NCB Financial lifts JSE Main Market

Heavy trading activity in shares of NCB Financial pushed the stock up $5.50 to $72.50 was the main driver that helped push the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market higher on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 18 percent and the value 138 percent higher than on Wednesday.
Trading took place in 52 securities up from 54 on Wednesday, with prices of 17 rising, 27 declining and eight ending unchanged after trading of 12,158,165 shares for $187,080,964 compared with 10,337,992 units at $78,663,373 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 233,811 shares at $3,597,711 versus 191,444  shares at $1,456,729 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 308,619 units at $2,128,260, compared with 313,992 stocks at $2,022,720 on the previous day. June averaged 366,795 shares at $6,952,581, including bond trades.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 4.04 million shares for 33.3 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.69 million units for 22.1 percent of the day’s trade, NCB Financial with 1.80 million units for 14.8 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.47 million units for 12.1 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,736.10 points to finish at 362,426.38, the JSE Main Index rose 3,614.85 points to finish at 326,961.01, and the JSE Financial Index advanced 1.75 points to end at 72.85.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 16 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 99 cents to end at $74.50 with an exchange of 604 shares, GraceKennedy advanced 35 cents to end at $77.75 with shareholders swapping 47,582 stock units, Guardian Holdings rose $60 to close at $451 and closed, with just 21 stocks being traded, Jamaica Broilers dipped 47 cents in closing at $34.53, with 40,157 units crossing the market. Jamaica Producers climbed 45 cents to $20 in trading 600 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 55 cents to $11.43 with a transfer of 19,977 shares, JMMB Group popped $1.20 to end at $29.20 as investors exchanged 20,850 units, Kingston Properties declined 41 cents to close at $6.72 with stakeholders trading 4,805 stock units. Kingston Wharves gained 39 cents in closing at $29.49 after an exchange of 362 stock units, Massy Holdings jumped $1.90 and ended at $99 in switching ownership of 72,982 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 50 cents to end at $11.50 after 108,036 stocks passed through the market, NCB Financialclimbed $5.50 to end at $72.50 after 1,796,678 units changed hands. 138 Student Living dropped 35 cents to close at $4 after a transfer of 2,434 shares, Pan Jamaica rose 85 cents and ended at $50.35 with 31 stock units crossing the exchange, Proven Investments climbed 30 cents in closing at $22 with an exchange of 2,820 units, Sagicor Group fell $1.45 to end at $46 while trading 320,395 stocks. Scotia Group fell $1.15 in closing at $33.05 after exchanging 136,175 shares, Seprod rallied $1.95 and ended at $72, with 2,306 stock units changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments popped 93 cents to close at $12 after trading 30,536 shares. Sygnus Real Estate Finance dipped $1 to $11, with 18,379 units clearing the market, Victoria Mutual Investments dropped 38 cents to $3 after trading 281,720 stocks and Wisynco Group shed 30 cents in closing at $17.70 with investors transferring 48,437 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share declined 79 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $5.21 in an exchange of 6,637 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.