Financial stocks pull JSE down

Friday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange saw decline in the prices of Jamaica Money Market Brokers, National Commercial Bank and Scotia Group pulling the main market indices down more than 700 points. On Thursday National Commercial Bank closed at a new 52 weeks high at $19.99, leaving a big gap between buyers and sellers, hence the fall on Friday.
Investors participated in a small number of securities on Friday, resulting in the prices of 6 rising and 6 declining as 17 securities changed hands and ended with 2,404,440 units, valued at $12,847,928 traded, in all market segments. At the close there was demand for more with bids failing to attract sellers at the closing bid prices.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the close of the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 702.66 points to 76,333.54, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 785.62 points to close at 84,062.74 and the JSE combined index declined by 667.53 points to close at 78,323.69.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless closing with 236,428 shares changing hands, 2 cents higher at 48 cents, Grace Kennedy ending with 3,383 units, with the price rising $1.50 to end at $63. Jamaica Stock Exchange ended trading with 795,000 units changing hands and gained 30 cents to $1.90, Margaritaville finished with 46,000 shares changing hands to close with a gain of 0.05 cents to 10.5 US cents and Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended with 10,000 units trading, to close with a 15 cents gain at $7.20.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Scotia Group which ended with 147,987 units trading to close at $20.10, Desnoes & Geddes closing with 325,000 shares trading to close at $4.90 and Scotia Investments ended with 15,000 shares changing hands at $23.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Broilers closing with 102,265 units trading as the price slipped 5 cents to $4, Jamaica Money Market Brokers finished with 514,668 shares trading lower by 1 cent to $6.50, National Commercial Bank closed with 7,200 shares changing hands to close lower by $1.19 at $18.80 and Pan Jamaican Investment finishing with 6,750 units, the price slipped $3.99 to $52.01.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference shares traded 27,000 units at $3 and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% preference shares traded 941 units at $1,006.10.