Trading dropped prices rise on JSE Main Market

Trading dropped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded plunging 63 percent and the value 61 percent lower, compared with market activity on Thursday, ending with trading in 57 securities as was the case on Thursday, with prices of 26 stocks rising, 16 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 9,443,669 shares trading for a mere $30,041,719 down sharply from 25,385,635 units at $76,122,713 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 165,678 shares at $527,048 compared to 445,362 units at $1,335,486 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 991,657 stocks at $2,327,275 compared to 1,045,463 units at $2,444,547 on the previous day and February that closed with an average of 385,143 stock units at $3,418,046.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.31 million shares for 35 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 3.15 million units for 33.4 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 897,196 units for 9.5 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 1,960.48 points to conclude trading at 368,310.70, the JSE Main Index increased 1,662.57 points to finish at 328,922.67 and the JSE Financial Index advanced 1.13 points to settle at 71.01.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden dropped 50 cents to $39.50 while exchanging 3,189 stock units, Caribbean Cement gained 40 cents to close at $57 in trading 343 shares, Caribbean Producers fell 50 cents in closing at $9.50 with 5,050 stocks clearing the market. First Rock Real Estate rose 88 cents and ended at $9.88 after exchanging 100 units, GraceKennedy advanced $1.74 to end at $75.24 with investors swapping 52,002 shares, Guardian Holdings popped $18 to $369 with an exchange of just two units. Jamaica Broilers increased 30 cents and ended at $33.40, with 28,136 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed $1.29 in closing at $10.40 with a transfer of 3,774 stock units, Key Insurance rallied 36 cents to end at $2.57, with 94 shares crossing the market. Kingston Properties dipped 43 cents to close at $7.07 in trading 5,360 stock units, Kingston Wharves rose $1.28 to $32.37 and closed with an exchange of 78,002 units, Margaritaville advanced $1.93 in closing at $15.99 with investors transferring a mere two stocks. NCB Financial popped $1.99 to end at $67 after 1,539 shares passed through the market, 138 Student Living lost 50 cents to close at $3.80, with 161,336 stock units changing hands, Pan Jamaica increased $2.57 and ended at $50.08 as investors exchanged 756 units. Proven Investments climbed $1.68 to $23.60 after a transfer of 419 stocks, Scotia Group shed $1 to close at $46, with 4,002 shares crossing the exchange, Seprod rallied 99 cents and ended at $84.50 with investors dealing in 135 stock units and Stanley Motta gained 49 cents to end at $7.49 in an exchange of 16 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% declined $51 in closing at $2849 with investors trading just one stock.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.