JSE Main Market drops on Friday

The volume of stocks trading dropped sharply on Friday from Thursday, with 40 percent fewer shares changing hands but with 50 percent more value on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, following trading in 57 securities compared to 49 on Thursday, with 16 rising, 23 declining and 18 ending unchanged.
Investors traded 9,582,712 shares for $160,269,027 compared to 15,879,100 units at $107,233,955 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 168,118 units at $2,811,737 versus 324,063 shares at $2,188,448 on Thursday and the month to date, an average of 248,548 units at $2,589,602, compared to 262,399 units at $2,551,349 on the previous trading day. August closed with an average of 738,534 units at $5,975,613.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.46 million shares for 36.1 percent of total volume followed by Jamaica Broilers with 2.66 million units for 27.7 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 702,907 units for 7.3 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,798.48 points to 408,596.18, the JSE Main Index shed 2,629.10 points to 357,818.90 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 1.17 points to 85.46.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement gained 99 cents in ending at $61.99 after exchanging 38,232 shares, Carreras increased 56 cents to end at $8.90 as investors exchanged 617,019 stocks, Eppley rose $1.49 to $40.50 after exchanging 20 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped $2.40 to close at $41.60 in trading 232 stock units, Guardian Holdings fell $25 to $495 with a transfer of 14,824 shares, Jamaica Broilers added $2.45 in closing at $30, with 2,659,066 stock units clearing the market. Jamaica Producers popped $1.15 to end at $20.40 with investors transferring 10,352 units, JMMB Group climbed 50 cents to $41.50 in switching ownership of 56,597 stocks, NCB Financial dropped 99 cents to close at $89.01 with the swapping of 46,094 shares. 138 Student Living rallied 89 cents to $6.85 trading 1,557 units, Palace Amusement rallied $9.80 to end at $903.82, with 21 stocks clearing the market, PanJam Investment shed $1 to $59, with 42,076 stock units crossing the exchange. Portland JSX declined $1 in closing at $9, with 1,172 stock units changing hands, Proven Investments fell $2.46 after ending at $30.03 in an exchange of 6,403 stocks, Sagicor Group lost $3.70 to close at $50.75 while exchanging 13,872 shares. Salada Foods shed 62 cents to close at $4.06 after exchanging 16,003 units, Supreme Ventures fell 85 cents to $28.50 after a transfer of 11,671 units and Sygnus Credit Investments rose 51 cents to end at $13.72 with an exchange of 18,605 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share declined 49 cents after ending at $7 in exchanging 151 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.