After nearly five years of declines, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market seems positioned for a rebirth, with Jamaican stocks closing on Friday at a near 5 year high, with a 14.7 percent gain year to date, even as trading dropped 73 percent with a 87 percent lower value compared to Thursday. Trading ended after 60 securities changed hands, slipping from 59 on Thursday, with prices of 30 rising, 21 declining and nine ending unchanged, sending the market’s All Jamaican Composite Index to the highest level since August 15, 2022, when it closed at 419,448.06.
The market closed following trading of 8,140,109 shares with a value of $163,712,331, off from 30,058,965 stock units worth $1,238,526,471 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 135,668 shares at $2,728,539 after decreasing from 509,474 stock units at $20,991,974 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 226,948 stock units at $3,217,529, compared to 233,684 shares valued at $3,253,724 on the previous day and May with an average of 328,145 stock units at $2,328,972.
Wigton Energy led trading with 2.04 million shares for 25.2 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.56 million units for 19.2 percent of the day’s trade and Caribbean Cement with 943,448 stocks for 11.6 percent of the volume traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 10,632.40 points to finish at 419,073.54, the JSE Main Index rallied 8,646.78 points to end at 354,542.95 and the JSE Financial Index rose 1.66 points to settle at 66.51. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.3. ICInsider.com compiles the JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts for companies with the financial year ending around August 2026.
At the close of trading, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $2.60 to finish at $43.85 in switching ownership of 150 shares, Guardian Holdings dropped $4 to $340 with investors trading 175 units, Jamaica Broilers fell 42 cents to $14.13 with 118,048 shares passing through the market. Jamaica Producers popped 48 cents in closing at $22.50 in an exchange of 12,530 stock units, Kingston Properties shed 90 cents to close at $10 with investors dealing in 5,644 stocks, Mayberry Group rallied 87 cents to $5.97 after an exchange of 9,564 units. NCB Financial lost $1.01 to $58.99 with 53,814 shares clearing the market, Sagicor Group rose 70 cents to finish at $38.90 with an exchange of 23,915 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund advanced $1.22 to $8.30 after a transfer of 5,600 stocks.
Salada Foods increased 45 cents in closing at $2.35 in an exchange of 112,681 shares, Seprod dipped $1.98 to $75, following trading in 8,252 stock units, Supreme Ventures gained 59 cents to close at $17.90 with a transfer of 636,275 stocks and Wisynco Group rose 90 cents to $20.90 with 26,843 units changing hands.
In the preference share segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share advanced $2.88 in closing at $19.20 after a transfer of just one share, 138 Student Living preference share skidded $25 to finish at $175 with 7 stock units crossing the market. Productive Business Solutions 10.5% popped $42 and ended at $1,200 with investors trading 173 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% increased $1.99 to end at $105.99 with 73 units crossing the market.Prices of stocks trading are those of the last transaction unless otherwise stated.
The market closed with trading of 13,183,970 shares for $19,399,701, with a decline in the volume from 24,702,731 units at $8,886,507 on Thursday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1.
Indies Pharma climbed 5 cents to end at $2.70 after a transfer of 1,741 shares, Jamaican Teas lost 12 cents in closing at $2.11 with investors swapping 871 stocks, KLE Group advanced 13 cents to 84 cents with an exchange of a mere one unit. Knutsford Express climbed by $1.98 and ended at $8.48after a transfer of 4,068 stock units, Limners and Bards skidded 7 cents to $1.06 with investors trading 18,791 shares, Omni Industries slipped 9 cents to finish at 85 cents in an exchange of 221,801 stock units and Woodcats International dropped 5 cents to close at 60 cents following trading of 1,599,416 stocks.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index surged 8,783.32 points to finish trading on Friday at 360,744.16, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 10,632.40 points to close the week at a near 4-year high of 419,073.54, the highest since August 15, 2022. The JSE Main Index rallied 8,646.78 points to 354,542.95, the Junior Market Index rose 71.88 points to 3,030.66 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 1.56 points to end at 240.87.
In the preference share segment, Eppley 7.25% preferred share rose by $2.88 in closing at $19, followed by 138 Student Living preference share that dropped by $25 to $175, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preferred stock popped $42 and ended at $1,200 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rose $1.99 to close at $106.
The market closed with trading of 24,702,731 shares, with a value of $8,886,507, following a slide from 36,376,699 units at $45,548,308 on Wednesday.
