Jamaica stocks jump sharply on Friday

Scotia Group climbed $1.39 to be one of the main stocks to contribute to the big gain in the indices on Friday

Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Friday with major gains in the market indices in excess of 2,600 points flowing from 23 securities changing hands with 2 trading in the US dollar market, as 10 stocks advanced and 7 declined in both markets.
Trading levels in main market ended at 9,512,849 units valued at $220,101,365 compared to 93,827,780 units valued at $320,466,964 at the close on Thursday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 23,350 units valued at US$6,808.
The All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 2,908.98 points to close at 248,333.69 the JSE Market Index rose 2,650.41 points to finish at 226,260.13 and the JSE US dollar market index gained 0.37 points to close at 216.96.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 413,602 units valued at $9,170,890 per security traded, compared to an average of 3,475,103 units valued at $11,869,147 on Thursday. The average volume for the month to date ended at 833,460 units valued $5,623,143 per company stock traded versus 938,424 units valued at $4,736,206 on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for March ended at 549,909 units and $1,379,459.
In market activity, Berger Paints closed at $12.05, losing 25 cents with 3,430 shares changing hands, Cable and Wireless closed at $1.28 with an exchange of 1,715,016 shares, Caribbean Cement added 50 cents to close at $30.50 with trades of 2,051 units. Carreras closed $3.98 higher to $74 with 3,589 shares being exchanged, Grace Kennedy added 85 cents to close at $44.70, with 54,517 units trading, Jamaica Broilers closed with trades of 24,595 shares at $16.50, Jamaica Producers closed at $15, with 24,515 shares changing hands, JMMB Group closed 45 cents lower at $18.55 trading 250,373 units, Kingston Properties gained 5 cents to close at $15.95 with 3,730 shares changing hands. Kingston Wharves closed at $32.36, with gains of $1.35 while exchanging 694 units, Mayberry Investments lost 5 cents to close at $4.70 with trades of 20,638 shares, NCB Financial Group gained 50 cents, closing at $62.40 after exchanging 2,216,545 shares, 138 Student Living traded 787,300 units at $4.49, Pan Jamaican closed 61 cents lower at $35 with 1,000,860 shares changing owners. Portland JSX slid 90 cents trading 700 units to close at $10 , Radio Jamaica closed at $1.60 with an exchange of 1,422,991 units, Sagicor Group closed at $33, after falling by $1 with 544,295 shares changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 51 cents to close at $10.51, with 1,480 shares traded, Scotia Group climbed $1.39 to close at $40, with 258,220 units traded, Scotia Investments jumped $3.15 to $39.20 in exchanging 12,000 shares, Supreme Ventures closed at $6.35, with trades of 16,521 shares. Margaritaville Turks gained 3 US cents to close at 26.01 US cents trading 3,400 units, Proven Investments closed at 30 US cents trading 19,950 ordinary shares and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.05, with an exchange of 1,147,989 units.

Juniors rise moderately – Friday

Honey Bun traded 2.5M shares on the Junior Market on Friday.

The junior market volume and value of stocks trading fell sharply on Friday, from Thursday high but Honey Bun with 2.5 million units and Lasco Manufacturing with 2.6 million shares accounted for the bulk of trading.
At the close, the market index gained 17.40 points, to end at 3,038.94 with 19 securities changing hands, down from 21 on Thursday with 7 advancing and 5 declining. The market closed with 5,586,153 units valued at $33,901,745 passing through the market, compared to 16,784,123 units valued at $127,813,133 that were traded on Thursday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 294,008 units for an average value of $1,784,302 traded, compared to 839,206 units for an average value of $6,390,657 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date is 306,561 units and $2,229,811. The average volume and value for the month to the previous trading day ended at 309,700 units and $2,341,189. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 6 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 2 ending with lower offers, than the last traded price.
At the close of the market on Friday, AMG Packaging lost 11 cents to close at $5.50 with 37,000 units changing hands, Blue Power traded 6,053 units to close at $35, CAC 2000 gained 18 cents and closed at $7.45 with 10,000 shares trading, Cargo Handlers traded 500 shares to end with a gain of 5 cents at $21, Caribbean Cream traded 58,505 units to end at $7.30, Caribbean Producers traded 130,026 units to end at $3.75, Consolidated Bakeries lost 9 cents with 12,398 shares changing hands, to close at $2.91, C2W Music had 6,000 units changing hands to close at 25 cents, Honey Bun had 2,511,007 shares changing hands to close at $7.30, I$P Finance traded 20,100 shares to end with a rise of $1.50 at an all-time high of $15.50, Jamaican Teas lost 10 cents with 24,456 shares being exchanged, to close at $7.40, Jetcon Corporation lost 4 cents to end at $11.85 with 4,332 shares traded, Key Insurance traded 120,000 shares and fell 1 cent in closing at $3, Lasco Distributors ended with just 9,656 units trading at $6.80, Lasco Financial gained 5 cents and ended with 12,427 shares changing hands at $3.85, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 2,600,300 units changing hands at $4.99 after rising 19 cents, Main Event lost 54 cents trading 10,693 shares at $5.20, Medical Disposables closed trading with 9,500 shares at $6 and Paramount Trading closed with a gain of 10 cents to end a $3.70 with 3,200 units trading.

