SVL pushes JSE Main market to big gains

Market activity ended on Friday, with the volume of shares trading rising 32 percent and the value 47 percent higher than on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market and ended with declining stocks edging out those rising but a surge in the stock price of Supreme Ventures following the release of first quarter results lighted the Market index, to close at the highest level since early September last year.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 6,436.56 points to 457,454.74, the JSE Main Index surged 5,124.13 points to 401,741.38 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.47 points to settle at 94.42.
Just 53 securities traded, down from 55 on Thursday, with 19 rising, 23 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.8. The JSE Main and USD Market PEs are based on forecasted earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with financial years ending up to the end of August 2023.
Overall, 15,175,474 shares were traded for $92,468,488 versus 11,479,146 units at $63,066,105 on Thursday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 4.08 million shares for 26.9 percent of total volume followed by Radio Jamaica with 2.66 million units for 17.5 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway, 2.52 million units for 16.6 percent market share and Wigton Windfarm that ended with 2.33 million units changing hands for 15.4 percent market share.
Trading averages 286,330 units at $1,744,688 compared to 208,712 shares at $1,146,656 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 633,240 units at $6,528,619, compared to 657,986 units at $6,869,869 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close,  Berger Paints dropped 50 cents, to close at $11.50, with16,230 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Producers advanced 25 cents to $18.30, with 68,707 units changing hands. Eppley popped 75 cents to $42.75 in an exchange of 275 stocks, First Rock Capital increased 29 cents to end at $12.29 in switching ownership of 7,282 units, Guardian Holdings gained $5 to close at $545, with 760 stocks clearing the market. Jamaica Stock Exchange declined 20 cents in closing at $22 after exchanging 31,247 stock units, Kingston Wharves lost $1.89 at $40 after trading 69,878 shares, Mayberry Investments climbed $1 to $9 with 216,110 units changing hands. Mayberry Jamaican Equities rallied 20 cents to end at $12.45 with the swapping of 108,690 shares, NCB Financial rose $5.50 to $116 in exchanging 78,854 stocks, 138 Student Living shed 24 cents in closing at $5 after trading 1,000 shares, Palace Amusement increased $1 to close at $1000 trading 25 stock units. Sagicor Group fell $1.35 in closing at $56 after exchanging 979 stock units, Salada Foods lost 32 cents to end at $6.08 while exchanging 2,147 shares, Scotia Group rose 20 cents to $35.20 with an exchange of 45,747 units. Supreme Ventures rallied $4.50 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $32, with 341,205 stocks crossing the exchange after the price hit an intraday high of $33.41. Sygnus Credit Investments declined 20 cents in ending at $15.20 after an exchange of 178,651 stocks, Sygnus Real Estate Finance climbed 40 cents to $16 while trading 2,917 shares and Wisynco Group popped 53 cents in closing at $23.98 in trading 230,185 stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference shares shed $3.95 to end at $12.55 trading 421 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.