Declining stocks dominate Main Market

Declining stocks had the upper hand over rising ones three to one at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, following a 22 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded and a 44 percent lower value than Monday, with 54 securities trading compared with 57 on Monday, resulting in prices of just 11 stocks rising, 32 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
A total of 8,077,700 shares were traded for $48,668,636 compared with 10,318,659 units at $87,662,978 on Monday.
Trading averaged 149,587 shares at $901,271 down from 181,029 shares at $1,537,947 on Monday and month to date, an average of 165,733 units at $1,228,213, compared to September with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 4.05 million shares for 50.1 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.37 million units for 17 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 1.20 million units for 14.9 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 825.44 points to 353,048.67, the JSE Main Index skidded 791.70 points to conclude trading at 323,280.25 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.11 points to 71.99.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.2. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and eight with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped $1.06 and ended at $75.44 after exchanging 98,586 shares, Caribbean Producers popped 41 cents to $10.70 with an exchange of 16,113 stock units, Eppley advanced $2.90 in closing at $34.90 after an exchange of 492 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped $1.80 to close at $37.20, with 106 stocks crossing the market. First Rock Real Estate declined 94 cents to end at $7.70 with investors dealing in 1,009 shares, GraceKennedy rallied $1 in closing at $75, with 7,293 stock units changing hands, Guardian Holdings lost $10 to close at $500 while exchanging 30 units, Jamaica Producers shed 39 cents to end at $19.60 in an exchange of 8,766 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange increased 60 cents to close at $9.60 after 7,627 units passed through the market, JMMB Group fell $2.26 and ended at $27.30 in an exchange of 50,094 shares, Kingston Properties skidded $1.10 in closing at $6.40 in trading 150,600 stock units, Kingston Wharves dropped 41 cents to $29.59 with a transfer of 4,588 stocks. Massy Holdings skidded $2.80 to close at $100.10 after a transfer of 5,247 units, NCB Financial dipped 99 cents and ended at $67.50 with shareholders swapping 10,276 shares, Proven Investments fell $1.46 to end at $20.51, with 3,082 stocks crossing the exchange, Sagicor Group shed $2 and ended at $45 in switching ownership of 166,783 stock units. Salada Foods declined 39 cents in closing at $2.65 after trading 400 stocks, Seprod lost $4.50 to end at $70 with investors transferring 7,249 stock units, Stanley Motta shed $1.05 to close at $5.30 with 826 shares clearing the market and Wisynco Group skidded 67 cents to end at $17.33 after 29,314 units crossed the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share dipped 58 cents to end at $5.59 with traders dealing in 116 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 7% declined $7.25 to $41.15 and closed with 400 shares being traded.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.