At the close of trading, Cargo Handlers advanced $1 to end at $16 with 4,990 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 10 cents in closing at $1.30 with investors trading 6,643 units, Consolidated Bakeries rose 17 cents to end at $1.63 after an exchange of a mere one share, Dolphin Cove dropped 10 cents to end at $10, after trading in 21,719 stock units, Everything Fresh declined by 6 cents to finish at $2.10 as investors exchanged 13,500 stocks, Express Catering climbed 11 cents and ended at $1.88 with 90,253 shares passing through the market. Fosrich popped 19 cents to $1.69 with investors trading 321,117 stocks, Future Energy lost 19 cents and ended at $3.42 in an exchange of 134,384 units, GWest Corporation dipped 9 cents to finish at a 52 weeks low of 49 cents with investors dealing in 83,465 stock units. Honey Bun gained 14 cents to end at $6.04 after an exchange of 54,523 shares, Image Plus increased 7 cents in closing at 80 cents with investors swapping 76,624 stocks, Indies Pharma rallied 6 cents to $2.65 after a transfer of 2,100 units. Jamaican Teas rose 12 cents to $2.23 with 3,137 stock units clearing the market, Knutsford Express slipped $1.60 to finish at a 52 weeks low of $6.50 in an exchange of 3,051 shares, Lasco Financial rallied 16 cents and ended at a 52 weeks high of $2.15 with 125,340 units crossing the market.
Limners and Bards popped 7 cents in closing at $1.13 in switching ownership of 501 stocks, Mailpac Group climbed 6 cents to $2.39 with 20,349 stock units crossing the exchange, MFS Capital Partners increased 7 cents to close at 53 cents with a transfer of 2,123 shares. Omni Industries advanced 5 cents to 94 cents with 139,986 stocks crossing the market, ONE on ONE Educational skidded 11 cents to finish at 65 cents after the trading of 170,833 units, Paramount Trading gained 5 cents and ended at $1.08 after swapping of 5,001 stock units. Regency Petroleum declined 18 cents to $4.31 with an exchange of 32,179 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies shed 6 cents in closing at $1.53 with 898,482 stocks crossing the market.
The market closed with 30,058,965 shares trading for $1,238,526,471 after falling from 11,613,047 stocks at $109,315,635 on Wednesday.
The market closed with trading in, Caribbean Cement that rallied by 50 cents to $103 after the trading of 25,902 shares, Carreras rose 75 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $30.20 after an exchange of 415,262 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell 75 cents to $41.25 following trading of 3,580 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange declined 54 cents and ended at $10.05 with 26,601 units crossing the exchange, Kingston Properties rallied 90 cents to end at $10.90 with a transfer of 8,360 units, Kingston Wharves declined $3.25 to $33 following trading of 1,089,511 stocks. Margaritaville fell 75 cents to $9.50 with 28 shares passing through the market, Massy Holdings popped $2.75 to $73.80 with investors trading 60 units, Mayberry Group dropped 87 cents to $5.10 with an exchange of 58,598 stock units. NCB Financial climbed $2 to finish at a 52 weeks high of $60 with 21,886,684 shares changing hands, Proven Investments shed 75 cents to close at $10.75 with investors dealing in 3,100 stocks, Sagicor Group dipped $1.30 to end at $38.20 in an exchange of 205,002 units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund dipped 76 cents to $7.08 with investors swapping 4,020 stock units,
Salada Foods fell 49 cents to a 52 weeks low of $1.90 after a transfer of 266,533 shares, Scotia Group dipped 69 cents to $58.70 in an exchange of 110,038 stock units. Seprod increased $3.98 and ended at $76.98 with 49,970 units crossing the market, Supreme Ventures lost 49 cents to close at $17.31 after a transfer of 88,229 stocks and West Indies Petroleum advanced $1.26 to finish at $9.36 with 20,774 shares crossing the exchange.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index skidded 1,514.60 points to wrap up trading at 351,960.84, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,008.97 points to end at 408,441.14, the JSE Main Index lost 1,665.55 points to settle at 345,896.17, the Junior Market Index rose 10.76 points to 2,958.78 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 6.80 points to end trading at 239.31.
In the preference share segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share declined $2.88 to close at $16, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $25 to $200, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% rose by $8 to $1,158, Sygnus Credit Investments 10% advanced $2.48 and ended at $111 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% shed $2.49 to end at $104.
The market closed with trading of 148,729 shares worth $1,307,461, after sliding from 474,094 stock units at $3,382,335 on Wednesday.
AS Bryden rose 20 cents to $1.50 with 600 shares passing through the market. CIBC Caribbean Bank ended at $7.65 after a transfer of 10,126 units, First Citizens Group ended at $38.50 after an exchange of 653 stock units, GraceKennedy finished at $3.40 after an exchange of 550 shares. Guardian Holdings climbed by 3 cents to $15.85 with 2,000 stocks crossing the market, JMMB Group skidded 2 cents to 78 cents as investors exchanged 23 units, Massy Holdings increased by 1 cent to $3.41 with 72,814 stocks changing hands. National Enterprises fell 10 cents to $4.80 after an exchange of 25,103 shares, National Flour Mills remained at $1.50 with investors dealing in 35 stock units, Prestige Holdings dipped 40 cents to close at $12.25 with a transfer of 20 units. Republic Financial popped $1 to $108.50, following trading of 4,187 stocks,
Scotiabank dipped 1 cent to $45.49 in switching ownership of 2,894 units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL gained 2 cents to settle at $10.02 with traders swapping 14,751 stocks. Unilever Caribbean ended at $14.95 with an exchange of 1,170 shares and West Indian Tobacco remained at $2.85 with 13,628 stock units crossing the market.
