Stocks close week with a loss

Stocks ended higher at the close of trading on Friday after rising prices outnumbered declining ones with an exchange of 25 percent lower volume at a 65 percent jump in value over Thursday as the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed out the week down.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 429.52 points to close at 432,777.32, the JSE Main Index rose 365.83 points to 394,570.77 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.28 points to 99.30.
Trading activated 50 securities, up from 45 on Thursday, with prices of 21 stocks rising, 18 declining and 11 remaining unchanged.
The PE Ratio averages 19.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Trading ended with 8,079,230 shares trading for $124,140,641 compared to 10,771,883 units at $75,221,344 on Thursday. Jamaica Producers led with 26.2 percent of the volume traded for 2.12 million shares, followed by Ciboney Group with 13.1 percent for an exchange of 1.06 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 11.3 percent market share for 914,005 units.
Trading for the day averaged 161,585 units at $2,482,813, compared to an average of 239,375 shares at $1,671,585 on Thursday. The average trade month to date ends at 249,365 units at $2,230,008, in contrast to 256,266 units at $2,210,133 on Thursday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rose 59 cents to $69.40 in trading 36,573 stock units, Ciboney Group gained 22 cents to close at 91 cents, exchanging 1,059,730 shares, as the stock resumes its climb after a recent selloff. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell 50 cents to $40.50, with a transfer of 200 units. First Rock Capital advanced $1.50 to a record close of $18 after an exchange of 26,211 units, Grace Kennedy declined by $2 to $86.97 in switching ownership of 162,703 shares, Jamaica Broilers lost 20 cents to close at $29.80 with the swapping of 86,849 stocks. JMMB Group shed 38 cents to end at $32.50 in transferring 56,545 stocks, Key Insurance closed 24 cents lower at $5.46 after exchanging 57,458 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 50 cents to settle at $8, clearing the market with 800 stocks. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $1 to $139 trading 35 shares, NCB Financial Group climbed $1.50 to $144 in exchange of 101,774 units, 138 Student Living climbed $1.59 to $6.99, with 60,264 units crossing the market, Palace Amusement advanced $10 to $640 with 57 shares crossing the market. PanJam Investment shed $2 to $64, with 1,407 stock units changing hands, Pulse Investments gained 26 cents in closing at $4.40 with an exchange of 390,929 units, Sagicor Group slipped 38 cents to $48.50 in switching ownership of 446,505 shares. Salada Foods lost 30 cents to finish at $44.20 in swapping 1,782 stocks, Scotia Group rose $1.89 to $42, trading 63,546 shares. Sterling Investments fell 31 cents to $2.60 in an exchange of 6,721 stock units, Supreme Ventures gained 30 cents to finish at $15.40, with 50,715 units crossing the market and Wisynco Group closed 47 cents higher at $15.50, with 16,279 shares clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% jumped $202.69 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $1,700 trading just one share, JMMB Group C share 7.25% gained 28 cents to end at $2.14 with the swapping of 4,087 stock units and JMMB Group 7.25% declined 24 cents to $1.20 trading 230 shares.