NCB Financial climbed $1.24, to be the leading ordinary share price mover on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with the price hitting the highest level in more than six months. Trading ended in 56 securities, up from 54 on Wednesday, with prices of 23 rising, 21 declining and 12 ending unchanged. The volume of traded rose 130 percent and the value climbed 17 percent more compared to Wednesday.
Market activity ended with 30,848,293 shares trading for $89,613,945, up from 13,412,274 stock units at $76,787,661 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 550,862 shares worth $1,600,249, after jumping from 248,375 stocks worth $1,421,994 on Wednesday and for the month to date, an average of 351,188 units at $3,228,897 compared with 330,326 shares at $3,399,055 on the previous day, and and March, with an average of 244,194 stock units at $3,119,428.
JMMB 9.5% preferred share led trading with 18.08 million shares for 58.6 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway which ended with 4.20 million stocks for 13.6 percent of the day’s trade, JMMB Group 7.35% preferred share due 2028 closed with 3.64 million stock units for 11.8 percent of the volume traded, Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.30 million shares for 4.2 percent of the day’s volume and QWI Investments with 1.24 million stocks for 4 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 554.08 points to 393,842.76, the JSE Main Index lost 181.56 points to settle at 334,651.71 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.11 points to 62.16. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 19.9. 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 of trading, AS Bryden dropped 70 cents to finish at $25.30 with trading of 9,000 shares, First Rock Real Estate shed 63 cents to $8.50 with an exchanging of 7,015 stocks, General Accident gained 44 cents to end at $6.06 after an exchange of only 6 shares. Guardian Holdings rose 50 cents in closing at $319.50 with a transfer of 1,680 stocks, Jamaica Broilers rallied $1.03 and ended at $15.98 after investors swapped 69,831 units, Jamaica Producers declined $1.04 to $22.51 with traders dealing in 6,180 stocks. JMMB Group increased 40 cents to $16 in an exchange of 296,847 shares, Kingston Properties popped 50 cents to end at $12.50 with 1,138 stock units passing through the market, Kingston Wharves sank 50 cents in closing at $37 in trading 2,901 units. 
Massy Holdings advanced $1 to finish at $71.90 with 20 shares crossing the market, NCB Financial climbed $1.24 and ended at $45.25 with the trading of 149,561 shares, Pan Jamaica dipped 50 cents to close at $46.50 with an exchange of 10,062 stock units. Proven Investments sank $1.20 to $11, following trading of 47,972 stock units and Seprod lost $1.21 in closing at $76.79 with 3,702 shares crossing the exchange.
In the preference share segment, 138 Student Living preferred share fell $4 and ended at $231 in switching ownership of 23 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.