West Indies Petroleum ended with the biggest trading volume since listing in December last year, after an exchange of 320 million shares, accounting for 96 percent of all shares traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday. Trading ended with a 1,962 percent surge in the volume of stocks traded and a 1,641 percent increase in value compared to Wednesday. Trading took place in 56 securities, down from 60 on Wednesday, with prices of 16 rising, 24 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 332,532,212 shares trading for $3,115,456,830, after soaring from 16,125,027 stock units, with a value of $178,956,658 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 5,938,075 shares worth $55,633,158, up from 268,750 stock units averaging $2,982,611 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date ended with an average of 730,702 units at an average of $7,713,638 compared with 329,584 shares at $4,022,451 on the prior day and July with an average of 294,201 stock units at $3,175,664.
West Indies Petroleum led trading with 320.03 million shares for 96.2 percent of total volume, in contrast Transjamaican Highway followed with just 3.02 million stocks for 0.9 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Energy with 2.96 million units for 0.9 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index gained 3,631.95 points to settle at 445,712.34, the JSE Main Index advanced 2,822.41 points to 374,004.07 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.02 points to 69.50. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 15.7. ICInsider.com compiles the JSE Main Market PE ratios based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2026.
At the close of trading, Barita Investments increased by $1.19 and ended at $66 with 10,978 stocks crossing the exchange, Berger Paints fell 95 cents to $5.45 with trading in 5,612 units, Carreras climbed $2 to $35 with 148,878 shares clearing the market. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 47 cents to end at $44.20 as investors exchanged 506 stock units, First Rock Real Estate declined $1.48 in closing at $5.52 with 8,009 shares crossing the market, GraceKennedy shed $1.20 to close at $75 after the trading of 477,221 units. Jamaica Broilers lost 60 cents to $12.25 with 86,462 stocks changing hands, Jamaica Producers rallied $1.18 in closing at $21.50 after an exchange of 2,109 stock units, Kingston Properties rallied 61 cents and ended at $11.30 with investors exchanging 4,243 shares. 
Pan Jamaica advanced by $2 and ended at $46 after a transfer of 1,866 stock units, Sagicor Group gained 90 cents to close at $41 with investors trading 28,579 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 75 cents and settled at $8.75 with a transfer of 845 shares. Supreme Ventures rallied by 44 cents to $17.89 with 14,724 shares passing through the market and West Indies Petroleum increased 79 cents to finish at $9.93 in an exchange of 320,026,211 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% slipped $4 and ended at $30 with a transfer of 12 units and 138 Student Living preference share climbed $15, in closing at $220 in an exchange of 79 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.