Big drop for JSE Main Market

Prices on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market plunged on Thursday to overwhelm those rising, following a 56 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded and a 46 percent fall in the value compared to Wednesday trading, after 53 securities were exchanged versus 56 on Wednesday, with 19 rising, 26 declining and eight ending unchanged after several stocks traded at 52 weeks’ lows.
A total of 10,480,449 shares were traded for 152,509,794 compared to 23,960,723 units at $104,197,869 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 197,744 shares at $2,877,543 compared with 427,870 shares at $1,860,676 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 211,314 units at $1,550,441 versus 212,403 units at $1,443,870 on the previous day. Trading in October ended with an average of 231,243 units at $1,464,224.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.42 million shares for 23.1 percent of total volume and was followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.13 million units for 20.4 percent of the day’s trade, JMMB Group with 1.91 million units for 18.2 percent of market share and Kingston Wharves with 1.0 million units for 9.6 percent of total shares traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 6,080.71 points to 383,315.69, the JSE Main Index shed 4,910.98 points to 338,770.12 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.76 points to close at 81.38.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November and August 2023.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed $3.47 in ending at $86 with 18,069 shares changing hands, Berger Paints rose 85 cents to $10 in switching ownership of 1,640 stocks, Carreras gained 40 cents in closing at $9 with 183,990 units crossing the market. GraceKennedy fell 99 cents to end at $85.50 with a transfer of 44,833 stock units, Guardian Holdings advanced $2.50 to close at $531 in exchanging 1,142 units, Jamaica Broilers dipped 40 cents to end at $27.99 with the swapping of 78,337 stocks. JMMB Group lost 55 cents to finish at 52 weeks’ low of $35.50 after hitting an intraday low of $30, with 1,907,834 stock units crossing the exchange, Kingston Properties declined 45 cents to close at $6.50 trading 1,977 shares, Kingston Wharves lost 60 cents in closing at $35.40 after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $30, with 1,003,077 units changing hands. Massy Holdingsfell $1 to $80 with a transfer of 16,384 stock units, Mayberry Investments lost 79 cents to end at $6.56  with 5,935 shares clearing the market, PanJam Investment dropped 50 cents to close at $52.50 after hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $30 in exchanging 8,544 stocks. Portland JSX advanced $1.20 to $10.20 in trading 12 stock units, Proven Investments shed $1 to 52 weeks’ low of $27 after hitting the day’s low of $25.40 with a transfer of 22,014 units, Sagicor Group dipped 49 cents to $50 in an exchange of 108,413 stocks after the price hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $45.20. Scotia Group fell $1.98 to close at $33.52 with the swapping of 1,890 shares, Seprod shed $2 to $69 as investors switched ownership of 659 units, Supreme Ventures fell 45 cents to end at $25.55 in transferring 57,953 stocks and Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained 90 cents to end at $10.10 trading ten stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share popped 43 cents in closing at $3.10 as investors exchanged 20 shares and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share rallied $1 to $106 after trading one stock unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.