Big Main Market fall

Main Market stocks mostly declined on Thursday with little change in the volume and value of shares trading compared to Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market and resulted in the All Jamaican Composite Index dropping 4,913.71 points to close at 446,678.65, while the JSE Main Index plunged 5,907.36 points to settle at 393,843.61. The JSE Financial Index slipped 1.15 points to 95.59.
A total of  57 securities traded for a third consecutive day on Wednesday, with prices of 19 stocks rising,  25 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.9. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 24,469,891 shares were exchanged for $177,150,417 versus 25,678,501 units at $170,560,569 on Wednesday. Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 29.6 percent of total volume with a transfer of 7.25 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway, 20.1 percent with 4.91 million units, Wigton Windfarm contributed 12.4 percent with 3.03 million units, Radio Jamaica, 8.8 percent market share with 2.15 million units, 1834 Investments held on to 5 percent after an exchange of 1.21 million units and QWI Investments with 4.1 percent after trading 1.01 million units.
Trading averages 429,296 units at $3,107,902, versus 450,500 shares at $2,992,291 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 314,103 units at $2,978,725, compared to 304,601 units at $2,968,069 on the previous day.January closed with an average of 235,328 units at $2,397,571.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints shed 99 cents to close at $12.01 with 78,628 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Cement declined $4.01 to $80 with the swapping of 584,937 units, Caribbean Producers rose $1.70 to $17.45 trading 261,508 stock units. Eppley advanced $2.80 to end at $37 with a transfer of 629 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $2.50 to close at $38.50 in an exchange of 1,011 stocks, First Rock Capital lost 65 cents after ending at $12 in switching ownership of 107,274 units. GraceKennedy lost 55 cents to close at $102.45 with 9,700 shares clearing the market, Jamaica Producers popped 57 cents to $22.87 after exchanging 3,277 stocks, JMMB Group rallied 31 cents to $44.30 with the swapping of 625,015 stock units. Kingston Wharves lost 32 cents to end at $40 in exchanging 17,526shares, Margaritaville shed $1.10 to close at $24.90 with 2,781 units changing hands, Massy Holdings declined $10 after ending at $2,090 in transferring 3,754 stocks. Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 52 cents to finish at $8.50 after 301,000 shares crossed the market, NCB Financial gained 74 cents in closing at $129 with an exchange of 170,229 units, 138 Student Living lost 42 cents in closing at $7 after trading 17,000 shares. PanJam Investment rose 50 cents to $66 in switching ownership of 144 shares, Proven Investments shed 40 cents to close at $33.80 with a transfer of 57,225 stocks, Sagicor Group fell $2.48 to finish at $54 with the swapping of 391,137 shares. Seprod gained 90 cents to end at $62.50 with 39,155 units changing hands, Stanley Motta rose 94 cents $5.94 in trading 2 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments shed 60 cents to end at $15 with 120,564 units clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Community & Workers Credit Union lost 35 cents to close at $1.80 with an exchange of 14,513 stock units and Eppley 5% preference share shed 50 cents to end at $22 after two shares were traded.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.