AMG leads Juniors on Thursday

AMG Packaging lead the Junior Market with 10 m shares on Thursday.

The Junior Market volume and value of stocks trading jumped sharply on Thursday, with AMG Packaging accounting for 10 million units and Lasco Financial 4 million shares. The market index dropped 23.44 points, to end at 3,021.54 with 21 securities changing hands, down from 22 on Wednesday with 5 advancing and 7 declining.
Trading fell back on Thursday from Wednesday’s levels, with a volume of 16,784,123 units valued at $127,813,133 passing through the market, compared to 1,676,664 units valued at $10,468,019 that were traded on Wednesday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 839,206 units for an average value of $6,390,657 traded, compared to 79,841 units for an average value of $498,477 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date is 309,700 units and $2,341,189. The average volume and value for the month to the previous trading day ended at 133,197 units and $961,366. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 4 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and none ending with a lower offer, than the last traded price.
At the close of the market on Thursday, Access Financial Services gained 25 cents to close at $34.25 in trading traded 1,831 units, AMG Packaging rose by 12 cents to close at $5.61 with 10,000,000 units changing hands, Blue Power traded 500 units to close at $35, CAC 2000 shed 73 cents and closed at $7.27 with 29,360 shares trading, Cargo Handlers traded 2,492 shares to end with a gain of 85 cents at $20.95, Caribbean Cream traded 13,645 units to end at $7.30, Caribbean Producers traded 10,000 units to end at $3.75, Consolidated Bakeries lost 10 cents with 9,127 shares changing hands, to close at $3, C2W Music had 75,230 units changing hands to close at 25 cents, Derrimon Trading gained 20 cents and ended at a new high of $8.70 with 1,063 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove ended at $20 with 6,611 shares trading. Honey Bun had 5,245 shares changing hands to close at $7.30, I$P Finance traded 2,990 shares to end with a rise of 50 cents at an all-time high of $14, Jamaican Teas had 26,558 shares being exchanged to close at $7.50, Jetcon Corporation lost 1 cent to end at $11.89 with 10,660 shares being exchanged, Knutsford Express traded just 1,209,000 shares and fell $2 in closing at $40, Lasco Distributors ended with 151,076 units trading at $6.80 after losing by 9 cents, Lasco Financial ended with 4,019,937 shares changing hands at $3.80, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 1,180,858 units changing hands at $4.80 after losing 28 cents and Medical Disposables lost 50 cents in trading 27,940 shares to close at $6.

