NCB Financial was the star performer on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the stock price jumping a solid $5.75 after closing at $51, the highest price in more than 17 months. The stock closed with indications of a breakout in price on the cards. Market activity delivered a sharp 43 percent drop in overall volume traded, with the value just inching higher compared to Thursday, following trading in 59 securities, up from 56 on Thursday and ended with prices of 30 advancing, 18 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 17,663,331 shares trading valued $93,338,496 compared with 30,848,293 stock units at $89,613,945 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 299,378 shares at $1,582,008 after tumbling from 550,862 stock units at $1,600,249 on Thursday and for the month to date, an average of 346,492 units at $3,079,640 lower than 351,188 shares at $3,228,897 on the prior day and March with an average of 244,194 stock units at $3,119,428.
JMMB 9.5% preferred share led trading with 6.33 million shares for 35.8 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 4.09 million stocks for 23.1 percent of the day’s trade, Caribbean Producers closed with 2.60 million stock units for 14.7 percent of the volume traded and QWI Investments with 1.19 million shares for 6.7 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 3,006.04 points to 396,848.80, the JSE Main Index jumped 3,465.58 points to 338,117.29 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.29 points to 62.45. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 20.5. 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 fiscal year ending around August 2026.
At the close of trading, AS Bryden rose $1.70 to finish at $27 with 40 shares being traded, Berger Paints rose 95 cents to $5.70 with 2,143 units passing through the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $2.45 to $44.45 with 38 stocks crossing the exchange. GraceKennedy shed $1.29 to close at $69.01 with investors dealing in 69,391 shares, Jamaica Producers rallied 89 cents to end at $23.40 in an exchange of 2,147 stock units, Kingston Properties sank 50 cents to $12 after traders swapped 199 shares. Massy Holdings increased $2.10 to $74 after a transfer of 6,833 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced $3.39 to end at $35.40, with 516 stocks clearing the market, 
NCB Financial gained $5.75 in closing at $51 in trading 165,182 stock units, the stock hit the highest price since November 18, 2024, when it also closed at $51. NCB closed with limited supply of shares for sale, with only 11 offers posted at the close, indications that the price to hit the $60 range sooner than later, Pan Jamaica dropped $2.50 and ended at $44 after an exchange of 49,485 shares, Seprod rose $3.21 to $80 with investors swapping 2,546 stock units and Supreme Ventures fell 88 cents to close at $14.52 with an exchange of 87,210 units.
In the preference share segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% gained $196 to close at $2,585 after trading a mere one stock unit, 138 Student Living preference share dropped $16 to finish at $215 as investors exchanged two shares and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% popped $1 and ended at $102 in switching ownership of 285 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.