The Jamaica Stock Exchnage main market fell on Friday with improved trading.
Trading levels hit rock bottom on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday May 19, when less than 1 million units valued at a mere $11.8 million traded has been rebounding with this Friday’s level being the highest since Thursday last week. On Friday the value of traded stocks almost doubled that of Thursday this week.
Trading improved on the Monday with $31 million of trades but fell back on Wednesday to $27 million and picked up to $37 million on Thursday before moving higher on Friday. Trading levels in the main market ended at 4,417,748 units valued at $73,092,399 compared to 1,392,798 units valued at $37,103,714 at the close on Thursday. Trading in the US dollar market accounted for 56,375 units valued at US$17,199.
The All Jamaica Composite Index declined 1,094.79 points to close at 257,288.98 the JSE Market Index fell 997.48 points to finish at 234,419.39 and the JSE US dollar market index lost 1.69 points to close at 215.59.
The main market ended trading with an average of 152,336 units valued at $2,520,428 per security traded, compared to an average of 53,569 units valued at $1,427,066 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 392,814 units with an average value of $5,480,092 compared with an average of 406,174 units and $5,644,518 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for April ended at 382,748 units with an average value of $5,254,387.
Trading ended with 31 securities changing hands including 2 trading in the US dollar market. At the close, 8 stocks advanced and 8 declined.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer.
In market activity, Barita Investments closed at $7.20 trading 100 shares, Berger Paints exchanged 7,134 shares at $19, Cable and Wireless closed at $1.30, trading 982,050 shares, Caribbean Cement traded 25 cents lower to close at $28.25 exchanging 51,000 shares. Carreras closed at $80, losing $1 with 7,731 shares changing hands, Grace Kennedy gained $1 and closed at $41, with 22,872 units trading, Jamaica Broilers traded 9,249 shares at $18, Jamaica Producers gained 15 cents to close at $16, with 12,538 shares changing hands, 
Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $7, after falling 69 cents while exchanging 351,722 shares. JMMB Group exchanged 50,672 units at $20, Kingston Properties traded 52,625 shares at $12, Kingston Wharves lost 50 cents to close at $30.50, trading 5,378 units, Mayberry Investments traded 1,900 shares at $5.30, NCB Financial Group closed at $70.99, with gains of 38 cents after exchanging 242,233 shares, 1834 Investments lost 6 cents and closed at $1.40, with 135,646 shares changing owners, 138 Student Living exchanged 15,000 shares at $4.49, PanJam Investment closed at $35.62, gaining 62 cents in trading 20,553 shares. Portland JSX gained 5 cents to close at $10.15 with an exchange of 2,416 shares, Pulse Investments traded 17,157 shares at $14.50, Radio Jamaica lost 7 cents to close at $1.65, trading 126,425 shares, Sagicor Group added 2 cents to close at $33.02 exchanging 1,021,346 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 12 cents, closing at $10.80, with 17,797 units changing hands. Salada Foods jumped $1.02 to close at $8.50 trading 10,000 shares, Scotia Group closed at $42, with an exchange of 85,543 units, Scotia Investments closed at $36.50, with a loss of $1 trading 500 shares. Seprod closed at $30 exchanging 170,000 shares, Sterling Investments closed at $15.50 trading 11,700 shares and Supreme Ventures lost 1 cent to close at $7.49 in an exchange of 211,461 shares. Margaritaville Turks closed at 34 US cents, with 20,500 units changing hands, Proven Investments closed at 28.5 US cents, gaining 0.01 US cent in trading 35,875 ordinary shares and JMMB Group 7.50% preference closed at $1.10 with trades of 775,000 units trading.