Trading picks up for JSE USD market

The US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed trading on Wednesday, with the market inching higher after investors traded 300 percent more shares than on Tuesday, resulting in an equal number of stocks falling and rising. 
At the close of the market, trading ended with seven securities changing hands compared to six on Tuesday and ended with the prices of two stocks rising, two declining and three remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equities Index increased 0.05 points to settle at 192.54, and the average PE Ratio of the market ended at 13.6 based on IC Insider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 85,911 shares, accounting for US$16,117 compared to 22,054 units at US$14,604 on Tuesday.
Trading ended with an average of 12,273 units changing hands at US$2,302 for each security, in contrast to an average of 3,676 shares at US$2,434 on Tuesday. The market closed with an average of 47,776 units for the month to date at US$3,747 in contrast to 55,086 units at US$4,044, to Tuesday. By comparison, July ended with an average of 133,150 units at US$18,282.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the JSE US Dollar market shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital Investment settled at 9 US cents, in exchanging 37,051 stock units, Margaritaville closed at 14 US cents, with 97 shares changing hands. Proven Investments ended at 24.5 US cents in an exchange of 11,414 stock units, Sterling Investments lost two-tenths of a cent to end at 2.69 US cents and trading 1,006 units. Sygnus Credit Investments climbed 1.5 US cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of 16.7 US cents with investors switching ownership of 1,061 stocks and Transjamaican Highway slipped from 0.09 cent and closed at 0.093 US of a cent in trading 25,782 stock units.
In the preference segment of the market, JMMB Group 6% gained 1 US cent to settle at US$1 in trading 9,500 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.