More gains for JSE Main Market

Market activity ended on Thursday, with the volume of shares trading rising 17 percent after 34 percent more funds entered the market than Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks exceeded those declining by a 3 to 2 margin.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,108.36 points to 443,270.70, the JSE Main Index popped 1,860.79 points to close at 400,653.10 398,792.32 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.58 points to end at 98.62. Similar to Wednesday’s trading, 54 securities traded, with 24 rising, 17 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.4. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com profit forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
A total of 6,387,429 shares traded $36,048,355 compared to 5,449,840 units at $26,843,381 on Wednesday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 1.54 million shares for 24.2 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.32 million units for 20.6 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1 million units for 15.8 percent market share.
Trading averages 118,286 units at $667,562, up from 100,923 shares at $497,100 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 135,419 units at $919,405, compared to 141,026 units at $1,001,827 on the prior day. December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints popped 49 cents to $12.99 after 5,620 shares passed through the market, Caribbean Producers rose 48 cents to $13.47 in finishing trading with 263,622 stock units, First Rock Capital declined $1.25 to $10.15 after exchanging 11,276 stocks. Guardian Holdings spiked $50 in closing at $575 in an exchange of 530 units, Jamaica Broilers gained 59 cents to end at $29.59 while exchanging 17,877 shares, JMMB Group lost 95 cents in closing at $38.05 in exchanging 78,690 stock units. Kingston Wharves advanced 50 cents to $43.50 trading 5,620 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 37 cents to end at $9.37 with an exchange of 3,035 stocks, NCB Financial climbed $1.51 to close at $130 with an exchange of 24,693 shares. Proven Investments rallied $1 to $33.49, with 2,458 stock units changing hands, Sagicor Group fell 90 cents to $53.10 trading 12,403 stocks, Salada Foods rose 32 cents to $6.89 in switching ownership of 868 units. Seprod advanced $3.69 in closing at $65.79 after 5,711 stock units crossed the exchange and Stanley Motta spiked 77 cents to end at $5.88, with 4,000 shares clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% gained $1.20 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $21 after exchanging 2 stocks. JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 shed 55 cents ending at $2.53 with 172,039 units changing hands and JMMB Group 7.25% increased $1.19 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.81 with the swapping of 2,613 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.