JSE Main Market indices made gains on Monday on lower volumes and value compared to Friday but with stocks rising outnumbered by those falling.
At the close, JSE All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 3,136.96 points to close at 553,758.80, the JSE Market Index gained 2,789.32 points to 504161.80 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.94 points to close at 137.13.
The market closed with 38 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with the prices of 12 gaining, 15 declining and 11 trading unchanged. Main market activity ended with 36 securities accounting for 13,987,345 units at $42,027,052, in contrast to 37,782,232 units valued at $133,425,390 on Friday from 40 securities.
Sagicor Select Funds dominated trading with 9.55 million shares for 68.5 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 2.6 million shares and 19 percent of the overall volume and QWI Investments with 885,900 shares and 6 percent of the trades.
The market closed with an average of 388,537 units valued $1,167,418 for each security traded, in contrast to 944,556 units for an average of 3,335,635 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 388,537 units valued at $1,167,418 and previously, an average of 653,621 units valued at $8,699,916 for each security changing hands. The market closed out November with an average of 653,621 units valued at $8,699,916 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 19 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 18.7, with the Main Market ending at 18.9 times 2019 current year’s earnings.
In the premier market, Carreras gained 25 cents to close at $8.35 trading 10,816 stock units, Jamaica Broilers dropped $2 to end at $36, in swapping 3,050 shares, Jamaica Producers settled at $24.50, after losing $1 trading 11,419 shares, 
JMMB Group lost 60 cents to end at $46.30, with 177,321 shares changing hands. Kingston Wharves gained $1.72 to close at $60.50 in exchanging 14,053 units. NCB Financial Group dipped $3 to $205, with 16,016 units traded. Portland JSX fell 48 cents to end at $8.02, with 6,350 shares crossing the exchange, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 95 cents to close at $10.80, in transferring just 1,000 units, Scotia Group gained 98 cents to end at $54 while exchanging 51,012 shares. Seprod settled at $50.55, in losing 34 cents while trading 28,813 stock units, Stanley Motta lost $1 to close at $5.30, with 24,566 units changing hands, Supreme Ventures shed 99 cents to close at $25.01, in swapping 14,500 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments closed 64 cents lower at $23 in trading 3,135 units.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 42,800 units valued at US$12,106, with the market index advancing 6.23 points to close at 213.44. Proven Investments closed at 32 US cents, after gaining 1.98 US cents trading 37,500 shares and Sterling Investments closed at 2 US cents with 3,500 units changing hands.
Witco setting for a price explosion
Demand for West Indian Tobacco shares continues to build since the price adjusted for the three for one split last week. Bids to buy the stock have been rising and are now at 20,465 units at $40, above the adjusted last sale price of $34.98 but there are no stocks offered for sale.
In the overall market on Monday, investors traded 65,975 shares amounting to $950,201 from an exchange of 12 securities, against 15 on Friday, when 395,492 shares at $3,053,292.
At the close of the market, the prices of 2 stocks rose, 1 declined while 9 remained unchanged, leading the Composite Index to inch 0.12 points higher to 1,426.58. The All T&T Index rose 1.82 points to 1,783.68, while the Cross Listed Index lost 0.22 points to close at 144.94.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended at 7 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
Gains| First Citizens Bank gained 10 cents and settled at $42.20, with 2,293 units crossing the exchange and Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose 20 cents and ended trading of 3,225 shares at $21.25.
Losses| Clico Investment Fund closed with a loss of 1 cent at $24.35, with investors exchanging 13,400 shares.
Firm Trades| Grace Kennedy ended at $3.44, trading 18,689 units, JMMB Group ended at $2.40, with 10,200 units crossing the exchange, LJ Williams closed at $1.20, after exchanging 120 shares, National Flour completed trading 10,000 units at $1.36. NCB Financial traded of 1,000 shares at $11.00, One Caribbean Media ended at $9.75, with 2,400 units crossing the exchange. Republic Financial exchanged 1,402 stock units at $130, Scotiabank settled at $59.75, with 1,718 crossing the exchange and Unilever Caribbean settled at $23.50, with 1,528 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
Continued stability for IC TOP 10
With the closing of the two initial public offers of MailPac Group and Lumber Depot last week, things started to return to more normally in the market this past week with the two main markets recording net gains for the week.