RJR in big trade on Thursday

Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Thursday with Radio Jamaica trading 90 million shares to be the market leader as the market close with 27 securities changing hands with 1 trading in the US dollar market. In both markets, 10 stocks advanced and 11 declined.
Trading levels in main market ended at 93,827,780 units valued at $320,466,964 compared to 2,784,846 units valued at $79,404,060 at the close on Wednesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 117,700 units valued at US$35,310.
The All Jamaica Composite Index dropped 2,681.25 points to close at 245,424.71 the JSE Market Index dived 2,442.92 points to finish at 223,609.72 and the JSE US dollar market index lost 6 points to close at 216.59.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
The main market ended trading with an average of 3,475,103 units valued at an average of $11,869,147 compared to an average of 107,109 units on Wednesday carrying a value of $3,054,002 per security traded. The average volume for the month to date ended at 938,424 units with an average value of $4,736,206 versus 92,865 units with a value of $4,736,206 per traded security on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for March ended at 549,909 units and $1,379,459.
In market activity, Barita Investments gained 14 cents to close at $7 trading 1,000 shares, Berger Paints closed at $12.30, gaining 25 cents with an exchange of 1,899 shares, Cable and Wireless closed at $1.28 with 28,579 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement closed $1.80 lower to $30 with trades of 45,707 units. Carreras declined $1.98 to $70.02 with 11,300 shares exchanged, Grace Kennedy advanced $2.35 to $43.85, with 450,200 units traded, Jamaica Broilers closed with trades of 6,000 shares at $16.50, Jamaica Producers closed at $15, with 252,433 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 20 cents to close at $7.20, with an exchange of 3,000 units. JMMB Group added 50 cents to close at $19 trading 72,773 units, Kingston Properties closed 10 cents lower to $15.90 with an exchange of 2,079 shares, Kingston Wharves closed at $31.01, with a loss of $2.48 exchanging 6,300 units, Mayberry Investments gained 15 cents to close at $4.75 with trades of 21,984 shares, NCB Financial Group lost 10 cents, closing at $61.90 after exchanging 1,862,138 shares, 1834 Investments gained 9 cents to close at $1.54 trading 1,000 units, 138 Student Living traded 2,300 units at $4.49, Pan Jamaican closed $1.46 higher at $35.61 with 35,233 shares changing ownership. Portland JSX gained 90 cents trading 100 units to close at $10.90, Pulse Investments traded 1,000 shares at $8, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.60, losing 29 cents with an exchange of 90,043,125 units, Sagicor Group closed at $34, with 716,534 shares changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 30 cents to close at $10, with 4,500 shares traded, Scotia Group declined $1.39 to $38.61 trading 126,722 units, Scotia Investments tumbled $3.45 to close at $36.05 exchanging 101,100 shares, Seprod lost 30 cents, closing at $39.70 with 3,000 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures closed at $6.35, with gains of 34 cents exchanging 23,758 shares. Proven lost US 1 cent trading 117,700 ordinary shares to close at 30 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.05, with an exchange of 4,016 units.

Juniors fall moderately – Wednesday

The junior market index dropped 10.57 points on Wednesday, to end at 3,044.98 with 21 securities changing hands, down from 22 on Tuesday with 6 advancing and 10 declining.
Trading fell back on Wednesday from Tuesday’s levels, with a volume of 1,676,664 units valued at $10,468,019 passing through the market, compared to 2,082,552 units valued at $21,125,705 that were traded on Tuesday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 79,841 units for an average value of $498,477 traded, compared to 94,661 units for an average value of $960,259 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date is 133,197 units and $961,366. The average volume and value for the month to the previous trading day ended at 159,875 units and $1,237,810. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 5 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and just 1 ending with a lower offer, than the last traded price.
At the close of the market on Wednesday, AMG Packaging shed 62 cents to close at $5.48 with 153,832 units changing hands, Blue Power traded 6,503 units to close at $35, CAC 2000 gained 15 cents and closed at $8 with 16,745 shares trading, Cargo Handlers traded 347 shares to end at $20.10, Caribbean Cream traded 3,000 units to end with a rise of 4 cents at $7.30, Caribbean Producers fell 25 cents in trading 158,064 units to end at $3.75, Derrimon Trading fell by 10 cents and ended at a new high of $8.50 with 1,800 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove ended at $20 with 114,585 shares trading. General Accident traded 900 shares and gained 10 cents to end at $3.15, Honey Bun had 5,491 shares changing hands and lost 20 cents to close at $7.30, I$P Finance traded 10,000 shares to end with a rise of 75 cents at an all-time high of $13.50, Jamaican Teas lost 25 cents in trading 1,095 shares to close at $7.50, Jetcon Corporation fell 20 cents to end at $11.90 with 10,977 shares being exchanged, KLE Group traded 2,413 units at $3.50, Lasco Distributors ended with 3,290 units trading at $6.89 after losing by 1 cent, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 1,111,790 units changing hands with a rise of 8 cents to end at $5.08, Main Event jumped 74 cents and closed at an all-time high of $5.74 with 10,113 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables traded 25,015 shares to close at $6.50, Paramount Trading shed 15 cents with 25,075 shares changing hands, to close at $3.60 and tTech traded 10,629 units to fall 49 cents and closed at $7.

