The JSE Main Market bounces to close out 2023

Trading activity remained buoyant on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market to close out the year on Friday, with 49,282,609 shares traded for $809,014,389 compared with 54,718,064 units at $832,512,122 on Thursday after trading resulted in 61 securities changing hands compared with 58 on Thursday, and ended with prices of 31 stocks rising, 10 declining and 20 ending unchanged.
Trading averaged 807,912 shares at $13,262,531 compared with 943,415 units at $14,353,657 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 264,266 units at $3,755,94 compared with 230,599 units at $3,167,213 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 25.03 million shares for 50.8 percent of total volume followed by NCB Financial with 8.03 million units for 16.3 percent of the day’s trade, Radio Jamaica ended with 7.49 million shares for 15.2 percent of market share, Sagicor Group with 1.64 million units for 3.3 percent of trading. Barita Investments closed with 1.34 million shares for 2.7 percent of market activity and Transjamaican Highway, 1.30 million units for 2.6 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index surged 6,563.17 points to close at 367,017.85, the JSE Main Index popped 4,228.16 points to end the year at 325,699.79 as the market lost 9 percent for the year and the JSE Financial Index gained 1.26 points to end at 70.65.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden increased $3.01 to end at a recording closing high of $33.11 as investors exchanged 100 stock units, Barita Investments popped $5.98 to end at $76.98 in trading 1,337,808 shares, Caribbean Cement rallied $3.04 to $60 and closed with an exchange of 107,713 units. Eppley lost $2.10 in closing at $36 while exchanging 770 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $3.10 and ended at $42.10 with traders dealing in 1,148 shares, Guardian Holdings declined $23 to $350 in an exchange of 3,024 stocks. Jamaica Broilers advanced 52 cents and ended at $34.70, with 134,386 units changing hands, JMMB Group climbed 60 cents in closing at $26 with a transfer of 189,168 stock units, Kingston Wharves gained $1 to close at $27 after an exchange of 104,286 shares. Margaritaville rose 58 cents to end at $17.58 with 592 stocks clearing the market, Mayberry Group climbed 62 cents in closing at $9.50 with an exchange of 20,568 units, NCB Financial increased $2.49 to $69.99, with 8,031,610 stock units crossing the market. 138 Student Living popped 38 cents to close at $3.89 in an exchange of 10,161 shares, Pan Jamaica sank 80 cents to end at $50.70 after trading 174,963 stock units, Sagicor Group gained $3.52 and ended at $49.50 after an exchange of 1,638,388 stocks. Salada Foods advanced 26 cents to $3.98 with investors transferring 124,752 units, Scotia Group rallied 40 cents to end at $38.40 in switching ownership of 65,342 stocks, Seprod popped $2.01 in closing at $82.50 after 59,998 units passed through the market. Sygnus Credit Investments climbed 50 cents and ended at $11.40 after a transfer of 102,722 shares and Wisynco Group increased 51 cents to close at $22, with 344,392 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share rose $3 to $22 with investors trading 100 shares and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $33.10 in closing at $130, with 115 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.