At the close of a week when the JSE Main Market put on125 points and the Junior Market rose 46 points there was minimal change to the IC TOP 10 list this week with just one change as Fontana returns to the top flight after a brief absence, replacing Caribbean Flavours with the price jumping to $17.90 on Friday. One important development at the end of the week was the release of full-year results, for Honey Bun, with profit rising 67 percent to hit $157 million from a 17 percent rise in revenues to $1.54 billion.
Importantly, the company is on the way to earn 70 cents per share for 2020.
The average gains for the IC TOP 10 stocks are 136 percent for Junior Market stocks and 96 percent for JSE Main market Top 10 stocks.
The top three Junior Market stocks, is now led by Main Event with projected gains of 183 percent, followed by MailPac Group with 180 percent and Medical Disposables with potential gains of 167 percent.
Radio Jamaica remains the lead stock with projected gains of 186 percent, followed by Pulse Investments in the number two spot with projected growth of 138 and Berger Paints with likely gains of 120 percent and percent is next.
The JSE Main Market closed the week with the overall PE of 19 up from 18.8 and the Junior Market at 14.2, an improvement over the previous week’s 13.8, based on current year’s earnings. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages 18.7 from 7.8 last week with the Main Market PE at 10.6 up from 10.4.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at a discount of 39 percent to the average for Junior Market stocks and main market stocks trade at a discount of 44 percent to the overall market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns to March next year. 
Projected earnings, along with the PE ratio for each company’s current fiscal year, are used in determining potential gains with the likely gains ranked in descending order with highest-ranked being the most attractive. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis as new information is received that can result in changes in and out of the list.
This report is compiled by persons who may have an interest in the securities commented on.
JSE main market up 32% in 2019
Main market stocks indices tumbled on Friday, the last trading day of the month even as more stocks recorded gains than losses but the market is still up 32 percent for the year to date.
At the close, JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,858.47 points to close at 550,616.84, the JSE Market Index dropped 2,590.18 points to 501,372.48 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.96 points to close at 136.19.
The market closed with 44 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 18 stocks advancing, 14 declining and 12 trading firm. Main market activity ended with 40 securities accounting for 37,782,232 units valued at $133,425,390, in contrast to 14,106,882 units valued at $179,446,025 on Thursday from 38 securities.
Sagicor Select Funds dominated trading with 17.7 million shares for 47 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Windfarm with 12.2 million shares and 32 percent and QWI Investments with 4.5 million shares and 12 percent of the overall volume.
The market closed with an average of 944,556 units valued at an average of $3,335,635 for each security traded, in contrast to 371,234 units for an average of 4,722,264 on Thursday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 653,621 units valued at $8,699,916 and previously, an average of 638,084 units valued at $8,537,415 for each security changing hands. The market closed out October with an average of 957,488 units valued at $13,947,047 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 19 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 18.1 with the main market ending at 19.1 times current year’s earnings.
In the premier market, Barita Investments lost 41 cents to end at $70.59 trading 105,666 shares, Caribbean Cement climbed $1.99 to $79, with 39,047 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers gained 99 cents to end at $38, in swapping 49,919 shares. Jamaica Producers rose to $25.50, after gaining $1.50 in swapping 385,895 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed 49 cents higher to $27, with an exchange of 116,951 shares, JMMB Group gained 70 cents to settle at $46.90, with 624,479 shares changing hands. Kingston Wharves added $1.78 to close at $58.78 trading 931 units, Mayberry Investments lost $1.80 to settle at $8.20, in transferring 4,998 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities ended at $11.60, after losing 60 cents and swapping 201,944 shares. NCB Financial Group climbed $3 to $208 after 28,093 units changed hands, 138 Student Living gained 40 cents, ending at $4.30, trading 11,608 shares, PanJam Investment settled at $102, after gaining $1 and swapping 19,075 shares. Pulse Investments lost 55 cents to close at $4.20, in an exchange of 100,000 shares, Sagicor Group lost 49 cents to settle at $66.11, with 27,953 shares changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 95 cents to $11.75, with 584,870 shares crossing the exchange. 
