Transjamaican steals Main Market spotlight

Trading surged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with Transjamaican Highway dominating with more than 540 million shares worth $1.756 billion, sending the volume of stocks traded up by a solid 1,967 percent with the value jumping 1,053 percent more than on Wednesday, with trading in 61 securities compared with 60 on Wednesday, with prices of 21 stocks rising, 24 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
The market closed after 551,681,523 shares were traded for $1,798,734,217 compared with 26,696,028 units at $155,976,938 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 9,043,959 shares at $29,487,446 compared to 444,934 stocks at $2,599,616 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, ended with an average of 3,224,837 units at $11,103,727, compared with 315,276 units at $1,911,868 on the previous day and March that closed with an average of 828,473 units at $2,341,254.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 540.57 million shares for 98 percent of total volume followed by QWI Investments with 4.40 million units for 0.8 percent of the day’s trade, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 closed with 1.98 million units for 0.4 percent market share and Wigton Windfarm with 1.42 million units for 0.3 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,625.36 points to lock up trading at 367,225.42, the JSE Main Index jumped 1,510.99 points to close at 327,923.66 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.43 points to end the day at 70.40.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2. 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 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden shed $2.75 to close at $35.75 with investors trading 2,332 units, Barita Investments fell $2.27 in closing at $70.63, with 6,503 stocks changing hands, Caribbean Cement declined $2.45 and ended at $56 as investors exchanged 16,470 shares. Caribbean Producers shed 50 cents to finish at $8.90 in trading 98,724 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed 51 cents to close at $37.51 after an exchange of 117 shares, First Rock Real Estate dropped 43 cents to end at $10 with investors swapping 284,351 stock units. Jamaica Broilers sank 60 cents to $32.90 in an exchange of 104,752 units, Jamaica Producers increased $1.30 to close at $24.30 with investors dealing in 5,026 stocks, Key Insurance popped 36 cents and ended at $2.57 with 2,094 shares clearing the market. Kingston Wharves skidded 30 cents to finish at $30 with investors transferring 29,870 units, Margaritaville lost $1.02 to end at $15.98 in switching ownership of 3 stocks, Mayberry Group slipped 46 cents in closing at $6.92 after 3,448 stock units passed through the market. NCB Financial advanced $1 to $65 in an exchange of 4,109 shares, Pan Jamaica rose $1.40 and ended at $49.90, with 2,533 stock units crossing the market, Sagicor Group gained 30 cents to finish at $41.50 after a transfer of 18,896 stocks. Scotia Group rallied 80 cents to end at $46.70 after 132,003 units were traded, Supreme Ventures sank 99 cents in closing at $23.50 with a transfer of 15,342 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments skidded 30 cents to close at $10.50, with 63,922 units crossing the exchange and Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $2.60 to $10.20 with traders dealing in 242 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rose 99 cents in closing at $43, with 6 stock units crossing the market, 138 Student Living preference share dipped 53 cents to close at $217.50 after exchanging 2 shares. Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share advanced $11 to finish at $1110 and closed with an exchange of 249 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% popped $1 and ended at $110 with an exchange of 587 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.