Volume jumps on JSE Main Market

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded jumping 221 percent and 21 percent higher than on Thursday as declining stocks continue to exceed those rising.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 510.21 points to settle at 440,209.56, the JSE Main Index gained 102.53 points to close at 386,530.90 and the JSE Financial Index declined 0.06 points to settle at 91.75. Trading ended with 56 securities compared to 54 on Thursday, with 17 rising, 21 falling and 18 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Overall, 34,028,346 shares were exchanged for $164,480,692 versus 10,590,832 units at $135,566,664 on Thursday. Trading averages 607,649 units at $2,937,155, compared to 196,127 shares at $2,510,494 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 286,629 units at $2,896,811, compared to 239,071 units at $2,890,834 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of  238,645 units at $3,561,016.
JMMB Group 7.35% preference share due 2028 led trading with 27.48 million shares for 80.7 percent of total volume, followed by Jamaica Broilers with 1.1 million units for 3.2 percent of Friday’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 970,028 units for 2.9 percent market share.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rose $9 to close at $70 with the swapping of 1,296 shares, Caribbean Producers rallied 33 cents to $14.50 with an exchange of 40,540 stocks, Eppley fell $8.90 to $38.10, with 10,859 stock units crossing the exchange. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $1.50 to $43.50 with 1,045 units changing hands, First Rock Capital shed $1.10 in ending at $12 while exchanging 51,837 shares,GraceKennedy climbed $1 to close at $106 in switching ownership of 32,735 units. Guardian Holdings advanced $26 to $537 with 2,783 stock units clearing the market, Jamaica Broilers lost 49 cents in ending at $27.49 after exchanging 1,098,934 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained $1.95 to end at $19.95, with 400 stock units crossing the market. JMMB Group dropped $1 in closing at $42 with 273,211 units changing hands, Key Insurance increased 25 cents to $4.20 while exchanging one share, Kingston Wharves popped $2.49 to end at $38.99 in trading 1,474 stocks. Massy Holdings dropped $1.50 to $92.50 with 266 units changing hands, Mayberry Investments shed $1.06 to close at $9 in exchanging 254,204 shares, NCB Financial lost $2 in closing at $101 in an exchange of 106,486 stock units. PanJam Investment rose $1 to $65.50 after trading 8,419 stocks, Proven Investments declined 77 cents to end at $37.05 after 13,981 stocks passed through the market, Sagicor Group fell 90 cents in closing at $56 with the swapping of 81,399 units. Stanley Motta fell 40 cents to close at $5.10 in trading 8,000 shares and Supreme Ventures dropped 25 cents to $30 after exchanging 75,133 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share lost $1.95 to end at $20.05 in switching ownership of 801 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.