After two days of strong gains in the market indices, the market rose moderately on Thursday, with declining stocks just edging out those rising as 85 percent more funds changed hands than on Wednesday in moderate trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 187.57 points to 442,013.12, after hitting 443,387.95 just after midday. The Main Index rose 170.79 points to 402,637.35 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.06 points in settling at 100.22.
Trading ended with 49 securities, up from 46 on Wednesday and closed with 17 stocks rising, 19 declining and 13 remaining unchanged and three stock closed at 52 weeks’ high. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2021-22 earnings, averages 16.
The market closed with 7,901,235 shares trading for $80,463,111 compared to 7,818,411 units at $43,587,684 on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 31.1 percent of total volume for 2.46 million shares followed by JMMB Group with 15.8 percent for 1.25 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 12.9 percent for 1.02 million units.
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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rose $1.50 to $13.20 with 4,288 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement gained 25 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $75.25 in the trading of 25,261 stocks, Grace Kennedy shed 50 cents to end at $87 with 93,905 stock units clearing the market. Jamaica Broilers slipped 35 cents to $29.15 in the transfer of 25,790 shares, Jamaica Producers gained 25 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $28.25 with an exchange of 17,108 units, NCB Financial Group declined $1.45 to $138.55 in switching ownership of 35,039 stocks, Palace Amusement advanced $20 in closing at $870 in an exchange of 401 shares, PanJam Investment ended 60 cents higher at $63.60 in transferring 34,829 stocks. 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.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% lost 13 cents to close at $1.70, with an exchange of 40,064 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.