JSE majors in big drop on Wednesday

Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with sharp fall in the indices as prices continue to swing in either direction. At the close 27 securities changed hands including 1 trading in the US dollar market. At the close of trading, 10 stocks advanced and 12 declined in the main market.
Trading levels in main market ended at 2,784,846 units valued at $79,404,060 compared to 2,777,139 units valued at $49,314,132 at the close on Tuesday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 58,000 units valued at US$17,945.
The All Jamaica Composite Index dropped 1,831.35 points to close at 248,105.96 the JSE Market Index fell sharply by 1,668.57 points to finish at 226,052.64 but the JSE US dollar market index gained 6 points to close at 222.59.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 107,109 units valued at 3,054,002 compared to an average of 106,813 units carrying an average value of $1,896,697 on Tuesday. The average volume for the month to date ended at 92,865 units with an average value of $2,358,559 versus 85,743 units with an average value of $2,010,837 on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for March ended at 549,909 units and $8,925,067.
In market activity, Barita Investments gained 1 cent to close at $6.86 with trades of 108,947 shares, Berger Paints closed at $12.05, losing 10 cents with an exchange of 21,661 shares, Cable and Wireless closed 7 cents lower at $1.28 with 92,912 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement closed at $31.80, with gains of 80 cents trading 12,184 units. Carreras closed at $72 with 10,962 shares being exchanged, Grace Kennedy tumbled $1.75 to $41.50, with 30,568 units traded, Jamaica Broilers gained 49 cents to close at $16.50 exchanging 82,604 shares, Jamaica Producers closed $1 lower to $15, with trades of 122,336 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $7, losing 95 cents with an exchange of 384,712 units. JMMB Group added 24 cents to close at $18.50, with 8,392 units changing hands, Kingston Properties closed at $16 trading 1,035 shares, Kingston Wharves closed at $33.49, with gains of $2.49 and an exchange of 21,155 units, Mayberry Investments lost 5 cents to close at $4.60 with trades of 12,244 shares, NCB Financial Group added $1, closing at $62 after exchanging 318,152 shares, 1834 Investments lost 3 cents to close at $1.45 trading 15,888 units, 138 Student Living lost 1 cent to close at $4.49, with an exchange of 1,246 units, Pan Jamaican closed 85 cents lower to $34.15 with 91,726 shares traded. Pulse Investments traded 10,105 shares at $8, Radio Jamaica gained 4 cents to close at $1.89 while trading 73,739 units, Sagicor Group closed at $34, with a loss of 52 cents trading 1,043,448 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund added 30 cents, closing at $10.30 with 5,044 shares changing hands, Scotia Group advanced $1.29 cents to $40 trading 196,692 units, Seprod lost 50 cents to close at $40, with 44,200 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures closed at $6.01, with a loss of 34 cents while swapping 68,195 shares. Proven traded 58,500 ordinary shares at 30.95 US cents, for a gain of almost 1 cent, JMMB 7.5% preference share closed at $2 with trades of 204 units and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.05, with an exchange of 6,495 units.

