Sizable gains in a few stocks and very small price changes in the majority of stocks declining helped move the major market indices higher, at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday after an exchange of 57 percent more shares with values almost doubling Wednesday levels.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 3,030.64 points to 422,427.29, the Main Index advanced by 2,742.58 points to 385,379.33 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.83 points to settle at 98.76.
Trading ended with 40 securities changing hands compared to 44 on Wednesday and closed with 12 stocks rising, 15 declining with 12 losing 5 cents or less and 13 closing unchanged. The PE Ratio closed with an average of 16.6 based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 9,368,496 shares for $83,242,802 compared to 5,962,706 units at $43,631,865 on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 27.8 percent of total volume for 2.6 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 21.1 percent for 1.98 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 11.2 percent market share for 1.05 million units changing hands.
Trading for the day averaged 234,212 units at $2,081,070 for each security, compared to an average of 135,516 shares at $991,633 on Wednesday. The month to date averaged 313,511 units at $1,254,396, in contrast to 317,481 units at $1,213,011 on Wednesday. Trading in December averaged 455,206 units at $7,774,631.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Caribbean Cement lost 49 cents to close at $64.50, after exchanging 6,121 shares, First Rock Capital finished at $12.70, with a loss of 30 cents trading 37,257 stock units, Grace Kennedy climbed $6 to $73.50 while transferring 25,070 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 70 cents to settle at $19.20, after crossing the exchange with 9,400 stock units, Pan Jam Investment advanced by $2 to $70, with the swapping of 1,181 units, Sagicor Group closed $1.24 higher at $48.99, in exchanging 12,799 stocks.
Salada Foods rose $1 to end at $34, with 130,075 shares changing hands, Scotia Group gained 50 cents to end at $43 trading 47,495 stock units and Wisynco Group rose 50 cents to $16.50, with an exchange of 190,585 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading ended with four securities, compared to five on Wednesday and ended with the prices of one stock rising, three declining and none closing unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with a lower offer. At the close of the market, First Rock Capital Investments gained 0.05 of a cent to close at 8.75 US cents after switching ownership of 227 units, Proven Investments lost 0.01 of a cent to close at 26.99 US cents in trading 39,479 units. Sygnus Credit Investments declined 0.05 of a cent to close at 16.2 US cents, with 24,700 units crossing the exchange and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.03 of a cent to close at 0.96 of a US cent with 17,097 units clearing the market.
L.J Williams B share fell 5 cents to $1.40 in exchanging one stock unit, Massy Holdings gained 1 cent in closing at $60.45 while exchanging 7,172 units, National Flour Mills gained 11 cents to end at $2.50 with the swapping of 13,931 stocks. NCB Financial Group stayed at $8.50 while exchanging 9,752 shares, One Caribbean Media advanced 10 cents to $4.85 in trading 1,000 stock units, Prestige Holdings lost 1 cent to close at $7.99 exchanging 1,855 stock units. Republic Financial Holdings carved out a loss 15 cents to close at $136, with 19,000 stock units crossing the market, Scotiabank closed at $57 trading 11,663 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 1 cent to close at $15.29, with 8,325 stocks crossing the market. Unilever Caribbean closed at $16.70, with the swapping of 179 stock units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $35.40 after 8,821 stock units crossed the exchange.
Lumber Depot was second-largest volume trader with 5.6 percent of the day’s trade for 963,551 units and Jamaican Teas rounded out the top three with 5.3 percent market share and the trading of 918,783 shares as investors continue their appetite for these stocks.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Limners and Bards dropped 12 cents to $2.58 with 81,825 stocks changing hands, Lumber Depot exchanged 963,551 units and climbed 26 cents to settle at $2.05, Medical Disposables fell 20 cents to $4 with 8,000 shares passing through the market. Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 24 cents to $4.54 with 8,000 units traded and tTech jumped 63 cents to $4.77 and finished with 20,887 shares crossing the exchange.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 41 percent of total volume for 2.45 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 22.7 percent for 1.35 million units and Wigton Windfarm with 9 percent market share, with 533,829 units changing hands.
