Grounds lost by JSE Majors

Stocks gave back much of the gains generated on Wednesday with a loss of 77 percent of the gains in the market indices on Thursday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market after 66 percent fewer shares were exchanged at half the values of Wednesday traded.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 2,490.53 points to 423,264.65, the Main Index shed 2,253.82 points to 385,973.65 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.19 points to settle at 98.48.
Trading ended with 44 securities changing hands, down from 48 on Wednesday and closed with prices of 21 stocks rising, 15 declining and eight remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio closed with an average of 16.4 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Traders exchanged 14,742,217 shares for $112,092,139 compared to 43,738,990 units at $240,182,541 on Wednesday. QWI Investments led trading with 29.1 percent of total volume, after exchanging 4.29 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 26.7 percent for 3.92 million units, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 10.6 percent with 1.57 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 7.1 percent of the day’s trade for 1.04 million units.
Trading for the day averaged 335,050 units at $2,547,549, down from 911,229 shares at $5,003,803 on Wednesday. The month to date averaged 437,301 units at $2,661,756, in contrast to 449,559 units at $2,675,448 on Wednesday. Trading in January averaged 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows eleven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments rose $1.06 to close at $80, with 588,158 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Cement fell $1.89 to $60.11 with 4,366 shares changing hands. Ciboney Group rose 3 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of 44 cents in an exchange of 238,374 stock units, Eppley advanced $1.95 to $21.95, trading 3,055 units. Grace Kennedy climbed $3 to a 52 weeks’ high of $85 after exchanging 75,489 stocks, Jamaica Broilers gained 45 cents to close at $27 transferring 216,267 shares, Jamaica Producers slipped 80 cents to $19.70 with the swapping of 201,327 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange gained $1.14 to end at $18.80 trading 11,400 stocks, Kingston Wharves declined by $1.50 to $46.50 after 160 shares crossed the market, NCB Financial rose $1 to close at $137, in exchanging 50,970 stock units. PanJam Investment finished $1.19 higher at $66.19 trading 3,371 units, Portland JSX shed 79 cents to $8.01 with an exchange of 6,410 stock units, Proven Investments closed 60 cents lower at $37.40, trading 7,985 units. Salada Foods rose 90 cents to end at $40.90 with 4,399 stock units changing hands, Scotia Group fell $1.50 to $42.50 after exchanging 147,223 stocks, Seprod declined by $1.01 to $65.01 trading 16,487 stocks. Supreme Ventures slid $1.10 to $16, in transferring 113,376 stock units and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 28 cents to close at $5.51 after crossing the market with 6,600 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.25% rose $1 to close at $8 with 3,529 units clearing the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share gained 50 cents to end at $110.50 with one stock unit changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.