Juniors rise moderately – Tuesday

The junior market index rose 13.19 points on Tuesday, to end at 3,055.55 with 22 securities changing hands, up from 19 on Monday with 12 advancing and 5 declining.
Trading fell back on Tuesday from Monday’s levels, with a volume of 2,082,552 units valued at $21,125,705 passing through the market, compared to 4,276,697 units valued at $28,791,862 that were traded on Monday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 94,661 units for an average value of $960,259 traded, compared to 225,089 units for an average value of $1,515,361 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 159,875 units and $1,237,810. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 5 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 3 ending with lower offers, than the last traded price.
At the close of the market on Tuesday, AMG Packaging gained 10 cents to close at $6.10 with 113,640 units changing hands, CAC 2000 closed at $7.85 with 6,890 shares trading, Cargo Handlers traded 8,000 shares but fell 90 cents to end at $20.10, Caribbean Cream traded 5,276 units to end with a rise of 1 cent at $7.26, Caribbean Producers climbed 25 cents in trading 2,029 units to end at $4, C2W lost 5 cents to end at 25 cents with 40,000 shares changing hands, Derrimon Trading rose by 10 cents and ended at a new high of $8.60 with 15,423 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove ended at $20 with 2,370 shares trading to gain $2. General Accident traded 2,500 shares and fell 10 cents to end at $3.05, Honey Bun had 39,797 shares changing hands and gained 20 cents to close at $7.50, Jamaican Teas traded 11,971 shares to close at $7.75, Jetcon Corporation rose 10 cents to end at $12.10 with 1,408,900 shares being exchanged, KLE Group traded 20,545 units and rose 20 cents to $3.50, Lasco Distributors ended with 22,400 units trading at $6.90 after losing by 10 cents, Lasco Financial rose 20 cents, with 115,225 shares changing hands, to end at $3.80, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 70,000 units changing hands at $5, Main Event slipped 10 cents and closed at $5 with 14,141 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables traded 29,766 shares to close at $6.50 after rising 50 cents, Paramount Trading gained 15 cents with 11,835 shares changing hands, to close at $3.75. tTech traded 22,487 units to gain 9 cents and closed at $7.49, Derrimon Trading preference share traded 117,687 units at $2.11 with a rise of 1 cents and Eppley 10% preference share traded a mere 1,670 units at $6.80.

Juniors make big gains – Monday

Lasco Distributors dominated trading on Monday.

The junior market index surged 45.33 points on Monday, to end at 3,042.36 as 19 securities changed hands, up from 15 on Friday with 7 advancing and 4 declining.
Trading picked up on Monday over Friday, with Lasco Distributor dominating with 78 percent of the volume of 4,276,697 units valued at $28,791,862 passing through the market, compared to 1,607.606 units valued at $11,124,439 that were traded on Friday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 225,089 units for an average value of $1,515,361 traded, compared to 107,174 units for an average value of $741,629 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for March was 137,459 units and $1,313,411.
Trading ended with 10 stocks having bids higher than their last sale prices and 2 ending with lower offers, than the last sale price.
At the close of the market on Monday, AMG Packaging closed at $6 with 12,960 units changing hands, Blue Power closed at $35 with 288 shares trading, Caribbean Cream traded 16,799 units to end at $7.25, Caribbean Producers climbed 8 cents in trading 25,870 units to end at $3.75, Consolidated Bakeries gained 20 cents to end at $3.20 with 5,100 shares changing hands, Honey Bun had 11,854 shares changing hands and lost 20 cents to close at $7.30. I$P Finance traded 6,950 shares to end at an all-time high of $12.75, Jamaican Teas traded 2,738 shares to close with a fall of 24 cents at $7.75, Jetcon Corporation rose $1 to end at $12 with 15,000 shares being exchanged, KLE Group traded 3,300 units and rose 25 cents to $3.30, Knutsford Express traded 530 shares to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $42, Lasco Distributors ended with 3,330,287 units trading at $7 after rising by 30 cents, Lasco Manufacturing closed with 692,870 units changing hands at $5, Main Event closed with a rise of 20 cents at $5.10 with 5,798 shares changing hands, Medical Disposables traded 103,417, shares to close at $6, Paramount Trading lost 20 cents with 21,000 shares changing hands, to close at $3.60. tTech traded just 2,660 units but fell 10 cents to close at $7.40, Eppley 9.5% preference share traded 17,881 units at $6.02 with a fall of 2 cents and Eppley 10% preference share traded a mere 1,395 units at $6.80.

Juniors up15.5% in Q1

Lasco Distributors dominated trading on Friday with 88% of the volume.

