Trading on Wednesday, resulting in an almost even split between rising and declining stocks on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market after the volume of shares exchanged was marginally lower than on Tuesday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,881.19 points to settle at 424,217.88, the Main Index climbed 1,702.34 points to 387,217.88 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.44 points to close at 100.64.
Trading ended with 48 securities changing hands compared to 46 on Tuesday and ended with prices of 20 stocks rising, 21 declining and seven ending unchanged. The PE Ratio closed with an average of 16.9 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market saw trading of 24,549,135 shares for $140,421,055 down from 24,954,720 units at $310,333,709 on Tuesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 44.7 percent of total volume after trading 10.98 million shares, followed by Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 25.5 percent for 6.27 million units, Transjamaican Highway 8.7 percent market share with 2.14 million units, QWI Investments 5.6 percent with 1.4 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund 4.7 percent market share with 1.15 million units.
Trading on Wednesday averaged 511,440 units at $2,925,439 for each security, compared to an average of 542,494 shares at $6,746,385 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averaged 372,792 units at $6,952,207 for each security, in contrast to 363,405 units at $7,224,823 on the prior trading day. November ended with an average of 623,120 units at $6,686,047.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments carved out a gain of 57 cents to close at $83.97, with an exchange of 53,075 shares, Berger Paints lost 55 cents in ending at $14, with 2,926 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Cement climbed $5 to $62 with 19,192 units clearing the market. Carreras gained 41 cents to close at $7, trading 615,139 stocks, with the bid at $7.10, to purchase 256,243 shares at the close, Eppley fell $3.90 to end at $25 in exchanging 11,000 shares. Grace Kennedy jumped $7.52 to close at $70.52 with 175,952 shares crossing the exchange, but 175,952 units of the stock were offered for sale at $63.85 at the close. Jamaica Broilers rose $2.74 to $28.99 in switching ownership of 37,777 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 40 cents to close at $19.80, with 1,758 stock units changing hands. Kingston Wharves declined by $1.09 to $45.80 after exchanging 385 units, Mayberry Investments increased 38 cents to $6.15 in trading 12,925 stock units, NCB Financial shed $4.97 in ending at $140 with 128,875 stocks crossing the exchange. 138 Student Living increased 51 cents in closing at $4.86 and exchanging 1,838 shares, Palace Amusement rose $100 to $1300 after exchanging 16 units, Portland JSX climbed $1.50 to $9.50 exchanging 800 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 47 cents to close at $7.75, with 6,265,503 stocks crossing the exchange. Salada Foods climbed $5.72 to $28.74 in an exchange of one share, Scotia Group increased $2.49 to $45 in trading 703,239 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 90 cents to $16.90 while trading 21,929 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.