Declining stocks dominated Main Market trading

Declining stocks dominated trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with trading in 55 securities compared with 57 on Tuesday and ended with prices of 26 declining, 15 rising and 14 ending unchanged after a 93 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded as the value dropped by 61 percent compared to Tuesday.
In total 7,777,704 shares were traded for $95,955,593, sharply down  from 106,705,122 units at $248,485,563 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 141,413 shares for $1,744,647 compared with 1,872,020 shares at $4,359,396 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date, ended with an average of 313,426 units at $1,918,016, down from 330,381 units at $1,935,104, previously, well up on October that closed with an average of 214,410 units at $1,325,907.
Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund led trading with 2.43 million shares for 31.3 percent of total volume followed by Wisynco Group with 1.18 million units for 15.2 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.06 million units for 13.6 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 419.77 points to close at 349,209.36, the JSE Main Index rallied 57.72 points to 314,938.63 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.01 points to settle at 69.08.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies who’s financial year ends around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley fell 74 cents to $33.25 after an exchange of 122 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $2 to close at $38.50 in trading 1,557 stocks, General Accident increased 59 cents to end at $5.15 with stakeholders exchanging 2,000 shares. GraceKennedy dipped 40 cents in closing at $72, with 211,034 stock units crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers climbed $1.49 and ended at $34.79 with investors dealing in 367 shares, Kingston Wharves lost $2.78 to close at $26.01, with 1,000 stock units crossing the exchange. NCB Financial skidded $1.10 and ended at $72.39 with shareholders swapping 178,366 units, Pan Jamaica rose $1 to $47 with 643 stocks clearing the market, Proven Investments shed 98 cents in closing at $22.75 with an exchange of 551 units. Salada Foods declined 44 cents to end at $2.60, with 12,850 shares changing hands, Supreme Ventures rallied 50 cents to $26.50 with a transfer of 67,347 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments popped 35 cents and ended at $11.80 after 16,050 stock units passed through the market and Wisynco Group dropped 50 cents to end at $19 in switching ownership of 1,180,403 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed 99 cents in closing at $41.01 with investors transferring 673 units and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share advanced $50 to close at $1,150 in an exchange of 300 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.