Trading jumped on JSE Main Market

Trading activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, but the level of trades remaining below par following a 208 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded with the value 62 percent higher than on Thursday, with trading activity occurring in 55 securities compared to 57 on Thursday and resulted in prices of 13 rising, 23 falling and 19 ending unchanged.
A total of 11,740,790 shares were traded for $54,776,621 compared with 3,816,748 units at $33,796,305 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 213,469 shares at $995,939 compared to 66,960 shares at $592,918 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 246,038 units at $1,895,910, compared with 253,759 units at $2,109,265 on the previous day. Trading in April closed with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 5.01 million shares for 42.7 percent of total volume followed by Ciboney Group with 1.26 million units for 10.7 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 863,349 units for 7.4 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,306.49 points to close at 371,710.92, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,443.60 points to 334,870.71 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.10 points to close at 76.69.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices of stocks and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments gained 79 cents to close at $78.79 after an exchange of 7,751 shares, Caribbean Producers advanced 58 cents in closing at $10.56 in switching ownership of 18,547 units, GraceKennedy lost $3 and ended at $76, with 34,880 stock units crossing the market, Guardian Holdings shed $5 to $495 and closed with 66 stocks being traded. Jamaica Broilers dipped $1.28 to end at $35.70 as 29,289 stocks passed through the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied $1.24 to end at $14.24 with an exchange of 6,691 units, JMMB Group declined $1.40 to close at $29.60 after investors traded 126,267 shares. Kingston Wharves dropped $2.40 to $30.50 with investors trading 20,319 units, Mayberry Investments popped 45 cents in closing at $7.95 in an exchange of 60,363 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 45 cents and ended at $10.85 after 6,511 units passed through the market, NCB Financial fell $1 to close at $72 with a transfer of 268,196 stocks. Portland JSX shed 48 cents in closing at $11 in an exchange of 20 stock units, Proven Investments increased $1.69 and ended at $27.10 in trading 1,888 units, Seprod declined $1.50 to end at $70, with 27,546 stock units crossing the exchange. Stanley Motta lost 50 cents to close at $5.20 while exchanging 834 stocks and Sterling Investments climbed 38 cents to end at $2.87 after a transfer of 517 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share dipped $1 to $17.54, with 558 shares changing hands, Jamaica Public Service 7% rose $7 and ended at $75, with 175 units clearing the market and JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 climbed 47 cents to close at $2.94 after investors exchanged 10,905 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.