The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market Index recovered 1,863 points of the near 4,200 points fall on Wednesday at the close of trading on Thursday, following an exchange of 61 securities compared with 59 on Wednesday, with prices of 22 rising, 20 declining and 19 ending unchanged. Trading ended with the volume of stocks traded dropping by 38 percent, even as the value increased by 27 percent over Wednesday.
The market closed with 7,609,641 shares trading for $142,459,801 after a dive from 12,263,110 units at $111,826,164 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 124,748 shares worth $2,335,407 versus 207,849 stocks at $1,895,359 on the prior day, Trading for the month to date, ended with an average of 183,215 units at $2,246,054 from 190,645 shares valued at $2,234,698 on the previous day and February with an average of 296,521 stock units at $2,650,049.
NCB Financial led trading with 2.60 million shares for 34.2 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.35% due 2028 ended, with 1.54 million units for 20.2 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.28 million stock units for 16.8 percent of the overall volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index gained 2,501.05 points to settle at 402,778.44, the JSE Main Index increased 1,863.87 points to settle at 343,375.69 and the JSE Financial Index rallied 0.25 points to 63.23. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 20.7. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with fiscal year ending around August 2026.
At the close of the market, AS Bryden gained $3.39 to finish at $30.90 after an exchange of 15,997 shares, Carreras climbed $1.27 to $21.45 following the trading of 198,878 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $6.10 to end at $46.50 with 2,441 units changing hands. General Accident sank 39 cents in closing at $6.11 in an exchange of 800 shares, GraceKennedy advanced $1.50 and ended at $72 with investors trading 7,045 stock units, Kingston Wharves popped 95 cents to close at $36.95 in switching ownership of 7,260 shares.
Lasco Manufacturing gained 45 cents to $6.90 as investors exchanged 14,324 units, Mayberry Group rallied 49 cents in closing at $6.49 with a transfer of a mere one stock, NCB Financial popped 60 cents to close at $44.97 after an exchange of 2,598,715 stock units. Salada Foods fell 35 cents to end at $2.45 after investors swapped 43,608 shares and Seprod gained $5.74 to finish at $78.74 in an exchange of 40,722 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% dropped $4.94 and ended at $38.01, with investors dealing in 1,010 units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rose $1 to $101.50 after a transfer of 358 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.