Trading rises to close the week with gains

Increased Main Market activity ended the week on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with 23 percent more stocks trading after a 9 percent rise in value than on Thursday, with trading in 56 securities compared with 58 on Thursday, resulting in prices of 15 stocks rising, 22 declining and 19 ending unchanged as the market closed higher than the close of the previous week.
Trading averaged 346,523 shares at $2,670,504 compared with 271,669 units at $2,355,307 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 261,033 units at $1,624,316 compared with 252,000 units at $1,513,776 on the previous day and May that closed with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.43 million shares for 38.3 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 5.13 million units for 26.4 percent of the day’s trade, GraceKennedy with 1.51 million stocks for 7.8 percent of traded volume, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 1.46 million shares for 7.5 percent market share and JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.23 million units for 6.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 158.45 points to close at 356,570.54, the JSE Main Index climbed 2,061.91 points to settle at 322,058.00 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.16 points to close at 67.11.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14. 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 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments dipped 68 cents to close at $71.04 as investors traded 4,875 stock units, Caribbean Cement sank $3.73 to end at $61, with 21,320 shares changing hands, General Accident rallied $1.78 in closing at $7 with an exchange of just 1,028 units. Guardian Holdings shed $15 to finish at $345 with a transfer of 20 stocks, Jamaica Broilers increased 48 cents and ended at $32.51 after it closed with an exchange of 8,889 units, Jamaica Producers climbed 36 cents to $22.25 with investors trading 2,069 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 95 cents to $10.85 in switching ownership of 502 stock units, JMMB Group gained 45 cents and ended at $24.55 with investors trading 4,499 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing lost 40 cents to close at $6.60, with 150,845 units crossing the market. Margaritaville dropped 30 cents in closing at $14.50 after trading of just 5 stocks, Massy Holdings rose $3.75 to finish at $97.75 after 89 shares passed through the market, NCB Financial fell $1.35 to end at $57.65 in trading 61,403 stock units. Pan Jamaica advanced $2.19 in closing at $48.99 after an exchange of 3,619 shares, Proven Investments skidded $1.39 to $18.61with investors clearing the market of 47,204 units, Sagicor Group slipped 30 cents and ended at $40 with an exchange of 35,005 stocks. Scotia Group popped $1.25 to finish at $43.46 with 31,732 stock units crossing the market, Seprod rallied $1.49 to end at $79.99 in an exchange of 3,829 shares, Supreme Ventures shed 48 cents to close at $22.52 with traders dealing in 31,595 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments fell 49 cents to $10.29 after a transfer of 486,325 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.