The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market fell 10.8 percent to its lowest level since the start of the year at the end of trading on Wednesday. The volume of stocks traded rose 51 percent with a 43 percent lower value than at the close on Tuesday as 52 securities were exchanged compared to 56 on Tuesday, with 16 rising, 21 declining, and 15 ending unchanged.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dived 2,743.15 points to 404,678.93, to be down 7.7 per for the year to date, the JSE Main Index dropped 4,595.49 points to 353,218.99, with a 10.8 percent fall for the year and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.72 points to settle at 85.46.
Investors traded 15,124,626 shares costing $74,624,156 versus 10,035,795 units at $130,106,528 on Tuesday. The average trade for the day was 290,858 units at $1,435,080, compared to 179,211 shares at $2,323,331 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 856,824 units at $5,280,521, compared to 889,671 units at $5,503,694 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
138 Student Living led trading with 4.23 million shares for 28 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.76 million units for 24.9 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.85 million units for 18.9 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.24 million units for 8.2 percent of the day’s transactions.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.4 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with the financial year ending between November and August 2023.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rose $1.16 to $11.47, with 1,591 shares changing hands, Eppley fell $1 to close at $40 in trading 100 stocks, GraceKennedy shed $2 in closing at $94 with the swapping of 143,571 units. Guardian Holdings jumped $50.46 to end at $557.46, with 35 stock units crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers popped 50 cents to $28.50 while exchanging 19,549 shares, Jamaica Producers lost 87 cents to end at $20.13 after exchanging 20,436 stocks. JMMB Group climbed 50 cents in closing at $41.25 after 124,437 units changed hands, Massy Holdings dropped $10.84 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $75 after trading 1,464 stock units, 138 Student Living advanced 46 cents to $5.91 with 4,229,552 shares changing hands. Palace Amusement declined $70 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $690 after exchanging 74 stocks, Proven Investments dipped 50 cents to close at $31.50, with 7,052 stock units crossing the market, Scotia Group dropped $1.10 to $34 as investors exchanged 13,588 units. 
Seprod lost 45 cents to end at $69 in an exchange of 5,129 shares and Supreme Ventures declined 40 cents to $29.50 with investors transferring 48,546 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share increased 49 cents in closing at $7.49 after trading 10,940 stock units and JMMB Group 7% preference share dipped 50 cents to $2 with 30,116 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.