Scotia, JPG & Guardian push JSE Main Market

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 6 percent and the value 13 percent lower than on Thursday, with trading in 57 securities compared with 56 on Thursday, with prices of 29 stocks rising, 16 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 11,517,107 shares valued  $53,884,020 versus 10,815,734 units at $61,998,356 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 202,055 shares at $945,334 compared to 193,138 units at $1,107,114 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 197,636 units at $1,025,508 compared with January that closed with an average of 265,804 units at $2,438,118.
JMMB 9.5% preference share led trading with 4.66 million shares for 40.5 percent of the day’s volume followed by Transjamaican Highway, with 2.93 million units for 25.5 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 952,293 stock units for 8.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,152.06 points to close trading at 366,713.88, the JSE Main Index rose 256.53 points to end at 329,340.57 and the JSE Financial Index sank 0.12 points to end trading at 70.42.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.7. 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 nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped $1.10 in closing at $70.05, with 52,237 stock units crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cement popped 95 cents to $54.95 with investors transferring 404 shares, Caribbean Producers advanced 33 cents and ended at $8.78 in an exchange of 8,316 stocks. Eppley fell $4.10 to end at $34 after closing with an exchange of 249 units, First Rock Real Estate sank 30 cents to close at $8.70 after an exchange of 942 stocks, General Accident lost 42 cents to $4.78, with 4,376 units crossing the market. Guardian Holdings rose $2 to close at $369 after an exchange of 13 shares, Jamaica Producers rallied $2.29 in closing at $23.90 in trading 1,292 stock units, Kingston Properties declined 49 cents to end at $7.06, after 2,670 shares passed through the market. Kingston Wharves increased 34 cents and ended at $27.50 as investors exchanged 8,747 stock units, Massy Holdings climbed $1.80 to $94.85 in trading 2,228 stocks, Mayberry Group shed 45 cents to close at $7.50 in switching ownership of 29,556 units. 138 Student Living skidded 55 cents in closing at $3.61 with 1,253 shares clearing the market, Proven Investments dipped 99 cents to end at $22.01 with an exchange of 6,844 stock units, Salada Foods gained 32 cents and ended at $3.82, with 20,184 units changing hands. Scotia Group popped $5 to a 52 weeks’ high of $46, up 20 percent for the year to date after investors swapped 135,109 stocks, Seprod sank $1.99 to end at $87 after a transfer of 5,068 units, Stanley Motta gained 50 cents in closing at $7 with an exchange of 12,021 stock units. Sygnus Credit Investments rose 73 cents and ended at $11.74, with 175,069 shares crossing the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $1 to close at $10 in an exchange of 5,101 stock units and Wisynco Group climbed $1.87 to $22.97 with investors trading 10,992 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% skidded $7.40 and ended at $41.90 with traders dealing in 51 units, 138 Student Living increased $3.50 to close at $214.50 with investors dealing in 22 stocks and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share rallied $15.60 to end at $119.60 with a transfer of 5 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.