Stocks ended trading on Wednesday with the market rebounding with more stocks rising than declining, after 43 percent fewer shares changed hands valued 45 percent less than on Tuesday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market and ending the first quarter of the year marginally down from the year’s open.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,324.91 points to 432,859.15, the Main Index rose 2,055.33 points to 394,659.55 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.40 points to settle at 99.63.
Trading ended with 47 securities, up from 40 on Tuesday. Prices of 24 stocks rose, 17 declined and six closed unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.3 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with 16,826,539 shares trading for $130,489,494 down from 29,598,642 units at $238,503,294 on Tuesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 39 percent of the total volume after trading 6.56 million shares, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 15.8 percent for 2.66 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 10.7 percent of the day’s trade for 1.80 million units changing hands.
Trading for the day averaged 358,011 units at $2,776,372, sharply down from 739,966 shares at $5,962,582 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232, in contrast to 354,133 units at $2,532,457 on Tuesday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has twelve stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose $1.10 to $85.10 in exchanging 51,693 shares, Caribbean Cement rose by $1 to $68 traing of 5,594 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed 40 cents to finish at $46.50, with 18,951 units crossing the market. First Rock Capital lost 20 cents to close at $16.60 in transferring 37,614 stock units, Grace Kennedy rose 50 cents to $88.50 trading 23,567 stocks, Jamaica Broilers climbed $1.85 to $29.30 with the swapping of 19,357 stock units. Jamaica Producers fell $1.63 to $20.52 in exchanging 22,427 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange advanced $1.03 to $18.99 after the ownership switch of 509,339 shares, Key Insurance lost 31 cents in ending at $5.70 with the swapping of 70,568 units, Margaritaville dropped $3 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $32 after 600 shares crossed the market. Mayberry Investments gained 38 cents to end at $5.48 with the transfer of 200 stock units, NCB Financial declined by $1 to $139 in trading 13,620 units. 138 Student Living lost 40 cents to close at $5.30 in an exchange of 1,478 shares, Palace Amusement shed $60 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $640 in exchanging 1,037 stock units, Pan Jam Investment gained 50 cents to close at $65.50 with 520,029 stock units changing hands. 
Proven Investments shed 90 cents to close at $35 with an exchange of 11,160 stocks, Sagicor Group advanced $1.89 to close at $51.88 in trading 480,479 shares, Salada Foods rose $1.30 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.75 with a transfer of 13,442 stocks, Scotia Group gained 37 cents to close at $41.52 trading 46,641 units. Supreme Ventures rose 40 cents to close at $15.40 with the swapping of 180,570 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments declined 47 cents to $14.50 trading 34,579 units, Victoria Mutual Investments advanced 44 cents to $5.89 with the swapping of 122,135 shares, Wisynco Group shed 34 cents to close at $15.11 in exchanging 62,400 shares.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living Preference share rose $1.12 to $5.44, with 20,000 shares clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading averaged 739,966 units at $5,962,582, up from an average of 279,882 shares at $2,106,961 on Monday. Trading month to date averages 354,133 units at $2,532,457, up from 338,336 units at $2,392,022 on Monday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660. 
NCB Financial rose $1.50 to $140 in exchanging 8,370 shares, Proven Investments gained $1.90 to $35.90 trading 53,710 stock units. Sagicor Group advanced 49 cents to $49.99 with the swapping of 7,945 units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose $1.11 to $8.31 after a transfer of 300 stocks, Salada Foods jumped $1.05 to a record close of $5.45, trading 41,837 stock units. Seprod shed $1.50 to close at $69.60 in an exchange of 7,052 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 37 cents in ending at $14.97 trading 90,548 units and Wisynco Group fell 25 cents to $15.45 after a transfer of 20,763 shares.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,805.24 points to 431,621.60, the JSE Main Index retreated 1,581.94 points to 393,571.93 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.58 points to close at 98.88.
Trading month to date averaged 338,137 units at $2,423,642, in contrast to 341,423 units at $2,407,074 on Friday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660. 
Salada Foods lost 50 to finish at $44 with 63,894 stock units crossing the market, Seprod advanced $2.10 to $71.10 with 6,110 units changing hands. Supreme Ventures lost 30 cents to end at $15 with the swapping of 47,761 shares and Wisynco Group rose 40 cents to $15.70 with an exchange of 19,151 stock units.
L.J Williams B share gained 4 cents to close at $1.45 in exchanging 12,432 stocks, Massy Holdings rose 10 cents to $64 after trading 1,155 shares, National Enterprises settled at $2.95 and finished trading 16,940 stock units. National Flour Mills settled at $2.15 with the swapping of 837 stocks, One Caribbean Media advanced 15 cents to $4.75, with 111,688 units crossing the market, Prestige Holdings ended at $7.50 with an exchange of 699 stock units. Republic Financial Holdings traded 172 units at $131.83, Scotiabank lost 71 cents to close at $54 with 629 shares changing hands, Trinidad & Tobago NGL lost 23 cents to end at $14.76, trading 5,052 stock units. Unilever Caribbean rose 10 cents to $16.20 after an exchange of 81 stocks and West Indian Tobacco carved out a gain of 50 cents to end at $33, with 40,043 stocks crossing the exchange.
