Trading rises on the JSE Main Market

The volume of stocks trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market rose modestly on Thursday, with the value jumping 51 percent over Wednesday’s trades, following trading in 60 securities compared with 61 on Wednesday, with prices of 23 stocks rising, 21 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
Investors traded 6,285,352 shares for $62,015,913 compared to 6,012,380 units at $41,169,914 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 104,756 shares at $1,033,599 compared to 98,564 units at $674,917 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 153,638 units at $1,054,452 compared with 161,763 units at $1,057,918 on the previous day and April that closed with an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.96 million shares for 31.2 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.54 million units for 24.5 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 904,952 stock units for 14.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 990.72 points to 356,821.06, the JSE Main Index advanced 439.08 points to close at 319,951.47 and the JSE Financial Index sank 0.09 points to 68.12.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden popped $4.85 and recovered all of the $3.64 fall on Wednesday to end at $37.96 after investors ended trading 255 shares, Berger Paints jumped 27 percent with a gain of $1.47 in closing at $6.97 after 134,577 stock units passed through the market, following solid first quarter results released after the market closed on Wednesday. Caribbean Cement skidded $3.49 to $61.51 after a transfer of 9,828 units as the stock continues to struggle to hold on to the recent highs close to $70 reached when the company reported record first quarter profit. Eppley lost 50 cents and ended at $39.50 with 837 stocks clearing the market, GraceKennedy dipped $1.50 to finish at $73.50 as investors exchanged 89,655 shares, ahead of the release in nearly flat first quarter results, Guardian Holdings sank $10 to close at $360 with a transfer of 424 stock units. Jamaica Broilers rose 50 cents to $31.50 with investors swapping 921 stocks, JMMB Group declined 99 cents to finish at $24.01 in an exchange of 5,566 units, Lasco Manufacturing fell 40 cents and ended at $5.15 with investors dealing in 14,074 stocks. Margaritaville shed 52 cents to end at $15.73 in switching ownership of just 2 units, Massy Holdings advanced $1.40 in closing at $90 with investors trading 281 shares, Mayberry Group climbed 50 cents to close at $8 with an exchange of 46,450 stock units. NCB Financial increased $1.96 to $64.48, with 66,134 shares changing hands, ahead of results that jumped 70 percent in the March quarter and 85 percent for the half year to March. Pan Jamaica rallied 40 cents to finish at $45.50 with traders dealing in 21,241 stocks, Sagicor Group popped $1.26 and ended at $41.26 after an exchange of 2,851 units. Seprod dropped 48 cents to end at $81.50, with 13,805 stock units crossing the market, Supreme Ventures slipped 44 cents in closing at $24.56 after exchanging 253,936 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $1.37 to close at $11.89 with investors transferring 403 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share sank 48 cents to $5.65, with 995 units crossing the exchange and Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $5.40 to end at $42.60 in trading 185 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.