Falling stocks hit JSE Main Market

Falling prices dominated trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday, after trading in 55 securities up from 51 on Friday, and ended with 29 declining, just 14 rising, and 12 ending unchanged, with moderate trading levels that led to a 54 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded following a modest increase in value over Friday and closed with two stocks ending at 52 weeks’ lows.
A total of 4,844,640 shares were traded for $59,990,583 compared to 10,571,793 units at $57,562,911 on Friday.
Trading averaged 88,084 shares at $1,090,738 compared to 207,290 units at $1,128,685 on Friday and month to date, an average of 324,372 shares at $1,591,873 versus 338,081 units at $1,620,947 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.20 million shares for 24.7 percent of total volume, followed by the Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 647,176 units for 13.4 percent of the day’s trade and Supreme Ventures with 634,654 units for 13.1 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 3,967.05 points to 349,449.87, the JSE Main Index dropped 3,340.09 points to finish at 316,989.72 and the JSE Financial Index
slipped 0.67 points to 69.93.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed 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 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer, a strong indication that the market will open positively on Tuesday.
At the close, Caribbean Cement gained $2 to close at $52 with a transfer of 1,972 shares, Caribbean Producers fell 40 cents to close at $9.60 with shareholders swapping 55,803 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost $4.74 to close at $36.36 after trading in 5,460 units. First Rock Real Estate dropped 79 cents to end at $7.71 after investors ended trading 50 stocks, Guardian Holdings declined $19.75 and ended at $420 with investors dealing in 12 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange shed $1.24 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $8.53, with 14,677 stock units crossing the market, after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $8.25. JMMB Group dipped 95 cents to end at $27.84 with 284,271 units clearing the market, Kingston Properties climbed 35 cents to $7.35 after 7 stocks passed through the market, Massy Holdings skidded 90 cents to $100.10 with an exchange of 5,230 stock units. NCB Financial dropped $2.56 in closing at $71.44 after an exchange of 18,829 stocks, Sagicor Group fell $2.40 to close at $44.09 in switching ownership of 16,798 units, Scotia Group popped 85 cents and ended at $33.85 while exchanging 10,411 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments declined 47 cents in closing at $11.50 after trading in 4,927 stocks and Wisynco Group dipped $1.04 to end at $16.91, with 62,100 shares crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share increased 49 cents to $6 with investors transferring 66 stock units, JMMBGL 7.25% preference share traded 612 units at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.25, after declining 20 cents and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share rallied $98 to close at $1,100 as investors exchanged 40 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.