Scotia Group dropped $1.98 to $53.02, in transferring 169,848 shares, Seprod ended at $50.89 after losing 80 cents in trading 48,617 shares, Stanley Motta climbed 90 cents to $6.30, after swapping 25,600 units and Sygnus Credit Investments closed 64 cents higher, ending the day at $23.64 with 52,609 shares changing hands.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 300,150 units valued at US$71,418 with the market index falling 4.48 points to close at 207.39. Productive Business Solutions lost 1 US cent trading 2,125 units, ending the day at 59 US cents, Proven Investments closed at 30.02 US cents, after losing 1.98 US cents in trading 197,049 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments exchanged 69,704 shares at 14 US cents and Sterling Investments lost half a US cent to close at 2 US cents with 31,272 units changing hands.
Demand builds for Witco stock
Demand for West Indian Tobacco shares continues to build with the price adjusted for the 3 for one split bids to buy rising to 19,265 units at $40 well up on the adjusted last sale price of $34.98, but there are no stocks offered for sale.
In the overall market on Friday, investors traded 395,492 shares at $3,053,292 from an exchange of 15 securities, against 13 on Thursday, when 183,089 shares traded at $4,447,289.
At the close of the market, the prices of 4 stocks rose, 4 declined while 7 remained unchanged, leading the Composite Index to rise 6.17 points to 1,426.46. The All T&T Index rose 12.19 points to 1,781.86, while the Cross Listed Index added 0.01 points to close at 145.16.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended at 4 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
Gains| Massy Holdings gained $1.75 completed trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $59.75, with 180 stock units changing hands, National Flour gained 1 cent and finished trading at $1.36 after swapping of 2,000 shares. Republic Financial jumped $4.01 concluded at $130.00, with 1,617 stock units changing hands and Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose 5 cents and ended trading of 15,811 shares at $21.05.
Losses| First Citizens Bank fell 90 cents and settled at $42.10, in swapping 50 shares, Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of 4 cents at $3.44, after exchanging 1,311 shares, JMMB Group shed 6 cents and completed trading of 201,768 shares at $2.40. Sagicor Financial declined 25 cents to end at $10.75, with investors exchanging 150,706 shares.
Firm Traded| Clico Investment Fund concluded at $24.36, with 1,700 units, Ansa Mcal completed trading at $53.99, swapping of 10 shares, Guardian Holdings ended at $18.50, after exchanging 2,256 shares. Guardian Media settled at $7.80, with 4,000 units trading, NCB Financial settled at $11, with 11,816 units changing hands, Scotiabank settled at $59.75, after exchanging 1,267 shares and Unilever Caribbean ended at $23.50, with investors exchanging 1,000 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
Buoyant JSE main market
Palace jumps $800 to a record of $2,900.
Jamaica Stock Exchange prime market continues to experience buoyant levels ended with 38 securities accounting for 14,106,882 units valued at $179,446,025, in contrast to 19,155,083 units valued at $180,757,266 from 38 companies trading on Wednesday.
By contrast, for the same period last year, 32 securities traded and resulted in investments of $158,769,688 and on the Wednesday 27 securities changed hands accounting to $136,855,615.
The market closed on Thursday, with 40 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 17 advancing, 12 declining and 11 trading firm. Trading resulted in the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index inching 7.67 points higher to 553,475.31, the JSE Market Index rose 102.37 points to 503,962.66 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.11 points to close at 137.15.
Wigton Windfarm dominated trading with 5.3 million shares for 38 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Funds with 3.4 million units and 24 percent and QWI Investments with 2 million shares and 14 percent. Barita Investments was the only other stock trading more than 1 million shares ending with 1.48 million units amounting to 11 percent of the day’s trade but with $104 million accounting for 58 percent of the total value in the min market.
The market closed with an average of 371,234 units at $4,722,264 for each security traded, in contrast to 504,081 units for an average of 4,756,770 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 638,084 units for $8,537,415 and previously, an average of 652,346 units valued at $8,751,876 for each security changing hands. The market closed out October with an average of 957,488 units for $13,947,047 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 13 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 18.0 with the main market ending at 18.9 times 2019 current year’s earnings.
