Falling stocks push down JSE Main Market

Guardian Holdings plunged $41 in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday, as the volume of stocks traded dived 84 percent and the value dropped 71 percent lower than on Friday, with activity in 60 securities compared with 53 on Friday, with prices of 26 stocks rising, 21 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 7,762,350 shares being traded for $32,965,450 compared with 48,608,865 units at $112,089,625 on Friday.
Trading averaged 129,373 shares at $549,424 compared to 917,148 units at $2,114,899 on Friday and month to date, an average of 350,148 stocks at $2,638,125 compared with 373,347 shares at $2,857,603 on the previous trading day and July with an average of 602,415 units at $5,405,031.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.82 million shares for 23.4 percent of total volume followed by Radio Jamaica with 1.61 million stock units for 20.7 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.08 million units for 14 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,742.57 points to close at 348,691.57, the JSE Main Index declined 2,066.75 points to conclude trading at 304,316.87 and the JSE Financial Index skidded 0.77 points to settle at 64.34.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.8. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on 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 eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dipped $2.85 to finish at $71.10 with investors trading 6,049 stocks, Caribbean Cement rose 49 cents and ended at $64.49 after a transfer of 756 units, Eppley sank $2.99 to $35.11 as investors exchanged 4,418 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $3.90 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $44.65, with 18,917 stock units clearing the market, General Accident popped 52 cents in closing at $7.02 and closed after just 5 shares were traded, GraceKennedy gained $1.59 to end at $74.99 in an exchange of 61,594 units. Guardian Holdings shed $41 to close at $309 trading 2,378 stocks, Jamaica Broilers dropped 99 cents to finish at $34.01 with a transfer of 56,094 stock units, Jamaica Producers lost $1.95 and ended at $21 after 35,101 shares passed through the market. Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed 57 cents to close at $10.93 in trading 7,242 units, JMMB Group slipped $1.10 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $20.80 after an exchange of 59,568 stocks, Kingston Wharves increased 97 cents in closing at $27.97 with investors trading 3,184 stock units. Massy Holdings advanced $3.90 to $75.90 with an exchange of 8,145 shares, 138 Student Living popped 30 cents in closing at $4.30, with 360,045 stocks crossing the market, Pan Jamaica gained $2 to close at $48 with investors swapping a mere one unit. Proven Investments fell $1.55 to end at $16.30 after an exchange of 7,987 stock units, Supreme Ventures rose 80 cents to finish at $21 with investors dealing in 26,174 shares and Wisynco Group climbed 44 cents and ended at $20.44 in switching ownership of 87,489 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% increased $1 to $2,700 with traders dealing in 2 stocks and 138 Student Living preference share skidded $31.50 to end at $178.50, with 13 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.