The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market started May positively, with gains in the major indices on Friday, following trading in 61 securities compared with 64 on Thursday, with prices of 20 rising, 26 declining, and 15 ending unchanged. The volume of stocks traded declined 61 percent and the value ended 66 percent lower compared to Thursday.
The market closed with 30,644,804 shares trading for $122,921,813, down from 79,019,476 stock units at $358,870,715 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 502,374 shares worth $2,015,112 compared with 1,234,679 stocks at $5,607,355 on Thursday and with an average of 342,509 stock units at $2,726,829 for April.
Wigton Energy led trading for a second straight day, with 23.19 million shares for 75.7 percent of the total volume, and was followed by Transjamaican Highway, with 4.91 million units for 16 percent of the day’s trade and Supreme Ventures with 723,200 stocks for 2.4 percent of the volume traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 1,678.85 points to a multi-year high of 412,087.96, the JSE Main Index popped 1,730.63 points to wrap up trading at 348,565.21 and the JSE Financial Index rallied 0.56 points to finish at 64.93. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 20.2.The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2026.
At the close, Berger Paints popped 61 cents to finish at $5.76 after the trading of 435 shares, Caribbean Cement fell $2 to $103 with trading of tostocks, Carreras rose 55 cents to $22.15, with an exchange of 216,948 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed by 46 cents to $45.46 after an exchange of 104 stocks, GraceKennedy rallied by $1 to close at $72 following trading of 215,055 units, Guardian Holdings gave up $10 and ended at $335 with investors swapping 421 stocks. Jamaica Producers skidded $1 to $26, with 2,019 units clearing the market, Margaritaville fell $1.85 in closing at $10.30 with investors dealing in 265 shares, Pan Jamaica dropped $1.73 to close at $46.27 following trading of 51,110 stock units. Proven Investments shed 80 cents and ended at $11.50 in an exchange of 56,540 shares, Scotia Group declined $1.24 to $50.96, with 60,266 stock units crossing the market, 
Seprod sank 99 cents to $82 after trading 299 units and Wisynco Group dipped 70 cents to $21 after an exchange of 61,315 stocks.
In the preferred share segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% slipped 99 cents to finish at $42, with 106 shares crossing the market, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rose $14 and ended at $2,599, with investors trading 16 stock units. 138 Student Living preference share lost $10 in closing at $200 in an exchange of 273 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% rallied $8 to close at $108 after160 units passed through the market. Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.