In the premier market, Barita Investments closed $1 lower to $71, in exchanging 1,477,914 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $2.90 to end at $35.90, with 2,900 stock units changing hands, Grace Kennedy added 56 cents to close at $65.0, in exchanging 372,028 units, Jamaica Broilers lost 99 cents to settle at $37..01 trading 35,432 shares. Jamaica Producers gained $1 to end at $24, after swapping 11,992 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 49 cents in trading 51,320 units to close at $26.51, JMMB Group dropped $1.65 to settle at $46.20, with 287,342 units changing hands. 
Kingston Wharves climbed $2 to $57 trading just 250 units, Mayberry Investments gained $1 to close at $10, with 46,680 shares changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities ended at $12.20, after gaining $1.20 in swapping 181,769 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy closed 50 cents higher to $230, after 797 units changed hands. 138 Student Living lost 72 cents and ended at $3.90 with 100,000 shares trading, Palace Amusement surged $800 higher to a record high of $2,900 in trading a mere 100 units, PanJam Investment traded 1,300 shares and settled at $101, after losing $1. Portland JSX rose 40 cents to $8.50, after exchanging 2,203 stock units, Proven Investments closed $1.50 higher to $48, in an exchange of 10,336 shares. Sagicor Group lost 40 cents to settle at $66.60, with 40,625 stock units changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at $23 with gains of 65 cents trading 26,000 shares and Wisynco Group closed 99 cents higher, ending the day at $24 with 101,734 units changing hands.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 307,111 units valued at US$103,211 with the market index declining 3.21 points to close at 211.87. Proven Investments closed at 32 US cents, after gaining 1.8 US cents trading 302,111 shares and JMMB Group 5.75% preference share gained 2 US cents to end at US$2.02 with 5,000 shares changing hands.
No selling of Witco stock
West Indian Tobacco stock price 2006-2019 pre-split price.
The number of West Indian Tobacco (WITCO) shares that were posted on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday to purchase rose to 3,065 units, but the stock has failed to trade even with the bid being at $40 well up on the adjusted last sale price of $34.98.
The market closed with no Witco stocks being offered for sale after the stock started trading ex split on Tuesday.
In the overall market, investors traded 183,089 shares at $4,447,289 from an exchange of 13 securities, against 15 on Wednesday, when 633,013 units were traded for $4,629,584.
At the close of the market, the prices of 6 stocks rose, 2 declined while 5 remained unchanged, leading the Composite Index to rise 3.49 points to 1,420.29. The All T&T Index rose 5.80 points to 1,769.67, while the Cross Listed Index added 0.16 points to end at 145.15.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended at 6 stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund concluded trading with 400 units and rose 1 cent to close at $24.36, First Caribbean International Bank added 1 cent and completed trading at $8.23, with 10,059 stock units changing hands. First Citizens Bank jumped 95 cents and settled at a 52 weeks’ high of $43, with 9,649 units crossing the exchange. Grace Kennedy rose 4 cents and closed at $3.48, with 7,200 stock units trading,
Republic Financial closed with a gain of 19 cents at $125.99, after exchanging 16,212 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose 25 cents and ended trading of 23,566 shares at $21.
Losses| JMMB Group fell 4 cents and ended at $2.46, after exchanging 9,000 shares and One Caribbean Media lost 15 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.75, with 100 stock units changing hands.
Firm Trades| Guardian Holdings ended at $18.50, with investors exchanging 300 shares, National Enterprises closed at $5.50, trading 1,880 units, Sagicor Financial completed trading at $11, after exchanging 94,111 shares, Scotiabank settled at $59.75, after 1,500 shares crossed the exchange and Unilever Caribbean settled at $23.50, with investors exchanging 9,112 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
JSE majors heading higher
The Jamaica Stock Exchange ended trading on Wednesday with the premier market indices gaining more than 1,000 points and leaving the indices with overall positive gains for the week-to-date and the market being at the highest point since mid-month.
