping 49,904 shares, Wisynco Group ended 50 cents higher at $22.50, with an exchange of 281,294 shares and in the preference sector, 138 Student Living lost 50 cents in trading 100 stock units to close at $5.50.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 32,903 units valued at US$11,906. The market index advanced 8.56 points to close at 238.40. Proven Investments traded 20,698 units, after losing 2 US cents to close at 33 US cents. Sygnus Credit Investments gained 4 US cents with 8,700 shares changing hands and ended at a record high of 18 US cents and Sterling Investments ended at 3 US cents, with 200 units changing hands. JMMB Group 6% preference share lost 1 US cent to close at US$1.04 while exchanging 3,305 units.
