The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with 47 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets, with the prices of 14 stocks advancing, 14 declining and 19 stocks trading firm, leading to moderate declines in the market indices after five companies’ stock closed at 52 weeks’ lows.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 1,576.07 points to close at 460,418.78, the JSE Market Index fell 1,540.81 points to 419,288.78 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.26 points to 115.87.
The JSE Main Market activity ended with 41 securities accounting for 60,500,964 units valued at $170,953,012 in contrast to 21,490,705 units valued at $169,613,509 from 44 securities on Tuesday.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 50.3 million shares for 83 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 3.2 million units for 5.3 percent of the day’s trade, and QWI Investments with 2.1 million units for 3.5 percent market share. The other stocks trading more than one million units are JMMB Group with 1.1 million shares and Wisynco Group with 1.07 million shares.
The Market closed with an average of 1,475,633 units valued at $4,169,586 for each security traded, in contrast to 537,268 units valued at an average of $4,240,338 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 786,535 units valued at $4,854,957 for each security changing hands compared to 699,869 units valued at $4,953,209 for each security traded. Trading in February resulted in an average of 624,731 units valued at $3,239,665 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three securities closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 16.2, while the Main Market ended at 15.3 times the 2019 earnings.
In the prime market, Barita Investments dropped $7.30 to end at $55, with 146,204 shares changing hands, Berger Paints gained 40 cents to end at $13.40 trading 5,970 units, Caribbean Cement closed $1.48 higher to settle at $56.49, in exchanging 3,896 stock units. Carreras lost 43 cents transferring 108,782 shares to finish at a 52 weeks’ low of $7.25, Grace Kennedy slipped $2 to $58, while trading 126,264 units, Jamaica Broilers finished at a 52 weeks’ low of $26, after losing $2.85 in an exchange of 46,557 stock units. Jamaica Producers shed 30 cents to end at $20.50, with 28,797 shares changing hands, JMMB Group ended 50 cents lower to $38, in transferring 1,149,110 stock units, Kingston Wharves declined by $2.95 in trading 6,765 units and closed at $43.05. Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell to $8.50, after losing $1.10 exchanging 27,110 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy tumbled $19.98 to $130, with the trading of 500 stock units. 138 Student Living swapped 140 units at $6.70, with gains of 35 cents, PanJam Investment ended at $85, with a loss of $2.80 after transferring 9,448 shares, Portland JSX ended $1.50 lower to settle at $7.50, in exchanging 23,210 units, Proven Investments finished at $41, after gaining $1.50 trading 15,115 stock units. Sagicor Group climbed $1 to $58, in transferring 60,866 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund closed $1.91 lower at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.89 trading 29,610 units, Salada Foods slid $2 to $27, with 2,198 shares changing hands.
Scotia Group dropped $2.40 to end at $51, after swapping 26,251 stock units, Seprod shed $2.05 trading 33,609 shares and closed at $41.95, Supreme Ventures closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $19, with a loss of 30 cents exchanging 77,295 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $18, after falling 91 cents with 187,246 units crossing the market, Victoria Mutual Investments closed 36 cents higher to $7.20, with 363,279 shares changing hands and Wisynco Group lost $1.50 to end at $16 after trading 1,072,786 stock units.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 89,968 units valued at over US$17,187. The market gained 0.87 points to close at 209.32. First Rock Capital gained 2 cents trading 201 units to close at 10 US cents, JMMB Group 5.75% preference share gained 3 cents in exchanging 1,000 units to close at US$2.15, JMMB Group 6% preference share transferred 800 units and gained 1 cent to end at US$1. Margaritaville lost 9 cents to finish at 20 US cents, with 2,474 units changing hands, Proven Investments closed trading with 7,924 units at 28 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.9 of a cent to end at 14.01 US cents, with an exchange of 77,569 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the day’s last transaction.