Trading broke the $200 million mark for the first time this year on Friday, the last trading day for the in January for Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market and the only second time for the month that trading value exceeded $110 million in a day when just over $116.6 million worth of shares crossed the market on January 20.
The market closed with 11,980,396 shares, 30 percent more than Thursday and 168 percent more in value at $215,025,944, up from 9,368,496 units at $83,242,802 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 272,282 units at $4,886,953 for each security, compared to an average of 234,212 shares at $2,081,070 on Thursday. The month to date averaged 311,456 units at $1,435,407 for each stock, in contrast to 313,511 units at $1,254,396 on the prior trading day and well off December average of 455,206 units at $7,774,631.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 19.1 percent of total volume after an exchange of 2.29 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 14.3 percent for 1.71 million units, Grace Kennedy chipped in with 11.5 percent for 1.38 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 11.4 percent for 1.37 million units.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,827.24 points to 425,254.53, the JSE Main Index rose 2,558.50 to 387,937.83 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.56 points to close at 99.32.
Trading ended with 44 securities changing hands compared to 40 on Thursday and closed with prices of 17 stocks rising, 18 declining and nine remaining unchanged. The average PE Ratio was 16.6 based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the market closing, Caribbean Cement dropped $3.99 to $60.51, with a transfer of 27,289 shares. First Rock Capital gained 40 cents to $13.10 after 2,635 units crossed the market. Jamaica Producers closed 40 cents higher at $20, in trading 15,002 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 30 cents to $19.50 in trading 129,636 stock units, JMMB Group climbed $1.10 to $32.50, with an exchange of 80,460 shares, Kingston Wharves rose $2.50 $46.50, after switching ownership of 4,238 stocks. Mayberry Investments shed 38 cents to finish at $5.45 in an exchange of 5,232 stock units, 138 Student Living gained 45 cents in ending at $4.45 and trading 4,039 units, Palace Amusement dropped $164 to close at $1,051, with investors swapping 4 units. 
Pan Jam Investment declined by $3 to $67, with 134,726 stocks crossing the market, Sagicor Group advanced by $3.01 to $52 after trading 598,948 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 95 cents to $8 in exchanging 19,000 shares. Salada Foods climbed $3 to $37, in swapping of 80,784 units, Scotia Group rose 79 cents to close at $43.79, in an exchange of 28,402 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments shed 30 cents in closing at $16, with 34,889 units crossing the market and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 30 cents to end at $5.55, with the swapping of 62,867 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.25% gained 42 cents to settle at $7, in exchanging 2,081 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading ended with 36 securities changing hands, down from 39 on Thursday with prices of 19 rising, 13 declining and four remaining unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
Knutsford Express ended 15 cents higher at $6.75, after trading 2,147 units, Lasco Distributors lost 8 cents in closing at $3.11, in crossing the market with 126,660 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing shed 5 cents to $3.90 trading 7,821 units. Limners and Bards gained 9 cents to close at $2.75, with a transfer of 635,373 shares, Lumber Depot lost 9 cents to settle at $1.89, with 383,034 stock units clearing the market. Mailpac Group gained 13 cents to end at $3.97 exchanging 359,576 stocks, Paramount Trading gained 5 cents in closing at $1.45, after transferring 54 stock units and Tropical Battery gained 5 cents in ending at $1.15, trading 900,187 shares.
At the close four securities changed hands, similar to Thursday and ended with the price of one stock rising, one declining and two remaining unchanged.
At the close of trading, First Rock Capital Holdings gained 0.05 of a cent to close at 8.8 US cents with 14,966 shares changing hands, Productive Business Solutions closed at 79 US cents trading 855 shares, Proven Investments remained at 26.99 US cents with 922 stock units crossing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 1.2 cents to close at 15 US cents after 7,900 units changed hands.
Massy Holdings climbed 55 cents to $61 in exchanging 1,750 units, National Flour Mills remained at $2.50 after trading 38,500 shares, NCB Financial Group shed 20 cents to end at $8.30 in an exchange of 21,475 stocks. One Caribbean Media closed at $4.85 in an exchange of 48,870 stock units, Republic Financial Holdings rose 15 cents to $136.15 in exchanging 1,151 stocks, Scotiabank stayed at $57 trading 6,919 stock units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL declined 2 cents $15.27 with the swapping of 2,976 stocks and Unilever Caribbean shed 6 cents to end at $16.64 in trading 420 units.
