Trading ended on Thursday, with the market index continuing to slip after trading volume rose eightfold, over Tuesday’s level, with more stocks rising than falling on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange after reopening following the closure for Ash Wednesday.
Seven securities changed hands, the same as Tuesday, with four rising, two declining and one remaining unchanged, with the JSE USD Equity Index losing 6.76 points to end at 193.23. The PE Ratio averages 13.6 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market had an exchange of 633,561 shares for $275,891, up from 73,195 shares for US$12,725 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 90,509 units at US$39,413, up from 10,456 units at US$1,818 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date averaged 71,880 shares at US$11,290 compared to 69,933 units at US$8,351 on Tuesday. By comparison, January ended with an average of 121,154 units for US$15,408.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock closing with the bid higher than the last selling price nor with a lower offer.
At the close of trading, First Rock Capital gained 0.03 of a cent in ending at 8.98 US cents, with 18,709 shares clearing the market, Proven Investments rose 0.3 of a cent to 25.7 US cents trading 9,720 units, 
Sygnus Credit Investments J$ stock dropped 2.5 cents to 12 US cents trading just 4 stock units. Sygnus Credit Investments US$ stock rose 0.45 of a cent to 14.95 US cents with 38,258 stock units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway slipped 0.09 of a cent to 0.85 of a US cent with 434,924 units crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% C share increased by a cent to close at US$2.03, trading 129,331 units and JMMB Group 6% closed at US$1.01, exchanging 2,615 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 686.84 points to 429,363.77, the Main Index lost 618.66 points to 391,508.19 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.43 points to 100.29.
Trading averaged 218,699 units at $2,129,289, compared to 468,946 shares at $2,041,431 on Monday. The month to date averaged 413,643 units at $2,752,324, close to the average of 431,223 units at $2,808,510 on Monday. Trading in January closed with an average of 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Proven Investments slipped $1.48 to $36.50 trading 1,513 units, Radio Jamaica gained 6 cents to close at $1.56 with the swapping of 554,673 shares, after traded as high as $1.80 during the morning session. Sagicor Group rose 70 cents to $51.70, with 18,406 stocks clearing the market. Scotia Group finished 97 cents lower at $42, after 18,751 shares crossing the market and Seprod gained $1 to end at $67, in an exchange of 14,613 units.
Seven securities traded, compared to six on Monday with four rising, two declining and one remaining unchanged.
Sterling Investments rose 0.09 of a cent to 2.39 US cents with 900 stocks clearing the market. Sygnus Credit Investments settled at 14.5 US cents trading 2,901 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments dropped 0.5 of a cent to end at 14.5 US cents trading 2,400 stock units and Transjamaican Highway advanced 0.03 of a cent to 0.94 of a US cent with 23,060 units crossing the exchange.
The two main market indices are now down less than a percent for the year to date, as the All Jamaican Composite Index gained 2,037.03 points to end at 430,050.61, the Main Index rose 1,848.31 points to 392,126.85 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.50 points to settle at 99.86.
Trading for the day averaged 468,946 units at $2,041,431, compared to 333,659 shares at $5,013,961 on Friday. The month to date averages 431,223 units at $2,808,510 for each security, in contrast to 427,484 units at $2,884,542 on Friday. Trading in January averaged 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Scotia Group gained 47 cents to end at $42.97, with 52,903 shares changing hands, Seprod dropped $4 to close at $66 with 18,360 stock units changing hands, Supreme Ventures gained 50 cents to end $16, after 38,681 stocks crossed the market. Sygnus Credit Investments shed $1.25 to $14.50, in exchanging 383,772 stock units and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 28 cents to settle at $5.51 and to transfer 139,505 shares.
Trading ended with six securities changing hands at the close, compared to seven on Friday and ended with two stocks rising, one declining and three remaining unchanged. The average PE Ratio ends at 13.9 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Proven Investments added 1.39 US cents to close at 26.4 US cents in exchanging 7,345 units, Sygnus Credit Investments closed at 14.5 US cents, trading 599 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments slipped 0.04 of a cent to 15 US cents after exchanging 44,116 stocks and Transjamaican Highway eked out a gain of 0.01 of a cent to 0.91 of a US cent with four stock units crossing the exchange.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 4,748.93 points to 428,013.58, the Main Index advanced by 4,304.89 points to 390,278.54 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.88 points to close at 99.36.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
Stanley Motta gained 45 cents to settle at $5.35 exchanging 945,893 stocks, Supreme Ventures slipped 50 cents to end at $15.50, in switching owners for 96,790 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 55 cents to finish at $15.75 trading 55,266 shares. Victoria Mutual Investments rose 28 cents to $5.79, with 113,332 units changing hands and Wisynco Group gained 36 cents in ending at $16.35, trading 108,260 stock units.
Trading ended with seven securities changing hands at the close, compared to six on Thursday and ended with the prices of three stocks rising, two declining and two remaining unchanged.
The Jamaican dollar-based Sygnus Credit Investments gained 2.5 cents ending at 14.5 US cents in exchanging 400 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments shed 0.84 of a cent to close at 15.04 US cents in trading 7,911 stocks and Transjamaican Highway shed 0.05 of a cent to close at 0.9 of a US cent with 230,224 stocks changing hands.
Trading for the day averaged 335,050 units at $2,547,549, down from 911,229 shares at $5,003,803 on Wednesday. The month to date averaged 437,301 units at $2,661,756, in contrast to 449,559 units at $2,675,448 on Wednesday. Trading in January averaged 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Salada Foods rose 90 cents to end at $40.90 with 4,399 stock units changing hands, Scotia Group fell $1.50 to $42.50 after exchanging 147,223 stocks, Seprod declined by $1.01 to $65.01 trading 16,487 stocks. Supreme Ventures slid $1.10 to $16, in transferring 113,376 stock units and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 28 cents to close at $5.51 after crossing the market with 6,600 shares.
Proven Investments shed 1 cent in closing at 25 US cents in switching ownership of 10,040 units, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.03 of a cent to close at 15.88 US cents trading 744 stocks and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.02 of a cent to close at O.95 of one US cent, with 148,775 stock units changing hands.
Trading for the day averaged 911,229 units at $5,003,803, compared to 379,495 shares at $1,819,819 on Tuesday. The month to date averaged 449,559 units at $2,675,448, in contrast to 380,091 units at $2,325,100 on the prior trading day. Trading in January averaged 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
QWI Investments gained 10 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.20 in an exchange of 2,464,374 units, Sagicor Group gained $1.25 to close at $50.25 exchanging 5,218 stocks, Salada Foods declined by $3.90 to settle at $40 trading 118,884 shares and Seprod lost $2.20 and closed at $66.02, after exchanging 18,328 stocks.