JSE Main Market ekes out gains

On Wednesday, the value of funds flowing into the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market plunged 71 percent lower than Tuesday trade and led to a minor fall in the volume of stocks changing hands, with the market closing after declining stocks exceeded those rising.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 506.16 points to 460,937.66, the JSE Main Index rose 667.03 points to 402,355.60 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.18 points to settle at 94.50.
Trading ended with 55 securities compared to 53 on Tuesday, with 19 rising, 27 declining and nine ending unchanged.
Caribbean Cement closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $65, Mayberry Investments traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $10 and Sterling Investments traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $2.52.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Overall, 13,212,264 shares were exchanged for $88,081,914 versus 13,994,073 units at $299,292,536 on Tuesday. Trading averages 240,223 units at $1,601,489, compared to 264,039 shares at $5,647,029 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 228,534 units at $4,080,209, compared to 226,911 units at $4,424,476 on the previous trading day. April closed with an average of 532,209 units at $5,709,319.
Wigton Windfarm was the top traded stock with 3.97 million shares for 30.1 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.14 million units for 16.2 percent of the day’s trade, Pulse Investments chipped in with 1.91 million units for 14.4 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund exchanged 1.42 million units for 10.7 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement fell $1.50 to end at a closing 52 weeks’ low of $65 after trading at an intraday low of $60, with 294,882 shares changing hands, Carreras declined 15 cents to end at $9.80 in switching ownership of 227,026 stocks, Eppley shed $5.50 to close at $45 after an exchange of 542 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $2 in closing at $42 while exchanging 1,040 stock units, First Rock Capital lost 53 cents to end at $12.40 in trading 9,527 shares and GraceKennedy dropped $1.51 in closing at $112.49 in exchanging 9,851 stock units. Guardian Holdings rallied $4.99 to close at $515 after 15,264 stocks changed hands, Jamaica Broilers lost $1.48 to end at $27.02 after exchanging 29,977 units, Jamaica Producers rose 90 cents to $23.50, with 18,483 stocks crossing the exchange. JMMB Group declined 99 cents to $46.50, with 140,169 stock units crossing the market, Key Insurance increased 33 cents to $4.70 after exchanging 367,349 shares, Kingston Wharves shed 60 cents ending at $39.40, with 6,866 units crossing the market. Massy Holdings dropped 55 cents to close at $97.50 with the swapping of 1,323 stock units, Mayberry Investments fell 10 cents to end at $9 after exchanging 442,970 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 57 cents in closing at $15.58, with 69,259 stock units clearing the market. NCB Financial fell $4.90 to $112 with an exchange of 89,197 shares, Palace Amusement popped $159.02 in closing at $1119.02 trading five stocks, Portland JSX declined $2.05 to $8.65 after investors cleared the market of 1,500 shares. Proven Investments lost $1.77 to close at $36.21, with 10,782 stock units changing hands, Pulse Investments dropped 13 cents to $3.85, with 1,907,657 units crossing the exchange, Sagicor Group shed 50 cents to $56.50 in an exchange of 9,681 stock units. Scotia Group climbed $1.06 in closing at $36.09 after trading 6,536 units, Seprod dropped 51 cents to end at $72.49, with 18,923 stocks crossing the market, Stanley Motta lost 42 cents in ending at $5.03 after exchanging 13,642 shares. Supreme Ventures shed 99 cents to close at $30.01 with the swapping of 157,225 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments climbed 50 cents to end at $17, with 59,533 stocks crossing the market, Victoria Mutual Investments fell 10 cents to $6 after exchanging 112,291 units and Wisynco Group popped 40 cents to close at $23.40 while trading 81,340 shares.
In the preference segment, Community & Workers Credit Union declined 15 cents to $1.80 in switching ownership of 63,678 units, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% shed $400 in closing at $2600 with an exchange of 314 shares and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share rose 60 cents in closing at $3.45 after trading 13 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.