Falling stocks crush risers

Stocks closed mostly lower on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, with trading in 59 securities compared with 57 on Monday, resulting in prices of 16 stocks rising, 27 declining and 16 ending unchanged, following a sharp pullback in the volume of stocks traded, with a decline of 82 percent with the value 53 percent lower than on Monday.
The market closed with 31,493,482 shares being traded for $262,090,658 down sharply from 176,820,638 units at $563,186,691 on Monday.
Trading averaged 533,788 shares at $4,442,215 compared to 3,102,116 units at $9,880,468 on Monday and month to date, an average of 482,643 units at $2,349,743 compared to 477,055 units at $2,121,121 on the previous day and April that closed with an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595.
JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 led trading with 17.0 million shares for 54 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.6 million units for 24.1 percent of the day’s trade, Massy Holdings with 1.40 million stocks for 4.4 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.17 million units for 3.7 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,652.53 points to end at 352,843.23, the JSE Main Index declined 3,035.29 points to 316,244.88 and the JSE Financial Index skidded 0.97 points to settle at 67.16.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5. 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 around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden sank $4.42 to finish at $34 in switching ownership of 60 shares, Barita Investments skidded 99 cents and ended at $70.04, with 35,146 stock units crossing the market, Berger Paints dropped $1.70 to $7 in trading 51,255 units. Caribbean Cement dropped $1.90 to close at $63 after an exchange of 12,887 stocks, First Rock Real Estate popped $1.50 in closing at $9.80 with investors swapping 2,056 shares, General Accident climbed 68 cents to end at $7.32, with 5,404 units crossing the market. GraceKennedy rose $2 to $76 as investors exchanged 231,553 stocks, Jamaica Broilers fell 55 cents to end at $30.50, with an exchange of 57,823 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 93 cents in closing at $11.26 with investors dealing in 167,533 shares. JMMB Group declined 65 cents and ended at $23.60 after 234,719 stocks crossed the exchange, Kingston Properties increased 67 cents to finish at $7.80 with traders dealing in 3,026 units, Kingston Wharves shed 50 cents to close at $25.40 with 3,933 stock units clearing the market. Lasco Distributors gained 36 cents to end at $5.45 with a transfer of 15,214 shares, Margaritaville dipped 92 cents to end at $14.08 after 13,196 stock units passed through the market, NCB Financial slipped $3 in closing at $61.50, with 154,649 stocks changing hands. Pan Jamaica lost $1.69 and ended at $45.31 after a transfer of 1,000 units, Proven Investments advanced $1 to finish at $21 in trading 473 shares, Sagicor Group dipped 90 cents to close at $40 in an exchange of 78,504 stocks. Seprod rose $2.97 to $78.99 with investors trading 284,751 units, Stanley Motta gained 68 cents to finish at $7.26 after an exchange of one stock unit and Sygnus Credit Investments sank 30 cents and ended at $10.50 with investors transferring 117,075 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $5.40 to close at $42.60 in an exchange of 295 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.