The Jamaica Stock Exchange recorded gains in the leading market indices on Monday but just barely dented the massive 55,391 points loss since the beginning of March. At the close the JSE, All Jamaican Composite Index, advancing 4,841.49 points to close at 479,172.89, the JSE Market Index climbed 4,382.37 points to 436,435.40, while the JSE Financial Index gained 2.13 points to 120.25.
The market closed with 47 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 13 stocks advancing, 27 declining and seven securities trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 43 securities accounting for 28,292,088 units valued at $246,450,479 in contrast to 28,587,236 units valued at $124,299,870 from 41 securities on Friday.
Sagicor Real Estate Fund led trading with 9.6 million shares for 34 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 9.5 million units for 33.7 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.7 million units for 9.5 percent market share.
The Market closed with an average of 657,956 units valued at an average of $5,731,406 for each security traded, in contrast to 697,250 units valued at an average of $3,031,705 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 722,611 units valued at $5,069,124 for each security changing hands compared to 734,052 units valued at $4,928,837 for each security traded. Trading in February resulted in an average of 624,731 units valued at $3,239,665 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four stocks closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 16.7, while the Main Market ended at 15.9 times the 2019 earnings.
In the Main Market, Barita Investments closed $2.01 lower to $61.50, in exchanging 27,091 shares, Berger Paints gained $1 to finish at $12 after trading 18,252 units, First Rock added 84 cents to end at $11.59, with 12,613 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy tumbled $5.86 to $60, after transferring 161,855 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange slid to $23.99, with a loss of $2.51 swapping 33,983 shares, JMMB Group shed 60 cents to end at $38.40, after exchanging 130,451 shares. Kingston Properties lost 50 cents trading 1,000 units and closed at $5.50, Kingston Wharves gained $3 to end at $46, in transferring 9,865 units, NCB Financial dived $10 to $170, after swapping 353,119 shares, 138 Student Living ended 45 cents lower to close at $6.30, with 5,328 units changing hands. PanJam Investment ended the day at $89, with a loss of $5 trading 38,140 shares, Portland JSX shed $1.45 transferring 5,100 units to finish at $7.50, Pulse Investments gained $1 to close at $10, with 123,025 shares changing hands, Sagicor Group lost 60 cents to end at $60, in swapping 40,421 stock units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed 93 cents lower at $8.80, with an exchange of 9,592,783 shares, Salada Foods settled at $29, with gains of 50 cents trading 1,857 units, Scotia Group climbed $2 to $52, in transferring 523,149 shares. Seprod gained $1 exchanging 63,730 shares to end at $43, Supreme Ventures rose $1.30 and closed at $21, after trading 40,678 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $20.95, with gains of $2.80 swapping 72,927 units. Victoria Mutual Investments ended 80 cents lower to settle at $6, with 987,897 shares changing hands and Wisynco Group dropped $1.10 to $17 in transferring 493,670 stock units.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 152,698 units valued at over US$36,268. The market slid 1.37 points to close at 210.42. First Rock exchanged 736 units at 8 US cents, JMMB Group 5.75% preference share closed at US$2.15, after trading 3,025 units, Proven Investments lost 2 cents to end at 26 US cents, in transferring 50,481 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 2.5 cents with 98,456 shares changing hands and closed at 15 US cents.

Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.