Stocks rally into month end

Market activity ended on Thursday, with the volume of shares trading rising after trading 140 percent more and the value 123 percent higher than on Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks exceeded were less than those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index gained 3,189.37 points to settle at 442,658.22, the JSE Main Index climbed 2,207.57 points to end at 391,231.96 and the JSE Financial Index increased 0.39 points to settle at 94.45.
Trading ended with 53 securities compared to 52 on Wednesday, with 26 rising, 13 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 17. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending to the end of August 2022.
Overall, 44,141,890 shares were exchanged for $386,345,334 up from 18,362,000 units at $173,000,474 on Wednesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 14.58 million shares for 33 percent of total volume, followed by Radio Jamaica with 10.79 million units for 24.5 percent of the day’s trade, Pulse Investments with 5.81 million units for 13.2 percent market share, Wigton Windfarm ended with 4.97 million units for 11.3 percent market share and NCB Financial 1.05 million units for 2.4 percent market share.
Trading averages 832,866 units at $7,289,535, compared to 353,115 shares at $3,326,932 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031, compared to 600,727 units at $6,952,422 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 18 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments advanced 50 cents to end at $93.50, with 256,239 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement rose 85 cents to $74.85 with 225,823 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Producers climbed 40 cents in ending at $14.90 with the swapping of 65,196 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $1.59 to close at $46.57 in exchanging 35,207 stocks, Guardian Holdings gained $5 in closing at $550 with 241 units crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers fell 43 cents to close at $29 crossing the exchange 130,463 stock units. Jamaica Producers shed $2.50 to $21.50 in an exchange of 41,816 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 30 cents to $18.80, with an exchange of 49,241 shares, JMMB Group rallied $1 to end at $45 in switching ownership of 344,483 stocks. Massy Holdings climbed $1 in closing at $102 with 40,312 units changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities increased 50 cents in closing at $8 after exchanging 49,600 shares, NCB Financial rose $4.50 to close at $119 with 1,048,784 stock units changing hands. PanJam Investment dropped $1.04 in ending at $65 after 205,860 stock units crossed the market, Proven Investments popped 68 cents to $36.30 trading 12,399 stocks, Salada Foods gained 35 cents to end at $6.45 in trading 17,255 shares. Scotia Group advanced $1.10 to $36.20 after trading 200,801 units and Seprod rallied 60 cents to end at $59.10 while exchanging 1,153 stocks units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share declined 50 cents to $18.50 after an exchange of 200 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.