Rising JSE stocks dominated – Friday

Trading commenced in First Rock Capital on Friday on both the Main and US dollar markets of Jamaica Stock Exchange. The market closed with rising stocks outperforming decliners and pushed the gains for the week to just under 5,000 points.  
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 3,121.11 points to close at 538,262.01, the JSE Market Index rose 2,814.17 points to 490,002.61 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.67 points to 132.78.
The market closed with 43 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 20 advancing, 12 declining and 11 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 38 securities accounting for 15,728,098 units for $58,677,916 in contrast to 16,632,332 units valued at $128,247,176 from 41 securities on Thursday.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.3 million shares for 46.5 percent of total volume. Sagicor Select Financial Fund followed with 5.4 million units for 34.3 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Manufacturing and Distribution Fund ended with 1.2 million stock units for 7.4 percent market share.
The Market closed with an average of 413,099 units valued at an average of $1,544,156 for each security traded, in contrast to 405,667 units valued at an average of $3,127,980 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 605,686 units valued at $2,739,272 for each security changing hands compared to 617,823 units valued at $2,820,081 for each security traded. Trading in January resulted in an average of 626,134 units valued at $3,511,981 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19, while the Main Market ended at 18.1 times the 2019 earnings.
In the prime market, Barita Investments shed $1.01 to settle at $67, in trading 8,010 shares, Berger Paints lost 41 cents swapping 1,600 units in closing at $16.59, Caribbean Cement ended 50 cents lower to $70, with an exchange of 27,626 shares, Eppley traded 695 units at $16, after falling by 30 cents. Grace Kennedy advanced by $3.80 to $71, after transferring 69,870 stock units, Jamaica Broilers closed 65 cents higher to $35.80, with 63,490 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose $1.50 to $31 in trading 23,798 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained $1.19 to settle at $11, in swapping 81,038 shares, NCB Financial Group advanced to $187.01, with gains of $3.01 after exchanging 21,791 units. 138 Student Living ended 49 cents higher to reach 52 weeks’ high of $8.50, in transferring 75,621 stock units, PanJam Investment declined by $1.44 to close at $99.51 after trading 35,581 shares. Sagicor Group advanced $1.40 to $70.50 exchanging 36,185 units, Scotia Group gained 65 cents and ended at $54, in transferring 54,800 stock units. Seprod closed at $53, after climbing $3 with 40,018 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures lost 99 cents to settle at $22.01, in swapping 92,596 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments advanced by 95 cents to $26.95, with an exchange of 101,488 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 114,825 units at US$57,386. The market declined by 2.41 points to close at 229.80. JMMB Group 5.75% preference share traded 16,500 units at US$2, Margaritaville Turks rose 2.3 cents in exchanging 10 units at 35 US cents. Proven Investments transferred 64,865 units at 31 US cents, Sterling Investments swapped 16,500 shares at 2.7 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 1 cent to settle at 17 US cents, with 16,950 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.