The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 1,199.81 points to close at 553,467.64, the JSE Market Index increased 1,126.17 points to 503,860.29 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.41 points to close at 137.04.
The market closed with 40 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 10 stocks advancing, 20 declining and 10 trading firm. Main market activity ended with 38 securities accounting for 19,155,083 units valued at $180,757,266, in contrast to 34,952,276 units valued at $127,514,628 on Tuesday from 37 securities.
Sagicor Select Funds dominated trading with 8.4 million shares for 44 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Windfarm with 3.8 million shares and 20 percent and QWI Investments with 2 million shares and 11 percent of total volume. JMMB Group was the only other stock trading with more than 1 million shares ending with 1.85 million units amounting to 10 percent of trading.
The market closed with an average of 504,081 units valued at an average of $4,756,770 for each security traded, in contrast to 944,656 units for an average of 3,446,341 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 652,346 units valued at $8,751,876 and previously, an average of 660,717 units valued at $8,989,829 for each security changing hands. The market closed out October with an average of 957,488 units valued at $13,947,047 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 13 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 17.8 with the leading market ending at 18.7 times 2019 current year’s earnings.
In the primary market, Caribbean Cement slid $2 to end at $77, with 7,650 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy added $1.95, to close at $64.45 in transferring 20,904 shares, Jamaica Producers lost $1.10 to close at $23, with an exchange of 36,298 shares. JMMB Group closed 85 cents higher at $47.85, after swapping 1,850,978 shares Kingston Wharves dropped $2.25 to settle at $55 trading 6,035 shares, Mayberry Investments lost $1 to close at $9, with 913,998 shares changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities ended at $11, after falling $2.10 and transferring 143,391 shares. 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy closed 50 cents lower to $229.50 after 304 units changed hands, 138 Student Living gained 72 cents, ending at $4.62 with 10,026 shares traded, PanJam Investment settled at $102, after losing 50 cents and swapping 14,385 shares. Proven Investments dipped by $1.50 to $46.50, in an exchange of 16,822 shares, Sagicor Group added $1 to close at $67, with 49,907 shares changing hands, Scotia Group climbed $2 to $55 trading 19,362 stock units, Stanley Motta closed 45 cents higher to $5.60, with 17,450 units crossing the market and Wisynco Group lost 49 cents and ending at $23.01 with 154,935 shares changing hands.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 347,532 units valued at US$108,225, with the market index advancing 6.53 points to close at 215.08. Proven Investments lost 0.02 US cents to end at 30.02 US cents, after trading 341,207 shares and Sterling Investments gained 0.03 US cents to end at 2.5 US cents with 6,325 shares changing hands.
JSE main market in consolidation mode
Activities picked up a bit on the Jamaica Stock Exchange primary market on Tuesday but left the market in a stalemate with an almost equal number of securities rising and falling as the market tries to claw its way higher ahead of the final month of 2019.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 432.09 points to close at 552,267.83, the JSE Index lost 548.28 points to 502,734.12 while the JSE Financial Index gained 0.16 points to close at 136.63.
The market closed with 40 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 15 stocks advancing, 14 declining and 11 stocks trading firm. Main market activity ended with 37 securities accounting for 34,952,276 units valued at $127,514,628, in contrast to 17,983,605 units valued at $109,287,271 on Monday from 38 securities.
Sagicor Select Funds dominated trading with 16 million shares for 46 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Windfarm with 13.2 million shares and 38 percent and QWI Investments with 1.7 million shares and 4.9 percent of total volume.
The market closed with an average of 944,656 units valued at an average of $3,446,341 for each security traded, in contrast to 473,523 units for an average of 2,875,981 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 660,717 units valued at $8,989,829 and previously, an average of 644,199 units valued at $9,331,109 for each security changing hands. The market closed out October with an average of 957,488 units valued at $13,947,047 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 15 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 17.7, with the traditional market ending at 18.6 times 2019 current year’s earnings.
