NCB Financial Group was the star performer in trading on Monday, with the price hitting a near 2-year high of $59.22 in the early trading session. The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market Index gained a little over 2,300 points, climbing higher for the second straight day of trading, with the volume of stocks declining by 24 percent and the value 30 percent lower, compared to Friday. As was the case on Friday, with trading in 59 securities, prices of 21 advanced, 23 declined and 15 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 13,475,981 shares trading for only $65,009,956, after falling from 17,663,331 stock units at $93,338,496 on Friday.
Trading averaged 228,406 shares for $1,101,864, after tumbling from 299,378 stocks for $1,582,008 on Friday. Trading for the month to date, averages of 336,679 units at $2,915,290 compared with 346,492 shares valued at $3,079,640 on the preceeding trading day and March with an average of 244,194 stock units at $3,119,428.
Lasco Distributors led trading with 4.13 million shares for 30.6 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 3.42 million stocks for 25.4 percent of the day’s trade, JMMB 9.5% preference share closed with 2.28 million units for 16.9 percent of the volume traded and Wigton Energy with 1.83 million shares for 13.6 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 3,785.56 points to 400,634.36, the JSE Main Index rose 2,376.90 points to conclude trading at 340,494.19 and the JSE Financial Index rallied 1.51 points to 63.96. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 19 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six 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 market activity, AS Bryden rallied $2.48 to end at $29.48 with investors trading 350 shares, Berger Paints shed 60 cents to $5.10 with 674 stock units passing through the market, Caribbean Cement lost 98 cents to finish at $101 with investors trading 6,684 shares. General Accident skidded 65 cents and ended at $5.70 in an exchange of a mere 353 stocks, GraceKennedy rose $1.48 in closing at $70.49after traders swapped 5,420 units, Guardian Holdings fell 90 cents to close at $318.90 as investors exchanged 1,433 stocks. Jamaica Broilers gained 43 cents to $16.50 with 63,471 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped 90 cents and ended at $12 with 10,001 stock units crossing the exchange, Massy Holdings sank $3.05 in closing at $70.95 with a transfer of 4,208 units.
Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 67 cents to close at $7.25 with 3,500 stocks crossing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed 60 cents to finish at $36 with an exchange of 115 shares, NCB Financial increased $1 to end at $52 with 114,595 units clearing the market. Pan Jamaica climbed $2.20 to $46.20 after an exchange of 40,651 stock units, Proven Investments popped 62 cents to finish at $11.62 trading 2,356 shares, Scotia Group increased 50 cents and ended at $50.25 after an exchange of 19,556 stock units and Wisynco Group dropped $1.67 in closing at $20 with investors swapping 274,417 units.
In the preference share segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share sank $2.84 to close at $16.16 with 100 stocks crossing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% climbed 50 cents to end at $106 with traders dealing in 641 units.Prices of securities trading are that of the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.