Stocks prices gained on Monday, with the market rising for the tenth consecutive trading day as the market continues to build on its recent break from the triangular formation that constrained its upward movement up to recently. The market closed with the volume of shares exchanged dropping 44 percent with a 55 percent loss in value compared to Friday when trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended.
Trading was halted towards the original close after the trading platform encountered problems, closing market activity until minutes to 3 pm ahead of the close for the day.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 873.62 points to 443,164.19 but went as high as 445,002.01 in the early morning session. The Main Index advanced 804.80 points to 403,647.40 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.12 points to settle at 100.56.
Trading ended with 52 securities similar to Friday and closed with prices of 20 stocks rising, 16 declining and 16 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio closed, based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.1.
Investors traded 7,978,781 shares trading for $49,570,730 compared to 14,183,739 units at $110,730,479 on Friday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 24 percent of total volume for an exchange of 1.91 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 18.1 percent for 1.45 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 11.1 percent for 882,395 units.
Trading averaged 153,438 units at $953,283, down from 272,764 shares at $2,129,432 on Friday. Month to date trading averages 230,425 units at $1,514,180, in contrast to 235,024 units at $1,554,972 on Friday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement advanced $2.95 to close at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $75.95 with 196,318 shares crossing the market, Eppley ended $2.74 higher at $34.74 in switching ownership of 1,297 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $4 to $40 with 300 units crossing the exchange. Jamaica Producers rose 50 cents to close at $28.50 in the trading of 12,166 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 38 cents to finish at $17.99 in exchanging 23,230 stocks. JMMB Group shed 49 cents in ending at $32.50 finishing with a transfer at 39,539 shares Key Insurance fell 38 cents to $5.60 after an exchange of 268,004 stock units. Kingston Wharves lost 20 cents to end at $43.60 with 14,639 shares changing hands, Margaritaville finished $2 higher at $30 with the swapping of 2,736 units, Palace Amusement climbed $70 in closing at $940 in an exchange of 112 stocks, PanJam Investment advanced $3 to $66 after a transfer of 3,241 units, Pulse Investments lost 20 cents to close at $4.20 in switching ownership of 592,233 shares. 
Salada Foods gained 43 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.93 in the trading of 118,708 stock units. Scotia Group gained 60 cents to end at $42.50 after exchanging 53,675 units, Seprod fell 50 cents to $82 with the swapping of 6,856 stocks and Victoria Mutual Investments gained 52 cents to end at $6.45 with 254,746 stock units changing hands.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% shed 33 cents to close at $2.50 in trading 48 stocks and JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 lost 30 cents to close at $2.70 in exchanging 501 stock units.
In the corporate bond market, Guardian Holdings bond due 2025 traded 49,995,000 units and lost $3.01 to end at $101.28.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
A total of 52 securities traded, up from 49 on Thursday, with prices of 22 rising, 19 declining and 11 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.1.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has five stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Salada Foods picked up 30 cents to end at $6.50, with 174,920 shares changing hands, Scotia Group closed 34 cents higher at $41.90 after exchanging 27,609 stock units and Seprod fell 30 cents to $82.50 with 12,264 stock units changing hands.
Trading averaged 161,250 units at $1,642,104, compared to an average of 169,965 shares at $947,558 on Wednesday. Month to date trading averages 232,142 units at $1,509,917, in contrast to 238,879 units at $1,499,367 on Wednesday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Sagicor Group gained 50 cents to close at $50.50 in trading 8,039 shares, Salada Foods picked up 25 cents to settle at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.20 with the swapping of 96,977 stock units and Seprod declined $1.19 to $82.80 in switching ownership of 22,436 shares.
The market continues to get support for the upward rise, from three technical indicators, with one of the most powerful that suggests big gains from the channel that it has been trading in for months. It has broken out of the range and is heading for a new one.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 26.2 percent for 2.05 million shares, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 24.1 percent for 1.88 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 16 percent for 1.25 million units.
Proven Investments lost 39 cents to settle at $37.11 in the trading of 18,182 stocks, Salada Foods rose 65 cents to end at $5.95 with the swapping of 65,978 shares, Scotia Group shed 37 cents ending at $41.62 in transferring 8,910 stock units and Supreme Ventures rose 29 cents to close at $16.14 after 41,765 units crossed the market.
