The volume of stocks traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday surged 140 percent with 125 percent greater in value than on Monday, from the trading in 57 securities compared to 56 on Monday, with 26 rising, 15 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 21,485,881 shares were exchanged for $273,787,529 versus 8,954,820 units at $121,663,893 on Monday.
Trading averaged 376,945 units at $4,803,290 up from 159,908 shares at $2,172,570 on Monday and month to date, an average of 191,544 units at $2,417,068 compared to 145,396 units at $1,823,117 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 183,599 units at $2,160,070.
JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 led trading with 10.47 million shares for 48.7 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.81 million units for 17.7 percent of the day’s trade, Jamaica Broilers with 2.06 million units for 9.6 percent and Massy Holdings with 1.87 million units for 8.7 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,901.00 points to close at 376,412.93, the JSE Main Index declined 1,239.98 points to 332,947.10 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.88 points to 78.11.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.7 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate 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 nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement lost 75 cents in closing at $57.75 trading 2,269 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $5 to $45 with a transfer of 5 stock units, GraceKennedy declined $2.92 to $82.07 as investors traded 42,157 stocks. Guardian Holdings climbed $25 to close at $509 after an exchange of 168 units, Jamaica Broilers popped 45 cents to $36.50 after switching ownership of 2,057,508 shares, JMMB Group fell $1.47 to $30.53 after a transfer of 21,342 stocks. 
Key Insurance lost 10 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.70 following the trading of 1,016 shares. Kingston Wharves shed $1.06 after ending at $32 in swapping of 36,090 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dipped $9 in closing at $70 after investors exchanged 41 stock units, NCB Financial gained 65 cents to close at $73.65 after 20,065 units passed through the market. Palace Amusement lost 58 cents to end at $3.10 in an exchange of 104,053 stocks, Proven Investments rose $2.25 to $28.50 with investors transferring 6,840 shares, Scotia Group lost 25 cents in ending at $34.50 after switching ownership of 79,694 stock units. Seprod advanced $3.39 in closing at $69.89 in trading 12,573 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 25 cents to end at $12.60 with the swapping of 12,579 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $13.07 to close at a new record high of $63.50 as investors exchanged 1,758 stocks and JMMBGL 7.25% preference shares traded 226 shares and gained 20 cents to land at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.53.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