Pan Jam Investment advanced by $2 to $68, with 4,690 stocks changing hands, Scotia Group declined $1.50 to end at $42.50 trading 28,644 shares. Supreme Ventures rose 34 cents to close at $17.25 and finishing with an exchange of 31,430 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments ended 30 cents higher at $16.40, after crossing the market with 10,730 stocks.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital Investment climbed 0.7 of a cent to close at 8.7 US cents with 14,000 shares changing hands, Proven Investments ended at 27 US cents while exchanging 6,095 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments shed 0.24 of a cent to close at 16.25 US cents in switching ownership of 83,316 units. Transjamaican Highway climbed 0.08 of a cent to end at 0.99 US cents 811,111 stock units crossed the market and in the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share remained at US$1.96 in trading 100 shares.
Trading ended with 18 securities changing hands compared to 19 on the previous trading day, with the prices of six stocks rising, four declining and eight remaining unchanged.
National Enterprises stayed at $3.20, with 5,010 units clearing the market, National Flour Mills dropped 11 cents to close at $2.39, with ownership of 150 stocks switching, NCB Financial Group rose 15 cents to $8.50 after trading of 25 shares. Republic Financial Holdings climbed 15 cents to $136.15 while exchanging 36 stock units, Scotiabank settled at $57 with 1,403 stocks clearing the market, Trinidad & Tobago NGL carved out a loss 65 cents to close at $15.30 with 1,267 units changing hands. Trinidad Cement stayed at $3.75 with 50 shares crossing the market and West Indian Tobacco increased 1 cent to close at $35.40 while exchanging 9,896 stock units.
Guardian Media remained at $3.25 trading 110 units, Massy Holdings dropped 10 cents to $60.40, in trading 1,399 shares, National Flour Mills lost 10 cents to close at $2.50 after 100 stocks changed hands. NCB Financial Group rose 4 cents to $8.35, with 4,000 shares crossing the market, One Caribbean Media closed at $4.75 trading 800 units, Republic Financial Holdings dropped 18 cents to close at $136 while exchanging 108,504 stock units. Scotiabank closed at $57, with 18,990 shares changing hands, Trinidad & Tobago NGL shed 4 cents to close at $15.95 after exchanging 24,027 units, Trinidad Cement ended at $3.75 after 7,025 shares crossed the market. Unilever Caribbean remained at $16.70 in exchanging 58 stocks and West Indian Tobacco declined 1 cent to $35.39 in switching ownership of 11,044 shares.
Trading averaged 252,025 units at $1,384,475 for each security, compared to an average of 683,391 shares at $1,732,445 on Monday. The month to date averaged 328,085 units at $1,225,912, in contrast to 333,020 units at $1,215,624 on Monday. Trading in December averaged 455,206 units at $7,774,631.
Sagicor Group rose 85 cents to $47.50, with 156,219 units crossing the market, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 70 cents to close at $8.95 trading 500 stocks, Salada Foods fell $3 to $33, with 966 stock units changing hands. Scotia Group fell 50 cents to $44 after the transferring of 20,375 units and Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $16.10, with a loss of $1.80 136,520 stock units changing hands.
Trading ended with 37 securities changing hands compared to 32 on Monday and ended with the prices of 13 rising, 15 declining and nine remaining unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
Limners and Bards lost 5 cents to end at $2.70 with a transfer of 194,451 stocks, Lumber Depot exchanged 1,789,149 units and fell 11 cents to close at $1.79,Mailpac Group gained 5 cents to end at $3.85 with 761,818 stock units passing through the market. Main Event rose 9 cents to $3.24 with 6,300 shares changing hands, Paramount Trading rose 4 cents to $1.44 with a transfer of 2,004 units, Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 20 cents to $4.30 with 4,800 stocks traded and Tropical Battery closed 1 cent higher at $1.10 with 675,081 shares crossing the exchange.
