Stocks slipped at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday but remain well ahead of the average level of trading in November after a 25 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded and the value rising marginally over 
Tuesday’s outcome from trading in 56 securities compared to 55 on Tuesday and leading to prices of 17 rising, 20 declining and 19 ending unchanged.
A total of 8,969,331 shares were exchanged for $256,955,915 versus 11,990,620 units at $247,055,940 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 160,167 units at $4,588,498 compared with 218,011 shares at $4,491,926 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averages 570,744 stock units at $2,730,685 compared with 616,454 units at $2,523,851 on the previous day, but well over November’s average of 202,406 units for $1,736,493.
NCB Financial led trading with 2.51 million shares for 28 percent of total volume followed by Wigton 
Windfarm with 2.10 million units for 23.4 percent of the day’s trade and Ciboney Group with 1.01 million units for 11.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 2,883.94 points to 381,106.29, the JSE Main Index shed 957.35 points to 338,955.50 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.19 points to end at 80.95.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.1 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November and August 2023.
At the close of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments fell 54 cents to $90.90 in trading 4,122 shares, Berger Paints shed 75 cents to end at $10 with 3,283 stock units changing hands, Carreras advanced 77 cents to $8.87 in switching ownership of 120,010 units. 
Eppley climbed $5.07 in closing at $37.20 with investors trading 5 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund gained 75 cents to end at $43.50 in an exchange of 4,134 stock units, Guardian Holdings dropped $49 to finish at $501 with 1,709 units crossing the market. JMMB Group dipped 40 cents to $32 after trading 19,588 stocks, Kingston Wharves advanced $1.49 to $31.49 in exchanging 3,038 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 51 cents to $13.30 with a transfer of 4,585 stock units. NCB Financial rallied 50 cents to $82 after trading 2,509,445 shares, but only after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $79. Palace Amusement jumped $264.86 ending at $1,086.13 with the swapping of 2,179 units and has gained 75% since a split announcement, Proven Investments advanced $2 to $28, with 3,674 stocks crossing the exchange. Sagicor Group declined $2 to close at $49 with 26,728 stock units clearing the market,
Supreme Ventures rose 99 cents to $29.99 after a transfer of 156,697 units and Sygnus Credit Investments shed 45 cents in closing at $12.40 with 9,553 stocks changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share popped $1.45 to close at $22.48 after exchanging 79 shares and Eppley 7.50% preference share gained 51 cents to end at $7.77 in switching ownership of 465 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