The market closed with an average of 207,376 shares being traded at $1,952,065, up from 114,701 stock units at $1,779,476 on Tuesday.
At the close of trading, AS Bryden advanced $1.74 to finish at $24.75 in swapping owners of 35 shares, Caribbean Cement rose 50 cents to $102.50 with 21,794 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Producers gained 92 cents to end at $5.43 in an exchange of 19,162 shares. Carreras climbed $2.44 to a 52 weeks high of $29.45, with investors dealing in 520,498 units, Eppley Caribbean Fund dropped 40 cents in closing at $42 with a transfer of 2,067 stocks, Guardian Holdings shed $1 to end at $344 after an exchange of 44 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 58 cents in closing at $10.59, after trading of 15,694 stocks, Kingston Properties fell $1 to $10 with 3,191 units changing hands, Kingston Wharves increased $3.75 to $36.25 in trading 951 stock units. Massy Holdings climbed 40 cents to close at $71.05 with 2,931 shares crossing the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities increased 68 cents to finish at $6.80 as investors exchanged 5,500 stocks units, NCB Financial climbed 85 cents and ended at a 52 weeks high of $58 with 816,422 units crossing the market. Sagicor Real Estate Fund skidded 75 cents to $7.84 with investors trading 5,580 stock units,
Supreme Ventures rose 80 cents in closing at $17.80 after an exchange of 166,120 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied 50 cents to close at $8 with 2,889 units passing through the market and West Indies Petroleum lost 41 cents to settle at $8.10 with an exchange of 23,430 stocks.
The market closed with trading of 36,376,699 shares for $45,548,308, after sliding from 22,594,459 units at $16,078,243 on Tuesday.
At the close of trading, Blue Power increased by 20 cents to $4, with an exchange of 14,690 stock units, Cargo Handlers declined 30 cents and ended at $15 with 19,404 units crossing the exchange, Caribbean Flavours popped 7 cents to $1.10 after trading of 46,886 shares. Dolla Financial gained 10 cents to close at $2.50 with 6,147,361 stock units crossing the market, Dolphin Cove rose 10 cents to end at $10.10 as investors exchanged 12,991 stock units, Elite Diagnostic gained 14 cents in closing at $1.25 with 13,040 shares crossing the market. Everything Fresh rallied 6 cents to $2.16 after a transfer of 1,219 stock units, Fontana fell 25 cents to $6.45 with 73,040 stocks passing through the market, Future Energy climbed 19 cents to end at $3.61 after an exchange of 346,053 units. Indies Pharma dropped 11 cents to $2.59 with investors trading 26,615 stocks, Jamaican Teas shed 9 cents and ended at $2.11 in switching ownership of 10,634,939 units, Jetcon Corporation rose 16 cents to $2.67 with investors dealing in 52,316 shares. Knutsford Express advanced $1.30 to $8.10 with 963 stock units crossing the market,
Lasco Financial popped 19 cents in closing at $1.99 with investors swapping 205,540 shares, Limners and Bards lost 9 cents and ended at $1.06 after a transfer of 42,786 units. Lumber Depot skidded 5 cents to finish at $2.65 in an exchange of 1,005 stocks, Mailpac Group slipped 12 cents to $2.33 with 6,898 stock units changing hands, Main Event dipped 27 cents to $5.57 after an exchange of 1,762 shares. MFS Capital Partners lost 8 cents in closing at 46 cents in trading 22,376 stocks, ONE on ONE Educational increased 5 cents to 76 cents with a transfer of 7,700 units, Paramount Trading climbed 11 cents to end at $1.03 with investors swapping 26,634 stock units. Regency Petroleum rallied 14 cents to finish at $4.49 in an exchange of 34,187 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 6 cents and ended at $1.59 with investors dealing in 77,186 units.
Trading concluded with the JSE Combined Market Index rallying by 3,458.66 points to 353,475.44, the All Jamaican Composite Index gaining 2,569.20 points to end at 409,450.11, and the JSE Main Index increasing 3,408.01 points to 347,561.72. The Junior Market Index rallied 27.89 points to 2,948.02 and the JSE USD Market Index lost 1.95 points to end at 232.51.
In the preference share segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share rallied $2.87 in closing at $19, 138 Student Living preference share skidded $25 to $175 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rose $6.49 to close at $106.