Stocks record solid gains, even as trading slumped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with trading in 63 securities, up from 62 on Tuesday, with prices of 26 rising, 21 declining and 16 ending unchanged. At the close, the value and volume of stocks traded declined a sharp 58 percent and 71 percent respectively, from Tuesday’s more robust levels.
The market closed with only 5,916,747 shares trading for $90,178,691, with falling from 20,743,087 stocks valued at $214,214,112 on Tuesday.
Trading concluded with an average of 93,917 shares at $1,431,408, after decreasing from 334,566 stock units for $3,455,066 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 205,041 units at $2,893,066 compared to 211,912 shares at $2,983,434 previously and February with an average of 296,521 stock units at $2,650,049.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with just 1.60 million shares for 27.1 percent of the total volume, followed by Wigton Energy, with 1.39 million units for 23.4 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 414,286 stocks for 7 percent of the volume traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 2,791.44 points to end at 402,079.55, the JSE Main Index advanced 1,967.41 points to settle at 343,331.93 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.23 points to 63.44. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 20.6. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2026.
At the close of trading, AS Bryden advanced $1 to $30 with trading of just 753 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund slipped $4.68 to end at $41.50 after an exchange of 111 stocks, First Rock Real Estate rose 75 cents in closing at $9.75 with investors trading 519 units. General Accident fell 95 cents to close at $5.64 in an exchange of a mere 1,548 shares, GraceKennedy gained 52 cents and ended at $70 with 132,952 stock units crossing the market, Guardian Holdings declined 47 cents to finish at $337.50 as investors exchanged 621 shares. Kingston Properties popped 40 cents to $10.90 in trading 4,768 stocks, Kingston Wharves climbed 50 cents to end at $37.50 after a transfer of 13,518 units, NCB Financial increased 50 cents in closing at $43.50 in switching ownership of 139,594 stock units. 
Pan Jamaica rallied $1.49 to close at $48.99 with 335 shares crossing the exchange, Proven Investments shed $2.78 to finish at $10.22 with 4,332 units changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 39 cents and ended at $9.84 in an exchange of 1,344 stock units. Seprod climbed $2.50 to end at $77.50 with 114,233 shares being traded, Supreme Ventures sank 45 cents in closing at $16.80 with investors dealing in 336,759 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance dipped 39 cents to finish at $10.50 with a transfer of 283 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% climbed $201 and ended at $2,500, following trading of a mere one stock unit, 138 Student Living preference share popped $26 to close at $224.50 with an exchange of 22 units and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% fell $1 to end at $108 after traders swapped 2,366 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.