Rising stocks beat out Main Market decliners

Rising stocks ran riot over decliners on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Friday, with trading in 52 securities as was the case on Thursday, and ended with gains in 26 in contrast to just 13 declining and 13 ending unchanged after the volume of stocks traded declined 52 percent and the value 86 percent lower than on Thursday
A total of just 5,872,659 shares were exchanged for a mere $19,826,535 down from 12,317,838 units at $140,029,195 on Thursday.
Trading for the day averaged 112,936 shares at $381,280 versus 236,882
units at $2,692,869 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 158,823 units at $1,316,687, compared with 167,693 units at $1,497,509 on the previous day, well down on November that closed with an average of 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.33 million shares for 39.7 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.51 million units for 25.8 percent of the day’s trade and Ciboney Group with 483,576 units for 8.2 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,477.78 points to close trading at 346,872.54, the JSE Main Index rallied 3,128.14 points to 312,199.59 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.82 points to close at 67.30.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.8. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 15 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden increased $1.14 to end at $29.40 as investors exchanged 3,253 stocks, Caribbean Cement climbed $2 to $54.50, with 10,653 units changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 80 cents in closing at $36 with stakeholders exchanging 51 shares. Jamaica Broilers gained 88 cents and ended at $34.88 with a transfer of 12,135 stock units, Jamaica Producers popped 99 cents to close at $23 while exchanging 86 shares, Kingston Properties shed 25 cents to close at $7.40 with traders dealing in 1,827 stock units. Kingston Wharves advanced $1.49 and ended at $28.49, with 853 units crossing the exchange, Massy Holdings rallied 50 cents to $90 with investors swapping 5,781 stocks, Mayberry Investments popped 59 cents in closing at $8.10 after an exchange of 16,339 shares. NCB Financial climbed $1.80 to close at $67 after 16,124 units passed through the market, 138 Student Living rose 27 cents to $4.19 with an exchange of 329 stocks, Proven Investments declined $1.18 in closing at $22.30, with 12 stock units clearing the market. Scotia Group lost $1.52 to end at $33 after a transfer of 29,724 shares, Seprod dipped $1.70 to close at $71.50, with 3,418 stock units crossing the market, Stanley Motta fell 35 cents and ended at $5.69 with investors dealing in 1,508 units. Supreme Ventures advanced 98 cents to $25.70 and closed with an exchange of 91,853 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 59 cents to end at $11.44 with investors transferring 84,858 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% dropped $6.50 in closing at $39.50 after an exchange of 15 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.