The volume and value of stocks trading on Tuesday rose 25 percent and 128 percent, respectively above Thursday’s low levels, but prices mostly pulled back after the long holiday break for Easter as the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended trading, with the market index lower.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,556.74 points to close at 433,516.90, the Main Index declined 2,363.72 points to 394,990.54 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.60 points to settle at 99.50.
Trading ended with 48 securities, up from 41 on Thursday and closed with prices of 15 stocks rising, 23 declining and 11 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio now averages 15.3 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings, compared to 19 previously based on 2021 earnings.
The market closed with 11,508,850 shares trading for $68,948,550 compared to 9,152,981 units at $30,114,273 on Thursday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 37.8 percent of total volume after an exchange of 4.32 million shares, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 21.9 percent for 2.51 million units and QWI Investments with 5.6 percent market share for 639,635 units changing hands.
Trading averaged 239,768 units at $1,436,428, up from an average of 223,243 shares at $734,494 on Thursday. 
Month to date trading averaged 232,155 units at $1,113,065 in contrast to an average of 354,304 units at $2,543,232 for March.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints fell 93 cents to $12.07, trading 26,486 shares, in contrast, Caribbean Cement advanced $1.84 to $72.02 in exchanging 14,683 stock units, Carreras shed 36 cents to close at $8.54 in transferring 33,218 stocks. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund gained 39 cents to $40.39 trading 984 units, First Rock Capital dropped $1.12 to $15.48 with the swapping of 42,159 stock units, Grace Kennedy rose 50 cents to $88.50 in switching ownership of 22,371 shares, Jamaica Broilers lost 20 cents to close at $29.30 with an exchange of 34,608 units. Jamaica Producers dropped $1.95 to $20.55 with 3,386 stocks changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dipped $10 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $130 with an exchange of 469 stock units. NCB Financial Group ended 50 cents lower at $137 after 136,257 units cleared the market, 138 Student Living gained 21 cents to close at $5.51 trading 542 units, 
Palace Amusement climbed $74.35 to end at $799 in exchanging 160 stocks. Salada Foods shed 48 cents to $5.32 with an exchange of 573,683 shares, Scotia Group advanced $1.40 to $42 after transferring 301,254 stock units and Seprod fell $2 in closing at $73 in trading 16,367 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rose 82 cents to $6.26 in an exchange of 50 shares and Eppley 8.75% preference share gained 41 cents in ending at $7.52 after trading 50 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
