Trading of stocks surged sharply on Friday, with the number of shares changing hands rising 426 percent and the value jumping 600 percent higher than on Thursday, at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as declining stocks just exceeded those advancing, helping to push the market into a higher finish than a week ago.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,669.64 points to 433,704.34, the JSE Main Index advanced 1,283.57 points to 392,230.29 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.45 points to end at 96.05. Trading ended with 4 securities against 50 on Thursday, with 17 rising, 18 declining and 13 trading unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.8. PE ratios for the JSE Main and USD Market are based on earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with financial years ending between the current year and August 2022.
Overall, 40,219,894 shares traded for $438,749,529 up from 7,647,957 units at $62,688,988 on Thursday. Caribbean Producers led trading with 77.9 percent of total volume after a transfer of 31.32 million shares, followed by Wigton Windfarm 6.9 percent for 2.76 million units, Wisynco Group 5 percent with 2.03 million units and Mayberry Jamaican Equities with 3.4 percent for 1.38 million shares changing hands.
Trading on Friday averaged 837,914 units at $9,140,615 versus 152,959 shares at $1,253,780 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 427,920 units at $5,353,555 compared to 371,370 units at $4,831,202 on Thursday. November closed with an average of 233,949 units at $2,695,416.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints dipped 44 cents to $12.76 with 1,009 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement popped 50 cents to close at $78.50 in exchanging 24,157 stocks, Caribbean Producers gained 35 cents in closing at $10.35 in swapping 31,319,726 units. First Rock Capital rose 55 cents to $10.60 in trading 19,942 stock units, GraceKennedy fell $1 to end at $98 with the swapping of 48,096 units, Guardian Holdings slipped $1 to $521 after exchanging 12 stock units. Jamaica Broilers advanced $1.05 to close at $31.05 with owners swapping 13,372 stocks, Jamaica Producers shed 40 cents in closing at $24 with 10,946 shares changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped 40 cents to $18.49 with a transfer of 6,824 shares. Kingston Wharves popped 50 cents after ending at $43.50 with 4,479 stocks crossing the exchange, Mayberry Investments fell 99 cents to $7.50 in an exchange of 2,325 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed 51 cents to settle at $8.50 with the swapping of 1,377,094 shares. Palace Amusement dropped $30 to end at $1,000 after trading 53 units, Sagicor Group shed $1 to close at $52 with an exchange of 64,397 stock units, Scotia Group rose 58 cents to $38.48 in transferring 42,472 shares. Seprod fell 69 cents in closing at $62.51 with 26,500 stocks changing hands and Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 50 cents to end at $15.50 after trading 83,428 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.