The junior market index inched higher by 5.39 points on Friday, to end at 2,997.03 with gains of 15.5 percent for the first quarter, over December’s close, but down 3 percent for February.
Trading picked up on Friday over Thursday with Lasco Distributor dominating with 88 percent of the volume of 1,607.606 units valued at $11,124,439 passing through the market, compared to 243,100 units valued at $4,441,436 on Thursday. Market activity ended with only 15 securities trading, similar to the total on Thursday with 4 advancing and 5 declining stocks. A total of 1,607.606 units valued at $11,124,439 passed through the market, compared to 243,100 units valued at $4,441,436 on Thursday.
The junior market ended trading with an average of 107,174 units for an average value of $741,629 traded, compared to 16,207 units for an average value of $296,096 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 137,459 units and $1,313,411. On the immediate preceding trading day, the average volume and value for the month to date, were 138,835 units and $1,338,271 with the value of trading ending close to the level for February and well ahead of the averages in January of 165,547 units with an average value of $884,749. The average volume and value for February, ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
Trading ended with 7 stocks had bids higher than their last sale prices and 5 ended with lower offers, than the last sale.
At the close of the market on Friday, AMG Packaging closed at $6 with 30,554 units changing hands, Blue Power lost $1.50 and closed at $35 with 827 shares trading, Caribbean Cream dropped 65 cents in trading 19,770 units to end at $7.25, Caribbean Flavours climbed $1.80 in trading 3,950 units to end at $13.80, Dolphin Cove lost $1 and ended at $18 with 40,000 shares changing hands, General Accident gained 35 cents and closed trading with 7,075 shares at $3.15, Honey Bun had 26,764 shares changing hands, rose 20 cents and closed at $7.50. I$P Finance traded 5,681 shares to end at $12.50, Jamaican Teas traded 27,505 shares to close with a fall of 24 cents at $7.75, Jetcon Corporation closed trading with 2,100 shares being exchanged, to end at $11, Lasco Distributors ended with 1,418,780 units trading at $6.70, Main Event closed with a loss of 10 cents at $4.90 with 3,400 shares changing hands, Paramount Trading had 20,100 shares changing hands, to close at $3.80. tTech traded just 1,000 units but rose $1.23 to close at $7.50 and Eppley 10% preference share traded a mere 100 units at $6.80.

JSE majors climb on Friday

JMMB Group advanced $1.75 on Friday.

Prices mostly rose on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Thursday with trading in 23 securities while 1 security traded in the US dollar market. The markets closed with 12 stocks advancing and 5 declining.
Trading levels in main market ended at 2,632,291 units valued at $48,121,246 compared to 38,096,270 units valued at $284,292,036 at the close on Thursday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 218,885 units valued at US$65,666.
The All Jamaica Composite Index advanced 1,099.69 points to close at 245,670.39 the JSE Market Index gained 1,001.94 points to finish at 223,833.57 and the JSE US dollar market index closed at 216.59.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
The main market ended trading with an average of 106,584 units compared to an average of 1,670,779 units on Thursday. The average volume for the month to date ended at 549,909 units versus 571,020 units on the prior trading day. The average volume and value for February ended at 223,938 units and $1,379,459.
In market activity, Berger Paints traded at $12.50, gaining 50 cents with 22,148 shares being exchanged, Cable and Wireless lost 2 cents, closing at $1.25 with trades of 645,489 units, Caribbean Cement closed $1 higher to $32 with 360 units changing hands. Carreras traded 322 shares at $74, Grace Kennedy lost $1.25 to end at $41.75, with 16,424 units traded, Jamaica Broilers gained 45 cents trading 116,679 shares to close at $16.35, Jamaica Producers lost 10 cents to close at $15 with trades of 50,950 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $7, for a loss of 95 cents with an exchange of 161,347 units. JMMB Group advanced $1.75 to close at $18.24, with 460,276 units traded, Kingston Properties traded 460 units at $16.35, Kingston Wharves closed at $32 trading 100 units, Mayberry Investments closed at $4.65 with trades of 24,586 shares, NCB Financial Group gained 80 cents to close at $61.80, after exchanging 88,020 shares, Pan Jamaican gained 48 cents, closing at $35 with 24,845 shares changing hands. Sagicor Group closed at $34.10, with a 9 cent gain and trades of 507,637 shares, Sagicor Real Estate fund gained 9 cents, closing at $10.59 with 66,809 shares exchanged, Salada Foods closed at $8, for a loss of $1 trading 3,560 units, Scotia Group added $1.02 to close at $39 with trades of 239,965 units, Seprod closed at $39, after adding $1 and exchanging 10,000 shares, Supreme Ventures added 9 cents, closing at $6.08 while trading 79,472 shares. Proven Investments traded 218,885 ordinary shares at 30 US cents, JMMB 7.25% preference share closed at $2 with an exchange of 92,740 units and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.08 with 102 units changing owners.