In the premier market, Barita Investments climbed $2 higher to $72 after trading 42,782 shares, Caribbean Cement lost $1 to settle at $79, after exchanging 5,766 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $3.60, in ending at $33 with 850 units traded. Eppley gained 50 cents to close at $15, in swapping 700 shares, Grace Kennedy rose by 50 cents to $62.50, while transferring 82,359 units, 
Jamaica Broilers lost $2 to close at $38, with an exchange of 32,186 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed $1.80 to finish at $26.80 after 807,402 shares changed hands. Mayberry Investments closed with a rise of $1.80 to $10, in transferring 92,283 stock units, 138 Student Living lost 40 cents, ending the day at $3.90 with 515,355 units changing hands. PanJam Investment climbed to $102.50, with gains of $1.40 in swapping 2,730 shares, Sagicor Group closed $1 higher to $66, with an exchange of 281,208 stock units, Seprod climbed $1.37 higher to $51.99, with 19,942 units traded and Wisynco Group lost 50 cents in ending at $23.50 with 66,497 shares crossing the market.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 482,671 units valued at US$154,386, with the market index declining 5.63 points to close at 208.55. Proven Investments gained 0.45 cents and closed at 32 US cents while trading 469,420 shares, JMMB Group 6% preference share closed at US$1.01, losing 1 US cent, with 13,070 units changing hands and Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 14 US cents with an exchange of 181 units.
JSE main market rally
The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market surged forward on Monday with the All Jamaican Composite Index rising 2,208.01 points to close at 552,699.92, while the JSE Index gained 1,955.43 points to 503,282.40 and the JSE Financial Index inched 0.11 points higher to 136.477
The market closed with 41 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 12 stocks advancing, 17 declining and 12 stocks trading firm. Main market activity ended with 38 securities accounting for 17,983,605 units valued at $109,287,271, in contrast to 16,239,630 units valued at $138,772,724 on Friday from 35 securities.
Sagicor Select Funds dominated trading with 9.4 million shares for 52 percent of the day’s trade after hitting an intraday low of $1. Wigton Windfarm followed with 4.3 million shares for 24 percent main market volume after moving to an intraday record high of $1.15 and Jamaica Stock Exchange with 1.17 million shares and 6.5 percent. QWI Investments traded at an all-time low of $1.
The market closed with an average of 473,523 units valued at an average of $2,875,981 for each security traded, in contrast to 463,989 units for an average of 3,964,935 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 644,199 units valued at $9,331,109 and previously, an average of 655,062 units valued at $9,766,801 for each security changing hands. The market closed out October with an average of 957,488 units valued at $13,947,047 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 13 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 17.9 with the main market ending at 18.8 times 2019 current year’s earnings.
In main market activity, Caribbean Cement jumped $4.96 to close at $80, with 27,200 shares changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund closed $1.40 lower at $36.60, with the trading of 299 units, Eppley ended at $14.50 after falling $1.40 and swapping 1,535 stock units. Grace Kennedy slid $2 to end at $62, in trading 17,288 shares, Jamaica Broilers gained $2 to close at $40 with an exchange of 33,910 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped $5.38, settling at $25 after 1,172,512 shares crossed the exchange, JMMB Group rose 99 cents to end at $46.99, with exchanging 616,089 shares. 
Kingston Wharves closed $1.53 lower to $57.25, with 2,600 units changing hands, Mayberry Investments lost 30 cents in transferring 28,450 shares to settle at $8.20, Mayberry Jamaica Equities closed $1.10 higher at $13.30 trading 207,200 units. 138 Student Living added 42 cents, ending the day at $4.30, transferring 626 shares, PanJam Investment lost 90 cents to close at $101.10 with 537 units trading. Proven Investments added 50 cents to $48, after exchanging 21,603 units, Pulse Investments rose to $4.55 with gains of 55 cents while trading 106,793 shares, Scotia Group tumbled to $52.95 with a fall of $2.05 in transferring 105,340 shares and Seprod closed 38 cents lower to $50.62, with 43,247 units changing hands.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 31,272,177 units valued at US$9,869,582, with the market index losing 1.70 points to close at 214.18. Proven Investments lost 0.45 US cents to close at 31.15 US cents in the trading 31,265,399 shares, JMMB Group 6% preference share closed at US$1.02 exchanging 1,700 units and Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 14 US cents with 1,778 units changing hands.