TOP 10 stocks had a few changes during the past week, with Berger Paints back in the Main Market TOP10, replacing Sterling Investments that entered the list last week, while in the Junior Market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers returns to the TOP 10 as General Accident moved out.
Caribbean Producers is another that will definitely benefit from pick up in the tourist trade later in the year. Expect also companies such as Knutsford Express, Express Catering and Stationery and Office Supplies to be on that list.
This week’s focus: Future Energy Source Company Initial Public Offer of 500 million shares at 80 cents per share opens on Wednesday, with pretax earnings for the fiscal year to March this year around 7 cents per shares. The shares should be snapped up quickly by investors, with the company having long-term prospects for strong growth.
The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.5 at just 55 percent of the market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 7.4 or 50 percent of the PE of that market.
Trading ended with 18 securities changing hands compared to 17 on Thursday, with the prices of five stocks, five falling and eight remaining unchanged.
JMMB Group ended at $1.82 with an exchange of 11,454 stocks, Massy Holdings rose 15 cents to end at $63.90, with 15,519 stocks crossing the market, NCB Financial Group closed at $8.50 after trading 49,830 units. Prestige Holdings settled at $7.50 after an exchange of 13 shares, Republic Financial Holdings rose 8 cents to $131.83, with 2,407 stock units changing hands, Scotiabank shed 29 cents in closing at $54.71 with the swapping of 1,790 shares. Trinidad & Tobago NGL closed at $14.99 in an exchange of 6,685 stock units, Trinidad Cement ended at $3, exchanging 2,500 units, Unilever dipped 10 cents in ending at $16.10 trading 3,980 shares and West Indian Tobacco dipped 1 cent to close at $32.50, with 20,373 units changing hands.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,733.33 points to 433,426.84, the Main Index rose 2,535.44 points to 395,153.87 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.82 points to settle at 99.46.
Month to date trading averaged 341,423 units at $2,407,074, in contrast to 350,058 units at $2,478,082 on Thursday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660. 
Palace Amusement fell $19 to $680, with 443 units crossing the exchange, Proven Investments shed 60 cents in ending at $34.90 with 19,845 stock units clearing the market, Sagicor Group gained 23 cents to finish at $49.98 in transferring 321,790 units. Salada Foods rose $1.50 to $44.50 with the swapping of 10,915 shares, Scotia Group closed 74 cents higher at $41.25 with an exchange of 8,767 stock, Seprod dropped $4 to $69 in trading 94,793 units and Supreme Ventures finished 20 cents higher at $15.30 in switching ownership of 37,927 stock units.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 48.69 points to 430,693.51, the JSE Main Index declined 53.00 points to 392,618.43 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.09 points to settle at 98.64.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has thirteen stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Scotia Group ended 74 cents lower at $40.51 with the swapping of 14,908 stock units, Seprod rose $1 to $73 with 45,709 units changing hands. Sterling Investments gained 21 cents to settle at $2.91in the transfer of 24,212 stocks and Wisynco Group shed 62 cents to close at $15.38, with 28,391 stocks changing hands.
February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
NCB Financial declined $1.99 to $138.01 with 38,583 stock units changing hands, 138 Student Living dropped $1.38 to $5.50 in trading 1,050 units, PanJam Investment rose $1.31 to $65.01 with the swapping of 1,097,749 shares, Sagicor Group declined $2 to $48 in trading 60,966 stock units. Salada Foods fell $1.49 to $43 in exchanging 21,731 units, Seprod advanced $2 to $72 in switching ownership of 28,284 shares and Supreme Ventures lost 22 cents to close at $15.28 with 139,631 stocks changing hands.
National Enterprises dropped 5 cents in closing at 52 weeks’ low of $2.95 after exchanging 14,390 stock units. National Flour Mills ended at $2.15 trading 400 units, One Caribbean Media traded 5,000 stock units at $4.60, Prestige Holdings ended at $7.50, with 501 stock units crossing the market. Republic Financial Holdings climbed 25 cents to $131.75, with 60,286 stocks crossing the market, Scotiabank lost 21 cents to end at $55 after closing trading 2,503 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL shed 1 cent to close at $14.99, with 42,430 stocks changing hands. Trinidad Cement shed 24 cents in ending at $3, with 1,068 stock units clearing the market, Unilever Caribbean carved out a gain of 20 cents at $16.20 with an exchange of 1,001 stocks and West Indian Tobacco ended at $32.51 trading 1,435 shares.