JSE Main Market dives post-independence

Losing stocks overpowered rising ones and pushed the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange appreciably down at the close of trading on Wednesday, following the close of the Market on Independence day on Tuesday with a 33 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded rising with a 16 percent higher value than on Monday, following trading in 64 securities up from 57 on Monday, with prices of 21 rising, 26 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 8,754,488 shares trading for $45,138,514 up from 6,572,450 units at $39,001,459 on Monday.
Trading averaged 136,789 shares at $705,289 up from 115,306 stocks at $684,236 on Monday and month to date, an average of 531,722 units at $6,341,385 compared with 755,402 shares at $9,533,509 on the previous day and July with an average of 602,415 units at $5,405,031.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.68 million shares for 42 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.55 million stocks for 17.7 percent of the day’s trade and Mayberry Group with 825,334 units for 9.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index sank 2,523.33 points to end the day at 350,823.86, the JSE Main Index surrendered 3,487.84 points to end at 308,838.72 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.85 points to conclude trading at 65.04.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close of the market, AS Bryden increased $1.99 to close at $38.99 with investors dealing in 85 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $5.39 to $40.89 in switching ownership of 227 stocks, GraceKennedy sank 99 cents in closing at $73.01 as investors exchanged 6,958 shares. Guardian Holdings gained $8 to end at $348 after the trading of 565 stock units, Jamaica Broilers dropped $1.50 to finish at $33 and closed with an exchange of 2,005 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange sank 66 cents and ended at $10.33 after 1,340 units were traded. Key Insurance rose 88 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.18 after 26,351 stocks passed through the market, Kingston Properties advanced 65 cents in closing at $9.65 with traders dealing in 1,026 stock units, Margaritaville slipped 56 cents to end at $13.94 after 31 shares changed hands.
Massy Holdings fell $1.10 and ended at $78.90 after it traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $11.88 with 18,777 units crossing the market, but traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $70.02,MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $19 to finish at $88 after a transfer of 99 stocks, NCB Financial lost $2 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $50 with investors trading 89,493 stock units, with the stock losing 23 percent of its value since the issue of shares to the public at $65 earlier in May. Pan Jamaica skidded $1.05 to $50 with 28,341 shares crossing the exchange, Sagicor Real Estate Fund declined 94 cents to close at $8.56 with a transfer of 1,841 units, Scotia Group shed $1 and ended at $44 after the trading of 51,058 stocks. Supreme Ventures fell 89 cents in closing at $21 after 482,711 stock units crossed the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance lost $1.97 to finish at a 52 weeks’ low of $8.03 in an exchange of 309 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed 58 cents to end at $6.99, with 31 stocks changing hands. Eppley 7.75% preference share declined 94 cents in closing at $20 with investors swapping 149 units and 138 Student Living preference share fell $31.50 to $178.50 with 8 stock units clearing the market.
 Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.