More Gains for JSE Main Market

Main Market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange resulted in more gains for the major indices on Tuesday, but with declining stocks edging out advancing ones.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,603.82 points to close at 554,689.07, the JSE Market Index gained 1,368.73 points to 505,051.51 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.86 points to end at 137.19.
The market closed with 42 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 16 stocks advancing, 18 declining and 8 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 36 securities accounting for 25,370,029 units valued at $66,307,015 in contrast to 12,661,713 units valued at $111,971,239 from 47 securities on Monday.
 Sagicor Select Financial Fund dominated trading with 16.9 million shares for 67 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.1 million units for 16 percent of the day’s trade, and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution with 1.9 million shares for 7 percent of the market’s volume.
The Market closed with an average of 704,723 units valued $1,841,862 units for each security traded, in contrast to 301,469 units valued at an average of $2,665,982 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 463,503 units valued at $2,179,721 for each security changing hands, compared to 439,042 units valued at $2,218,333 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 securities closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.4, while the Main Market ended at 18.7 times the 2019 earnings.
In the prime market, Caribbean Cement dropped $4.50 to end at $69, with an exchange of 21,839 shares, Eppley gained 60 cents to close at $14.40 trading 5,607 shares, Grace Kennedy lost 99 cents exchanging 28,130 shares to end at $76.01, Jamaica Broilers closed 50 cents lower to $38.90, after swapping 8,915 shares. Jamaica Producers dropped $2.39 to settle at $24.01, with an exchange of 14,000 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed 90 cents transferring 150,186 units to end at $28.85, JMMB Group closed $2 higher to $48 in trading 106,771 units. Mayberry Investments ended at $8.50, after losing 50 cents with 21,947 shares changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities closed 89 cents lower at $11.31, in swapping 4,158 units, NCB Financial Group gained $3 to settle at $198, after transferring 23,644 shares. PanJam Investment closed $2 higher at $102 after trading just 364 units, Pulse Investments lost 44 cents to close at $6.45, with 122,736 units changing hands. Sagicor Group gained 40 cents to end at $70 in swapping 50,866 shares, Scotia Group advanced $3 to $58 in exchanging 58,212 shares and Supreme Ventures closed with a loss of 50 cents to end at $25, in swapping 10,227 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 84,352 units valued at over US$42,656. The market index advanced 8.56 points to close at 238.40. Margaritaville closed at 34.99 US cents, with 425 units changing hands, Proven Investments traded 58,581 units, in losing 1 US cent to close at 32 US cents. Sygnus Credit Investments ended with 8,800 shares changing hands at 18 US cents, Sterling Investments closed at 3 US cents after exchanging 3,458 units. JMMB Group 5.75% preference share traded 8,731 units at US$2.02 and JMMB Group 6% preference share traded 4,357 units at US$1.04.