Stocks trading on Thursday ended with the market enjoying a solid rise after more stocks declined than gained, with volume traded 36 percent higher and values climbing 133 percent than on Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 4,287.22 points to 436,237.85, the Main Index advanced by 3,845.10 points to 397,725.35 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.85 points to close at 99.80.
Trading ended with 42 active securities, down from 44 on Wednesday and closed with prices of 16 stocks rising, 19 declining and seven remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.6 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Investors traded 13,431,167 shares trading for $176,099,298 compared to 9,893,680 units at $75,718,501 on Wednesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 32.8 percent of total volume, after exchanging 4.39 million shares, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 30.8 percent for 4.14 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 10.5 percent market share for 1.41 million units.
Trading averaged 319,790 units at $4,192,840, compared to 224,856 shares at $1,720,875 on Wednesday. Month to date trading averaged 284,896 units at $2,472,382, versus 280,960 units at $2,273,025 on Wednesday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and nine with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments gained 20 cents to close at $81.50 trading 677,409 shares, Carreras rose 75 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $9 while exchanging 320,238 stocks. Ciboney Group declined 21 cents to 26 cents in trading 391,850 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed $1 to close at $41 with an exchange of 500 shares, First Rock Capital lost 39 cents to close at $15.86, with 20,093 stock units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers rose 90 cents to close at $30.40 with the swapping of 134,912 shares, Jamaica Producers ended 50 cents higher at $22 in transferring 20,716 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 69 cents ending at $18.85, with 8,729 units changing hands. Key Insurance finished 22 cents higher at $4.73 in trading 111,997 stock units, Kingston Wharves advanced 98 cents to $44.99 with an exchange of 4,888 units. Mayberry Investments fell 24 cents to $5.50 in switching ownership of 46,931 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed 40 cents in closing at $7.70, crossing the market with 7,332 stocks, Palace Amusement dropped $245 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $600 trading 265 stock units. PanJam Investment slipped 50 cents to $64.50 in exchanging 10,017 units, Proven Investments shed 85 cents ending at $33.71 in transferring 6,926 stocks. Sagicor Group fell 99 cents to $49, with 2,825 shares crossing the market, Salada Foods climbed $3.50 to $44.50 with the swapping of 2,533 stock units, Scotia Group advanced $1.49 to $44.49, with 60,614 shares clearing the market. Seprod climbed $4.80 to close at $75.80 trading 20,614 stocks, Sterling Investments lost 32 cents in settle at $2.65 in switching ownership of 13,369 units, Supreme Ventures shed 45 cents to end at $15.50 trading 16,743 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 54 cents to $14.99, with 33,181 shares crossing the market.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% shed 22 cents to close at $1.45 with 790 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.