Trading picks up for JSE Main Market

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market jumped sharply on Friday, with an exchange of 103 percent more shares valued 74 percent more than on Thursday, leading to rising stocks exceeding those declining and sending the main indices higher at the close.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 1,319.00 points to settle at 429,258.81, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,620.15 points to close at 384,350.94 and the JSE Financial Index climbed 0.18 points to settle at 92.36.
Trading ended with 59 securities compared to 54 on Thursday, with 24 rising, 20 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.1. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending to August 2022.
Overall, 22,970,250 shares were exchanged for $151,749,632 versus 11,327,830 units at $87,135,931 on Thursday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 13.10 million shares for 57 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.5% with 2.66 million units for 11.6 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 2.15 million units for 9.4 percent market share.
Trading averages 389,326 units at $2,572,028, compared to 209,775 shares at $1,613,628 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 407,288 units at $6,223,499, compared to 408,901 units at $6,551,408 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments popped 31 cents in closing at $89.41, with 3,417 shares crossing the market, Berger Paints climbed 69 cents to $12.79 in exchanging just one unit, Caribbean Cement dropped $1 to $69, with 8,944 stock units crossing the exchange. Carreras gained 35 cents to end at $8.75, trading 128,780 units, Eppley fell 55 cents to close at $39.95 with an exchange of 1,951 shares, First Rock Capital increased 66 cents in closing at $11.95 in an exchange of 8,777 units. GraceKennedy rallied 50 cents to close at $102 with the swapping of 168,647 stocks, Guardian Holdings declined $24 to $526 after trading 12 stock units, Jamaica Broilers shed 90 cents to end at $27 in trading 73,134 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 57 cents to $17.60 after exchanging 385 shares, JMMB Group lost 50 cents to close at $41 after trading 809,440 stock units, Massy Holdings shed $4.99 to close at $109 while exchanging 39,691 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 79 cents in closing at $7.11 and finishing trading of 6,922 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $14.45 to end at $101.05 in switching ownership of 84 stock units, Palace Amusement advanced $25 to $975 after 25 stocks crossed the market. Seprod fell 79 cents to $54, with 54,762 units clearing the market, Stanley Motta dropped 42 cents in closing at $5.50, with 1,310 stock units changing hands, Supreme Ventures increased 35 cents in ending at $17.60 after exchanging 9,879 units and Victoria Mutual Investments rallied 30 cents to end at $6.75, with 88,059 stocks changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share gained 65 cents to close at $20.65 after trading 241 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.