Trading surged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with an 825 percent in the volume of stocks traded and a 904 percent jump in the value compared with market activity on Wednesday, following a big bounce in the volume and value of trading in Kingston Wharves shares and Key Insurance and ending with trading in 53 securities compared with 54 on Wednesday, and ended with prices of 22 rising, 18 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 50,800,250 shares changed hands at $320,174,232, up sharply from 5,494,640 units at $31,905,669 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 958,495 shares at $6,041,023, up from 101,753 units at $590,846 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, averages 213,386 units at $1,617,793, compared with 133,607 units at $1,144,195 on the previous day. Trading in August closed with an average of 316,608 units at $1,867,646.
Key Insurance led trading with 33.39 million shares for 65.7 percent of total volume followed by JMMB Group with 6.61 million units for 13 percent of trading, Wigton Windfarm with 4.11 million units for 8.1 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway with 2.70 million units for 5.3 percent market share and JMMB Group 7.5% with 1.26 million units for 2.5 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 1,390.33 points to 349,133.32, the JSE Main Index climbed 128.65 points to close trading at 316,174.86 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.31 points to finish at 70.35.
The Main Market closed trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and ICInsider.com’s earnings forecasts for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments advanced $1.48 in closing at $77.80 with 5,406 shares changing hands, Berger Paints climbed 58 cents to close at $7.74, with 11 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Cement dipped 99 cents to end at $49 after traders dealt in 6,946 units, First Rock Real Estate shed 70 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $7.30 and closed, with 27,218 stock units changing hands. GraceKennedy increased $2.60 and ended at $73.10 after trading 71,212 shares, Jamaica Broilers rose 50 cents to $32.50 with a transfer of 157,455 stocks, Jamaica Producers popped $1.38 and ended at $20.08 in trading 522 units, JMMB Group skidded 49 cents to close at $27.71 after 6,609,429 stock units passed through the market.
Kingston Wharves lost $1.48 to end at $26.52, with 1,390 stock units crossing the market, Massy Holdings rallied $1.50 in closing at $96.50 with 553 shares changing hands, Mayberry Investments declined 89 cents in closing at $7.61 while exchanging 2,225 units, NCB Financial dropped $2 to $66 with stakeholders trading 66,742 stocks. Pan Jamaica gained $1.40 to close at $46.40 with the swapping of 39,793 stock units, Proven Investments popped 95 cents and ended at $22.45 with 13,352 shares crossing the exchange, Pulse Investments fell 30 cents to end at $2.20 in switching ownership of 55,812 units, Sagicor Group fell 41 cents in closing at $44.09 in an exchange of 34,660 stocks and Supreme Ventures gained 22 cents and ended at $27.24 with investors dealing in 13,697 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% skidded $13 to $42 after exchanging 216 stocks, JMMB Group 7% preference share advanced 30 cents to close at $2 with investors transferring 3,276 units, 138 Student Living preference share lost $15 to end at $84.98 in an exchange of 44 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share dropped $180 and ended at $1020 with an exchange of 100 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for JSE USD Market
Stocks mostly rallied on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Wednesday resulting from trading in seven securities, compared to eight on Tuesday with five rising, one declining and one ending unchanged with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 82 percent valued 86 percent less than on Tuesday.
A total of 246,487 shares were traded at US$10,039 compared to 1,397,026 units at US$71,601 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 35,212 shares at US$1,434, down from 174,628 units at US$8,950 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 60,736 stock units at US$5,476 compared with 63,926 units at US$5,981 on the previous day. Trading in August averages 57,291 units for US$4,251.
The US Denominated Equities Index rallied 4.15 points to conclude trading at 244.57.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.3. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share rallied 1.4 cents to 6.7 US cents, with 84,833 shares changing hands, Proven Investments increased 0.2 of a cent to close at 15 US cents with traders dealing in 2,610 stock units. Sterling Investments ended at 1.92 US cents with investors trading in 1,046 units, Sygnus Credit Investments climbed 0.1 of a cent in closing at 9.1 US cents with a transfer of 26,288 stocks, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share rose 1.5 cents to end at 10 US cents with 62 stocks crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.11 of one cent to close at 1.69 US cents with an exchange of 131,637 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% shed 0.12 of a cent to end at US$1.0788 after trading 11 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on the JSE USD Market
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 2.23 points higher to 244.81 at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Monday, following a 51 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands, valued 612 percent more than on Friday and resulted in trading of nine securities compared to five on Friday, with six rising and three ending unchanged.
A total of 299,650 shares were exchanged for US$146,763 compared with 198,322 units at US$20,612 on Friday.
Trading on Monday averaged 33,294 shares for US$16,307 compared to 39,664 units at US$4,122 on Friday, with a month to date average of 45,476 stock units at US$5,486 compared to 48,287 units at US$2,989 on the previous trading day. August ended with an average of 57,291 units for US$4,251.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share rose 1.2 cents to 5.2 US cents after exchanging 1,889 shares, Margaritaville ended at 11.49 US cents with shareholders swapping 135 stocks, Proven Investments climbed 0.15 of one cent in closing at 14.95 US cents with investors trading 159,347 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments gained 0.09 of a cent to end at 9.09 US cents with 17,623 units being traded, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share rallied 1.5 cents to close at 10 US cents with a transfer of 79 shares and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.01 of a cent to end at 1.69 US cents in an exchange of 59,759 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 6% preference share added 10 cents in closing at US$1.50 after an exchange of 10 stocks, JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$1.95 trading 60,596 units and Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share ended at US$12 with investors dealing in 212 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
General Accident to jump Junior Market
General Accident Insurance advises that it has successfully applied for graduation of its listed ordinary shares from the Junior Market to the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, which will take place effective September 27,
According to the company, since being listed on the Junior Market over ten years ago, the Company has grown its gross written premium almost seven-fold. In addition to its market leadership in Jamaica, the Company has established a regional presence in Barbados and Trinidad. The Directors of General Accident believe the successful application reflects its growth, increasing scope and ability to comply with the applicable governance standards for companies listed on the Main Market.
The company with more than $15 billion in annual premium income reported a profit of $577 million last year and $246 million for the six months to June this year up from just $41 million for the same period in 2022. ICInsider.com projected profit of more than $1 billion for 2023.
The move follows Eppley another member of the Musson Group that migrated from the Junior Market in December 2018.