Guardian & Cement lead Main Market gainers

The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended lower at the close on Wednesday, Guardian Holdings and Caribbean Cement were the two leading stocks rising at the close of trading, following a moderate trading session with a slightly higher volume of stocks trading with a 47 percent lower value than on Tuesday, but the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator flashed a positive signal of a higher open on Thursday.
Trading took place in 54 securities compared with 53 on Tuesday and ended, with prices of 20 rising, 16 declining and 18 left unchanged.
A mere 5,494,640 shares were traded for $31,905,669, down from 5,365,366 units at $60,054,838 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 101,753 shares at $590,846 compared to 101,233 units at $1,133,110 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 133,607 shares at $1,144,195, compared to 137,507 units at $1,211,952 on the previous day. August closed with an average of 316,608 units at $1,867,646.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.29 million shares for 23.5 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.28 million units for 23.3 percent of the day’s trade and QWI Investments with 812,823 units for 14.8 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 107.59 points to 350,523.65, the JSE Main Index shed 1,264.18 points to end at 316,046.21 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.24 points to 70.66.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are 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 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments skidded $1.88 in closing at $76.32 with investors trading 66,328 shares, Caribbean Cement gained 23 cents and ended at $36 in an exchange of 12,659 stocks, GraceKennedy popped 20 cents to close at $70.50 with 67,526 stocks clearing the market. Guardian Holdings climbed $28.80 to $430 after a transfer of 2,062 units, Jamaica Broilers popped $1 and ended at $32 after investors swapped 4,600 shares, JMMB Group dropped 30 cents in closing at $28.20, with 38,141 stock units changing hands, Kingston Wharves rallied $1.20 to $28 in trading 22,050 stocks. Massy Holdings shed $1 to close at $95 after exchanging 3,000 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 45 cents to end at $11.50 after 26,200 stock units passed through the market, NCB Financial declined 25 cents to $68 after an exchange of 41,895 stocks, Proven Investments dipped 40 cents to end at $21.50 with traders dealing in 230 shares. Seprod lost 41 cents in closing at $69.49, with 5,713 shares crossing the exchange, Supreme Ventures rallied 30 cents and ended at $27.02 with investors dealing in 51,532 stocks and Victoria Mutual Investments rose 18 cents to close at $3.03 while exchanging 173,342 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7% preference share fell 30 cents in closing at $1.70 following 199 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.