JSE declines at start of week

The Main Market of Jamaica Stock Exchange started the week on a negative note with declines in the major indices, even as advancing stocks edged out decliners.
At the close, JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined 925.08 points to close at 554,382.32, the JSE Market Index dipped 825.96 points to 504,848.55 and the JSE Financial Index lost 1.22 points to close at 137.51.
The market closed with 42 securities changing hands in the main and US dollar markets with 12 advancing, 10 declining and 16 changing hands with prices unchanged. Main market activity ended with 38 securities accounting for 9,259,581 units valued at $124,781,798, in contrast to 20,866,388 units valued at $599,807,083 on Friday from 35 securities.
Jamaica Stock Exchange stock dominated trading with 2.9 million units for 31 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Windfarm followed with 2.7 million shares for 29 percent of the day’s volume and Sagicor Select Funds was next with 1.8 million shares for 20 percent of traded volume.
The market closed with an average of 243,673 units valued at an average of $3,283,732 for each security traded, in contrast to 162,405 units at $2,587,368 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 402,202 units valued at $5,897,793 and previously, an average of 429,709 units valued at $6,446,602 for each security changing hands. The market closed out November with an average of 653,621 units valued at $8,699,916 for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.5, with the Main Market ending at 19.3 times 2019 current year’s earnings.
In the premier market segment, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund gained 50 cents to close at $38, with an exchange of 2,491 shares, Eppley closed 77 cents higher to end at $14.95 trading 695 units, Grace Kennedy climbed $1 to $66, in transferring 12,980 shares, Jamaica Producers lost 60 cents to settle at $24.40, after swapping 5,463 shares. Kingston Wharves gained $1.41 to close at $60.50, in swapping 2,929 units, Mayberry Investments rose to $9.84, after gaining 84 cents trading 200 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities closed 94 cents higher at $13.09, with 350 shares changing hands, 138 Student Living closed 70 cents higher to $4.70, in swapping 21,300 shares. PanJam Investment lost 59 cents to settle at $101.41 after exchanging 6,229 units, Portland JSX closed a $7.90, after dropping $1.10 trading 23,728 stock units, Sagicor Group slumped of $4 to $66 in transferring 82,241 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund climbed $2.25 to end at $11 with 76,000 shares crossing the exchange. Scotia Group lost 98 cents to close at $57.01, in exchanging 21,180 shares, Seprod lost 50 cents in swapping 16,589 units, to end at $50 and Sterling Investments closed 45 cents lower to $3, with an exchange of 138,482 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 71,801 units valued at US$19,617, with the market index falling 2.84 points to 211.25. Proven Investments traded 44,986 to close at 32 US cents, Sygnus Credit Investments exchanged 12,020 shares at 14 US cents, Margaritaville Turks ended at 27 US cents, with 833 units changing hands and JMMB Group 6% preference shares closed at US$1.01, with 1,700 units crossing the exchange.