Decline resumes for JSE Main Market

After breaking 6 straight days of decline on Wednesday, declining stocks pushed Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market indices into decline at the close on Thursday, with an exchange of 41 percent more shares valued 113 percent higher than on Wednesday as investors continue to maintain a subdued posture towards main market stocks at this time.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 171.26 points to 453,149.76, the JSE Main Index declined 1,070.69 points to 411,881.33 and the JSE Financial Index shed 1.04 points to end at 99.96.
Trading took place in 48 securities compared to 51 on Wednesday, with 16 rising, 17 declining and 15 left unchanged. Caribbean Cement ended at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $106.50 after traded at an intraday high of $115 and NCB Financial traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $121.03.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 15.5 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings forecast.
Trading jumped to 15,130,149 shares for $148,604,629 from 10,754,378 units at $69,882,256 on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm led with 34.3 percent after an exchange of 5.19 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway 14.8 percent, with 2.24 million units and Radio Jamaica 14.5 percent after 2.19 million units changed hands.
Trading averages 315,211 units at $3,095,930, compared to 210,870 shares at $1,370,240 on Wednesday and month to date averages 507,741 units at $8,691,971, in contrast to 519,351 units at $9,028,360 on Wednesday. July ended with an average of 322,932 units at $15,201,099.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments gained 21 cents at $93.21 with 17,793 shares crossing the market, Berger Paints dipped 38 cents to $13.12 in trading 1,974 stock units, Caribbean Cement spiked 50 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $106.50 with the swapping of 65,044 shares, but traded at an intraday high of $115, as demand is picking for the stock at the same time that supply is dwindling. Caribbean Producers lost 20 cents to close at $4.75 in exchanging 19,800 units, Eppley lost 20 cents to end at $40.90 in switching ownership of 1,600 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $1.50 to $38 with 86 stock units changing hands, First Rock Capital rallied 50 cents to close at $12 in exchanging 38,363 units. GraceKennedy shed 60 cents to end at $101.50 after 669,124 stock units cleared the market, Guardian Holdings declined $7 to $584 in trading 9,914 shares, Jamaica Broilers shed $1.64 to $33.15 with the transfer of 56,942 stocks. Jamaica Producers advanced $2 to $24.20 with 42,911 units crossing the exchange, JMMB Group rose 20 cents to $38.20 in an exchange of 152,841 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 65 cents to $9.25 with the swapping of 22,599 stock units. NCB Financial Group rose $2 in closing at $132 after hitting an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $121.03 and switching ownership of just 19,875 shares, Palace Amusement surged $175 to $1,125 after exchanging just 2 units, PanJam Investment shed 55 cents to close at $62 in transferring 3,203 shares. Proven Investments rallied 97 cents to $34 in trading 19,555 stock units, Radio Jamaica traded as high as $4.7t, but selling came into the market and it lost 25 cents at the close to end at $4.40 after 2,190,629 shares cleared the market. Scotia Group spiked 38 cents to $39.50, with 34,731 stocks crossing the market. Seprod fell 99 cents to $62.01 with an exchange of 15,490 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments popped 70 cents in closing at $15 in trading 18,260 units.
In the corporate Bond segment, Guardian Holdings 6.5% bond rose 45 cents to $104.78 with 2.25 million units trading.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.