Stocks gain in moderate trading session

Market activity ended on Monday with an increase in the number of active securities than the case previously, leading to a 21 percent rise in the volume of shares trading but a 22 percent fall in the value traded from Friday levels as the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed with rising stocks exceeding those declining by a decent margin at the conclusion of a moderate trading session.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,000.74 points to 436,687.32, the Main Index climbed 2,047.08 points to close at 394,837.98 and the JSE Financial Index rose 1.04 points to 97.31.
Trading ended with 56 securities compared to 55 on Friday, with 25 rising, 16 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.1. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years, ending up to August 2022.
Trading ended with 9,677,118 shares changing hands for $54,894,824 versus 8,020,198 units at $70,531,082 on Friday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 24.5 percent of total volume for an exchange of 2.37 million shares followed by JMMB Group 7.5% preference share with 19.9 percent for 1.92 million units, Transjamaican Highway accounted for 13.2 percent with 1.27 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund, 12.7 percent after trading 1.23 million units.
Trading averages 172,806 units at $980,265, compared to 145,822 shares at $1,282,383 on Friday and month to date, an average of 164,121 units at $1,179,777 versus 163,194 units at $1,201,059 on the previous trading day. December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 82 cents to end at $93.98 with 19,554 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Producers dipped 49 cents at $15.50 in trading 302,535 units, Eppley lost 50 cents to finish at $36 with an exchange of 318 stocks. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $3.49 in closing at $37.51 in switching ownership of 281 stock units, First Rock Capital lost 35 cents to close at $10.20 with 12,241 shares crossing the market, GraceKennedy advanced $2 to $101 after exchanging 175,533 stock units. Guardian Holdings popped $9 to $525 with the swapping of 509 units, Jamaica Broilers advanced $1.24 to $28.74 in transferring 58,677 stocks, Jamaica Producers rose $1.15 to $23.35 after trading 1,890 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 90 cents to $17.40 with 4,835 shares changing hands, JMMB Group gained 50 cents to end at $38.60 after 140,283 units cleared the market, Kingston Wharves fell $2.97 to close at $39 in an exchange of 75,266 shares. Mayberry Investments gained 48 cents to finish at $7.98 in trading 12,601 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 37 cents after ending at $9 in switching ownership of 11,606 stock units, NCB Financial advanced $1 to $126 with an exchange of 8,902 shares. Palace Amusement climbed $17.32 to end at $997.99 with 38 units changing hands, PanJam Investment declined $2.90 to $63 with the swapping of 7,562 units, Portland JSX popped 45 cents to $8 with a transfer of 2,468 shares. Scotia Group advanced $1.39 to close at $36.40 after exchanging 103,819 stocks, Seprod declined $1.40 in closing at $62.10 in trading 3,736 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 47 cents to settle at $14.82 with a transfer of 46,820 shares. Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $1.25 to $16.02 with 21,980 stocks changing hands, Victoria Mutual Investments rallied 41 cents to close at $6.79 with an exchange of 73,058 shares and Wisynco Group lost 39 cents to end at $17.51 in switching ownership of 60,431 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.15% preference share due – 2028 rose 52 cents in closing at $3.05 with 450 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.