Trading averaged 359,225 units at $1,671,530, compared to 147,962 shares at $1,483,871 on Monday. Month to date trading averages 244,460 units at $1,544,056 in contrast to 232,625 units at $1,532,021 on Monday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Sagicor Group fell 49 cents to $50 with 16,629 shares changing hands, Scotia Group gained 34 cents to end at $41.99 in the transfer of 37,458 stock units, Seprod advanced $1.08 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $84 with the swapping of 127,859 shares, Stanley Motta rose 61 cents to finish at $5.91 after an exchange of 25,420 stock units. Supreme Ventures advanced $1.75 to $15.85, trading 104,384 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 50 cents in ending at $15 with an exchange of 74,006 stock units.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 351.51 points to 436,947.49, the JSE Main Index carved out a gain of 316.37 points to close at 398,063.87 and the JSE Financial Index advanced 0.16 points to 99.60.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 46.2 percent of total volume for 3.49 million shares, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 17.6 percent for 1.33 million units and Caribbean Cement with 6.8 percent for 513,466 units changing hands.
Sagicor Group gained 49 cents to close at $50.49 after exchanging 12,602 units, Seprod jumped $6.32 higher to a 52 weeks’ high of $82.92 with 8,914 stock units clearing the market. Supreme Ventures shed $1.90 in closing at $14.10 in the trading of 422,951 stocks and Victoria Mutual Investments gained 45 cents in ending at $5.78 with 58,944 units changing hands.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 833.77 points to 436,595.98, the JSE Main Index advanced 740.65 points to 397,747.50 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.54 points to settle at 99.44.
Trading averaged 329,212 units at $1,900,231, compared to 300,514 shares at $5,517,023 on Thursday. Month to date trading averages 242,960 units at $1,537,268, in contrast to 231,331 units at $1,496,747 on Thursday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Palace Amusement climbed $69 to close at $809 after trading 11 units, Portland JSX advanced 89 cents to $8 with investors switching ownership of 30,200 units, Proven Investments shed 70 cents in closing at $36 in an exchange of 10,779 stock units. Scotia Group lost 24 cents in closing at $41.75 in switching ownership of 89,361 shares. Seprod rose $1.10 to end at $76.60 after 12,053 stocks crossed the exchange, Supreme Ventures gained 49 cents to close at $16 with a transfer of 38,806 shares and Wisynco Group rose 73 cents to $15.83 in the swapping of 36,486 units.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 375.09 points to 435,762.21, the JSE Main Index rose 322.43 points to 397,006.85, and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.36 points to end at 99.98.
Trading averaged 300,514 units at $5,517,023, compared to an average of 210,851 shares at $842,358 on Wednesday. Month to date trading averages 231,680 units at $1,486,157, in contrast to 223,508 units at $1,007,558 on Wednesday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Salada Foods gained 35 cents ending at $5.20 with an exchange of 5,775 stock units, Scotia Group closed 54 cents higher at $41.99 with the swapping of 2,624 shares, Seprod rose 50 cents to close at $75.50, trading 9,402 units and Supreme Ventures gained 49 cents and ended at $15.51 in the transfer of 52,263 shares.
Trading averaged 210,851 units at $842,358, compared to 196,468 shares at $1,276,968 on Tuesday. Month to date averages 223,508 units at $1,007,558, in contrast to 225,299 units at $1,030,945 on Tuesday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
NCB Financial advanced $2.96 to $142.95 after trading 23,531 shares, Palace Amusement dropped $19 to close at $795 in switching ownership of 72 stock units, Proven Investments rose 99 cents to end at $35.99 in the swapping of 245,561 stocks. Sagicor Group gained 60 cents to settle at $50.60 with 3,166 shares changing hands, Scotia Group picked up 44 cents to end at $41.45 trading 103,584 stock units and Seprod rose 50 cents to close at $75 in switching ownership of 10,543 shares.
Trading on Tuesday averaged 196,468 units at $1,276,968, compared to 419,047 shares at $1,015,390 on Monday. Month to date averages 225,299 units at $1,030,945, versus 230,411 units at $987,324 on Monday. March closed with an average of 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $1 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $128 in switching ownership of 199 units, NCB Financial Group climbed $2.98 to $139.99 trading 19,240 stock units, Proven Investments shed 50 cents to close at $35 in the swapping of 42,727 shares. Sagicor Group climbed $2.30 to $50, trading 18,739 units, Scotia Group advanced $1.01 to $41.01 with the transfer of 13,932 stock units. Seprod gained $1 to settle at $74.50 trading 20,144 stocks, Supreme Ventures fell $1 to $15.10 with 135,475 units changing hands and Victoria Mutual Investments ended 30 cents lower at $5.30 with 266,003 shares crossing the market.