Trading picks up for JSE USD Market

Trading picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Thursday, with the volume of shares changing hands rising 38 percent above that on Wednesday after funds passing through the market fell 42 percent and resulted in an even number of stocks rising than falling.
Compared to five on Wednesday, 10 securities were traded, with three rising, three declining and four ending unchanged. The JSE US Denominated Equities Index rallied 6.94 points to end at 223.52, up 14 percent for the year to date.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 8.7 uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending in August 2023.
Overall,1,319,482 shares traded, for US$45,994 versus 955,092 units at US$79,200 on Wednesday. Trading averaged 131,948 units at US$4,599, down from 191,018 shares at US$15,840 on Wednesday, with the month to date averaging 110,511 shares at US$4,707 compared to 103,366 units at US$4,743 on the previous day. March ended with an average of 59,258 units for US$6,669.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share declined 0.35 of a cent in ending at 7.6 US cents after trading 30,005 shares, Margaritaville ended at 16 US cents while exchanging 270 stock units, Productive Business Solutions increased 13.5 cents in closing at US$1.19 after exchanging 134 units. Proven Investments dropped 0.94 of a cent to close at 26 US cents, with 1,058 stocks crossing the exchange, Sterling Investments gained 0.15 of a cent to end at 2.15 US cents in trading 824 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share remained at 12.95 US cents with an exchange of 250,400 stocks. Transjamaican Highway climbed 0.14 of a cent in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of 1.1 US cents with 1,036,531 stock units clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share fell 1.9 cents to US$1.98 in trading 101 units, JMMB Group 5.75% finished at US$2.03 after 70 stocks crossed the market and JMMB Group 6% ended at 99.02 US cents in switching ownership of 89 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.