Falling stock prices dominated trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday with the prices of almost half of stocks that traded falling in price, compared a third that rose and resulting the market suffering the biggest single day move for the year to date.
The All Jamaican Composite Index plunged 6,111.53 points to close at 422,532.67, the Main Index dived 5,742.57 points to 385,325.02, and the JSE Financial Index shed 1.79 points to settle at 98.30.
Trading ended with 44 securities changing hands, down from 49 on Monday and closed with prices of 14 stocks rising, 21 declining and nine remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio closed with an average of 16.4 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Investors exchanged 16,697,777 shares for $80,072,023 compared to 14,886,632 units at $96,260,639 on Monday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 41.9 percent of total volume, after an exchange of 6.99 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 21.9 percent for 3.66 million units and Pulse Investments with 13.9 percent market share for 2.32 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 379,495 units at $1,819,819, compared to 303,809 shares at $1,964,503 on Monday. Trading month to date averaged 380,091 units at $2,325,100, close to 380,187 units at $2,405,945 on the Monday. Trading in January closed with an average of 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows twelve stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments fell $1.09 to $80.01 trading 274,409 units, Caribbean Cement gained 49 cents at $60, in an exchange of 6,937 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined by $7.85 to $41.05, with 2,160 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy climbed $3.20 to a 52 weeks’ high of $77.80 after investors swapped 88,441 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 70 cents to $18.30, with a transfer of 3,409 stocks, Key Insurance closed at $4.90, after losing $1.35 in exchanging 265,016 shares, Kingston Wharves rose 20 cents to $45.20, in switching ownership of 2,207 stock units. Palace Amusement lost $41.85 at $1,000 trading 7 units, PanJam Investment advanced by $2.30 to $66.30, with 1,488 stock units clearing the market. Proven Investments ended $2.27 lower at $38.73, in exchanging 12,014 shares, QWI Investments carved out a gain of 5 cents in ending at 52 weeks’ high of $1.10, with 836,913 stocks crossing the market. 
Sagicor Group fell by $1 to $49 trading 18,525 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund shed 29 cents to close at $8, with the swapping of 7,685 shares. Salada Foods slipped 34 cents to $43.90, in trading 27,112 stocks, Seprod slid $1.78 to $68.22, with 30,235 stock units changing hands, Stanley Motta settled at $4.95, with a loss of 40 cents trading 24,000 stock units. Supreme Ventures gained 25 cents in closing at $17, after the transfer of 56,294 units and Victoria Mutual Investments fell 5 cents to close at $5.75 trading 20,428 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.25% shed $1 in closing at $7, with 513 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
