Trading activity on Wednesday could not match the heady trading levels resulting from the dominant trade by Barita Investments on Tuesday. The volume of shares trading on Wednesday dropped 63 percent and the value 96 percent from Tuesday’s levels, helping the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market to close higher for a fourth consecutive day.
Fifty two securities traded, up from 49 on Tuesday, with 15 rising, 23 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.8 based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 3,488.35 points to 452,100.44, the JSE Main Index jumped 2,700.82 points to 410,898.90 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.89 points to end at 100.72.
A total of 18,954,825 shares traded at $169,922,552 from 50,863,279 units at $4,450,256,298 on Tuesday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led the market, with 28.3 percent of total volume in exchanging 5.37 million shares followed by Pulse Investments 20.5 percent with 3.89 million units, Transjamaican Highway 14.3 percent with 2.71 million shares, Wigton Windfarm 11.4 percent with 2.17 million units and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 5.6 percent after trading 1.07 million units.
Trading averages 364,516 units at $3,267,741, down from 1,038,026 shares at $90,821,557 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 334,642 units at $7,489,764, compared to 333,105 units at $7,706,920 on Tuesday. August closed with an average of 480,039 units at $8,561,549.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments spiked $4.99, ending at a record close of $106.99 in exchanging 594,219 stocks, Eppley gained 50 cents to finish at $39.50 with 454 stock units crossing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 96 cents to close at $43.95 in switching ownership of 23,576 units. First Rock Capital gained 60 cents in closing at $12.90 after trading 8,091 shares, Jamaica Broilers shed 99 cents to $32 with the swapping of 15,304 stocks, Jamaica Producers lost 28 cents to end at $22.70 with 1,306 shares crossing the exchange. Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped 29 cents to close at $16.85 in switching ownership of 7,067 stock units, JMMB Group fell 45 cents to $37.70 in an exchange of 216,455 units, Kingston Wharves popped 95 cents to $45 after three stocks cleared the market. 138 Student Living shed 54 cents to $4.51 with the swapping of 897 shares, Palace Amusement dropped $19 in closing at $1,030 after trading 71 units, Proven Investments shed 59 cents ending at $32.16 with 6,024 stock units changing hands. Pulse Investments gained 23 cents to close at $4.93 with an exchange of 3,890,553 shares, Sagicor Group advanced $2 to $56 in transferring 152,988 stocks, Scotia Group declined 60 cents to end at $38.40 in switching ownership of 85,570 units. Seprod lost 20 cents to close at $63.10 with 120,483 shares crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments shed 35 cents to end at $15.50 after 49,632 stock units cleared the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% fell $1 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $19 with an exchange of 399 shares and Eppley 7.50% preference share declined $1.20 in closing at $6.80 with a transfer of 10,800 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.