JSE Main Market drops on reduced trading

Trading activity ended on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 43 percent, with the value 50 percent lower than on Wednesday, with trading in 53 securities compared with trading in 57 on Wednesday and closed with prices of 21 stocks rising, 18 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 9,945,485 shares at $87,264,668 down from 17,298,746 units at $174,984,093 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 187,651 shares at $1,646,503 compared to 303,487 units at $3,069,896 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 209,088 units at $1,619,005, in comparison with 210,767 units at $1,616,852 on the previous day and with December that closed with an average of 264,266 units at $3,755,946.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.55 million shares for 35.7 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.20 million units for 22.2 percent of the day’s trade and GraceKennedy with 687,786 units for 6.9 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,879.32 points to 357,059.58, the JSE Main Index sank 971.08 points to lock up trading at 322,099.07 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.58 points to end at 69.09.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. 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 around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden gained $1 in closing at $43 in an exchange of 2,602 units, Barita Investments popped 30 cents to $71.30 with investors dealing in 669 stocks, Caribbean Cement rallied $3.74 to end at $55 in switching ownership of a mere 558 shares. Eppley skidded 60 cents and ended at $36.50, with just 11 stock units crossing the exchange, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund increased $2.49 to close at $40 in trading only 10 shares, First Rock Real Estate climbed 46 cents to $8.46 with a meagre 43 stocks clearing the market. General Accident fell 60 cents to close at $4.75 with an exchange of 3,000 units, Guardian Holdings rose $20 and ended at $389 after closing with an exchange of a mere 7 stock units, Jamaica Producers advanced $1 to end at $27 after an exchange of 103,751 shares. JMMB Group rose 30 cents in closing at $24.70 with a transfer of 4,519 units, Pan Jamaica dropped $3.95 to end at $45.55 while exchanging 2,035 stocks, Proven Investments advanced 63 cents and ended at $21.94 after facilitating trading of 906 stock units. Sagicor Group sank 99 cents to close at $42 after an exchange of 12,294 shares, Scotia Group declined $2.34 to end at $39.06, with 23,083 stock units crossing the market, Seprod popped $2.70 in closing at $85.70 in an exchange of 46,853 stocks and Stanley Motta increased 30 cents to $6.45 with investors trading 100 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% lost $50 in closing at $2850 after a transfer of just 8 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.