Trading picks up for Main Market

Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market trading ended on Wednesday with the volume of shares rising 36 percent and the value climbing 23 percent higher than on Tuesday, resulting in rising stocks exceeding those declining and a small slippage in the market index.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 70.86 points to 435,448.73, the JSE Main Index slipped 542.98 points to close at 393,620.97 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.62 points to end at 96.61.
A total of 51 securities traded compared to 52 on Tuesday, with 21 rising, 19 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.2. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 11,065,478 shares were exchanged for $62,731,563 compared to 8,130,493 units at $50,843,578 on Tuesday. QWI Investments led trading with 31.3 percent of the volume with an exchange of 3.46 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 27.9 percent for 3.08 million units, Transjamaican Highway contributed 13.1 percent with 1.45 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund traded 1.07 million units for 9.7 percent market share.
Trading averaged 216,970 units at $1,230,031 compared to 156,356 shares at $977,761 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 167,471 units at $1,168,166, up from 163,483 units at $1,163,182 on the prior day. December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley shed $1 to end at $35.50 trading 1,000 shares, First Rock Capital rallied 79 cents in closing at $10.94 with 12,561 units crossing the exchange, GraceKennedy lost $1 to finish at $99 in switching ownership of 70,289 stocks. Guardian Holdings dropped $3 to close at $527 in transferring 2,697 stock units, Jamaica Broilers rose $1.67 after ending at $28.68 and exchanging 7,271 stocks, Jamaica Producers popped $1.18 to close at $23.33 with the swapping of 96,499 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 80 cents to end at $17.50 in trading 55,004 shares, JMMB Group lost 30 cents to settle at $38.20 with 39,833 stock units changing hands, Kingston Properties gained 65 cents to close at $9.50 with 508 stocks clearing the market. Margaritaville advanced $2.52 to $19.32 in switching ownership of 810 units, NCB Financial shed $1 to end at $126 with a transfer of 101,383 shares, PanJam Investment advanced $1.50 to end at $68, with 102,501 stock units crossing the market. Proven Investments gained 50 cents in closing at $33.50 with an exchange of 14,092 units, Radio Jamaica popped 49 cents to close at $3.99 in trading 143,083 shares, Sagicor Group shed 56 cents to end at $52.44 with the swapping of 20,047 stocks. Scotia Group fell $1.95 to $35.05 in an exchange of 34,101 shares, Supreme Ventures gained 35 cents to close at $17.85 with 17,119 stock units changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 39 cents to end at $14.89 after transferring 148,586 stocks. Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $2.23 to $18.25 in exchanging 2,400 shares and Wisynco Group declined 55 cents in closing at $17 with the swapping of 74,844 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.