More gains for Main Market stocks

Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday with the volume of stocks traded declining 35 percent and the value moderately than on Thursday, after trading in 58 securities compared to 55 on Thursday, resulting in prices of 20 rising, 19 declining and 19 ending unchanged.
A total of 7,443,601 shares were traded for $130,741,691 versus 11,506,995 units at $127,421,242 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 128,338 shares at $2,254,167 versus 209,218 shares at $2,317,495 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 140,698 units at $1,709,999, compared to 146,932 units at $1,435,550 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 183,599 units at $2,160,070.
Jamaica Broilers led trading with 1.95 million shares for 26.2 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.5% with 960,608 units for 12.9 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 898,097 units for 12.1 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,192.36 points to 382,458.11, the JSE Main Index gained 227.19 points to 336,065.38 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.78 points to settle at 79.00.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments declined $1 to a 52 weeks’ low of $79 in switching owners of 59,496 shares, Caribbean Cement advanced $4.71 to close at $61.46 with the swapping of 1,427 stocks, GraceKennedy rose $2.98 to $84.98 in exchanging 14,814 units. Jamaica Broilers fell $1.55 in closing at $36 after trading 1,950,779 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 60 cents to close at $13.95 with 38,298 shares clearing the market, JMMB Group shed 67 cents to end at $30.51 with a transfer of 120,492 stocks. Mayberry Investments rose $1.75 in closing at $10.25 after an exchange of 143,406 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $18 to end at $79 with 100 stock units changing hands, NCB Financial rallied $1.99 to $75.49 as investors exchanged 28,900 stocks. Palace Amusement lost $2.20 to close at $4.50 after trading 603,232 stocks, PanJam Investment dipped 60 cents ending at $56.50 after investors transferred 439 shares, Proven Investments gained $1 in closing at $28.90 after exchanging 5,160 units. Sagicor Group popped 65 cents to close at $54 with the swapping of 16,081 stock units, Salada Foods fell 45 cents to end at $3.54 after 4,000 stocks changed hands, Scotia Group popped 70 cents to close at $34.75 as investors traded 231,052 shares, Seprod advanced $5.84 to $67.89 with a transfer of 8,737 units and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 44 cents in closing at $12.24 in switching ownership of 32,719 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% climbed $9.77 to end at a record $48 as 1,766 shares passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.