Declining stocks outnumbered winners 3-to-2 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with trading in 59 securities, similar to Thursday, with 19 stocks rising, 31 declining, and nine unchanged. Trading volume fell 22 percent, though the value was slightly higher than Thursday.
The market closed with 12,119,774 shares trading for $114,939,495, compared with 15,606,900 stock units at $112,807,911 on Thursday.
Trading ended with an average of 205,420 shares worth $1,948,127 compared to 264,524 stock units at $1,911,998 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date ended with an average of 229,051 units at $2,379,588, down moderately from 233,000 shares at $2,451,702 the previous day, with an average of 1,710,130 stock units at $16,217,430 in September.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.82 million shares for 23.3 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Energy with 2.08 million stocks for 17.1 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Financial Fund closed with 1.81 million shares for 14.9 percent of the volume traded and Jamaica Broilers with 1.30 million units for 10.7 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,336.87 points to 462,726.28, the JSE Main Index gained 142.95 points to settle at 386,033.03 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.14 points to 76.07. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 15.8. ICInsider.com compiles the JSE Main Market PE ratios. These are derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
At the close of trading, AS Bryden rose 44 cents to $17.44, following trading of 44,363 stocks, Barita Investments fell $1.50 to $73.50, with ownership switching for 1,212 shares, Caribbean Cement rose 70 cents to end at $114, with 18,466 shares changing owners. First Rock Real Estate increased by $1.30 to end at $7.30, with investors dealing in 49,987 units, GraceKennedy fell $1.05 to close at $89.95, with 11,417 stocks crossing the market, Guardian Holdings climbed $16.50 to close at $377 in an exchange of 12,540 units. Massy Holdings dipped $3.95 to $75 with 3,557 shares clearing the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 72 cents to finish at $8 as investors exchanged 19,804 stock units, NCB Financial lost $2.45 and ended at $71.55 with 122,557 shares passing through the market. 
Pan Jamaica slipped $1.79 to close at $44.20, with an exchange of 48,277 stocks, Quantas Advantage shed 40 cents to end at $24, with 23,741 units passing through the market, Sagicor Group gained 60 cents to close at $43.10 after trading of 46,368 stock units. Scotia Group dropped 85 cents to $71.55 with a transfer of 43,882 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied 68 cents to finish at $7.90, with investors swapping 1,122 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share increased $18.88 and ended at $228.88 after an exchange of just 2 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.