Trading ended with 39 securities changing hands, the same number as on Wednesday, and ended with 12 stocks rising, 13 declining and 14 remaining unchanged. The Market Index gained 0.84 points to finish at 2,735.54.
The month to date averaged 244,500 units at $580,467, compared to 250,531 units at $592,343 on Wednesday. December closed with an average of 263,428 units for $638,694 for each security that traded.
Limners and Bards traded 1,053,372 stock units and gained 8 cents in closing at $2.66, Lumber Depot lost 7 cents to close at $1.98 with 457,000 shares changing hands, Main Event dropped 14 cents to $3.10 with an exchange of 2,000 units. Paramount Trading fell 5 cents to $1.40 with 3,000 shares changing hands, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 42 cents to end at $4.12 with 6,000 stocks traded and tTech dropped 68 cents to $4.09 with 1,000 units crossing the exchange.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 3,030.64 points to 422,427.29, the Main Index advanced by 2,742.58 points to 385,379.33 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.83 points to settle at 98.76.
Trading for the day averaged 234,212 units at $2,081,070 for each security, compared to an average of 135,516 shares at $991,633 on Wednesday. The month to date averaged 313,511 units at $1,254,396, in contrast to 317,481 units at $1,213,011 on Wednesday. Trading in December averaged 455,206 units at $7,774,631.
Salada Foods rose $1 to end at $34, with 130,075 shares changing hands, Scotia Group gained 50 cents to end at $43 trading 47,495 stock units and Wisynco Group rose 50 cents to $16.50, with an exchange of 190,585 stocks.
Trading ended with four securities, compared to five on Wednesday and ended with the prices of one stock rising, three declining and none closing unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with a lower offer. At the close of the market, First Rock Capital Investments gained 0.05 of a cent to close at 8.75 US cents after switching ownership of 227 units, Proven Investments lost 0.01 of a cent to close at 26.99 US cents in trading 39,479 units. Sygnus Credit Investments declined 0.05 of a cent to close at 16.2 US cents, with 24,700 units crossing the exchange and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.03 of a cent to close at 0.96 of a US cent with 17,097 units clearing the market.
L.J Williams B share fell 5 cents to $1.40 in exchanging one stock unit, Massy Holdings gained 1 cent in closing at $60.45 while exchanging 7,172 units, National Flour Mills gained 11 cents to end at $2.50 with the swapping of 13,931 stocks. NCB Financial Group stayed at $8.50 while exchanging 9,752 shares, One Caribbean Media advanced 10 cents to $4.85 in trading 1,000 stock units, Prestige Holdings lost 1 cent to close at $7.99 exchanging 1,855 stock units. Republic Financial Holdings carved out a loss 15 cents to close at $136, with 19,000 stock units crossing the market, Scotiabank closed at $57 trading 11,663 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 1 cent to close at $15.29, with 8,325 stocks crossing the market. Unilever Caribbean closed at $16.70, with the swapping of 179 stock units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $35.40 after 8,821 stock units crossed the exchange.
Lumber Depot was second-largest volume trader with 5.6 percent of the day’s trade for 963,551 units and Jamaican Teas rounded out the top three with 5.3 percent market share and the trading of 918,783 shares as investors continue their appetite for these stocks.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Limners and Bards dropped 12 cents to $2.58 with 81,825 stocks changing hands, Lumber Depot exchanged 963,551 units and climbed 26 cents to settle at $2.05, Medical Disposables fell 20 cents to $4 with 8,000 shares passing through the market. Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 24 cents to $4.54 with 8,000 units traded and tTech jumped 63 cents to $4.77 and finished with 20,887 shares crossing the exchange.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 41 percent of total volume for 2.45 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 22.7 percent for 1.35 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 9 percent market share, with 533,829 units changing hands.
Pan Jam Investment advanced by $2 to $68, with 4,690 stocks changing hands, Scotia Group declined $1.50 to end at $42.50 trading 28,644 shares. Supreme Ventures rose 34 cents to close at $17.25 and finishing with an exchange of 31,430 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments ended 30 cents higher at $16.40, after crossing the market with 10,730 stocks.
